With the flexibility of homeschooling we can take advantage of going on vacation in August when other families are preparing to go back to school. The National Parks are celebrating with Free Entrance Days in the National Parks! If you have a fourth grade student, there is a special offer for them to have a free annual pass. Find a park that is close to you and go and enjoy the wonderful outdoors!

Information taken from the National Parks website: The National Park Service turns 100 years old in 2016 and we want everyone to join the party! On 16 days in ’16, all National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone.

Mark your calendar for these entrance fee–free dates in 2016:

• August 25 through 28: National Park Service Birthday
• September 24: National Public Lands Day
• November 11: Veterans Day

National parks are America’s Best Idea, and there are more than 400 parks available to everyone, every day. The fee-free days provide a great opportunity to visit a new place or an old favorite, especially one of the 127 national parks that normally charge an entrance fee. The others are free all of the time. Plan your visit and enjoy our country’s history and nature.

The fee waiver includes entrance fees, commercial tour fees, and transportation entrance fees. Other fees such as reservation, camping, tours, concession and fees collected by third parties are not included unless stated otherwise.

Fee-free days make parks accessible to more people. However, national parks are always economical, with entrance fees that range from $3 to $30. In addition, any fourth grade student can get a free annual pass through the Every Kid in a Park program, and active duty military and citizens with a permanent disability can also get free passes. For more information about the variety of discounted passes available, please visit the America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass page.

** National Parks in Ohio are Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Wayne National Forest