https://padlet.com/jwynkoop/6hm7i3o80hym2ena Please share any ideas/resources related to this year's "National Parks" theme. en-us 2022-01-04 14:36:09 UTC 2025-11-21 18:19:34 UTC hello@padlet.com jwynkoop https://padlet.com/jwynkoop/6hm7i3o80hym2ena/wish/1974332318 There is a local business called Purple Lizard Maps that creates maps of hiking trails for local state forests (and not so local--- West Virginia, Puerto Rico, and Ohio). It is a different kind of reading-- map skills -- but also promotes "getting outdoors" even if families can't get to some of the bigger National Parks in the warmer summer months. Maybe they would be willing to do some type of Zoom call about outdoor hiking safety or something like that (Kaysey)]]> 2022-01-04 14:41:21 UTC https://padlet.com/jwynkoop/6hm7i3o80hym2ena/wish/1974332318 jwynkoop https://padlet.com/jwynkoop/6hm7i3o80hym2ena/wish/1977484327 We can host a trivia night about the National Parks. Maybe different nights for kids and adults? (Nicole) Maybe we can even work with a local restaurant/brewery to host the adult event? (Jackie)]]> 2022-01-05 22:10:33 UTC https://padlet.com/jwynkoop/6hm7i3o80hym2ena/wish/1977484327 jwynkoop https://padlet.com/jwynkoop/6hm7i3o80hym2ena/wish/1977504830 Possible items we may want to buy as supplemental materials, raffle prizes, etc.]]> 2022-01-05 22:31:35 UTC https://padlet.com/jwynkoop/6hm7i3o80hym2ena/wish/1977504830 mboylefedor https://padlet.com/jwynkoop/6hm7i3o80hym2ena/wish/1979237584 Could we maybe provide maps denoting where parks are?
-maps to color?
-scavenger hunt?
-parks by state?
-matching games?
-what animals are found in which parks?
-have a real life ranger speak with us about one in particular?
-get 4th grades across the district the "Every Kid Outdoors" passes from https://everykidoutdoors.gov/educators.htm
I'm just spitballing here- stream of consciousness ~ Mary]]> 2022-01-06 17:57:55 UTC https://padlet.com/jwynkoop/6hm7i3o80hym2ena/wish/1979237584 https://padlet.com/jwynkoop/6hm7i3o80hym2ena/wish/1998536668 For the packets...word searches with park names, animals, nature/landscape stuff]]> 2022-01-18 17:21:31 UTC https://padlet.com/jwynkoop/6hm7i3o80hym2ena/wish/1998536668 https://padlet.com/jwynkoop/6hm7i3o80hym2ena/wish/1998538586 For the packets...crossword puzzles with clues about the various parks, nature, etc.]]> 2022-01-18 17:22:16 UTC https://padlet.com/jwynkoop/6hm7i3o80hym2ena/wish/1998538586 https://padlet.com/jwynkoop/6hm7i3o80hym2ena/wish/1998544836 When you visit a National Park it's a "must" to get your picture by the iconic park sign. :) We need to do something about this.... Jackie said something about maybe having community members share pictures of their visits to the National Parks. I love that idea. But what else could we do about the signs???]]> 2022-01-18 17:24:51 UTC https://padlet.com/jwynkoop/6hm7i3o80hym2ena/wish/1998544836 https://padlet.com/jwynkoop/6hm7i3o80hym2ena/wish/1998562187 A big part of visiting National Parks is earning your Junior Ranger badge. They're for kids, obviously -- but some parks even have "Not so Junior" Ranger badges too -- Great Smoky Mountains NP had them when we were there in 2016. There are activity booklets you can pick up at the Visitors Centers, and the booklets contain various activities the kids are supposed to do to earn their badges. Some include attending programs taught by a park ranger -- learning about animal scat, or the different trees or animals in that park, or different landforms, etc. Different parks have different programs for different age groups as well. GSMNP had a "Wee Wild Ranger" program for our 3-year old at the time. Anyway, earning the badges is a big deal. You take an oath and everything when you earn your badge. :) You'll often see people at the parks with a hat or backpack that has their collection of badges (which are usually pins). Anyway...lots of potential with the Junior Ranger badge idea. I think there are even things you can do online nowadays. Info can be found at the various parks' websites.]]