Alcatraz Occupation: Power in Community

 

Education Reservations Forms for the 2025-2026 school year are now live! To apply, please submit the form found at the bottom of this page. For questions, please email GOGA_Education@nps.gov

 
 
Two students write notes and discuss with a Park Ranger inside the Red Power on Alcatraz Exhibit
Students asking a NPS Ranger questions during an education program

NPS / Kirke Wrench

Overview

Grades 9-12th

What motivates a community to take civic action?

Students focus on the 1969-1971 American Indian Occupation struggle for sovereignty and self-determination. They learn through narratives of people who were involved in the Occupation, and conduct field investigations by using the physical environment and historic clues to deepen their understanding of the movement.

Alcatraz Occupation: Power in Community uses the Understanding by Design framework, incorporates Common Core Standards and Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies. The program is framed by the essential question - What motivates a community to take civic action?

 

Program Structure

The program is structured in the following three-touch model:

  1. Classroom Preparation – Teachers complete 1 pre-lesson with resources provided by the park addressing an introduction to Alcatraz and what led to the Occupation. A pre-visit lesson by NPS staff is also offered before the field session – please share details about preferred NPS staff visit in the Education Reservation Request Form.

  1. Field Session – the island experience in which students conduct a field investigation of the Occupation. Please share details about preferred date in the Education Reservation Request Form.

  1. Classroom Assessment – opportunities for students to demonstrate what they have learned through a photo project of their investigations on Alcatraz. Please email or mail back student work to NPS staff.

 

How to Apply

Step 1: Educators must complete the Education Reservation Request Form.

Step 2: Park staff will reach out to accepted classes after September 26th, 2025 to schedule a date for your class visit and park visit. Please keep in mind, programs on Alcatraz are only offered Wednesday - Friday.

Step 3: New teachers must attend a Teacher Workshop to confirm program dates.

Step 4: Teachers complete pre-site lessons with students before the scheduled Ranger Class visit. Ranger visits the classroom virtually or in-person.

Step 5: Class attends in-person park visit.

Step 6: Teachers complete the post-site lesson and share student work with Rangers.

 

Education Reservation Request Form

Use this form to apply for the Alcatraz Occupation: Power In Community Education Program.    

Please note the following:  

Program Logistics:  

  • Education Programs are only offered Tuesday-Friday. Programs are FREE of charge. Programs may be available in a Spanish/English bilingual setting – please be sure to request a bilingual program with the Ranger ahead of time.    
  • Ranger-led programs generally last 2-4 hours, not including driving or lunch time. Expect total time of park visits (travel to site, program, lunch) to be approximately 3-6 hours.  
  • Please keep in mind due to program timing, we highly recommend classes who apply are no more than 1 hour away from the park site  
  • New teachers are expected to attend a Teacher Workshop to be considered for a program – workshop dates will be announced on each program website. 
  • Bus scholarships may be available for high need schools. If interested in a scholarship, please include this request in the transportation section of the form. 

Group Size: 

  • Due to limited staffing at each park site, we ask that classes only apply to one of the program offerings throughout Golden Gate National Recreation Area.  

Chaperones: 

  • Chaperones are expected to attend and support each program – 1 per 10 student ratio. 
  • Chaperones play a key role in making park programs successful and safe. Here’s what to expect on your park visit:  
    • Support student safety—your primary role throughout the day. 
    • Guide learning – help students stay focused on the lesson or speaker. 
    • Assist with materials – help distribute and collect as needed. 
    • Supervise lunch and clean-up – provide guidance during breaks. 
    • Stay curious and flexible – your attitude sets the tone for students! 

NPS Form 10-1750 (Rev. 04/2021)
National Park Service

OMB Control No. 1024-0228
Expiration Date 11/30/2025

Disclaimer:

A park representative will follow-up to confirm group details once this request has been received and reviewed.


NPS Form 10-1750 (Rev. 04/2021)
National Park Service

OMB Control No. 1024-0228
Expiration Date 11/31/2025

Notices

Privacy Act Statement

Authority: Public Law 114-289 National Park Service Centennial Act and 54 U.S.C. 100701 Protection, interpretation, and research in System.

Purpose: To administer education programs for education audiences including but not limited to school groups, scouting groups, extracurricular groups, and home school groups.

Routine Uses: To effectively manage requests for education received by the NPS, the Education Reservation Request Form is used to collect basic education reservation information to facilitate operational aspects of scheduling groups for park education programs, including in-park education programs, ranger in classroom programs, and/or online distance learning programs.

Disclosure: Voluntary, however, failure to provide the requested information may impede the ability to grant your education reservation request.

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement

We are collecting this information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501) to provide park managers and educators the information needed to schedule and conduct education program activities. All applicable parts of the form must be completed in order for your request to be considered. You are not required to respond to this or any other Federal agency-sponsored information collection unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. OMB has approved this collection of information and assigned control number 1024-0288.

Estimated Burden Statement

Public reporting for this collection of information is estimated to average 5 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the Information Collection Clearance Officer, National Park Service, 1201 Oakridge Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80525. Do not send your completed form to this address.

Last updated: August 26, 2025

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

Golden Gate National Recreation Area
201 Fort Mason

San Francisco, CA 94123

Phone:

415-561-4700
United States Park Police Dispatch: Non-Emergency: 415-561-5505 Emergency: 415-561-5656

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