|
The Teacher–Ranger–Teacher (TRT) program provides opportunities for teachers to connect to the resources in a national park. Teachers develop lesson plans based on their park experience for use in the classroom and parks. The program focuses on teachers from schools with ethnically diverse student populations, who have had little or no experience with national parks or limited opportunity to explore the relevance parks can have in their lives and the lives of their students.
Acadia National Park hosted its first teacher-ranger in summer 2007. To see pictures of her experience at the park, visit this photo gallery.
Program Background
Classroom teachers are detailed as park rangers to Acadia National Park through an Inter-Governmental Personnel Act (IPA) agreement between their own public school district and the National Park Service. This program links Acadia with teachers from under-served school districts. Teachers spend 8-10 weeks working and living in the park. They perform various duties depending on their interests and the needs of the park. During this time, the park provides a ranger uniform, shared housing, and a stipend ($300/week).
Once they return to their schools, teacher-rangers bring national parks into the classroom throughout the school year. During National Park Week in April, teacher-rangers wear their NPS uniform to school and engage students and other teachers in activities that relate to Acadia and other NPS sites.
Benefits
To Teacher-Rangers:
- Obtain a wide range of new knowledge and skills by working with park staff and partners
- Enhance their curriculum in multiple content areas
- Gain access to a wide array of teaching resources and tools
- Begin or extend a life-long personal connection with national parks
To School Children:
- Provide an opportunity to connect to their nation’s heritage in new and creative ways
- Learn about the possibilities for volunteering and paid employment with the National Park Service
- Receive new tools and resources for exploring natural and cultural history
To Acadia National Park:
- Opportunity to reach new or under-served audiences
- Build a network of enthusiastic, knowledgeable educators who are able to teach their students and colleagues about the ethics and issues of heritage conservation
- Enrich the park visitor experience through the programming and visitor service offered by the teacher-ranger
To National Park Partners:
- Serve partner missions or interests to promote the understanding, protection, and conservation of Acadia National Park
- Participate in and assess outreach efforts by park partners
- Strengthen collaborative relationship with NPS
Potential Park Experiences
Future TRT assignments and projects will depend upon the individuals hired and current park projects. Training in natural and cultural history and the National Park Service mission will be provided. Duties may include observing, preparing, and presenting public programs; staffing the visitor center; roving interpretation; assisting with field research; performing visitor surveys; evaluating school programs; providing community outreach; working with other divisions in the park; or assisting park staff at St. Croix International Historic Site (Calais, Maine) and teacher workshops.
Learn more about Acadia's TRT duties in the position description.
Application Process
Park TRT information is posted here and disseminated through teacher list serves. Teachers apply directly to the park by completing the application form below. Hiring is usually completed in January.
Application
- Word document (45kb)
- Fillable pdf (107kb)
More Information
Contact Cynthia Ocel, education coordinator, via e-mail or by phone (207-288-8822).
A list of all parks participating in the Teacher-Ranger-Teacher program is available on the Wupatki National Monument website.
| 
