Flexibility for weather conditions, bus problems, etc…is essential to having an enjoyable visit to the park. No two school programs are exactly alike, but the following schedule represents a typical trip.
8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Travel to the Park
Simple assignments can be completed by seatmates or individuals during this time. Point out sights along the way that relate to the park story such as mountains, valleys or mountain passes, plant communities, river crossings, and canyon formations. You may also want to review vocabulary words or ecological concepts.
9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Meet Park Rangers at Apgar Interpreter’s Office.
After a brief welcome by the park rangers to Glacier National Park, the ranger(s) will talk with the chaperones and teacher(s) about the schedule for the day, and then the students will take a quick bathroom break. At the lake, rangers will point out and discuss the different types of habitats found in Glacier and the animals that live here.
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Puppet Show & Classes break into groups for Ranger Led Hike
Students view a puppet show about protecting resources & then hike with a ranger along the Oxbow Trail (1.5 miles roundtrip on fairly level terrain). Each group will make periodic stops for discussion and activities that explore the requirements of suitable habitat and highlight the variety of habitat types that occur throughout the park.
12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m. Lunch
12:30 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. Stations in and around the Discovery Cabin (approximately 15 minutes each)
Station 1: Students participate in stations at the Discovery Cabin
Station 2: Students play habitat games in the forest directly outside the cabin.
Station 3: Students review what they have learned today by playing Habitat Jeopardy
Groups rotate so that students have an opportunity to participate in every activity.
1:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Conclusion
Ranger(s) review the educational objectives for the day and engage students in a fun activity to assess their learning.
1:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Bus Leaves the Park
