Twentynine Palms, California - In celebration of the National Park Service's Centennial year, the agency has created a program where every 4th grader is eligible to visit the park with their family, for free.

Fourth graders can print a paper pass from www.everykidinapark.gov  , bring it to the visitor centers at Cottonwood, Joshua Tree or Oasis and exchange it for a pass card. There will be alternative ways of acquiring a card for those unable to print passes beforehand.

Special events planned in March and April:

Saturday, March 26: Cottonwood Visitor Center, 11am-3pm, activities include, flint-knapping and solar scope viewing.

Sunday, April 3: Joshua Tree Visitor Center, 11am-3pm, activities include, solar scope viewing, games and crafts.

Sunday, April 10: Oasis Visitor Center, 11am-3pm, activities include solar scope viewing and Junior Ranger Discovery Walks.

Saturday, April 16: 9am-2pm, Joshua Tree National Park will have a booth at the HI-Desert Nature Museum in Yucca Valley at Earth Day festivities. Celebrate with us by making a Joshua Tree from balloon debris collected in the park. NPS Centennial Hiking Challenge booklets will be available. Use the Hiking Challenge book to explore the many hiking trails in the park and earn stickers to record your completed routes.

The National Park Service invites each and everyone to take advantage of these and other programs offered during the centennial year. Come out and "Find Your Park!"