Schools in Parks Collaborative

The Center for Public Engagement with Science leads the Schools in Parks Collaboratives, a year-long professional development program to foster increased confidence and sense of efficacy among 3rd, 4th and 5th grade teachers in using outdoor science learning approaches in state parks to support their curriculum objectives. Schools in Parks is a state-wide initiative of North Carolina State Parks to ensure that every public school student in the state has a meaningful learning experience in a state park by the time of graduation.

During the Collaboratives, classroom teachers and park rangers take part in a series of workshops where hands-on, inquiry-based activities aligned with state standards and integrated with multiple content areas are modeled for use on field trips. Teacher and rangers partner to develop lessons that can be used to support student learning in state parks over the course of the school year. Collaboratives also provide educators with resources for using the schoolyard as an outdoor classroom, access to a peer network for outdoor learning, continuing education credits, stipends and support in planning a state park field trip during the school year.

Curriculum | Outdoor Teaching Resources | State Parks Resources | Program Contacts

Curriculum & Lesson Plans

Schools in Parks Program Outlines

• Go Outdoors! Tips & Tricks
• Beaver Adaptations
• Biodiversity Soup! A Look at Lake Ecology
• Bird Identification Hike
• Incredible Plant Adaptations
• Nature Journaling Sample Entries
• Silent Hike | Extra Silent Hike Cards
• Tree Life Cycles in a Forest
• Who’s in the Water? A Stream Study

Schools in Parks Warm-ups & Icebreakers

• Fox: An Ecosystem Name Game
• Have You Ever? Natural Science Icebreaker
• Raptor Yoga
• Rock, Paper, Scissors Ecosystems

Scavenger Hunts/Bingo

• Nature Scavenger Hunt (pdf) (editable version)
• Nature Bingo
• Lake James State Park
  • Holly Discovery Trail (no creek) | Instructions | Answer Key
  • Holly Discovery Trail (with creek) | Instructions | Answer Key
• Medoc Mountain State Park
  • Habitat Adventure Trail | Instructions |  Answer Key

NC State Parks Field Trip Resources

• North Carolina State Parks
  • Core Curriculum Standards for State Parks Field Trips
  • Field Trip Request Form
  • Field Trip Transportation Reimbursement from Friends of State Parks (template)
  • Field Trip Transportation Reimbursement from Friends of State Parks (example)
  • Post Field Trip Survey & Link to Final Stipend Form

Program Contacts

North Carolina State Parks, Interpretation & Education (I&E)

Sean Higgins, I&E Manager

sean.higgins@ncparks.gov | 919-805-2194

Randy Bechtel, I&E Specialist

randy.bechtel@ncparks.gov | 919-707-9325

Ben Herman, Outdoor Recreation Coordinator (Big Canoes)

ben.herman@ncparks.gov | 919-602-0937

Friends of State Parks

David Pearson, Executive Director

davidp@ncfsp.org | 910-389-0210

UNC Institute for the Environment, Center for Public Engagement with Science

Mary Meyer, Elementary Environmental Education Consultant

Sarah Yelton, Environmental Education & Citizen Science Program Manager