"National Parks: Valuable Educational Resources for All Ages"

Having been in the field of education for 10 years, one thing I've noticed that has declined over the decades is the amount of field trips that school-aged children attend. I was asking a teacher recently about the amount of field trips that her grade level attended this school year, and she stated two factors that attributed to the lack of scheduling- budgeting and testing schedules. Field trips, or Field Experiences were hard to plan due to the strict budgets (tickets, transportation) and having to plan around student testing or practice testing. This is rather unfortunate for many reasons, which we will explore at a later date; especially since there are so many valuable lessons that can be learned in these experiences. And remember, many children learn best with hands on learning opportunities. Field trips provide opportunities for different types of learning styles.

Great Falls National Park

As many parents are busy creating plans for their children for the summer, I'd like to introduce a field trip experience that can provide valuable opportunities for everyone in the family, and can help foster an engaging learning environment- National Parks! And it just so happens to be National Park Week, a celebration of beautiful parks across our nation in hopes to encourage people, like you and your child, to visit. National Parks were created to preserve the grandeur of the beautiful landscape of our nation, specifically in the west, in 1872, but has expanded throughout our country to include terrain of different types and sizes. Some of the most notable that come to mind are Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, and Mount Rushmore. But there are over 400 national parks, which means there are many within our access to explore! Below I'll give a few reasons why you and your child should visit a national park, as well as how to find them.

Way to Unplug:

In this technology driven society that we live in, many of us, including children, are to attached to our devices- phones, tablets, tvs, etc... Exploring a national park is a great way to ditch them, at least for a while. Use this opportunity to make connections- have conversations with your child, whether it about what you are seeing, or something personal, you can have hours to chat, if you choose to. Even if you prefer to take in the beauty of what you're experiencing, just enjoy each other's company.

Exercise:

National Parks are a great way to get those steps in! Many parks will require hiking, or at least walking of some sort to explore. Beyond walking some parks have opportunities to bike, kayak, swim, golf, surf, etc... There are many opportunities to get much needed exercise and fresh air for the family.

Hands on Learning Experience:

Whether you choose to explore on your own, or follow a tour guide, there are many opportunities to learn at national parks. For the history buffs- many of the nation's battlegrounds are preserved as national parks. You can explore Revolutionary War battle fields, as well as learn more about the weapons used. There are some parks that teach about African American history in this country, such as the African Burial Ground. The animal lovers can explore the different habitats of their favorite animals, as well as observe their movement. Children can learn to use maps (actual maps, not GPS) to help guide along the hiking route. If you'd like to teach your child to survive in the 'wild', there are many parks that offer camping opportunities.

How to Visit:

As stated earlier, there are over 400 national parks, so there could be one in your backyard, literally. To find some parks in your area to explore visit the National Park Service at www.nps.gov. You are able to narrow your search by the state you'd like to visit, or by the topics of interest. While many parks are free of charge, some do require either a fee per person, or per car. But there are some days throughout the year that all national parks are free to visit. As well, there's a program for fourth graders in which they receive free passes to visit any park for that school year (inquire with their school, or search on the National Park Service website). Even if time and money are a concern, you and your child can still indulge in virtual trips to many different national parks.

Free Days:

• January 15: Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.

• April 20: First day of National Park Week

• June 19: Juneteenth National Independence Day

• August 4: Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act

• September 28: National Public Lands Day

• November 11: Veterans Day

Hopefully I've persuaded you on why visiting national parks is a great opportunity for learning for your child, as well an opportunity for connection for your family. I recommend taking some time this week to sit with your child to explore different parks you'd like to visit this summer. If you need any help planning these experiences, we are expert field trip planners. Please feel free to contact us at info@bridginggapstutoring.com