Expeditions In Education

06/16/2026

Today at STEAM in the PARK, our educators are stepping into the role of community scientists at New River Gorge National Park and Preserve as they participate in the Dragonfly Mercury Project alongside Aquatic Ecologist Jennifer and her amazing team.

Dragonflies spend much of their lives underwater as larvae, making them excellent indicators of what is happening in aquatic ecosystems. By collecting, identifying, and studying dragonfly larvae, our educators are contributing real data that helps scientists better understand mercury levels in waterways across North America.

One of our favorite parts of STEAM in the PARK is learning alongside the scientists who are doing the work every day. Instead of simply reading about environmental research, our educators have the opportunity to participate in it firsthand. Today, as we worked with Aquatic Ecologist Jennifer and her team, we were reminded that science is not confined to textbooks or laboratories—it happens in streams, forests, national parks, and communities.

We are especially excited that this marks our fourth year participating in the Dragonfly Mercury Project. Each year, educators from across the country contribute to a growing body of scientific knowledge while gaining experiences they can bring back to their classrooms. It's a powerful reminder that learning, discovery, and stewardship go hand in hand.

A huge thank you to Jennifer and the staff at New River Gorge for helping our educators connect science, stewardship, and citizen science in a meaningful way. Every dragonfly tells a story, and today we are helping uncover it.

06/15/2026

Sometimes opportunities open up that are simply too good not to share.

Our friends at the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont have a handful of rare openings for school groups this fall—including some of the most sought-after dates of the year. Even better, financial assistance may be available to help make these experiences possible for schools.

Tremont has been an incredible collaborative partner with us at Expeditions in Education. Together, we've welcomed educators from across the country through STEAM in the PARK, developed meaningful learning experiences, and watched firsthand as students and teachers connect with the natural world in powerful ways. We can honestly say that if your school has the opportunity to attend a program at Tremont, we would be thrilled for you to experience what makes this place so special.

If you've never taken students to Tremont, imagine learning science, ecology, stewardship, and teamwork in one of the most biodiverse places in North America, guided by some of the finest environmental educators anywhere. This is hands-on learning at its very best—where streams become classrooms, forests become laboratories, and curiosity leads the way.

Students don't just learn about nature at Tremont. They experience it. They investigate salamanders, explore mountain ecosystems, study watersheds, discover biodiversity, and build lifelong connections to the natural world.

Available Fall 2026 Dates:
• September 8–11
• September 14–18
• September 21–25
• September 28–30
• October 5–7
• October 26–28

If your school has ever dreamed about bringing students to the Great Smoky Mountains, this may be the perfect opportunity.

For information, availability, and financial aid questions, contact Youth Program Director Logan Rosenberg at [email protected].

Please help spread the word by sharing this post with educators, administrators, curriculum leaders, and schools who might benefit from this incredible opportunity.

We are proud to call Tremont a partner and even prouder to recommend them. We hope some of our Expeditions in Education friends will take advantage of these rare openings and give their students an experience they will never forget.

Over 50 Years of Connecting People and Nature While we celebrate the past, it’s the future we really have our sights on. Beyond our 50th year, we now find ourselves asking new questions. What should experiential education look

06/12/2026

National Parks. Real Problems. Student Solutions.

We're excited to announce the 3rd year of PARKQUEST Engineering, and we think it's our best series yet.

For three years, educators have used PARKQUEST Engineering to bring engineering, problem-solving, creativity, and conservation into their classrooms through challenges inspired by our national parks. This year, students won't just learn about these incredible places—they'll become the engineers helping protect them.

The 2026–2027 PARKQUEST Engineering Design Challenge Series takes students on a journey across eight national parks, where they will tackle authentic challenges inspired by the real work of scientists, rangers, researchers, and conservationists.

🏜 October — White Sands National Park
Design a system that helps reduce dune movement or protects sensitive habitats from wind erosion.

🐠 November — Dry Tortugas National Park
Create a solution that helps scientists study and protect fragile coral reef ecosystems.

🌋 December — Lassen Volcanic National Park
Build a heat-resistant observation platform near geothermal features.

🫎 January — Isle Royale National Park
Design a non-invasive wildlife tracking system for monitoring moose and wolves.

