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National Park Rangers: Inspiring Change, One Life at a Time!

2/14/2025

Every day, National Park Rangers do more than protect our nation’s most treasured places—they ignite curiosity, inspire action, and empower the next generation of changemakers. 🚀

💡 In 2021, an educator’s visit to Acadia National Park during a STEAM in the PARK event sparked a transformation. That single experience led an entire school district in Indiana to solve ENGINEERING challenges focused on real-world problems in national parks. Students later presented to National Mall rangers and engineers with innovative ideas to save the Tidal Basin. 🌊

💙 At Jimmy Carter National Historical Park, educators were encouraged to "do good"—a call that reached classrooms, where students planted butterfly gardens to expand Rosalynn Carter’s Mental Health Initiative. 🦋🌿

🌎 In New Mexico, students who joined a LiveStream with Big Cypress National Park & Preserve were inspired to restore trails in their own communities, understanding that stewardship begins in our own backyards. 🥾🌳

✨ After watching a Voyageurs National Park Dark Skies LiveStream, students in a local town took action—advocating for redesigned lighting fixtures to reduce light pollution and preserve the beauty of the night sky. 💫🏙️

💛 And in Tennessee, a student with Down syndrome showed immense empathy and innovation by designing a humane trap for relocating signal crayfish at Crater Lake. Her prototype? A cozy bed for the crayfish to rest on during relocation—and even a photo of herself in the trap for comfort. 🦞💙

🌟 Once again—our children are leading the way. 🌟 Just like they have in the past, they will do it again for our future. Their motives are pure, unblemished, and empowered by goodness. They see challenges not as roadblocks but as opportunities to make a difference.

These moments aren’t about budgets or politics. They are about the power of human connection, discovery, and doing good. 🏕️ These are just a few of the hundreds of stories we uncover every day as part of Expeditions in Education.

📊 We did some research, and the average salary for these park rangers is $38,660. For the work they do and the impact they have, this is woefully low. Their influence on our students, our educators, and our world can't be measured in a paycheck. Their impact can't be repaid.

✨ Through National Parks, we see what is possible. ✨ Through Expeditions in Education, we help others see it too. ✨ We stand with the parks, and we stand for the future.

📢 Stay tuned for our next big thing with Expeditions in Education—because we will continue to make a difference! 🚀🌎

#WeStandWithTheParks #STEAMinthePARK #ExpeditionsInEducation #BeTheGood #NationalParkRangers #KidsLeadTheWay #StayTuned #RangersMatter

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LOVE IS IN THE AIR ... EVEN IN OUR NATIONAL PARKS

2/13/2025

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Tomorrow is all about LOVE, and what better way to celebrate than by sharing the amazing love stories happening in the wild? From legendary landscapes to devoted wildlife, national parks are filled with romance, mystery, and heartwarming tales. 💕✨

💙 Bryce Canyon (BRCA) – The Love of the Hoodoos According to Paiute legend, the towering hoodoos of Bryce Canyon were once ancient beings who were turned to stone. Some say these formations whisper secrets of love lost to time. Whether myth or mystery, one thing is clear—standing among the hoodoos feels like stepping into a love story written in rock.

🌲 Olympic National Park (OLYM) – Rainforest Romance Deep in the Hoh Rainforest, creatures like the Pacific tree frog engage in nightly serenades during the breeding season. Males call out to attract females, creating a symphony that fills the forest—a melodic reminder that love songs come in many forms.

🌁 Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GOGA) – The Bridge of Love The Golden Gate Bridge isn’t just an architectural wonder—it’s a home for lovebirds! Peregrine falcons, some of the world’s fastest birds, nest here, returning to the same partner and location year after year to raise their chicks. Love is in the air—literally!

🏔 Yosemite National Park (YOSE) – The Legend of El Capitan Yosemite is rich with Native American legends. One such story tells of El Capitan, where a young woman, in an act of love and sacrifice, turned to stone to save her people. Today, El Capitan stands as a testament to enduring love and bravery.

🦅 Grand Teton National Park (GRTE) – Eagle Devotion In the Tetons, bald eagles are the ultimate relationship goals! These majestic birds mate for life, returning year after year to the same nesting site. With synchronized flight and teamwork in raising their young, these soaring lovebirds show us the power of partnership.

