Know Your Parks » Parents

National Parks of the United States

Phil — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:46:36 +0000

National Parks are wonderful places to spend time with family and friends, relax and take a break from your daily routine as well as enjoy the beautiful scenery!

Parks, Fun and Education

Phil — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 23:48:32 +0000

The next time you are choosing between staying home and watching television or taking the kids to the park, think about the beautiful memories you will be making by changing your routine and the educational benefits your kids are going to get by being exposed to something new.

Vacations and day trips are fun and at the same time these trips can be educational. Preparing for and visiting a park offers the family opportunities to learn subjects like geography (visiting new places), history by visiting parks like the Statue of Liberty and math (think preparing a trip budget y measuring the distance to the park). Not only that, but park visitors could learn new skills like how to paddle a kayak or canoe, how to identify the planets in the sky or how to fish.

Below are a few links that show the connection between parks and education. If you want to learn more about your own state’s standards, look up your state education agency on the web.

The state of Massachusetts

Science in the state of Massachusetts Grades 3-5

The lifecycle and more http://www.doe.mass.edu/frameworks/scitech/1006.pdf

All of Massachusetts standards http://www.doe.mass.edu/frameworks/current.html

Texas

All of Texas’ standards

http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index2.aspx?id=6148&menu_id=720&menu_id2=785

The lifecycle is on page 23 of this informational website by Texas Parks and Wildlife

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/pwdpubs/media/pwd_bk_p4503_0131n.pdf

Photo is courtesy of Texas Parks and Wildlife

Animal Cams

Phil — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 22:38:26 +0000

If you or any kids you know love animals, then check out these web cams. Most of the cams show animals in their natural settings plus the kids might even be able to use these sites for their next school report! As we find more cams, we will update this post.

Elephant Seals along the California coast http://www.elephantseal.org/livecam.htm

Bald Eagles in Decorah, Iowa http://www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles

Turkey Vultures in Missouri http://www.ustream.tv/missouriturkeyvultures

Peregrine Falcons in the Mississippi River Valley http://www.ustream.tv/greatspiritblufffalcons

Peguins at the Monterey Bay Aquarium http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/efc/efc_splash/splash_cam.aspx

How Parks Relate to Education

Phil — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 22:44:05 +0000

Images courtesy of Texas Parks and Wildlife. The next time you are debating whether to sit around the house and watch tv or take the kids to a park, think about the wonderful memories you will create by breaking your routine and the educational benefits you and your kids will receive.
Vacations and day trips are supposed to be fun but they are also educational! Planning for and visiting a park offers adults and children alike opportunities to learn geography (going to new places), science (biology and astronomy for example), reading (new vocabulary), history (visiting national landmarks like the Statue of Liberty) and math (think budgeting and map reading). Park visitors can also acquire new lifelong skills like paddling a boat, birding, fishing and identifying the planets and stars in the night sky.

Find a park HERE and read 44 Ideas for Getting Your Kids Outdoors HERE.

Photo is courtesy of Texas Parks and Wildlife

State and Federal Fish Hatcheries

Phil — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 22:11:17 +0000

Looking for an unusual day trip to take with the kids? Try visiting a state or federal fish hatchery. The kids should be able to feed the fish and they can learn how the fish are raised if a tour is provided.

Federal Fish Hatcheries http://www.fws.gov/fisheries/nfhs/offices.html

State Fish Hatcheries

Alabama- http://www.dcnr.state.al.us/research-mgmt/hatcheries/

Alaska- http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fishingSportStockingHatcheries.hatcheries

Arizona- http://www.azgfd.gov/h_f/hatcheries.shtml

Arkansas- http://www.arkansas.com/outdoors/fishing/resources/fish-hatcheries.aspx

California- http://www.dfg.ca.gov/fish/hatcheries/

Colorado- http://wildlife.state.co.us/Fishing/ClinicsAndEducation/Hatcheries/Pages/Hatcheries.aspx

Connecticut- http://burlingtonct.us/visitors/dep-fish-hatchery.php

Delaware-

Florida-

Georgia- http://www.n-georgia.com/fish-hatcheries.htm