The National Park Classroom
@npclassroom.bsky.social
Promoting stewardship of our shared historic, cultural, and natural heritage through curriculum and partnerships between parks and teachers. Find out more at nationalparkclassroom.com -=- https://thenationalparkclassroom.substack.com/
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The National Park Classroom: A Guide to Designing Project-Based Learning Adventures
Amazon.com: The National Park Classroom: A Guide to Designing Project-Based Learning Adventures: 9798888370384: Fester, James: Books
www.amazon.com
NEW RELEASE - Are you a #teacher who loves our #publiclands and #nationalparks ? Then check out this new title from ISTE titled The National Park Classroom - Available on 3/18! Preorder now on Amazon - www.amazon.com/National-Par...
New Substack - What happens when the biggest losers in the government shut down are our national parks? open.substack.com/pub/thenatio...
October 2, 2025 at 10:40 PM
New Substack - What happens when the biggest losers in the government shut down are our national parks? open.substack.com/pub/thenatio...
Q10. Complete the following fill-in-the-blank; “An unexpected or unplannable park experience that I hope to someday spontaneously have is ___________”? #ParkChat
September 25, 2025 at 1:51 AM
Q10. Complete the following fill-in-the-blank; “An unexpected or unplannable park experience that I hope to someday spontaneously have is ___________”? #ParkChat
Q9. I know we’re sharing, but do you more often keep unexpected moments to yourself OR share/post about them so others can learn from your discoveries? #ParkChat
September 25, 2025 at 1:45 AM
Q9. I know we’re sharing, but do you more often keep unexpected moments to yourself OR share/post about them so others can learn from your discoveries? #ParkChat
Q8. What often-overlooked activities (like night hikes, visitor center exhibits, or a park specific activity) that you’d recommend that the uniformed might skip? #ParkChat
September 25, 2025 at 1:40 AM
Q8. What often-overlooked activities (like night hikes, visitor center exhibits, or a park specific activity) that you’d recommend that the uniformed might skip? #ParkChat
Q7. How can visitors use maps, apps, or park brochures creatively to discover “hidden” parts of a park? What method or tool is the best for discovering the unknown#ParkChat
September 25, 2025 at 1:35 AM
Q7. How can visitors use maps, apps, or park brochures creatively to discover “hidden” parts of a park? What method or tool is the best for discovering the unknown#ParkChat
Q6. What’s your strategy for using and not losing time due to a weather delay, a bison in the road, a trail closure, or some other “unforseen” surprise? #ParkChat (this pics for you Black Hill Association!)
September 25, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Q6. What’s your strategy for using and not losing time due to a weather delay, a bison in the road, a trail closure, or some other “unforseen” surprise? #ParkChat (this pics for you Black Hill Association!)
Halfway through! Q5. How do you encourage kids (or friends obsessed with getting that one Insta-worthy snap) to explore beyond the obvious attractions in a park? #ParkChat
September 25, 2025 at 1:25 AM
Halfway through! Q5. How do you encourage kids (or friends obsessed with getting that one Insta-worthy snap) to explore beyond the obvious attractions in a park? #ParkChat
Q4. When you think of “unexpected park moments” you've had, what stories come to mind? #ParkChat (this photo of the Pando Tree is for all the aspen lovers out there)
September 25, 2025 at 1:20 AM
Q4. When you think of “unexpected park moments” you've had, what stories come to mind? #ParkChat (this photo of the Pando Tree is for all the aspen lovers out there)
Tonight we discuss the unexpected/surprising side of our parks Q1. When visiting a national park, how do you balance seeing the “must-sees” with leaving room for unexpected discoveries? #ParkChat
September 25, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Tonight we discuss the unexpected/surprising side of our parks Q1. When visiting a national park, how do you balance seeing the “must-sees” with leaving room for unexpected discoveries? #ParkChat
Hello friends & welcome to #parkchat ! This is your host James Fester - park volunteer, and author of the The National Park Classroom - available at fine online bookstores AND at 11 national park bookstores (except Yosemite where roof collapsed and closed store) Where we all coming from tonight?
September 25, 2025 at 1:02 AM
Hello friends & welcome to #parkchat ! This is your host James Fester - park volunteer, and author of the The National Park Classroom - available at fine online bookstores AND at 11 national park bookstores (except Yosemite where roof collapsed and closed store) Where we all coming from tonight?
We're less than an hour from #parkchat so grab yourself a snack and bring your best "national park surprise" stories and experiences! We're going to have a ball and you are invited! #nationalparks #findyourpark #publiclands
September 25, 2025 at 12:08 AM
We're less than an hour from #parkchat so grab yourself a snack and bring your best "national park surprise" stories and experiences! We're going to have a ball and you are invited! #nationalparks #findyourpark #publiclands
Hey there #parkchat friends! I'm looking forward to hosting tonight's chat where we'll share tips/tricks/and strategies that help find and deal with the unexpected and surprising opportunities that make our parks incredible places to visit. You won't want to miss it!
September 24, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Hey there #parkchat friends! I'm looking forward to hosting tonight's chat where we'll share tips/tricks/and strategies that help find and deal with the unexpected and surprising opportunities that make our parks incredible places to visit. You won't want to miss it!
