It is Christmas tree season on the Idaho Panhandle National Forests

COEUR d’ALENE — It is the most wonderful time of year on the Idaho Panhandle National Forests to find the perfect Christmas tree. Tree permits are available at any of our ranger stations or the Supervisor’s office for $5 each.

Fourth-graders, and homeschooled equivalent fourth-graders, are eligible to receive a free Christmas tree permit through the U.S. Forest Service’s Every Kid in a Park initiative.

To receive their free tree permit, students need to complete an activity at www.everykidinapark.gov, print the voucher and bring it to any Forest Service office.

The student needs to be present and must show a valid paper voucher or an Every Kid in a Park pass obtained from the website or participating federal agency. A mail-order form is not an option for this program. Every Kid in a Park is a national interagency effort to build the next generation of conservationists, and encourage children to visit national parks, forests, and public lands.

Most of the 2.5 million acres of National Forest System lands on the Idaho Panhandle National Forests are open for Christmas tree cutting. Start tree hunting earlier in the day to have plenty of daylight hours. Dress for the season, and be prepared for the cold and snow!

For more information, including office hours and locations, please visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/ipnf.