Teacher-Ranger-Teacher

The Teacher-Ranger-Teacher (TRT) program provides a unique professional development experience by linking national park units with teachers from predominantly Title 1 (at least 30 percent of students on free or reduced cost meals) school districts. Teachers participating in the program will complete a three-credit hour online course in experiential learning through the University of Colorado Denver while they also experience diverse functions of park operations through shadowing NPS staff. Teachers who successfully complete both the online graduate course and the NPS program requirements will receive a stipend that can help cover living expenses and local travel costs to participate in the program.

Once TRTs return to their schools, they bring their park knowledge and experiences into the school and classrooms throughout the school year to engage students, faculty, and staff in lessons and activities that relate to Manhattan Project NHP and other National Park Service sites.

TRTs and NPS staff plan a major education project to be completed by the teacher as part of the online course requirements. The project, depending on their interests and the needs of the park, could include developing and presenting interpretive programs for school field trips or summer camps, creating new content for the NPS educator's portal, developing curriculum-based materials for the park, or other special education related projects. Specific projects for each year and location are listed on the application.