🐻 Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GRSM) – A Bear-y Sweet Love Story In the Smokies, black bears take a unique approach to love. Mating pairs share a brief but intense connection before the female retreats into her den to raise her tiny cubs—proving that love in the wild is sometimes fleeting but always full of wonder.

🌌 Voyageurs National Park (VOYA) – A Love Written in the Stars On clear nights in Voyageurs, the northern lights dance across the sky. The Ojibwe people believe these lights are the spirits of loved ones celebrating life, a celestial display reminding us of the connections between the earth and the heavens.

🏔 Rocky Mountain National Park (ROMO) – Elk Courtship Calls Each fall, the mountains echo with the bugle calls of bull elk during the rut. These dramatic, haunting sounds serve as love songs to attract mates and remind us that love in nature is sometimes bold, loud, and full of passion!

🌊 Acadia National Park (ACAD) – The Otters Who Hold Hands In the chilly waters around Acadia, river otters can be seen floating together, holding hands while they rest. This adorable display of affection keeps them from drifting apart, proving that love (and teamwork) can withstand even the strongest currents.

🌿 Piscataway Park (Potomac River) – A Love for the Land The Piscataway people have long held a deep reverence for the lands surrounding the Potomac River. Their enduring connection to this area reflects a profound love and respect for the natural world and its preservation.

🌊 Delaware Water Gap – Swans, the Soulmates of the River Along the Delaware River, mute swans glide gracefully in pairs. These elegant birds form monogamous bonds, often lasting for life, symbolizing enduring love and partnership.

🌿 Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CUVA) – Love Along the River In Cuyahoga Valley, beavers build strong family units, working together to construct elaborate lodges and dams. These monogamous pairs show us that teamwork—and a little engineering—can build a strong foundation for love.

🎭 Sitka National Historical Park (SITK) – The Love of Legends Sitka is steeped in Tlingit culture, where the raven holds deep significance. In Tlingit mythology, Raven is a creator, a trickster, and a bringer of light. These intelligent birds mate for life, working together to raise their young and watching over Sitka’s sacred landscapes.

💚 From towering cliffs to forest serenades, nature reminds us that love is everywhere! Whether it's a lifelong bond, a seasonal romance, or a celestial celebration, our national parks are full of heartwarming love stories waiting to be discovered.
And this year, Expeditions in Education is spreading the love even further, hosting 340+ campers across these 13 incredible national park sites for STEAM in the PARK! 🌎💙

What’s your favorite national park love story? Share in the comments! 💬✨

#LoveIsInTheAir #NationalParkLove #FindYourPark #STEAMinthePARK 💕🌿

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Our Promise!

2/3/2025

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Things are not looking good. Education is under attack, immigrants are facing increasing hostility, the environment is suffering, and people are being targeted simply for who they are. This is not the world we want to build for future generations.

At Expeditions in Education, we stand firm in our values: being good humans, nurturing the next generation to seek the good in the world, speaking up for those without a voice, and doing everything in our power to promote kindness. Now, more than ever, we must live those values.

Education should be a beacon of hope, a path to opportunity—not a battleground for political agendas. Yet, funding is being slashed, teachers are burned out, and students are caught in the crossfire. We believe in hands-on, minds-on learning, in giving children the tools to think critically, explore boldly, and dream big. We refuse to let education become a casualty of indifference.

Immigrants, families, and entire communities are being treated as outsiders when they have always been part of the fabric of this country. The targeting of people based on where they come from, what they look like, or who they are is unacceptable. We teach our students to stand up for what is right, to be voices of compassion in a world that too often chooses cruelty.

Meanwhile, our environment—the very foundation of life—is being neglected and exploited. National parks, forests, and oceans should be protected for future generations, yet they are being sacrificed for short-term gain. The young people we work with deserve to inherit a world that is thriving, not one that has been stripped of its beauty and resources.

Through education, through action, and through kindness, we can push back against the forces that seek to divide and harm. We must take care of each other when no one else will.

This is our promise: We will continue to inspire young minds to explore, to ask questions, to care deeply, and to take action. We will teach them to look for the good, to stand up for what is right, and to leave this world better than they found it. Because that’s what good humans do.

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National Park Rangers: Inspiring Change, One Life at a Time!

LOVE IS IN THE AIR ... EVEN IN OUR NATIONAL PARKS

Our Promise!

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