Come live the dream and share your passion for the wilderness by becoming a Teacher-Ranger-Teacher at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
What is a Teacher-Ranger?
The nationwide Teacher-Ranger-Teacher (TRT) program is a unique professional development opportunity for educators to gain hands-on experience during the summer working side by side with park interpreters, researchers, law enforcement rangers, resource managers, maintenance rangers, and other specialists.
If selected, you will receive training, gain knowledge and experience, and work at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore for eight weeks between June and August. Then, take your experiences back to the classroom to share with your students.
The intent of the Teacher-Ranger-Teacher program is to provide well-rounded experiences for teachers serving with park rangers in national parks. During their experience, teachers will develop National Park Service materials to be shared with their students in the classroom and on the web. The program will focus on teachers from schools that have diverse student populations.
What are the benefits?
For Teacher-Ranger-Teachers:
- $3,000 stipend
- 3 Graduate credits from the University of Colorado, Denver (CU Denver).
- Professional development providing a wide range of new knowledge and skills through working with park staff and partners
- Gain access to an extensive array of teaching resources and tools to enhance classroom curriculum in multiple content areas
- Begin or extend a personal and professional connection with national parks
- Housing in the park (if needed). Government housing is in, or near, Empire, MI, and is shared with one or more seasonal staff members.
For schoolchildren:
- Place-based learning
- Opportunities and resources to connect to their natural and cultural heritage in new way
- Awareness of the possibilities for volunteering and paid employment with the National Park Service
What would I do in the park?
Sleeping Bear Dunes is recruiting 2 TRTs for summer 2019.
One TRT will be assisting in the development of lesson plans and program materials necessary to facilitate the Lakeshore’s participation in the Dragonfly Mercury Project (DMP), a nation-wide program where citizen scientists help use dragonfly larvae as indicators of mercury contamination in the environment. Learn more about the Dragonfly Mercury Project. We are seeking a TRT that has experience teaching science to middle and high school students to help us develop this program that will allow students to do citizen science in their community and participate in a national study.
The second TRT will be supporting with the creation of grade-specific programming designed to meet Next Generation Science Standards, Common Core, and Michigan Social Studies Standards. The TRT will have the opportunity to create content for both in-park visits and classroom pre-visit and post-visit lessons. The TRT may also help develop a distance learning program, work with a variety of park experts, and gain experience helping with other park programs or special events.
How do I apply?
e-mail us for an application! Applications received by April 30th will receive first consideration. The TRT can expect to begin work at the park sometime in June.