Read with a Ranger

A park ranger presenting a Read with a Ranger program to a group of young students outside.

NPS photo

The story of the Natchez Trace Parkway and the Old Trace is one of diverse stories and perspectives. We here at the Parkway believe it is never too early to learn about diversity! The stories available for our Read with a Ranger program help introduce challenging topics to your young students that capture different viewpoints of the diverse people who have lived, worked and traveled along the Old Trace over the last ten thousand years. Our Read with a Ranger programs allow your students to connect with the stories people who lived so long ago through the magic of reading and will help encourage a life long love of reading and learning. All Read with a Ranger programs are suitable for grades preschool through 3rd grade and contain threads of equality, social justice, resilience and empathy. See our list of Read with a Ranger programs we offer below to find one that best suits your class.

Read with a Ranger programs can be delivered in-person or virtually. Please schedule programs a minimum of two weeks in advance.

If You Were A Kid During the Civil War by Wil Mara

• This short story highlights a young boy and girl to help teach others about the injustices which occurred during the Civil War. This story builds empathy for what other children experienced during this time.

"C" is for Chickasaw by Wiley Barnes and Aaron Long

• Designed for early elementary students, this program uses the alphabet as a tool to teach and build respect for the Chickasaw culture. As rangers read the story, they talk about cultural differences and celebrate them with the class.

Crossing Bok Chitto by Tim Tingle

• A Choctaw tale of friendship and freedom, this story discusses trust, resiliency, and the presence of Choctaw and enslaved African Americans along Natchez Trace. Based on a true story, descendants still talk about the night the two parties met and how they worked together towards freedom.

Charlotte Spies for Justice by Nikki Shannon Smith

• Making difficult choices requires bravery. This short civil war survival novel is best read over two or three sittings. The story covers battlefields and survival along the Natchez Trace while highlighting the importance for social justice for all.

Saltypie: A Choctaw Journey from Darkness into Light by Tim Tingle

• When a family works and sticks together, there is nothing that cannot be accomplished. This story follows a Choctaw family through hardship and celebration, teaching family values, strength and resiliency in terminology appropriate for elementary-aged children.

Two Friends: Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass by Dean Robbins

• We can all make a difference if we try. This story illustrates how a woman and a former enslaved man worked together to change society and create a better world for everyone.

For additional information or to schedule a program, please email us or call [phone].

If you are looking for virtual programs for an older group, check out our distance learning program!

 

 

Read with a Ranger!

Complete this form to request a ranger to read to your students.

NPS Form 10-1750 (Rev. 04/2021)
National Park Service

OMB Control No. 1024-0228
Expiration Date 11/31/2025

Learning Accommodations

Does anyone in your group need any accommodations?

Yes No

If yes, describe the accommodation need.

Next Step

School / Organization Contact Information

School / Organization Name (required)

Name of Requester/Contact Person (required)

Title / Position (required)

Contact Email Address (required)

Contact Phone Number (required)
123-456-7890 extension if any

Mailing Address (required)

City (required)

State (required)

Alabama Alaska American Samoa Arizona Arkansas Armed Forces - Americas Armed Forces - Europe Armed Forces - Pacific California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Guam Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Northern Mariana Islands Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Puerto Rico Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virgin Islands Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

ZIP (required)
Five digit ZIP code [99999]

Next Step

Group Details - Ranger in Classroom Program

Name of Primary Contact if Different Than Above (optional)

Title / Position of Primary Contact if Different Than Above (optional)

Email Address of Primary Contact if Different Than Above (optional)

Phone Number of Primary Contact if Different Than Above (optional)
Format: 123-456-7890

Program Name or Subject Requested

How much time will the ranger have to conduct the program? (required)

Grade Level(s) of Students (required)

Number of Staff / Chaperones (required)

Number of Students (required)

Preferred Date of Visit (required)
format mmddyyyy

My preferred date has been confirmed by the park (required)

Yes No

Preferred Program Start Time (required)

Alternative Date(s) (required)
Enter one or more dates.

Disclaimer:

A park representative will follow-up to confirm group details once this request has been received and reviewed.

Submit my Education Reservation Request

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NPS Form 10-1750 (Rev. 04/2021)
National Park Service

OMB Control No. 1024-0228
Expiration Date 11/31/2025

Notices

Privacy Act Statement

Authority: Public Law 114-289 National Park Service Centennial Act and 54 U.S.C. 100701 Protection, interpretation, and research in System.

Purpose: To administer education programs for education audiences including but not limited to school groups, scouting groups, extracurricular groups, and home school groups.

Routine Uses: To effectively manage requests for education received by the NPS, the Education Reservation Request Form is used to collect basic education reservation information to facilitate operational aspects of scheduling groups for park education programs, including in-park education programs, ranger in classroom programs, and/or online distance learning programs.

Disclosure: Voluntary, however, failure to provide the requested information may impede the ability to grant your education reservation request.

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement

We are collecting this information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501) to provide park managers and educators the information needed to schedule and conduct education program activities. All applicable parts of the form must be completed in order for your request to be considered. You are not required to respond to this or any other Federal agency-sponsored information collection unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. OMB has approved this collection of information and assigned control number 1024-0288.

Estimated Burden Statement

Public reporting for this collection of information is estimated to average 5 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the Information Collection Clearance Officer, National Park Service, 1201 Oakridge Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80525. Do not send your completed form to this address.

 

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  Be a Junior Ranger!

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  Our Junior Ranger program is designed for children 6-13, but anyone who is has the curiosity of a child can participate.

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