On July 31, Zach Alley concluded his Teacher-Ranger-Teacher (TRT) experience at Big South Fork NRRA. A fifth grade teacher in Fentress County, Tennessee, Zach worked as Big South Fork’s TRT, where his main focus was to create new educational resources that highlighted the amazing adaptations of the animals within the park. He created a new lesson plan, which will allow students to gain a better understanding of the three species of owls within the park, their importance, and how the interdependence of species plays a crucial role in the forest ecosystem. Zach also created a scavenger hunt and “break-out" activity that can be used to enhance our on-site educational programs.
As to why Zach applied, he said: “I applied to be a Teacher Ranger Teacher because I thought this would be an excellent chance for me to connect with our local park (Big South Fork) and local park rangers. It would also allow me to network with them to enhance the real-world learning process for my students and other students at my school"
When asked what his experience as a TRT was like, he said: “My experience as a TRT was an amazing opportunity. I gained a lot of knowledge about the park which allows me to raise awareness about the National Park Service."
The TRT program is a professional development opportunity for K-12 teachers to spend the summer acquiring new skills in experiential learning through a program provided by a partnership between the National Park Service and the University of Colorado at Denver (CUD). The participants spend between four and six weeks in a NPS unit developing a major educational project and participating in an online graduate course from CUD. The goal of the program is to train teachers in the resources and themes of the NPS so that they can return to their schools in the fall and incorporate their new skills into their classrooms.
Tags: teacher-ranger-teacher education
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
