NPS photo

2008 Teacher ranger Pat Steed

Teacher to Ranger to Teacher Program

National parks provide Americans opportunities to connect to their national heritage. Too often social and economic factors deny some from realizing those opportunities. The Teacher to Ranger to Teacher (TRT) program offers a unique solution by linking National Park Service units with teachers from schools with ethnically diverse student populations, with little or no experience with national parks,and little opportunity to explore the relevance these areas can have in their lives. Teacher rangers form a link between school children and national park units like Fossil Butte National Monument.

How does it work? Teachers are detailed as park rangers to Fossil Butte National Monument through an Inter-Governmental Personnel Act (IPA) agreement between their public school district and the National Park Service. They spend eight summer weeks performing various duties, determined by their interests and the needs of the park. The park provides training, a ranger uniform, shared housing, and a $300/week supplementary payment.

Once back in their schools, teacher rangers bring national parks into the classroom throughout the school year. During National Park Week in April, teacher rangers wear their NPS uniforms to school and engage students and other teachers in activities that relate to Fossil Butte and other NPS sites.

NPS photo

Checking out a wildflower

2011 position description Fossil Butte National Monument seeks a dynamic 2nd or 3rd grade teacher to review and update its 2nd-3rd grade curriculum "Teaching Paleontology in the National Parks and Monuments". The project includes re-design of curriculum manual using Adobe Indesign. (One day/week)

Other duties include presentation of Junior Ranger and interpretive programs, participating in outreach efforts, roving park trails, demonstrating fossil preparation techniques, and working at the information desk at the visitor center. (Three days/week)

Based on the selected individual's interests and abilities, secondary duties may include assisting with resource management projects including wildlife monitoring, fossil surveys, and invasive plant control. (One day/week)

How do I apply? Send a completed application form and letter of support from your principal to Fossil Butte National Monument. Application deadline is February 4, 2011.

NPS photo

Teacher ranger Pat demonstrates fossil preparation techniques.

More information  Fossil Butte National Monument hosted its first teacher ranger in summer 2008.  To see pictures of her experiences, visit this web page.

For more details about the National Park Service Teacher to Ranger to Teacher program and a list of all parks participating, visit Wupatki National Monument's web page.