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​The Uncharted Classroom: Why National Parks are Vital Learning Spaces for Students- Dacia Jones

9/21/2023

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"The mountains are calling, and I must go," said John Muir, the great naturalist and advocate for the preservation of wilderness. This call isn't only for the seasoned adventurer or the outdoor enthusiast; it's an open invitation to students, young and old, who seek to learn beyond the four walls of a classroom. National parks are not just awe-inspiring landscapes; they are vibrant, multi-disciplinary learning environments that offer rich experiences in culture, science, history, and even potential career paths.

Immersion in Culture and Science
Walking in a national park is like walking through a living museum. Students have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the indigenous cultures that have inhabited these lands for centuries. Whether it's understanding the Native American history in places like Mesa Verde National Park or learning about early American settlers in the Great Smoky Mountains, the parks provide an unfiltered, firsthand experience that no textbook can offer.

Furthermore, what better place to understand biology, ecology, or geology than in settings where you can touch, feel, and observe? The diverse ecosystems and geological formations found in parks serve as open-air laboratories for scientific inquiry and discovery.

Walking in Beauty
The concept of "walking in beauty" is more than an abstract idea; it’s a form of experiential learning. By being in these majestic settings, students can learn the importance of environmental stewardship and the integral relationship between humans and nature. This immersive experience is not only good for the mind but also for the soul, serving as a way to refresh, rejuvenate, and gain a new perspective on life.

A Journey Through History
National parks are time capsules. Whether it's retracing the footsteps of Lewis and Clark, standing where civil rights history was made, or understanding the military strategies of historic battles, these parks offer an interactive way to engage with our country's past. This is where history comes alive, where textbooks are transformed into tangible experiences, providing students with a deeper, more nuanced understanding of the events that shaped our nation.

Inspiration All Around
The breathtaking beauty of natural phenomena, like the geysers of Yellowstone or the towering sequoias of Yosemite, sparks the imagination. Students may find themselves inspired to write, to paint, or to capture the stunning landscapes through photography. This inspiration isn't limited to the arts; it can ignite a passion for conservation, for activism, or for further study in fields like biology, archaeology, or history.

A Gateway to a Career
For some, a visit to a national park is not just a trip; it's a vocational calling. Whether it's becoming a park ranger, a wildlife biologist, or an environmental policy advocate, the experience can provide a stepping stone toward a meaningful career. Programs like internships and volunteer opportunities available through the National Park Service can offer invaluable experience and networking opportunities.

