State Parks for Educational Rejuvination
There are no better places than United States state parks to rejuvenate the spirit and gain something fantastic to bring into the classroom. It does not matter where in the country you happen to reside, there are state parks within your reach. Summer is a fantastic time to take your family and think about planning a day outside with your students. Teachers learn about the multiple intelligence’s of their students, but we need to actually go outside to tap into the naturalistic learner residing in all of us. We are sometimes overwhelmed by the mountains of paperwork involved in taking students on field trips to learn about the world around them. We need to rethink about the possibilities of outdoor learning by getting outside ourselves during the summer months to explore the possibilities that are available for our students. Your state may have parks under many names including state forests, natural areas, national forests, national grasslands, landmarks, monuments, historic sites, geologic sites, recreation trails, memorial sites, preserves, or wildlife areas. Many of these facilities have paid professionals who can help you plan educational activities for the students you teach.
A survey of the state parks interactive map provided a wealth of educational ideas that you might want to explore this summer. You can find locations for low-cost fun in the states you plan to visit and see the listing for your own state. Some of the highlights that popped up were the access to guidebooks online, recent reviews from visitors, and a fantastic photo gallery to get you and your students thinking about learning in the great outdoors. Whether you are headed to the beach, the mountains, the caves, or the plains there are state parks with educational opportunities ready for your to explore. All teachers need to rejuvenate in the summer months and state parks have a wealth of lodging options, educational activities and pristine beauty to provide just the relaxation you deserve.
