2020 Teacher Ranger Teacher

NPS Illustration

Professional Development Opportunity Announcement

Applications must be emailed by May 26th at 11:59pm MDT.

Please email applications to [e-mail]
Subject Line: CRMO Teacher Ranger Teacher

Program Overview:

The Teacher Ranger Teacher (TRT) program is a professional development opportunity for K-12 teachers to acquire new skills in experiential learning. A partnership between the National Park Service (NPS) and the University of Colorado Denver (CU Denver) permits teachers to earn graduate credits and a stipend while assisting parks develop educational programs. The goal of the program is to train teachers in the resources and themes of the NPS so they can incorporate their new skills at their school.

The program requires 230 hours of effort. The participant would spend at least 25 hours working on site at Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve located 18 miles southwest of Arco, Idaho, during the Summer of 2020. The online graduate course from CU Denver will take about 45 hours and must be done in a timely manner. 160 hours will be needed for the development of lesson plans and a public education project.

Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve (CRMO) protects a vast “weird and scenic landscape” with remarkable and diverse volcanic features, sagebrush steppe ecosystems, and wilderness, which provides opportunities to explore, understand, and value the rugged and remote high desert landscape of the Great Rift Region in the Snake River Plain.

ApplicationTimeline:

Applications must be submitted by email ([e-mail]) by May 26th at 11:59pm MDT. Early submittals are encouraged.
All TRT applicants will be notified between May 27th – May 28th if they were selected or not.
A signature from a School Official will be required on the TRT Project Agreement form by June 1st.

General Information:

Projected Dates of Detail: Flexible schedule between June 15, 2020 – August 30, 2020
Housing Availability: No housing is available.
Stipend: $3000.00 upon completion of program requirements, paid through CU Denver
Graduate Credit: 3 graduate credit hours - Introduction to Field Experiences through CU Denver, credits all paid for by the NPS. TRT is an intern of CU Denver and not an NPS employee.
Additional Information: The events of 2020 have highlighted a need for virtual experiences to help engage students and support educators in distance learning. TRT projects will be asked to reflect this focus as much as possible.
Note: Teachers who have participated in the TRT program in past years cannot reapply.

What is Required?

TRT application and, if the candidate is chosen, a signed statement of support from your Principal or school administration.
You must participate in the on-line class through the University of Colorado Denver (paid by the park) to achieve the credits and be paid the stipend. You may take this class at home or at your school.

The TRT program requires a final project. That project will have two parts:

• Part one is a series of lesson plans (pre-visit, post-visit, and on-site activity) covering one of the interpretive themes of Craters of the Moon following the TRT’s interests and skills.
• Part two is a project to benefit the general public and can include games, video, scavenger hunts, or whatever the TRT envisions.