Into the Redwood Forest

 
Education Reservations Forms for the 2024-2025 school year are now live! To apply, please submit the form found at the bottom of this page.
 
 

Grades 3 - 4

Overview

 
NPS Ranger, asking students, what do you see up there? In a Redwood forest
NPS Ranger, asking students, what do you see up there?

NPS Volunteer/ Debbie Piattelli

How can nature teach us about community?


Into the Redwood Forest Immerses your students in the magic of Muir Woods National Monument, one of the last remaining old-growth redwood forests in the Bay Area. Through both individual and small group work, students use plant identification cards and information about the Coast Miwok relationship to the woods to familiarize themselves with the habitats and history of the forest. At the woods, students investigate and pose information questions and questions for deeper meaning as they construct their own understanding of survival and adaptation the redwood forest.

Into the Redwood Forest uses the Understanding by Design framework and aligns with the K-12 Next Generation Science Standards and Common Core Standards. The program is framed by the essential question - " How can nature teach us about community?"

Program’s Framework and Curriculum Links:

Please click here for the Into the Redwood Forest Understanding By Design grid

Please click here for the Into the Redwood Forest curriculum

Please click here for the Into the Redwood Forest Hybrid curriculum

Program Structure

Into the Redwood Forest programs are structured in the following three-touch model:

1. Classroom Preparation - Teachers complete three pre-lessons supported by park-provided resources, emphasizing the use of scientific inquiry to explore observation, inference, environmental assessment, and social community well-being. Subsequently, students will analyze both their surroundings and the societal vitality of their communities. Please share details about preferred NPS staff visit in the Education Reservation Request Form.
2. Field Session - Field Session – During the park experience, students explore the remnants of an ancient forest at Muir Woods. Please share details about preferred field visit date in the Education Reservation Request Form.

3. Classroom Assessment - opportunities for students to demonstrate what they have learned through inquiry investigations. Please email or mail back student work to NPS staff.

 

How to Apply

Step 1: Educators must complete the Education Reservation Request Form.

Step 2: Park staff will reach out to accepted classes after September 24, 2024 to schedule a date for your class visit and park visit. Please keep in mind, programs at Muir Woods are only offered Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

Step 3: New teachers must attend a Teacher Workshop to confirm program dates.

Step 4: Teachers complete pre-site lessons with students before the scheduled Ranger Class visit. Ranger visits the classroom virtually or in-person.

Step 5: Class attends in-person park visit.

Step 6: Teachers complete the post-site lesson and share student work with Rangers.

 

Education Reservation Request Form – In-person Park Visit

Use this form to apply for the Into the Redwood Forest Education Program. 
 
Please note the following:  
  • Education Programs are only offered Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Programs are FREE of charge. Programs are available in a Spanish/English bilingual setting – please be sure to inform the Ranger ahead of time.  
  • Due to limited staffing at each park site, we ask that classes only apply to one of the program offerings throughout Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Program locations can ONLY accommodate 1 class per day (minimum of 10 students). 
  • Ranger-led programs generally last 2 hours, not including driving or lunch time. Expect total time of park visits (travel to Muir Woods, program, lunch) to be approximately 5-6 hours. 
  • Chaperones are expected to attend and support each program – 1 per 10 student ratio. 
  • New teachers are expected to attend a Teacher Workshop to be considered for a program – workshop dates will be announced on each program website 
  • Bus scholarships may be available for high need schools. If interested in a scholarship, please include this request in the transportation section of the form. 

NPS Form 10-1750 (Rev. 04/2021)
National Park Service

OMB Control No. 1024-0228
Expiration Date 11/31/2025

Disclaimer:

A park representative will follow-up to confirm group details once this request has been received and reviewed.


NPS Form 10-1750 (Rev. 04/2021)
National Park Service

OMB Control No. 1024-0228
Expiration Date 11/31/2025

Notices

Privacy Act Statement

Authority: Public Law 114-289 National Park Service Centennial Act and 54 U.S.C. 100701 Protection, interpretation, and research in System.

Purpose: To administer education programs for education audiences including but not limited to school groups, scouting groups, extracurricular groups, and home school groups.

Routine Uses: To effectively manage requests for education received by the NPS, the Education Reservation Request Form is used to collect basic education reservation information to facilitate operational aspects of scheduling groups for park education programs, including in-park education programs, ranger in classroom programs, and/or online distance learning programs.

Disclosure: Voluntary, however, failure to provide the requested information may impede the ability to grant your education reservation request.

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement

We are collecting this information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501) to provide park managers and educators the information needed to schedule and conduct education program activities. All applicable parts of the form must be completed in order for your request to be considered. You are not required to respond to this or any other Federal agency-sponsored information collection unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. OMB has approved this collection of information and assigned control number 1024-0288.

Estimated Burden Statement

Public reporting for this collection of information is estimated to average 5 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the Information Collection Clearance Officer, National Park Service, 1201 Oakridge Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80525. Do not send your completed form to this address.

 

Nature Guides

Visit the Save the Redwoods League website for more information about redwood forests.



 
 
Visit our keyboard shortcuts docs for details
Duration:
7 minutes, 49 seconds

A video introduction to the "Into the Redwood Forest" school program in English, Spanish, and Cantonese. Audio Described for visitors with vision disabilities.

 
Visit our keyboard shortcuts docs for details
Duration:
6 minutes, 45 seconds

A video introduction to the "Into the Redwood Forest" school program in English, Spanish, and Cantonese. Open Captioned for the Deaf.

 
Visit our keyboard shortcuts docs for details
Duration:
6 minutes, 45 seconds

A video introduction to the "Into the Redwood Forest" school program in English, Spanish, and Cantonese.

Last updated: August 20, 2024

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

Golden Gate National Recreation Area
201 Fort Mason

San Francisco, CA 94123

Phone:

415-561-4700
United States Park Police Dispatch: Non-Emergency: 415-561-5505 Emergency: 415-561-5656

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