News Release

2023 Professional Development Opportunity for Teachers

Date: April 4, 2023
Contact: Daniel Banks, [phone]

Obed Wild and Scenic River is pleased to announce that we will be recruiting teachers again this year to participate in the Teacher-Ranger-Teacher (TRT) program this summer. Over the past several years we have had the opportunity to work with some incredible teachers and hope that you too will take part in this opportunity to help the National Park Service reach its goals in bringing the excitement and wonder of our National Parks into classrooms all over the country.

The TRT program is a dynamic professional development opportunity for K-12 teachers to spend the summer acquiring new skills in experiential learning through a program provided by a partnership between the National Park Service (NPS) and the University of Colorado Denver (CUD). The participants spend between four and six weeks in an NPS unit developing a major educational project and participating in an online graduate course from CUD. The goal of the program is to train teachers in the resources and themes of the NPS so that they can return to their schools in the fall and incorporate their new skills into their classroom activities. NPS aims to especially reach students from underserved schools and districts by recruiting teachers from Title-1, urban or rural schools and from tribal schools to participate in the TRT program.

The projected dates of the assignment are June 5 through July 21, 2023. The selected TRT will receive a stipend of $3,000 upon completion of program and graduate course requirements. The TRT will also receive three graduate credit hours of effort resulting from approximately 160 hours working on a major educational project, 45 hours of online coursework, discussion, course readings, and 25 hours of NPS operational experiences.

Obed Wild and Scenic River is looking for teachers with experience in lesson plan development and who can help create educational experiences in a variety of subject areas. Some possible projects may include creating an astronomy program, creating virtual field trips, informational packets for teachers and on-line lesson plans and curriculum.

In addition to the major educational project and course work, the TRT will be trained in the field of interpretation. The TRT will have access to online courses about interpretation and have the opportunity to develop and present an interpretive program to visitors. The TRT will also learn the basic job duties of operating a visitor center, be involved in special events, and understand the concepts of managing an NPS site. A TRT’s summer will be filled with new and exciting experiences that only the National Park Service can provide.

Housing will not be provided.

For an application or additional questions, please contact Education Specialist Daniel Banks, [e-mail], [phone]. All applications must be submitted by e-mail, and due Friday, May 12, 2023.  

For more information about the Teacher-Ranger-Teacher program at Obed, or to download an application, please use the following link: https://www.nps.gov/obed/learn/education/teacher-to-ranger-to-teacher.htm.