Caverns Sponsors "Underground Wonderland" eFieldTrip

Date: January 11, 2008
Contact: Marjorie Thomas, 575.785.3127
Contact: Bridget Litten, 575.785.3024

Would you like to learn more about what makes caves so special? Carlsbad Caverns National Park will help you do just that with the free electronic field trip (or eFieldTrip) “Caves: An Underground Wonderland.” This eFieldTrip is designed to teach students about karst features, cave geology, speleothem formation, cave ecosystems, and the need for cave conservation. The eFieldTrip will be available to schools and other interested participants through July 2008.

Carlsbad Caverns is sponsoring this eFieldTrip as a way to teach students from around the country, including those who may only have the opportunity to “virtually visit” the park, about the wonders of caves and their fragile ecosystems.

What do you need to participate? If you have access to the Internet at your school, in your classroom, or at home, you can participate! The web address is www.eFieldTrips.org/caves. There is no cost for your school or students to participate. Carlsbad Caverns National Park offers this program as a free educational outreach opportunity.

The eFieldTrip has four components:

1. Virtual Visit. An interactive multimedia web experience that students can complete at their own pace. This will remain posted through July 2008.
2. Trip Journal. A downloadable worksheet that students can complete as they participate in the Virtual Visit.
3. Ask an Expert. Students may post questions to the eFieldTrip website January 22 through January 24, and receive an answer from the experts within 1 to 2 days.
4. Live Web Chat. A live, text-based web chat that allows students to ask the experts questions and receive their answers during the chat will be on January 31. Check the website for the time of the live chat.

For more information, or to register your school to participate, visit www.eFieldTrips.org/caves. You may also contact the park’s education office at 575.785.3127 to learn more about electronic fieldtrips and other educational activities.