The education staff at Shenandoah National Park does not operate in isolation. We are part of an extensive network of individuals and organizations that collaborate to develop high-quality park education programs. By far our most important partners are teachers. Without their assistance in preparing students for field trips and reinforcing lessons upon return to the classroom, the educational experience we provide would be incomplete. Countless teachers have provided input in the design of our pre-visit and post-visit activities, assessments, and teacher workshops.

Organizations have also contributed to the success of our programs. The United States Geological Survey provided subject matter expertise in the development of geology and earth science programs. The Shenandoah National Park Association (SNPA) provides materials for teacher workshops. And individuals from various groups have shared their knowledge at field seminars: Smithsonian Conservation and Research Center, Valley Conservation Council, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, to name just a few.

Partners have also provided support to develop new programs. A "Parks as Classrooms" grant in 1991 funded the establishment of curriculum-based programs for third and fifth grades. The Columbus Foundation provided funding to build a wilderness education program at Shenandoah. Shenandoah National Park also received a "Parks as Resources for Knowledge in Science" grant from the Exxon Education Foundation under the auspices of the National Park Foundation. With this funding we created pre- and post-visit assessments for all grade levels. We developed an earth science curriculum for middle and high school students. Using McGaheysville Elementary as a pilot school, we also developed self-guided field trips for kindergarten and first grade.

The rewards of these partnerships are many. Input from subject matter experts results in programs that are balanced, detailed, and accurate. Ongoing feedback from teachers ensures that programs meet their instructional needs. Partner financial support enables us to improve and expand our services. Above all else, collaboration with partners inspires a sense of shared purpose and creativity. This is evident at the annual "A Day in the Park" celebration at McGaheysville Elementary School. Students transform their school into Shenandoah National Park, creating meadows, forests and streams out of hallways and classrooms. They share projects which demonstrate what they learned at the park. This celebration graphically demonstrates that partnerships in education benefit the park staff, teachers and-most important-the students themselves.