Below are the ranger-led programs currently offered during the school year. These programs are conducted in a variety of locations on both the west and east sides of the Continental Divide and must be scheduled in advance. You may also want to view, download, or print a 2-page handout in pdf format of all of the available in Glacier National Park. Due to generous donations to the Glacier National Park Fund, there are also available for schools with restricted travel budgets.
Sensory Exploration (Grade K)
Wild Animals and Wild Places (Grade 1)
Exploring Habitats (Grade 2)
These programs uses the forest, aquatic, grassland, and prairie/aspen parklands habitats found in Glacier National Park to help young students learn about habitat requirements, wildlife signs, plant and animal changes as they grow and age, and the national park mission of protecting habitat. Hikes are less than one mile and are combined with other hands-on learning activities. Note: Kindergarten programs are half-day with a ranger and the rest of the day with teacher-led activities.
Forest Processes and Native Plants (Grades 4-8)
One to two-mile hikes with a ranger into the old growth coniferous forest or aspen parkland provide opportunities for students to learn about photosynthesis, nutrient cycling, succession, disturbance, forest ecology, wild flowers, and American Indian uses of both plants and animals.
Earth Science Hike (Grades 5-12)
The Avalanche and Lake McDonald Valleys and the Grinnell Glacier Valley provide evidence of a range of geologic processes that have shaped the landscape. Rangers lead students on a 4+ mile hike and explore sedimentation, mountain building, glaciation, rocks and minerals, erosion, weathering, and soil formation. The length of these hikes and level of information is geared toward secondary age students and is a challenge to fit into a regular school day schedule. The ability to have an extended field day is recommended for this program.
Fire Ecology (Grades 4-9)
Rangers guide students through activities suchs as: scavenger hunts, using dichotomous keys to identify fuel types, examining tree rings for fire scars, and/or watching demonstrations of fire behavior. Groups consider the history of fire in Glacier and its role as a natural process on these 2-3 mile hikes.
Winter Ecology (Grades 1-2)
Winter Ecology (Grades 6-12)
All winter ecology programs on both west and east sides of the park include snowshoe hikes. The park provides all the snowshoes for students and chaperones free of charge. Depending on the age of the group and the area visited, students may also explore the physical properties of snow, animal tracks, winter adaptations, snow caves, snow metamorphism, variations in snow density, and the importance of snow surveys.
