FREE 2015 Christmas Tree permits for fourth graders through Every Kid in a Park Initiative PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

White River National Forest

900 Grand Avenue

Glenwood Springs, CO 80601

Contact: Kate Jerman 970-989-4454

Cary Green, 970-827-5160 Free 2015 Christmas tree permits for fourth graders through Every Kid in a Park Initiative Glenwood Springs, Colo. – Nov. 4, 2015 – The White River National Forest is excited to announce that all fourth graders are eligible for a free Christmas tree permit through the new White House initiative Every Kid in a Park (“Every Kid”). Every Kid is a nationwide call to action to build the next generation of conservationists. All fourth graders are eligible to receive a fourth grade pass that allows free access to federal lands and waters across the country for a full year. In support of this initiative, the Forest Service will make available a free holiday tree permit to every interested fourth-grader with a 4th Grade Pass or paper voucher. Instructions on how to obtain a pass or voucher and collect a free tree permit:In order for students to receive a free tree permit, they must present a valid paper voucher printed from the Every Kid in a Park website: https://everykidinapark.gov/.

• Visit the website and follow the instructions on the website to obtain the paper voucher.

• Print out the paper voucher.

• Bring paper voucher with you to a permit sale location (district office or the supervisor’s office) on the White River National Forest to claim the free permit. Please find office locations for permit sales at this website and at the end of this press release: http://www.fs.usda.gov/whiteriver. Mail-order form is not an option for this program. The 4th grader and family must present the voucher in person at an office location. Only one free tree permit is allowed per fourth-grader. Background on Every Kid in a Park Initiative: The Forest Service Every Kid events in November and December will emphasize recreating on National Forests and Grasslands, winter sports, and the annual Capitol Christmas tree campaign. Please visit here for more information on U.S. Forest Service events and activities for Every Kid in a Park: http://www.fs.fed.us/rmrs-beta/events/every-kid-park . Every Kid is an Administration-wide effort among the National Park Service, Forest Service, Department of Education, Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Reclamation, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Today, more than 80 percent of American families live in urban areas, and many lack easy access to safe outdoor spaces. At the same time, kids are spending more hours than ever in front of screens instead of outside. The Every Kid in a Park initiative encourages valuable opportunities to explore, learn, and play in the spectacular places that belong to us all and aims to inspire stewardship of these places for future generations. Starting Sept. 1, 2015, fourth graders (including home-schooled students) can obtain a paper pass for free entry into all federal lands and waters by visiting the Every Kid in a Park website at www.everykidinapark.gov . Students participate in an educational activity and receive a paper pass to print and bring with them to visit public lands. At certain participating sites, fourth graders can exchange the paper pass for a durable plastic Interagency Annual 4th Grade Pass. Fourth graders must be present for free entry into parks and to exchange the paper pass for a plastic pass. The fourth-grader can use either the paper pass or the durable pass for fee-free entry for them and their family, and both are valid from Sept. 1, 2015, through Aug. 31, 2016. Please note that fourth graders must be present at entry. Permit Sale Locations:

Sopris Ranger Station, Carbondale, CO

Address: 620 Main Street Carbondale, CO 81623

Phone: 970-963-2266

Hours: 8:00 am – 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday Blanco Ranger Station, Meeker, CO

Address:220 East Market Street Meeker, CO 81641

Phone: 970-878-4039

Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday Dillon Ranger Station, Dillon, CO

Address: 680 Blue River Parkway

Silverthorne, CO 80498

Phone: 970-468-5400

Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.; 1:30 – 4p.m. Monday – Friday Eagle/Holy Cross Ranger District Holy Cross Ranger Station: 24747 US Highway 24 Minturn, CO 81645

Phone: 970-827-5715

Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.; 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday

Open Saturday December 5th and Saturday December 12th from 9am-1pm. *The Eagle Ranger Station office has been closed to the public, but will reopen to sell Christmas tree permits at the following location and days: Eagle Ranger Station:125 West 5th Street Eagle, CO 81631

Phone: 970-328-6388 Open Fridays from Nov. 6 – Dec. 18 from 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Open Saturday, Dec. 5, 12 and 19 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Rifle Ranger Station, Rifle, CO

Address: 0094 County Road 244 Rifle, CO 81650

Phone: 970-625-2371 Supervisor’s Office, Glenwood Springs, CO

Address: 900 Grand Ave. Glenwood Springs, CO 81601

Phone: (970)-945-2521

Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday ###





