Why a National Parks Trip

I know that some of you are probably thinking we are crazy to spend so much money on a camper and a new truck just to go on vacation.  But let me try to explain to you our thinking....

1. I am an educator for a reason.  I love to learn.  I am an Environmental Science teacher because I have a passion for our planet.  I once had a student call me a "liberal hippy," I said, "Thank You."  I recently had a student tell me that he can tell I have a passion for what I teach.  Well, I couldn't teach anything I am not passionate about.

"It is my job to lead to you a point of understanding about our planet.  That every action you do can have an impact on it.  Everything you eat, buy, plant, build and drive leaves an ever lasting footprint."  ~Mrs. Cook

2. I have 2 sons that I am trying to raise in a way that will allow them to grow up to be contributing members of society.  I feel that it is my responsibility to show them this beautiful planet of ours so they can see there is a bigger world then the house or neighborhood they live in.  I tell my students at the beginning of the year, "It is my job to lead to you a point of understanding about our planet.  That every action you do can have an impact on it.  Everything you eat, buy, plant, build and drive leaves an ever lasting footprint."  And if I didn't share this truth with my own kids then I would be failing them as a parent.

3. Our National Parks are a gift to every American and to every visitor who comes here to see them. In 2016, we celebrated 100 years of our National Park System.  They are working, living, breathing, conservation classrooms.  Scientists everyday study and struggle to maintain the balance in these ever fragile ecosystems.   I am only going to get political for 1 second and say that Teddy Roosevelt looked upon our country and realized that if someone didn't do something to protect, preserve, and fight for these lands there would be nothing left for anyone to enjoy in the future.  So, it makes me very angry that 1 person and his followers think in any way that it is ok to drill or mine in a National Park (land that is my land, your land, my children's land) is beyond me.

4. Doug and I feel that the only way to really get to see this country is to immerse ourselves in it.  The theme of education today is student centered learning.  Well, I am the student and the country is my classroom, you can't get much more student centered than that!!  Plus, my kids will be learning. my husband will be learning, and I can bring back to my classroom a practical knowledge of what I am teaching them.

Here are some facts I have learned while lesson planning my summer vacation:

The National Park Service falls under the Department of the Interior, which is responsible for the management and conservation of most federal lands and natural resources. It is run by the Secretary of the Interior, which is a member of the President's cabinet. (no comment on this...)

Not every park is a National Park.  The National Park System is a collection of physical properties owned by the National Parks Service.  There are 417 official units, of which 59 are National Parks. Other units are National Monuments, like Mount Rushmore, and National Battlefields, like Gettysburg, just to name a few units.  Guess What??  I have NEVER been to a NATIONAL PARK!

If you want to see if you have ever been to a National Park follow this link.  National Parks List

We will be visiting 10 National Parks and 2 National Monuments this summer (In order of visit):

Mount Rushmore National Monument
Badlands National Park
Wind Cave National Park
Devil's Tower National Monument
Glacier National Park
Yellowstone National Park
Grand Teton National Park
Arches National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park
Canyonlands National Park
Grand Canyon National Park (Both North and South Rim)
Petrified Forest National Park

So, there you have it.  Why are we doing this?  I need to do this for myself, for my husband, for my children, for my students.  The camper and the truck are just giving us the means -the country is giving us unforgettable, priceless memories and learning forever!!