Every Kid in a Park is a federal government effort to get every fourth grader in the nation into public lands and waters during the 2015/2016 school year. The goal is to foster the next generation of environmental stewards and ocean guardians eager to enjoy America's natural treasures. Many NOAA locations provide ideal settings for visitors to experience hands-on activities that can inspire a sense of wonder and a thirst for knowledge about our special ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes places — and all NOAA public spaces and visitor centers offer free admission!
Within the protected borders of national marine sanctuary waters, giant humpback whales breed, temperate reefs flourish, and shipwrecks tell stories of our maritime history. Sanctuary habitats include rocky reefs, lush kelp forests, whale migrations corridors, deep-sea canyons, and underwater archaeological sites.
The National Estuarine Research Reserves System protects more than 1.3 million coastal and estuarine acres in 28 reserves located in 22 states and Puerto Rico for purposes of long-term research, environmental monitoring, education and stewardship. The reserves are a partnership between NOAA and the coastal states.
All NOAA public spaces and visitor centers offer free admission to all. Come and visit us! We hope to inspire you to discover America's great outdoors with this handy map of NOAA sanctuaries and reserves. With activities ranging from diving, hiking, and boating to fishing, picnicking, and birding, there's something for everybody.