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Date: October 23, 2006
Contact: Nash, (307) 344-2010
Contact: Vallie, (307) 344-2012

Mark your calendars for Yellowstone National Park’s newest electronic field trip, Getting into Hot Water. The program premieres November 1-3, 2006, on the Windows Into Wonderland electronic field trip (eTrip) website www.windowsintowonderland.org.

Born in the mountains of Yellowstone, the Firehole River becomes truly special as it flows through some of the most remarkable country on our planet. By the end of its run, the river has passed through the park’s major geyser basins and nearly a quarter of its water comes from hot springs and geysers. During this eTrip, viewers will learn how the river’s water chemistry and living creatures are affected by thermal infusions. Students will also be challenged to ponder what constitutes a damaged ecosystem and consider how this naturally thermally-altered river may reflect or predict changes in streams exposed to human-caused thermal pollution.

Designed for a middle school audience, the program contains scripted dialogue, animations, illustrations, and streaming audio content. Video clips showcase investigations of the Firehole River by local students and researchers, while the program’s subject matter is reinforced by in-trip activities and quizzes. The eTrip lasts approximately 60 minutes and includes lesson plans, guided by the National Education Standards, to extend the on-line experience. The program will also offer an open message board from 9:00 a.m. MST on November 1 to 4:00 p.m. MST on November 3 to allow viewers to post questions and receive responses from subject matter experts. Getting into Hot Water is funded by the National Science Foundation through a generous grant to the Yellowstone Park Foundation.

Sixteen previous eTrips, focusing on Yellowstone’s wildlife, history, geology, and ecology, are available online 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Participation in the park’s electronic field trips is free and students from more than 130 countries and all 50 states are already attending the park’s global classroom. To date, programs on the Windows Into Wonderland site have been the recipients of seven major awards. Educators are encouraged to register online at http://www.windowsintowonderland.org. For more information contact Sally Plumb at (307) 344-2318.