New Substack Post - Discover how teachers can bring national parks, outdoor learning, and place-based education into back-to-school season for deeper student engagement - thenationalparkclassroom.substack.com/p/dwelling-v... #edchat #parkchat #FindYourPark #elemchat #teachersoftwitter
Dwelling vs. Visiting
Encouraging deeper learning through deeper interactions
thenationalparkclassroom.substack.com
August 28, 2025 at 3:38 AM
New Substack Post - Discover how teachers can bring national parks, outdoor learning, and place-based education into back-to-school season for deeper student engagement - thenationalparkclassroom.substack.com/p/dwelling-v... #edchat #parkchat #FindYourPark #elemchat #teachersoftwitter
Proud to have contributed and been quoted in this New York Times article which details the impact of the current administrations cuts to our national parks, especially their educational offerings! www.nytimes.com/2025/08/27/u... #edchat #nationalparks
August 27, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Proud to have contributed and been quoted in this New York Times article which details the impact of the current administrations cuts to our national parks, especially their educational offerings! www.nytimes.com/2025/08/27/u... #edchat #nationalparks
Reposted by The National Park Classroom
Woot! We are so excited to collaborate on this handbook. Check it out and get writing outside #writeout @writingproject.bsky.social
Ready for #WriteOut ? Check out this free handbook for ideas about how to get your students outside and inspired to write! writeout.nwp.org/wp-content/u... #edchat #sschat #elachat #writing #WriteOut2025
writeout.nwp.org
August 13, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Woot! We are so excited to collaborate on this handbook. Check it out and get writing outside #writeout @writingproject.bsky.social
Ready for #WriteOut ? Check out this free handbook for ideas about how to get your students outside and inspired to write! writeout.nwp.org/wp-content/u... #edchat #sschat #elachat #writing #WriteOut2025
writeout.nwp.org
August 13, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Ready for #WriteOut ? Check out this free handbook for ideas about how to get your students outside and inspired to write! writeout.nwp.org/wp-content/u... #edchat #sschat #elachat #writing #WriteOut2025
EARLY ACCESS Link to 7/21 Substack Post - Stories on the Landscape: How to integrate the power of stories into your lessons to make them more engaging, impactful, and meaningful! open.substack.com/pub/thenatio... #edchat #sschat #elachat #pblchat #education #K12 #scichat
July 20, 2025 at 4:18 PM
EARLY ACCESS Link to 7/21 Substack Post - Stories on the Landscape: How to integrate the power of stories into your lessons to make them more engaging, impactful, and meaningful! open.substack.com/pub/thenatio... #edchat #sschat #elachat #pblchat #education #K12 #scichat
Free Professional Learning for teachers using my new book - Check out all the awesome ideas you can uncover with Book Creator - read.bookcreator.com/library/-OKg... #dbcincbooks #tlap #EduSky #EduSkyAI #aiedu #GoogleEDU
Bright Ideas: James Fester
Learn from James Fester, reflect on your growth, and remix this book with your Bright Ideas.
read.bookcreator.com
June 22, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Free Professional Learning for teachers using my new book - Check out all the awesome ideas you can uncover with Book Creator - read.bookcreator.com/library/-OKg... #dbcincbooks #tlap #EduSky #EduSkyAI #aiedu #GoogleEDU
Looking for inspiring ideas for lessons and #pbl projects? Check out my latest Substack post which is full of ideas and resources coming straight from our public lands - open.substack.com/pub/thenatio... #edchat #pblchat #sschat #scichat #educhat #scichat #sschat
The Power of Proximity
Adopting and Adapting Learning Resources: 5 Examples To Get You Started!
open.substack.com
June 4, 2025 at 6:57 PM
I want you to consider quitting #PBL (...but not really) We spend a lot of time talking about planning & revising projects, but how often do we consider the indicators that might suggest its time to move on to a new project - edut.to/43jkIC3 #edchat #pblchat
4 Things to Consider Before You Retire a PBL Unit
Project-based learning is a great instructional tool, but it’s important to periodically assess whether units are still effective.
edut.to
May 28, 2025 at 5:05 PM
I want you to consider quitting #PBL (...but not really) We spend a lot of time talking about planning & revising projects, but how often do we consider the indicators that might suggest its time to move on to a new project - edut.to/43jkIC3 #edchat #pblchat
How do you create learning experiences that have impact and address real-world problems? Read all about how in my newest. Substack post - bit.ly/4lV8t5E #edchat #sschat #scichat #k12chat #elemchat #pblchat
Making Learning Matter
National Park Week, podcasts, and ideas for creating opportunities for students to make an impact with their learning.
bit.ly
May 2, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Podcasts are one of the most versatile #PBL projects you can facilitate with students and work for any subject and age group. Learn more about in my newest article published by @edutopia www.edutopia.org/article/usin... #edchat #pblchat #elemchat #k12
4 Benefits of Using Podcasting as a PBL Project
Relevant in any content area, podcasts present an engaging way for students to demonstrate their learning.
www.edutopia.org
April 25, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Our #NationalParkPlaylist Greatest Hit has to be this awesome book which was just released last month! It is packed with #teacherideas and #education suggestions just in time for#NationalParkWeek ! Check it out here -> amzn.to/4lEnkS1
April 20, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Our #NationalParkPlaylist Greatest Hit has to be this awesome book which was just released last month! It is packed with #teacherideas and #education suggestions just in time for#NationalParkWeek ! Check it out here -> amzn.to/4lEnkS1