🦇 February — Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Engineer a low-impact cave lighting system that protects bats.

🌌 March — Great Basin National Park
Create a dark-sky friendly observatory or lighting system that protects the night sky.

✨ April — Congaree National Park
Design a way for visitors to experience fireflies while protecting their habitat.

🚜 May — Jimmy Carter National Historical Park
Build a farm tool that helps farmers plant, protect, or harvest crops more efficiently.

Each PARKQUEST Engineering Kit includes:

✔ Supplies for 5 student teams
✔ Complete engineering design challenge materials
✔ Lesson plans for K–3 and Grades 4–8
✔ Bonus digital resources and ranger videos
✔ Real-world connections to science, conservation, innovation, and public lands

Perfect for classrooms, STEM labs, after-school programs, museums, homeschool groups, and summer camps.

📦 Kits begin shipping in October 2026

💲 $65 per kit

💲 $500 for the complete 8-kit series (save $20)

The complete series must be ordered by September. After September, individual kits will be available while supplies last.

At Expeditions in Education, we believe students learn best when they are solving meaningful problems. PARKQUEST Engineering challenges students to think like engineers, work like scientists, and create solutions that could make a difference in the world around them.

For three years, we've watched students surprise themselves with what they can build. We can't wait to see what they create next.

Ready to bring the national parks into your classroom?

Order here:
https://forms.gle/XpGkyqBu566iPKbS6

Questions? Send an email to [email protected]

Because every national park has a challenge to solve—and every student has the potential to be the engineer who solves it.

06/12/2026

Summer Interlude: Don't Just Exist. Live

Last night I came across this quote: "You can't give your life more time. So give the time you have more life." It stayed with me all through the night and today I just had to write about it. Maybe because we're in the middle of another STEAM in the PARK season. Maybe because Steve and I have spent the last two weeks surrounded by educators who have traveled from all over the country to learn, laugh, reflect, and reconnect with the reasons they do what they do. Or maybe it's because the older I get, the more I realize that life moves a lot faster than I once thought it would.

I find myself thinking often about what really matters. Not the things that seem important in the moment. Not the headlines. Not the arguments. Not the things that keep us distracted from one another. I mean the things that remain when everything else is stripped away. Relationships. Kindness. Purpose. The people we love. The difference we make while we're here.

When Steve and I started Expeditions in Education, we weren't just thinking about lessons or field trips or national parks. We were thinking about people. We were thinking about the teachers who pour everything they have into their students and often wonder if anyone notices. We were thinking about kids who need opportunities to discover that they belong in science, in history, in art, in nature, and in this world. We were thinking about creating spaces where people could gather, learn from one another, and leave feeling a little more hopeful than when they arrived.

People often see the camps, the livestreams, the school visits, the lesson plans, and the adventures. Those things are certainly part of what we do, but they aren't really the point. The point has always been people.

We believe that when you encourage an educator, you impact hundreds of students. When you help a student discover wonder, confidence, or belonging, you change the trajectory of a life. When you bring good people together around a campfire, on a trail, or in a classroom, something beautiful happens. Walls come down. Stories get shared. New ideas emerge. Hearts soften. Hope grows.
And goodness knows we need more hope right now.

When I look at our grandchildren, I don't spend much time wondering what kind of technology they'll have or what jobs they'll hold. I wonder what kind of world they'll inherit. Will it be a world where people know how to listen? Will it be a world where compassion matters? Will it be a world where we see one another as neighbors instead of opponents? Will it be a world where curiosity wins over fear?

I hope so.

And I believe those things don't happen because of one big moment. They happen because ordinary people make ordinary choices every day. A teacher chooses to encourage a struggling student. A ranger shares a story that helps someone see a place differently. A volunteer gives their time. A parent shows up. A friend listens. Someone decides that building bridges is more important than building walls.

The truth is, none of us know how much time we've been given. We just know we've been given today. And today feels like enough reason to choose kindness, enough reason to invest in people, enough reason to leave a place a little better than we found it.