So, why should national parks matter to students? Because they are not just parks; they are sprawling, interactive classrooms, enriching in both academic and life lessons. They remind us, as John Muir so eloquently put it, that when we answer the call of the mountains, the forests, and the rivers, we are embarking on a journey of not just exploration, but also education and self-discovery.
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  • Home
    • About Expeditions
    • Our Staff
    • Our Board
    • Our Sponsors
    • Events Calendar
    • For The Parks
    • In the News
    • Support Us
    • Contact Us
    • Impact Stories
  • Our Services
  • Educators
    • Our Books >
      • Adventures of Marvin & Huck:
      • Lila & Toby: Into the Wild
      • Educational & Meaningful
      • Book Connections
    • Our Kits >
      • Family Outdoor Discovery Box
      • ParkQuest Engineering Kits
    • Expeditions in Education BLOG
    • Experience the Parks >
      • Experience Pullman >
        • Experience Pullman Blog
    • Great Lakes Odyssey >
      • Getting Started with GLO
      • Great Lakes Odyssey Travel Blog
      • Perry's Victory & International Peace Memorial
      • Indiana Dunes National Park
      • Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
      • Keweenaw National Historical Park
      • Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
      • Voyageurs National Park
    • Math in Nature
    • Nature Pages
    • Preserve the Parks PBL >
      • Addressing Environmental Resilience in Puerto Rico
      • Protecting the Puerto Rican Harlequin Butterfly
      • Creating Sustainable Communities Inspired by Pullman
      • Combating the Green Crab Invasion in Acadia National Park
      • Enhancing Sustainable Trails at Big Cypress National Preserve​
      • Exploring the Green River's Impact on Water Purity and Cave Preservation
      • Protecting Crater Lake's Endemic Newts
      • Restoring Native Trees at the Lincoln Boyhood Home
      • Restoring the Elwha River
    • Backpack the Parks!
    • Park Pioneers
    • Ready to Go Lessons
  • National Parks Expedition Challenge
    • Expedition Challenge Full List
    • Acadia to Bryce >
      • Acadia National Park
      • Alcatraz Island
      • Amache National Historic Site
      • Amistad National Recreation Area
      • Arches National Park
      • Assateague Island National Seashore
      • Badlands National Park
      • ​Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site
      • Big Bend National Park
      • Big Cypress National Preserve
      • Biscayne National Park
      • Black Canyon of the Gunnison
      • Bryce Canyon National Park
    • Cabrillo to Dry Tortugas >
      • Cabrillo National Monument
      • Cape Cod (ONE) National Seashore
      • Cape Cod (TWO) National Seashore
      • Carlsbad Caverns National Park
      • Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
      • César E. Chávez National Monument
      • Chaco Culture National Historical Park
      • Channel Islands National Park
      • Crater Lake National Park
      • Cumberland Island National Seashore
      • Cuyahoga Valley National Park
      • Dayton Aviation National Heritage Historical Park
      • Death Valley National Park
      • Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
      • Denali National Park
      • Dry Tortugas National Park
    • Eleanor to Fort Pulaski >
      • El Malpais National Monument
      • El Morro National Monument
      • Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site
      • Everglades National Park
      • FDR Memorial
      • First State National Historical Park
      • Flight 93 Memorial Park
      • Ford's Theatre
      • Fort Laramie National Historic Site
      • Fort Monroe National Monument
      • Fort Pulaski National Monument
    • Gateway to Hot Springs >
      • Gateway Arch National Park
      • Gettysburg National Military Park
      • Grand Canyon National Park
      • Grand Teton National Park
      • Great Smoky Mountains National Park
      • Guilford Courthouse National Military Park
      • Haleakala National Park
      • Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
      • Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
      • Homestead National Historical Park
      • Home of Franklin Roosevelt National Historic Site
      • Hopewell Culture National Historical Park
      • Hot Springs National Park
    • Indiana to Lincoln Memorial >
      • Indiana Dunes National Park
      • Isle Royale National Park
      • Jewel Cave National Monument
      • Jimmy Carter National Historical Park
      • Joshua Tree National Park
      • Kenai Fjords and Alaska Coastal Parks
      • Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park
      • Keweenaw National Historical Park
      • Lava Beds National Monument
      • Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail
      • Lincoln Home National Historic Site
      • Lincoln Memorial
    • Maggie to Pullman >
      • Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site
      • Mammoth Cave National Park
      • Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
      • Mesa Verde National Park
      • Natchez Trace Parkway
      • New River Gorge and Preserve National Park
      • Niobrara National Scenic River
      • Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum
      • Olympic National Park
      • Palo Alto Battlefield
      • Pearl Harbor National Memorial
      • Petroglyph National Monument
      • Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
      • Pinnacles National Park
      • Pipestone National Monument
      • Pullman National Monument
    • Redwood to Zion >
      • Redwood National and State Parks
      • Rocky Mountain National Park
      • Saguaro National Park
      • San Antonio Missions NHP
      • San Juan National Historic Site
      • Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail
      • Shenadoah National Park
      • Tidal Basin-NAMA
      • Tumacácori National Historical Park
      • Vanderbilt Mansion National Historical Site
      • Vicksburg National Military Park
      • Voyageurs National Park
      • Waco Mammoth National Monument
      • Wright Brothers Memorial
      • Yosemite National Park
      • Zion National Park
  • STEAM in the PARK
  • Crossing America