California State Parks offers free Adventure Pass for fourth graders
More than 89,000 passes have been issued since the program began
– California State Parks, First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom and the California Natural Resources Agency are encouraging fourth graders in California public schools to download a free California State Park Adventure Pass. The pass provides students and their families free entry for one year to 54 state parks, including beaches, canyons, redwood forests, and historic sites.
The program, created under Assembly Bill 148 and signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in July 2021, is valid for a one-year period when a child is in fourth grade, from Sept. 1 through Aug. 31 of the following year. For this school year, the pass is valid through Aug. 31, 2026.
More than 89,000 passes have been issued since the program began. State officials said the program is designed to help children and families connect with nature and each other, while supporting long-term educational and community benefits.
“As a mom, I know how much time in nature shapes a child’s health, happiness, and love for the outdoors,” said First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom. “The California State Park Adventure Pass has opened the door for more kids and families to experience the joy and benefits of our beautiful state parks. I encourage all public school fourth graders and their families to take advantage of this opportunity, and to explore all the incredible natural treasures California has to offer.”
“California’s state parks are true wonders of nature and human history,” said State Parks Director Armando Quintero. “The Adventure Pass is an invitation to fourth graders and their families to discover the world of California. It’s your home.”
“California’s natural treasures belong to all of us,” said California Natural Resources Agency Secretary Wade Crowfoot. “By opening our parks to public school fourth graders at no cost, we’re investing in healthier kids, stronger communities, and the next generation of stewards who will care for the Golden State’s wealth of natural and cultural resources.”
How to get a pass
Parents or guardians can visit ReserveCalifornia.com or call (800) 444-7275 to request a pass. Spanish-speaking customer service is available. If the family does not already have a ReserveCalifornia account, they can create one by providing their name, address, phone number and email address. After completing the form, the free pass is sent by email and can be used immediately.
Families without access to a smartphone, computer, printer or email can request a pass by visiting a State Parks Pass Sales Office or by calling (800) 444-7275.
Example parks
Among the 54 participating parks are Henry W. Coe State Park near San Jose, which preserves 87,000 acres in the Diablo Range; Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park in the Central Valley, the only California town founded, financed and governed by African Americans; Silver Strand State Beach in San Diego, offering swimming and surfing along the Pacific Ocean and San Diego Bay; and Chino Hills State Park near Los Angeles, with grassy hills, valleys and a Discovery Center featuring wildlife exhibits.
Other pass programs
The Adventure Pass is part of the state’s Outdoors for All initiative, which expands access to cultural, historic and natural resources. Other passes include the California State Parks Library Pass, which allows library card holders to access more than 200 state park units, and the Golden Bear Pass, which provides free access to state parks for CalWORKs families, Supplemental Security Income recipients, income-eligible Californians 62 and older, and participants in the Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.
For more information on the Adventure Pass and other programs, visit parks.ca.gov/OutdoorsForAll.
