Have you taken a field trip to a national park? Many students will participate in the National Park Foundation’s Ticket to Ride program this year.
This program provides transportation support for youth to visit national parks and engage in meaningful activities.
Many kids have national parks right in their backyards but have never visited a park before. At Biscayne National Park, youth will participate in a variety of outdoor activities, including exploring mangroves, canoe water quality examinations, and the popular lionfish dissection program. Through these activities, kids get hands-on experience in science and resource protection programs at the park.
A geology field day at Lava Beds National Monument offers students the opportunity to walk through a lava flow, explore several volcanic features, and experience the depth of lava tube caves. They will also record this amazing adventure in journals throughout the trip.
Lowell National Historical Park uses the Merrimack River as a living classroom where students are able to collect water samples during their visit, test them for various elements, and analyze the data they collect. Through these activities students build their understanding of ecology and the importance of this watershed.
Field trips to national parks are a great way to engage a student’s curiosity of science and exploration and to provide a way to build on classroom teachings and curriculums. To find out how you can support programs to get youth in the parks, click here.