Steve and I often talk about the fact that we are not really in the education business. We are in the people business. Education just happens to be the vehicle. Every camp, every livestream, every mile traveled, every conversation around a campfire is our small attempt to help create a world with a little more empathy, a little more compassion, and a little more understanding.

Maybe that's why I couldn't shake that quote last night. It reminded me that a meaningful life isn't measured by how much we accumulate. It's measured by how much we give away. By the people we've encouraged. By the hope we've shared. By the lives we've touched. By whether the world is a little brighter because we spent some time in it.

That's the kind of life Steve and I want to live. And that's the kind of world we hope we're helping build together.

Don't just exist.
​
Live.

05/31/2026

"Nature heals."

I believe it does. I've seen it happen countless times. I've watched educators arrive carrying the stress, exhaustion, and weight of a long school year and leave feeling more hopeful, more connected, and more at peace. There is something powerful about standing in a forest, watching a sunrise, listening to waves crash along a shoreline, or sitting quietly beside a lake. Nature has a way of reminding us who we are.

But the older I get, the more I realize that nature healing people isn't the whole story. Sometimes people need an invitation first.

One of our STEAM in the PARK educators recently shared that, as an African American woman, there are places in this country where she would never feel comfortable traveling alone. Some national parks are located in remote areas where she would spend more time wondering if she was safe and welcome than appreciating the beauty around her. She told us that being part of STEAM in the PARK allowed her to experience these places in a community where she felt supported, welcomed, and able to focus on learning and exploration.

Her words have stayed with me because they reminded me of something important. Just because public lands belong to everyone doesn't mean everyone feels like they belong there.

This year, we have seen a significant increase in the number of educators of color who applied and were accepted to STEAM in the PARK. That matters. It matters because representation matters. It matters because every educator who discovers joy, peace, and belonging in these spaces will carry that experience back to their students and communities. It matters because some children may never consider visiting a national park until they see someone who looks like them sharing stories, photos, and experiences from one.

One thing this educator said especially resonated with me. She shared that her students need to see faces like theirs in national parks and outdoor spaces. They need to know that these places are for them too. Seeing someone who looks like them standing on a trail, exploring a tidepool, paddling a canoe, or watching fireflies dance in the dark can open doors of possibility that might otherwise remain closed.

Steve and I often say that STEAM in the PARK is about much more than visiting parks. It's about building community. It's about helping people feel welcomed. It's about creating spaces where people can learn, grow, connect, and simply be themselves. Most of all, it's about extending an invitation.

Because nature may heal, but sometimes healing begins when someone says, "Come with me."

Until everyone knows these places belong to them.
Until everyone feels welcome.
Until everyone sees themselves in the story.
Until everyone knows.

If you'd like to follow along with our summer journey through national parks across the country, we'll be sharing stories, reflections, and adventures throughout the season on our STEAM in the PARK blog at www.steaminthepark.net.

05/28/2026

Every summer, Steve and I hit the road not just to run camps, but to remind educators that they matter. This Saturday, we leave for 85 days on the road.

So many teachers spend the school year pouring everything they have into others while running on empty themselves. STEAM in the PARK was created to give something back. A place to breathe. A place to laugh. A place to reconnect with nature, creativity, and other people who understand this work.

We want educators to leave camp feeling valued, supported, and deeply cared for. We want them to remember that hope still exists, kindness still matters, and that what they do every single day changes lives.

At the end of the week, it’s never really about the schedules, field trips, or activities. It’s about people feeling seen again.

If you want to follow along with our summer journey, camp stories, and adventures on the road, you can follow our blog at steaminthepark.net.

05/18/2026

More than 25 years ago, during my 2nd year of teaching, I took my students to China. Well… virtually. Actually, we visited multiple places that year, but it all started with my love of panda bears.

These were 1st graders. My assistant, Kim, drove the students around the school a few times for our “trip to the airport.” Students packed suitcases and black trash bags full of their “travel gear.” We punched passports and when they arrived at school, our classroom had been transformed into an airport. Inside the room, we had hung shower curtains to create our airplane. Students climbed into rows of seats complete with jump ropes and seat-back pockets. We pulled the curtains around them like they were boarding a real flight. We served peanuts and juice in little paper cups, showed an in-flight movie, and I even held up the airplane sickness bag… which apparently inspired one student to actually throw up. After a little turbulence, we “landed.” The curtains opened and my classroom parents had completely transformed the room into China. There were panda bears everywhere, Chinese food and chopsticks, calligraphy, National Geographic magazines, decorations, and wonder. It was my very first virtual field trip.