> 2022-01-18 17:32:14 UTC https://padlet.com/jwynkoop/6hm7i3o80hym2ena/wish/1998562187 https://padlet.com/jwynkoop/6hm7i3o80hym2ena/wish/1998565205 Something for the packets.... a simple activity of matching the animal tracks to the correct animal. ]]> 2022-01-18 17:33:31 UTC https://padlet.com/jwynkoop/6hm7i3o80hym2ena/wish/1998565205 https://padlet.com/jwynkoop/6hm7i3o80hym2ena/wish/1998580660 Last year when my kids were part of CCA (Commonwealth Charter Academy) they offered tons of virtual field trips. We did a whole bunch of them, and one of them was to Bryce Canyon National Park in southern Utah. We were actually on a Zoom meeting with a park ranger there at the park. We got to learn all about the park and actually see it as she showed it to us behind where she was standing. It was super cool! I'm sure this something new since COVID. If they're still doing them, I think we should definitely offer a National Park virtual visit at some point. We'd probably have to do it with a West coast park because of the time difference and daylight. But, there are dozens of amazing National Parks out West. I think this would be awesome. :)]]> 2022-01-18 17:40:00 UTC https://padlet.com/jwynkoop/6hm7i3o80hym2ena/wish/1998580660 https://padlet.com/jwynkoop/6hm7i3o80hym2ena/wish/1998589034 The Visitor Centers of the NPs are essential stops. That's where you get your park maps and talk to rangers to find out what's happening in the park, where you should go if you only have this much time, etc. They have awesome displays/exhibits too, of course. It's usually one of your first stops when you get to a park. I'm thinking maybe we should set up the book pick-up night to be like a NP Visitor Center. And maybe those bringing the books out to people could be dressed like park rangers. :) ]]> 2022-01-18 17:43:36 UTC https://padlet.com/jwynkoop/6hm7i3o80hym2ena/wish/1998589034 https://padlet.com/jwynkoop/6hm7i3o80hym2ena/wish/1998839142 Hiking is one of the main things you do when you visit a National Park. Most parks offer a variety of hikes -- from easy 1-mile loops for a family with young kids to several mile hikes for the experienced hiker. That's usually how you get to the big sights -- you have to take a hike in order to see the waterfall or the geyser or..... We need to do something that ties in hiking somehow. I love that we could potentially do something that could promote getting outside and exercising along with our literacy promotion efforts. ]]> 2022-01-18 19:35:08 UTC https://padlet.com/jwynkoop/6hm7i3o80hym2ena/wish/1998839142 https://padlet.com/jwynkoop/6hm7i3o80hym2ena/wish/1998845598 Something for the packet.... A National Park word scramble and we tie "trail mix" into the title (get it...the letters are "mix"ed up? haha). I know we have to be careful with allergy issues, but doing something with actual trail mix would be fun too. Maybe just a recipe for trail mix???]]> 2022-01-18 19:38:04 UTC https://padlet.com/jwynkoop/6hm7i3o80hym2ena/wish/1998845598 https://padlet.com/jwynkoop/6hm7i3o80hym2ena/wish/1998849416 Packet stuff.... leaf identification is always cool, right? It'd be cool to do something that deal with the TREES in the National Parks. ]]> 2022-01-18 19:39:46 UTC https://padlet.com/jwynkoop/6hm7i3o80hym2ena/wish/1998849416 nedwards78 https://padlet.com/jwynkoop/6hm7i3o80hym2ena/wish/1999341610 Another thing to incorporate some physical activity.... When we visited Yellowstone NP we participated in the Wildlife Olympics -- testing our own abilities against those of Yellowstone animals like snowshoe hares, bison, owls, beavers, blue herons, and antelope. I think that was the most fun we had altogether on that trip. This might be a fun activity for families to do at home. ]]> 2022-01-19 02:06:54 UTC https://padlet.com/jwynkoop/6hm7i3o80hym2ena/wish/1999341610 jwynkoop https://padlet.com/jwynkoop/6hm7i3o80hym2ena/wish/2083948411 2022-03-08 13:16:57 UTC https://padlet.com/jwynkoop/6hm7i3o80hym2ena/wish/2083948411 jwynkoop https://padlet.com/jwynkoop/6hm7i3o80hym2ena/wish/2083950119 2022-03-08 13:17:53 UTC https://padlet.com/jwynkoop/6hm7i3o80hym2ena/wish/2083950119