The National Parks Classroom
What is the National Parks Classroom?
The National Parks Classroom is an educational presentation for kids that uses America’s National Parks as dramatic backdrops to reinforce key concepts of earth science, ecology, history, and preservation. These interactive sessions have beautiful visual aids and live demonstrations that help deepen their learning. Questions are always encouraged!
Program Details
Instead of just reading about things like the animal ecosystem in Yellowstone or how the Grand Canyon was formed… students see it happen through live demonstrations, vivid storytelling, and dramatic video footage. It reinforces these concepts to kids in a way that really sticks.
Who is this for?
Ideal for 2nd through 6th graders
Small to medium groups work best; 30-35 kids max.
Easy to host in settings like:
-
Classrooms
-
Libraries
-
Conference rooms
-
Science labs
Access to a TV or projector is required.
What to know
Cost = $275 per session
Cost is reduced to $200 for each additional session booked on the same day. Maximum of four sessions per day.
Available weekdays from Labor Day through Memorial Day, between 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM.
Travel surcharge for venues more than 1-hour from Mason, OH.
Core Learning Topics
Preservation
What is a national park and why do we have them?
Yosemite
National Park
Fire Ecology
Fire: a forest's natural reset button.
Sequoia
National Park
Animal Ecology
How can one animal impact an entire ecosystem?
Yellowstone
National Park
Glaciation
What makes certain lakes a vivid turquoise color?
Glacier
National Park
Deposition & Erosion
How did the Grand Canyon form?
Grand Canyon
National Park
Human History
Native American life: a home in the parks.
Mesa Verde
National Park
What is included?
Live Demos
Students will watch live demonstrations that help deepen their active learning of cause and effect, systems thinking, and observation and reasoning—all framed within the exciting backdrop of the national parks.
Handouts
Teachers will receive handouts afterwards that include national park-themed questions, like, “How does fire play a role in forest growth?”. Kids will also enjoy scenic coloring pages, a word search, and a short, relevant vocab list.
Foster Curiousity
“What happened to Yellowstone when wolves were reintroduced in the 90s?” Dozens of questions like this pique curiosities not just once, but each time a child hears the word Yellowstone, wolf, or ecology from now on.
About the Presenter
Nick Mock is a Cincinnati native and brings his passion for the national parks into educational settings through engaging, age-appropriate storytelling. He is the owner of TripPossible, a national park trip-planning company dedicated to helping people experience America’s National Parks with confidence and appreciation. He is also the co-host of Parks Made Possible, a podcast and video show that shares stories and recommendations from across the U.S. national park system.
Outside of his work, Nick is an avid explorer of America’s wild places. He is an AoC Certified youth sports coach, husband to a fellow parks lover (Kate), and father of two adventurous boys.
