Yellowstone National Park is one of the premier outdoor classrooms in the world, annually drawing hundreds of visiting students and teachers eager to learn about the Park’s diverse cultural and natural resources. Until recently, Yellowstone was not staffed or equipped to deal with the overwhelming number of requests it receives from regional and national school groups seeking one-day, guided educational experiences in the Park. Day-long interpretive programs were offered only when staff were available and most schools requesting this service were turned away. The Park was also not able to meet the needs of teachers who wished to participate in teacher-training workshops which focused on Yellowstone-related issues like wolf restoration, Park history, or microbiology. Funding was thus sought to help the Park initiate both an Educational Day Use Program for School Groups and to support three annual Teacher Training Workshops. Specifically, funds will be used to support student and teacher scholarships. Through a generous grant from Toyota, this program is fully funded through 2010. It is estimated that annually the day use program will reach more than 9,000 students and that the workshops will serve 72 educators who, through their training, will impact the lives of 2,000 to 3,000 additional students.
Total Project Cost: $154,180