September 16, 2008
Wow! What a response for field trips I've gotten this fall. The Glacier National Park "Educational Opportunities" flyer was sent to all teachers who had previously been on a field trip to Glacier National Park to remind them about our educational options for this school year. I tried to get the flyer to the schools by August 25 so teachers would have time to arrange a fall field trip. I guess it worked as my phone has been ringing off the hook ever since! Thanks for all of your interest and enthusiasm to bring your students to Glacier.

I have pretty much filled all the field trip slots available for fall and have been slowly filling in the schedule for winter field trips (January, February and March 2009). I'm also taking reservations for May to help out the schools that must turn their bus/field trip requests for the entire school year in now. 

Remember, one of our summer interpreters is staying on through December (to finish her college internship) and is putting together a one-hour "Glacier and Climate Change" classroom presentation for secondary students. Let me know if you would be interested in having her come to your school this November or December.

Finally, our newly updated bear and wolf trunks are checked out through October but available after that. Both have new books, DVDs, lesson plans, and hands-on materials.

Next week, I will out of the office for a few days in order to attend the Montana Children & Nature Summit in Helena on Sept. 23. Organized by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, the Summit will convene local, state and federal land and recreation resource managers, health care professionals, educators, representatives of non-profit groups and private industry to discuss the importance of reconnecting children with nature in Montana’s big backyard.

For more information about the movement to reconnect children with nature visit the Children and Nature Network (C&NN) website. The C&NN was created to encourage and support the people and organizations working to reconnect children with nature. C&NN provides access to the latest news and research in the field and a peer-to-peer network of researchers and individuals, educators and organizations dedicated to children's health and well-being.