Death Valley ROCKS

The Death Valley ROCKS (Recreational Outdoor Campaign for Kids through Study) is a three-day, two-night, standards-based, inquiry-focused, hands-on, interdisciplinary camp experience for students grades 4 through 8. Designed for young people who might not otherwise have the opportunity to visit a National Park, this immersive learning experience is offered free of charge to Title 1 urban schools in the Las Vegas or Los Angeles metropolitan areas, or rural schools in Death Valley National Park gateway communities. Contact the park Education Specialist for more information.

Death Valley National Park supplies instructional materials, camping equipment, park ranger guides, and bus transportation for participating schools. The program curriculum focuses on the natural sciences (geology, biology, and astronomy), with significant language arts, visual art, and physical education components, along with some history and mathematics. Students also learn practical skills like setting up a tent, helping with camp chores, and staying safe in a desert environment. Download the Death Valley ROCKS Teacher Manual for more information about program logistics.

The Death Valley ROCKS program is supported primarily through grants and private donations to park partners such as the Death Valley Natural History Association and the Death Valley Conservancy.