The Every Kid Outdoors program offers every fourth grader and their family free entry to national parks, forests, refuges, and public lands. Families wishing to participate simply print out a pass from EveryKidOutdoors.gov and redeem the pass at participating locations like national parks. This program breaks down financial barriers and ensures all children can enjoy the benefits of time outside — healthier bodies, stronger minds, and lasting connections to our shared public lands. It’s a highly popular and cost-effective way to ensure every child gets to experience America the beautiful, planting the seeds for their lifelong engagement with parks and public lands.

 

In September, U.S. Representative Yassamin Ansari, from Arizona, introduced the Every Kid Outdoors (EKO) Reauthorization Act in the U.S. Congress. The EKO program was launched in 2015, but is scheduled to sunset in 2031. The EKO Act would permanently reauthorize the program and extend it to 5th graders.

 

Join Sierra Club Connecticut in urging our entire U.S. Congressional delegation to cosponsor. As of September 26, U.S. Rep. John Larson had added his name to the cosponsor list. A message from you can alert our other representatives to this bill and encourage their cosponsorship. Send your message here. 

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Samantha Dynowski is State Director of Sierra Club Connecticut