Park for Every Classroom

J Haley

The Park for Every Classroom (PEC) program was created in 2011 to encourage education partnerships and community engagement. PEC aims to build collaborations among National Park Service staff, local community partners, and teachers to engage students in place-based learning that promotes stewardship.

A pilot program of the National Park Service's Northeast Regional Division, PEC's current initiatives are as follows:

• Parks work with community partners to offer professional development and immersion experiences for educators, exploring park and community resources and generating ideas for how the park can be used as an extension of the classroom.

• Parks and community partners work with teachers to co-develop learning experiences for students at the park.

• Parks and community partners learn from teachers how to improve their education and interpretation programs.

• PEC teams build a community of learning, inquiry, and practice to provide mutual support and develop and broadly share lessons learned.
  
  Currently the PEC teams include:
  
  Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine
  
  Gateway National Recreation Area
  
  Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park
  
  Morristown National Historical Park
  
  New England National Scenic Trail
  
  Salem Maritime National Historic Site
  
  Valley Forge National Historical Park
  
  Weir Farm National Historic Site

Learn more about our Park for Every Classroom Education programs by visiting our websites - or better, yet, come visit us in person!