Back to School
From science to history, national parks are America’s largest classrooms.
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The Next GenerationStudent visits to national parks help spark a lifelong love of conservation. By increasing access to our national parks, help ensure the next generation of park stewards.
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Tailored to State CurriculumParks make textbooks come to life! Because park field trips funded through NPF’s Open OutDoors for Kids program tie to the state’s curriculum, each student’s experience in the park is an extension of their classroom learning.
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Going Beyond the TextbookIn addition to the ecology, history, and other subjects taught in parks, our national parks are a place to build self-confidence, critical thinking, and curiosity about the world around us.
Bringing Students to National Parks & National Parks to Classrooms
It’s back to school time! At the National Park Foundation (NPF), back to school can mean a traditional classroom or a field trip to a nearby national park. Whether you’re at home or boarding a bus, there are so many ways to engage with national parks and do a deep dive on history, geology, geography, and so much more. With resources for parents, teachers, and kids, find your spot in America’s biggest classrooms.
NPF's Work in This Space
NPF helps connect people of all ages, including students, to our national parks through programs and specialized projects.
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Area of WorkYouth Engagement & EducationWith curricula and experiences that bring to life what students learn in the classroom, NPF's Youth Engagement & Education programs give kids the chance to connect with nature and our parks in new ways.
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Area of WorkOutdoor ExplorationNPF's Outdoor Exploration programs help ensure everyone can enjoy and create life-long relationships with our magnificent national parks.
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ProgramOpen OutDoors for KidsNPF and our partners have connected more than 1 million students to parks through Open OutDoors for Kids program, supporting field trips, classroom activities, and more.
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ProgramJunior Ranger AnglerJunior Ranger Angler programs, supported by NPF in parks across the country, encourage young people to earn their Jr. Ranger patch and certificate by participating in a series of fishing activities.
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ProgramField ScienceField Science helps teachers gain a greater confidence in using parks as science classrooms and enhances students' understanding of scientific concepts.
NPF Resources
Explore guides and resources from NPF, our partners, and NPS that help connect classroom activities and lessons to our national parks.
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Earn Your BadgeBecome a Junior Ranger OnlineComplete a series of activities online to join the NPS family, and take your oath to protect the land, resources, and history of national parks.
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ThemeParks at HomeWith virtual tours, webcams, educational opportunities, and more, explore NPF's guide to enjoying parks at home.
NPS Resources
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Oral HistoriesInterview an ElderWith this activity from Cuyahoga Valley National Park, students can learn about how historians collect and use oral histories.
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Hands-On ScienceBackyard GeologyThis activity from Devils Tower National Monument helps guide students in making notes about rocks around you, including how to identify types of rocks.
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Cultural ResourcesDecode a Coded MessageStudents use their decoding skills to determine what Dr. Benjamin Church wrote to the British army in 1775 with this activity from Longfellow House - Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site.
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Environmental ScienceRecycling Vs. UpcyclingThis activity from First State National Historical Park guides students through the basics of recycling and upcycling, including how long things take to decompose and what we can do to help our environment.
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Hands-On HeritageBuild Your Own ParflecheStudents can get crafty and construct their own parfleche, a folded carrying bag made by the Plains Indians, with this activity from Fort Union National Monument.
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Women's HistoryDesign Your Own Ratification StarWith this activity from Belmont-Paul Women's Equality National Monument students can design their own ratification star to express themselves, their town, and more.