Expeditions In Education

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

05/12/2026

What if your family could explore America’s national parks without leaving the dinner table?

This summer, we are inviting families to take part in the Parks on the Table Family Challenge presented by Expeditions in Education.

Choose a national park or public land site, learn about the region, and create a meal inspired by the place. From blueberry pancakes inspired by Acadia National Park to campfire dinners connected to Voyageurs National Park, families can cook, learn, explore, and connect together.

You might:

*host a campfire cooking night

*create a national park picnic

*let your children become Junior Park Chefs

*complete an Around America Dinner Week

*document your meals through journals, recipes, photos, and drawings

Families can complete as many park-inspired meals as they would like throughout the summer.

Adventure can happen around the dinner table.
www.expeditionsineducation.org

05/11/2026

SUMMER IS ALMOST HERE… ☀️

And for many families, the question becomes: “What are we going to do with the kids all summer?”

Summer camps can be wonderful, but they are not always equitable in price, accessibility, transportation, or support for children with special needs and different learning styles. So if you are a stay-at-home parent, grandparent, caregiver, or family wanting to create a meaningful summer without spending thousands of dollars, we have an idea for you.

At Expeditions in Education we believe adventure should belong to EVERY child.

This summer, challenge your family to explore America together through FREE ranger videos, virtual field trips, STEM activities, livestreams, and outdoor adventures.

Here are just a FEW of the parks and sites you can virtually visit with us this summer:

Grand Teton National Park
Grand Canyon National Park
Redwood National and State Parks
Voyageurs National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Glacier National Park
White Sands National Park
Yosemite National Park
Biscayne National Park
Indiana Dunes National Park
Acadia National Park
Olympic National Park
New River Gorge National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park
Mammoth Cave National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park
Crater Lake National Park
Assateague Island National Seashore
Everglades National Park
Mesa Verde National Park
Channel Islands National Park
Death Valley National Park
Joshua Tree National Park
Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park
Isle Royale National Park
Shenandoah National Park
Gettysburg National Military Park
Gateway Arch National Park
Saguaro National Park
Denali National Park
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Zion National Park
Arches National Park
Big Cypress National Preserve
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Sitka National Historical Park
Congaree National Park
Badlands National Park
Mount Rainier National Park

Some simple ideas for your summer:
• Watch a ranger video together
• Visit a local trail or park
• Keep a nature journal
• Learn one new animal every week
• Track your parks on a giant map
• Complete STEM challenges together
• Sketch, hike, explore, wonder, and create

You do not need expensive camps to create unforgettable summers. Sometimes the greatest adventures begin right in your own backyard.

You can find all of the above content and more at Expeditions in Education

05/08/2026

As the school year begins to wind down, our hearts are full of gratitude for the incredible support of the National Park Foundation and their belief in the power of connecting students to our national parks through education.

Because of their support in funding Crossing America Season 5, more than 95,000 students have already experienced our LiveStreams and/or participated LIVE during school visits this year, and the numbers are still growing as schools continue to engage through the end of the school year.

We are deeply honored to create this series for students and educators across the country. Every LiveStream, every ranger conversation, every student question, and every moment of wonder matters. Crossing America is doing more than teaching science, history, and stewardship. It is impacting student lives.

One of the most meaningful parts of this work is helping park rangers bring their voices into classrooms and communities they may never physically visit, while also connecting students to parks they may never have the opportunity to experience in person. Through this collaboration, students from all backgrounds are able to experience the stories, science, beauty, and importance of our national parks in ways that feel personal, meaningful, and real.

To the National Park Foundation, thank you for believing in this vision, supporting innovation in education, and helping us open doors for students everywhere. Your encouragement and partnership have meant the world to us.

We are incredibly grateful and excited for what is still ahead. Please enjoy our final sizzle reel of the season.

Crossing America FINAL 25 26 Sizzlewww.crossingamerica.netThank you to the National Parks Foundation and the thousands of students, educators, and rangers wh...

05/05/2026

A huge thank you to the 100+ incredible educators at Lonsdale Elementary in Tennessee for being such an engaged, thoughtful, and inspiring audience. Your energy filled the room and made the entire experience so meaningful.

This special day of professional learning was made possible through the support of the National Park Foundation, in collaboration with Expeditions in Education and Crossing America.

Together, we explored Rooted in Nature, a new PK–12 framework created by Expeditions in Education’s Chief Education Officer, Dacia Jones, designed to bring the outside in and help students connect more deeply with the natural world. You leaned into every moment, shared ideas, and reminded us just how powerful educators are.

A special thanks to Laura Filtness for entering the contest and hosting us today. We are so grateful for your leadership and for opening your school to this experience.

Thank you for showing up, for pouring into your students, and for being the heart of this work. What a day.