ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers joined the Federal Interagency Council on Outdoor Recreation for the start of a new initiative to give every child in the United States the chance to explore and learn about America’s great outdoors. The Every Kid in a Park initiative will provide all fourth grade students and their families with free admission for a full year to more than 2,000 federally-managed sites nationwide.
Fourth graders (including home-schooled students) can visit the “Get Your Pass” section of the Every Kid in a Park website at www.everykidinapark.gov and complete a fun educational activity to obtain and print a personalized voucher for unlimited use at federal lands and waters for one year. Passes are valid from Sept. 1, 2015 through Aug. 31, 2016. The paper voucher can be exchanged for a more durable interagency annual fourth grade pass at certain federal sites. The Every Kid in a Park website also provides information on tips for trip planning and how parents and educators can get involved.
Both the paper pass and the durable pass include fee-free access for one year to all federal lands and waters. The pass does not cover expanded amenity fees such as camping, boat launching, parking, special tours, special permits, or ferries. In addition, at certain locations, private concessionaires and resorts manage some facilities and activities; the pass is not valid for these services. For questions about pass acceptance and fees at specific locations, please contact the site directly.
One of the primary goals of the Every Kid in a Park initiative is to bridge the growing disconnect between the next generation and the great outdoors, and to inspire children to become future stewards of our nation’s natural and historic treasures.
“The Albuquerque District has several great places in New Mexico and southern Colorado where kids can learn about the many benefits that being outdoors and connecting with nature offers,” said Lt. Col. Patrick Dagon, Albuquerque District Commander. “We welcome all fourth-graders and their families to come experience a great time at our lake projects!”
“The lakes and dams provide numerous opportunities for families to get together and interact with nature, the water and have a great time,” said Beverly Noel-Chavez, chief of the District’s Operations Support Branch.
“With a majority of Army Corps of Engineers’ recreation areas located within 50 miles of metropolitan centers, our sites offer thousands of fourth graders, their families and educators easy access to many different types of recreational experiences,” said Maj. Gen. Ed Jackson, Deputy Commanding General for Civil and Emergency Operations, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The Army Corps of Engineers is the nation’s largest federal provider of outdoor and water-based recreation, managing more than 400 lake and river projects in 43 states. The Albuquerque District manages seven lake projects in New Mexico and two in southeast Colorado including:
Abiquiu Lake, NM: 505.685.4371 http://www.spa.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/Recreation/AbiquiuLake.aspx
Cochiti Lake, NM: 505.465.0307 http://www.spa.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/Recreation/CochitiLake.aspx
Conchas Lake, NM: 575.868.2221 http://www.spa.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/Recreation/ConchasLake.aspx
Santa Rosa Lake, NM: 575.472.3115 http://www.spa.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/Recreation/SantaRosaLake.aspx
John Martin Reservoir, Colo.: 719.336.3476 http://www.spa.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/Recreation/JohnMartinReservoir.aspx
Trinidad Lake, Colo.: 719.846.7990 http://www.spa.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/Recreation/TrinidadLake.aspx
For more information about recreation in the Albuquerque District visit: http://www.spa.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/Recreation.aspx
To find the USACE recreation site nearest you, visit www.CorpsLakes.us.
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