Field trips for homeschoolers
Public programs we opened and read, and how to ask for the rest.
The federal Every Kid Outdoors program gives fourth graders, and children of the home-school equivalent, a pass for free entry to many parks, lands and waters for a year, according to everykidoutdoors.gov. For museums, zoos and libraries, call and ask about homeschool days or group rates, since offers differ by place and change.
Checked October 29, 2026.
A free program we verified
Every Kid Outdoors is a federal program: a fourth grader fills out a diary entry on the site and prints a paper pass for free entry to hundreds of parks, lands and waters for a year. Its form has a checkbox for "fourth grade or home-school equivalent". The pages we read did not say the dates it is valid; check the site.
How to ask other places
- Call or email the education office, not the front desk.
- Ask: Do you have homeschool days, group rates or classes for homeschoolers?
- Ask how many adults and children come in a group.
- Ask for a date, a price and what is included, in writing.
Keep a trip log
A line for each trip (date, place, what you learned) counts as a record. Use the hours log or the portfolio.
Sources
- Every Kid Outdoors: the fourth grade pass (federal program) (checked October 29, 2026)