I didn’t know it then, but that little classroom adventure would help shape the next 25 years of my life. Field trips are incredible, but they are not always equitable. Cost, distance, transportation, time, and access can create barriers. Virtual field trips open an entirely new world. Today, through Expeditions in Education, we have the privilege of taking students to national parks and public lands all across the country. No more jump ropes because tying students to chairs for an airplane experience probably would not go over very well today. No more peanuts. But the wonder is still there.

Take a look at what we’re building at expeditionsineducation.org

05/16/2026

Over the past several years, STEAM in the PARK has grown into something far bigger than we ever imagined. What began as a dream to connect educators, students, nature, and meaningful learning experiences has now reached educators all across the country in powerful and lasting ways.

One of the most affirming parts of this journey has been seeing our work recognized beyond the camps themselves. STEAM in the PARK has been featured in print publications and has even become the focus of both a doctoral thesis and a master’s capstone project. To know that educators and researchers are studying this work, reflecting on its impact, and sharing it with others is incredibly humbling.

More than anything, it reminds us that this community matters.

The relationships. The campfires. The learning. The connection to parks, science, storytelling, and each other. It is making a difference.

As of today, STEAM in the PARK has taken more than 1,100 educators to 47 national park sites across the country. By the end of this summer, that number will grow to 59 national park sites.

And this summer, we are hitting the road again.

From Great Smoky Mountains to Assateague Island, New River Gorge, Glacier, Olympic, Bryce Canyon, Rocky Mountain, Indiana Dunes, Voyageurs, and Sitka, we will travel more than 16,000 miles bringing educators together through adventure, learning, science, storytelling, and connection.

We will be chronicling the entire journey this summer at www.steaminthepark.net

Thank you to every ranger, educator, scientist, volunteer, supporter, and family member who has helped make this community what it is today. We are deeply honored to continue this work and cannot wait to see what this summer brings.

The application window has closed for STEAM in the PARK 2026.

05/15/2026

Introducing the:
🍃 Leave It Better Family Challenge 🍃

This summer, we are inviting families to slow down, step outside, and take action together through simple acts of stewardship inspired by our national parks and public lands.

Maybe it’s:
🗑️ picking up litter on a trail
🦋 planting native flowers for pollinators
💧 protecting local waterways
🌙 learning about dark skies
🏕️ caring for shared outdoor spaces

The best part?
There is no “perfect” way to complete the challenge.

You do not need expensive gear, fancy trips, or a huge plan.
You just need curiosity, kindness, and a willingness to care for the places we all share.

Families can complete one mission… or all seven challenge areas throughout the summer.

Because small actions really do create BIG impact. 💚

We would LOVE to see what your family comes up with. Share your photos, ideas, stewardship projects, and adventures with us throughout the summer.

05/13/2026

WHAT IF YOUR FAMILY HELPED SOLVE A REAL NATIONAL PARK CHALLENGE THIS SUMMER?

Across America’s national parks, many rangers struggle to find affordable housing near the places they serve. Some parks also need more creative and environmentally friendly lodging options for visiting families.

So we thought… what if kids and families became the designers?

Introducing the National Park Tiny Home Family Design Challenge from Expeditions in Education

This summer, families are invited to design:
🏡 Tiny homes
🚐 Campers
🛖 Ranger stations
🌲 Lookout towers
🔥 Cabins
🌎 Eco-lodges

—all inspired by America’s beautiful national parks and public lands.

The challenge is to imagine how people can live, travel, explore, and work in small spaces while protecting the environment and adapting to different climates and ecosystems.

There is no “right” way to participate. Create one project or spend the whole summer designing multiple ideas together.

Who knows? The next great ranger housing idea or eco-friendly family lodge might come from YOUR kitchen table this summer.

✨ Big ideas can come from very small spaces.

Explore the challenge here:
https://www.expeditionsineducation.org/family-design-challenges.html