Excellence in Education Awards

Children must be taught how to think, not what to think.

—Margaret Mead

National parks are some of America’s most inspiring classrooms connecting students to an array of history and landscapes. National Park Service rangers and education specialists provide special in-person and virtual programs for thousands of students and educators every year.

These awards recognize innovation and adaptation within National Park Service education program planning, development, and implementation.

Awards Year

Starting in 2025, all National Park Service national awards were adjusted to reflect the year they were awarded instead of when the work was completed. There were not national education awards titled “2024” to make this adjustment.