Wild Wednesday Webinars
NPS Adventures brought to you by the NYSDLC
Welcome to the NYSDLC Wild Wednesday Webinar Adventures with the National Parks Service.
Join NYSDLC members on Wednesdays* during the 2024-2025 school year as we venture into some of the incredible educational opportunities from the US National Parks Service.
Joining a webinar allows you to experience a virtual field trip if you never have to see what they are like. While you won't be able to interact with the provider on camera, your class can still interact live during the program through the Q and A function.
Can't make it to a program you would like your class to experience? Reach out to see if there is a recording available or consider planning a live, interactive session just for your class! (Reach out to the Distance Learning Specialist from your local BOCES to learn more).
Come back to this newsletter often as we will update this year's schedule here with new programs as they are confirmed. You can also click the button below to subscribe to our calendar to stay up to date with newly added programs!
*Please Note: While most programs will be scheduled on Wednesdays, there will occasionally be NPS programs scheduled on other days of the week due to scheduling availability.
Questions?
Reach out to NYSDLC Members
Donna Farren, 585-352-2700, dfarren@monroe2boces.org
Liz Huson, 716-672-4371 x 2069, ehuson@e2ccb.org
Viewing Tips For Wild Wednesday Programs
- If possible, share the presentation on a large classroom display.
- Have the volume of your classroom speakers loud enough for all of your students to hear.
- Familiarize yourself with the Zoom video conference application and its features. You will be able to interact through the Q and A, so be sure you know where to find it on your screen.
- Sign on to Zoom 5-10 minutes before the start of the program. This allows us for time to troubleshoot any tech issues before the program starts.
- Have someone ready to type comments or questions in the Q and A.
- If you are unfamiliar with video conferences and Zoom or have any additional questions, please contact Liz Huson at ehuson@e2ccb.org to set up a test call.
Distance Learning Week 2024: 11/4-11/8
Click here to see the full schedule and to register for Distance Learning Week programs!
November 20: What Rangers Do with Rocky Mountain National Park
Grades 6-8
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Registration Closes 11/13
December 4: The Lost Colony and English Colonization
Park Rangers take you on a virtual exploration of the sites associated with the first English settlements in North America in eastern North Carolina. Experience the stories of the 1580's science workshop, the interaction between the native Algonquian people and English, the uncertainty surrounding the 1587 Lost Colony.
Grades 4-8
10 AM - 10:40 AM
Registration Closes 11/26
December 11: The Wright Brothers
Learn about the Wright Brothers and their childhood! Find out how their infatuation with learning influenced their accomplishments!
Grades 3-6
Time: 10 AM - 10:50 AM
Registration Closes 12/4
December 18: Read with Ranger
Grades: K-3
Time: 10 AM
Registration Closes 12/11
December 18: Wildlife Safari
Fort Matanzas National Monument protects approximately 300 acres of Florida coastal environment containing dunes, marsh, maritime forest, and associated flora and fauna, including threatened and endangered species. It also preserves the fortified coquina watchtower, completed in 1742, which defended the southern approach to the Spanish military settlement of St. Augustine.
Grades: Pre-K - 2
Time: 2 PM
Registration 12/11
January 8: A Trip to Eocene Fossil Lake: A Virtual Tour of Fossil Butte's Visitor Center with National Parks Service Fossils and Caves
Tour Fossil Butte National Monument’s visitor center to discover the world of ancient Fossil Lake. The many well-preserved fossils paint a picture of an ancient ecosystem. Fossilized fishes, crocodilians, palms, and turtles reveal it was a much warmer and wetter environment back then, unlike the modern sagebrush-covered high desert of southwest Wyoming.
Grades 3-5
11 AM - 11:45 AM
Registration Closes on 1/3
January 8: Hooray for Habitats with Acadia National Park
Forests and coastlines and lakes, oh my! Discover how Acadia’s habitats provide animals with what they need to survive in this fun program full of puppets and imagination.
