Rangers Visits to Washington, Iron, and Kane County Classrooms

“It was an incredible opportunity for my students to connect their learning in the classroom with the real world. As a result, my students were motivated and inspired to explore the park with their families, and most importantly, they become more aware of the importance of conservation and preservation of our National Parks!”

-TEACHER, HERITAGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

The Rangers in the Classroom Program is dedicated to bringing experiential learning opportunities to 4th and 5th grade classrooms. In 2019, six seasonal park Rangers visited hundreds of classrooms, engaging with thousands of children in Washington, Iron, and Kane counties. With a specific focus on the region’s 23 Title I schools, this program reaches students from low-income families who may have never visited one of our parks, despite living only a short distance away. As park rangers enter their classrooms, children learn our parks belong to each of them and are personally invited to visit.

“We were lucky enough to have a Zion National Park ranger visit our classroom,” says a Heritage Elementary school teacher. “It was an incredible opportunity for my students to connect their learning in the classroom with the real world. As a result, my students were motivated and inspired to explore the park with their families, and most importantly, they become more aware of the importance of conservation and preservation of our National Parks!”

We’re expanding the program this year with new curriculum-based programming and interactive lessons. Better yet, classroom engagement will be extended to include visits during the fall months, impacting about 1,000 additional students. The Rangers will focus their teaching on Utah’s ecosystems and the sedimentary rock cycle, helping each student understand the natural forces impacting the Greater Zion Landscape, as well as their own unique role within it.