Currently not accepting applications for the 2026-2027 school year.Educational Opportunities at Golden Gate National Recreations Area's Parks As Classrooms uses the Understanding by Design framework, and incorporates California Common Core Standards, Next Generation Science Standards, and Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies. Our inquiry-based park programs can be timed to introduce concepts, reinforce understanding, or stimulate culminating projects within a teaching unit. Programs are typically structured in three parts: a classroom preparation, a national park field session, and classroom assessments in which students demonstrate what they have learned. Teachers are provided with resources, including program curriculum and supporting materials.
The first step is to choose the program best suited for your class and follow the guidance below to submit an Education Reservation Request Form application. How to Participate in Parks as ClassroomsParks as Classrooms programs follow a three-touch model designed to give your students the most meaningful connection to the site. To participate, your class will need to:
PARKS AS CLASSROOMS programs in Golden Gate National Parks actively engage students in place-based learning and caring for national parks and their own communities. Designed by park staff, classroom teachers, students, and leaders of community organizations, park education programs encourage student achievement through innovative pedagogy and authentic experiences in the park. The goals and principles of the K-12 program confirm Golden Gate's commitment to relevant inquiry-based learning linked to school curricula.
Primary
Grades K - 5
Rings, Ripples and EchoesStudents navigate through the magical realms of the Redwood Creek Watershed of Muir Woods on a self-guided inquiry-based journey. 
Grades K - 2
Habitat DetectivesRangers will provide an overview of Crissy Field and the Presidio Tunnel Tops. 
Grades 3 - 4
Into the Redwood ForestHow can nature teach us about community? As naturalists, students explore Muir Woods, a rare sanctuary for ancient redwoods. 
Grade 4
Point of InquiryRanger provides an introduction to Fort Point and inspires using observations to learn more about the history of the fort. 
Grade 4
Rock! Pattern! Systems!How can patterns of change help us understand geologic and human activity? Students explore the changing landscapes at Point Bonita. Secondary
Grades 5 - 8
Alcatraz UncoveredHow can archeology deepen my understanding of a place? Students use archeological methods to uncover layers of history at Alcatraz Island. 
Grade 6
Living with the LandStudents explore human relationships with the natural world from the perspectives of Ohlone Indigenous knowledge and western science. 
Grades 6 - 8
Rocks on the MoveHow do I recognize geologic change in my environment? Students consider how our communities adapt to climate change by investigating rocks. 
Grades 9 - 12
Alcatraz Occupation: Power in CommunityWhat motivates a community to take civic action? Students focus on the 1969 –1971 American Indian Occupation on Alcatraz Island. 
Grades 9 - 12
Prisoners of ConscienceWhat is the cost of resistance? Engage your students with the unknown history of the political prisoners of Alcatraz. 
Grade 11-12
Forests for the FutureExplore how redwoods and communities can mitigate environmental changes through a blend of inquiry science and cultural history. |
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Last updated: August 12, 2026