Grades PreK - 2
12:30 PM - 1:00 PM
Registration Closes on 1/3
January 15: Historic Presidential Inaugurations by the DC Area National Parks and Partners
Presidential inaugurations represent the peaceful transfer of power in the United States. National Mall and Memorial Parks is home to presidential memorials and includes Pennsylvania Avenue National Historic Site, which has been the scene of many inaugurations. Join a park ranger to play a trivia game and learn about presidents represented on the National Mall and their historic inaugurations.
Grades 4-5
10 AM - 10:40 AM
Registration Closes 1/8
January 17: Dr. King in Washington, D.C. His Speeches and His Memorial with DC Area National Parks and Partners
Combine the power of words and the power of place by studying Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a virtual visit to the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Explore the Lincoln Memorial, the scene of Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech and the memorial built in Dr. King's honor. See how Dr. King used words to spread his message and how his legacy is visible in Washington, D.C.
Grades 3-6
10 AM - 10:45 AM
Registration Closes 1/10
1/28 Wildfire Behavior with Rocky Mountain National Park
Are you learning about wildfires? Are you watching an talking about the current wildfires in California and want to learn more?
Join a ranger to discover wildfire’s role in nature and to engage in a fun, interactive activity that dives deep into what influences wildfire behavior- topography, weather, and fuel. Participants will explore the causes of wildfire through the lens of the 2020 East Troublesome Fire and how that knowledge can help us prepare and keep our communities safe.
Grades 6-12
12:30 PM- 1:10 PM
Registration Closes 1/24
January 30: Explore Everglades National Park
Join park rangers from the Everglades National Park to explore the Everglades! They will be talking about:
- Human Impact on the Everglades
- Restoration of the Everglades
- Natural /Prescribed Fire
- Nike Missile Base
Grades 4-12
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Registration Closes 1/24
February 5: Bear Essentials with Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
The Bear Essentials program will introduce your students to the adaptations (think body parts and behaviors) black bears use to thrive at Sleeping Bear Dunes and inspire them to think like scientists. Rangers will use costumes and other props to keep younger kiddos engaged throughout the program. Complete a pre-visit lesson with your students, get a virtual visit from a ranger, and wrap things up with a post-visit lesson.
Links to pre and post program activities can be found at https://www.nps.gov/teachers/classrooms/climate-change-at-sleeping-bear-dunes.htm
Grades K-2
10 AM - 11 AM
Registration Closes 1/30
February 12: Presidential Memorials on the National Mall with the DC Area National Parks and Partners
Grades 3-6
11 AM - 11:45 AM
Registration Closes 2/5
February 12: Traces Through Time with Natchez Trace Parkway
Grades 4 -12
2 PM- 2:45 PM
Registration Closes 2/5
February 26: A Visit to Dinosaur National Monument
Virtual Field Trips are broadcast from the Quarry Exhibit Hall at Dinosaur National Monument, where over 1,500 dinosaur bones from the Late Jurassic Period are on display.
Grades 3-6
12 PM - 1 PM
Registration Closes 2/12
The Science of Sled Dogs with Denali National Park
Did you know that park rangers use sled dogs to perform winter work in Denali National Park and Preserve? But why? Join us to learn about why these amazing animals are perfectly adapted to a cold, subarctic environment. Take a deeper dive into what makes the tails, fur, feet, and dispositions of Denali’s sled dogs so good for their snowy, hard work! This is a great session if you are talking about the Iditarod.
Grades 3-5
Click HERE to Register for a Recording
Registration Closes 2/26
March 5: Harriet Tubman: Brigadier General, 160 Years Later with Reconstruction Era National Historical Park
Program Description: This program explores the remarkable story of Harriet Tubman and her role in the Combahee River Raid that occurred in 1863 in Beaufort, South Carolina. The program will delve into Tubman's courageous efforts as a spy, soldier, and leader of an armed military operation that resulted in the liberation of over 700 enslaved people. Participants will learn about Tubman's planning, collaboration with the Union Army, the impact of the raid on the fight against enslavement, and the legacy of this historical event.
