News Release

Mammoth Cave National Park Association Provides Computers for Virtual Education Programs

Ranger Moira Painter conducts a virtual environmental education program from her office in Mammoth Cave National Park.

NPS Photo

News Release Date: August 27, 2020

Contact: Molly Schroer, 270-758-2192

Mammoth Cave National Park’s Environmental Education (EE) program received over $3,500 from the Mammoth Cave National Park Association (MCNPA) to purchase computers and accessories to preform virtual EE programs. The donation will allow the park’s EE program to enhance it’s virtual educational programing since in-person classroom programs have been greatly reduced or eliminated because of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

“Because of health and safety restrictions at the 31 local schools we traditionally serve, we are not able to go into classrooms to provide our environmental programs in person,” said EE Specialist Jennifer Shackelford. “Our EE program has provided virtual programing before, but we lacked the number of computers needed to serve the large demand for virtual experiences that we are receiving right now.  MCNPA’s donation has allowed us to purchase two new laptop systems so everyone on our EE staff can have a computer that is capable of reaching the students.”

In addition to providing virtual in-person EE programs for local schools, the park’s EE program will also be able to offer more virtual field trips to schools from all over the country. This will allow the park to reach thousands of students beyond the upcoming school year as the park’s virtual EE opportunities grow. 

“We are so appreciative of MCNPA’s donation to the park’s Environmental Education program,” said Superintendent Barclay Trimble. “Support from partners like MCNPA make it possible for us to continue our mission to educate future generations about important environmental lessons and share the history of Mammoth Cave to classrooms far and wide.” 

MCNPA is a non-profit organization that was established in 1924 by Kentuckians who wanted to promote the establishment of a national park in their home state. The funds they raised and the groundwork they laid eventually helped pave the way for the creation of Mammoth Cave National Park in 1941.