EDUCATION OUTREACH PROGRAMS NOW AVAILABLE AT BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK

Starting September 4, Badlands National Park staff will start taking reservations for the fall Badlands In Your Classroom Enrichment Program and ranger-led Field Trips in the park. To request a program brochure, teachers should call (605) 433 - 5245 and leave their name and mailing address. The brochure lists programs available to grades K through 12 in area schools located within 100 miles of park headquarters, located near Interior, South Dakota. Additionally, park staff is available for four weeks this fall to present onsite field trips to grades 5 through 12.

Badlands In Your Classroom programs last 50 minutes and are available Mondays through Fridays from September 24 through October 19. From October 19 through November 15, Badlands In Your Classroom programs are available one to three days per week, depending on staff availability. Park rangers and interns travel to area schools and present programs to all grades on park natural resource topics using an alternative energy vehicle.

Onsite fields are available Tuesdays through Fridays from September 17 through October 17. Field trips last approximately 2 hours and include a showing of the park movie, a 15 minute talk, and a one hour guided walk. Field trips are available on earth science (paleontology and geology of the White River Badlands) and life science (plants and wildlife of Badlands National Park). Field trip reservations are accepted for grades 5 through 12. Group size limit is no more than 60 students plus a minimum of six chaperones. Groups must obtain a fee waiver by contacting the Fee Program Manager at (605) 433 - 5235.

Badlands In Your Classroom programs are made possible through funding provided by Badlands Natural History Association, a non-profit organization partnering with Badlands National Park to provide quality educational services and materials. Field Trips are possible through dollars made available by the National Park Service Recreation Fee Demonstration Program, a Congressionally-mandated program that permits national parks to retain entrance dollars collected for critical park projects. Visitor support pays the salaries of seasonal park rangers to present these field trips. Both programs are available at no charge to schools.

For more information, contact (605) 433 - 5245 or visit the park's website at http://www.nps.gov/badl/home.htm