Grades 4-8
10 AM - 10:45 AM
Registration Closes 2/26
March 5: George Washington Carver - The Scientist by George Washington Carver National Monument
This lesson focuses on the scientific and humanitarian work of George Washington Carver during his years at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. After a review of his work promoting soil conservation, the park ranger will demonstrate how to make peanut milk, incorporating the scientific method. Students are invited to gather materials and equipment and follow along!
Grades 2-5
11:30 AM - 12:15 PM
Registration Closes 2/26
March 11: Revolutionary Roots presented by the Women's Rights National Historical Park
A Park Ranger from the Women’s Rights National Historical Park in Seneca Falls will discuss the 1848 Women's Rights Convention held in Seneca Falls, the organizers, the significance, and what happens after the convention to the movement and the buildings.
Date: 3/11/25
Time: 10 AM
Audience: Grades 3 -5
Click here to register for this connection
Registration closes on 3/7/25
March 12: A Trip to Eocene Fossil Lake: A Virtual Tour of Fossil Butte's Visitor Center with National Parks Service Fossils and Caves
Tour Fossil Butte National Monument’s visitor center to discover the world of ancient Fossil Lake. The many well-preserved fossils paint a picture of an ancient ecosystem. Fossilized fishes, crocodilians, palms, and turtles reveal it was a much warmer and wetter environment back then, unlike the modern sagebrush-covered high desert of southwest Wyoming.
Grades 3-5
10 AM - 10:45 AM
Registration Closes on 3/5
March 18: A Visit with Hopewell Culture National Historical Park
Join the NYSDLC as we visit with a NPS Ranger from the Hopewell Culture National Park to learn about Hopewell Culture and the Indigenous people who built the amazing geometic earthworks to that park!
Topics: Indigenous people, archeology, culture, cultural and natural resources
Grades 3-6
11 AM - 11:45 AM
Registration Closes 3/11
March 19: Interview with a Wildland Firefighter with Acadia National Park
Controlled wildland fires are often used in managing parks and forests. A National Park Service firefighter-ranger will give students a tour of the specialized clothing, equipment, and tools which allows firefighters to do their job safely. Students should prepare questions in advance for interviewing the ranger.
Grades 3-6
Time: 10 AM - 10:50 AM
Registration Closes on 3/12
March 26: Homesteading, Women's Suffrage, and the Wizard of Oz
Homesteading, Women’s Suffrage, and The Wizard of Oz, explores the women’s suffrage and homesteading themes in Frank L. Baum’s, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The program highlights the ways those themes remain prominent in retellings of the classic tale. It uses brief vocal music elements to demonstrate the many interpretations of this American fairytale; including, songs from the 1939 Judy Garland film: The Wizard of Oz. Homesteading, Women’s Suffrage, and the Wizard of Oz, is an engaging program that explores the experiences that helped Baum shape his iconic story.
Topics: women's suffrage, homesteading, literature, Wizard of Oz, Frank L. Baum
Grades 4-12
1:45 PM - 2:30 PM
Registration Closes 3/19
April 2: Bears in Glacier Park
The diverse ecosystems of Glacier National Park allow for a large diversity of living things, such as grizzly bears and black bears to survive. Glacier is one of the few places in the lower 48 United States were grizzly bears and black bears coexist. Through activities and group discussions, students will learn about both grizzly bears and black bears and discover why Glacier National Park has become a refuge for these species.
The distance learning program walks students through the physical differences between grizzly and black bears, adaptations bears have to survive in a place like Glacier, and even touches on some on-going scientific research happening in park focused on grizzly bears. The program concludes by discussing bear safety and how the park manages both bear and human populations within the park to ensure the safety of both species.
Grades 3-8
Time: 10:45 - 11:45 AM
Registration Closes 3/26
April 9: Ready, Set, Bloom: Cherry Blossoms in Washington, D.C. by DC Area National Parks and Partners
Grades 3-6
Time: 2 PM - 2:45 PM
Registration Closes 4/2
April 23: Maps to the Rescue with Rocky Mountain National Park
Grades 3-5
Time: 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
Registration closes on 4/9
April 30: Diplomacy at Gettysburg with Eisenhower National Historic Site
The President of the United States has many different jobs to do. One of them is being America’s chief diplomat.
What is a diplomat? How can a leader try to bring different groups of people together?
Join a park ranger to discover more about Dwight Eisenhower’s leadership style and how he used his Gettysburg farm as a diplomatic tool during his time as President of the United States. Students will have the chance to examine historic photographs and images of artifacts to discover how we can all be “main street” diplomats in our own lives today!
The program focuses on how President Eisenhower welcomed leaders at his farm, focusing on stories of three specific individuals—Jawaharlal Nehru, Winston Churchill, and Nikita Khrushchev. The overall theme is asking how we can be better leaders and more welcoming in our world today.
Grades 5-12
Time: 12:30 PM - 1:10 PM
Registration closes on 4/23
April 30: The Sound of Buffalo Soldiers: Elementary Program with Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument
Throughout the history of the United States military, music has been part of the sound experience of soldiers. For the Buffalo Soldiers, music also served as a tool to build a connection to the communities they served.
These all-Black regimental bands also introduced different genres of music to the traditional repertoire of marches and patriotic songs. Over time, the Buffalo Soldiers left an impact on the modern American
marching bands, military bands, and music all over the world
Grades 1-6
Time: 10 AM - 11 AM
Registration closes on 4/23
May 2: The Sound of Buffalo Soldiers: Secondary Program with Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument
Throughout the history of the United States military, music has been part of the sound experience of soldiers. For the Buffalo Soldiers, music also served as a tool to build a connection to the communities they served.
These all-Black regimental bands also introduced different genres of music to the traditional repertoire of marches and patriotic songs. Over time, the Buffalo Soldiers left an impact on the modern American
marching bands, military bands, and music all over the world
Grades 7-12
Time: 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Registration closes on 4/23
May 14: Life in the Arctic with the Bering Land Bridge National Preserve
Join a National Park Service ranger to learn about the tundra, its animals, and what it's like to live in Alaska. In this free virtual program, students will learn how humans, plants, and animals survive in this challenging environment, and why it's important to protect such a unique place.
Grades 3-5
Time: 2PM - 3 PM
Registration Closes 5/7
May 22: Service, Sacrifice, Unity, and Victory with the DC Area National Parks and Partners
Explore the story of Memorial Day and the war memorials on the National Mall with your students. Look at the symbolism found in the World War II Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, or the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Examine the themes of service, sacrifice, unity, and victory in an age-appropriate manner.
Grades 1-6
10 AM - 10:40 AM
Registration Closes 5/15
June 4: Every Kid Outdoors 4th grade with Paterson Great Falls NHP
Learn the special role played by the National Park Service in preserving our shared natural, cultural, and historical heritage! Completion of this program entitles fourth grade students to a free one-year pass to National Park sites.
This program highlights the special roles played by the National Park Service in preserving our shared natural, cultural, and historical heritage. Students will learn about their backyard National Park - Paterson Great Falls - and how the park's themes tie into the larger story of the U.S. Industrial Revolution. A hands-on drawing activity encourages students to consider what themes and ideas represent themselves and what they care to preserve and protect. Teachers will be instructed in printing special Park Passes for each of their students, which allow them and their families free access to all Federal parks, lands, and waters through August 31, (when they begin their fifth grade year).
Grade 3-4
10 AM - 10:50 AM
Registration Closes 5/28