For Educators

Introduce your students to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore!

Experience Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore with your school group to create “ah ha!” moments. Through a field trip or ranger classroom visit, school groups will be immersed in the park through topics and sites depending on the program that best fits your group.

Highlights within the park are cliffs, sand dunes, beaches, waterfalls, inland lakes, and various northern forest habitats. Programs are offered based on season. Looking for fall, winter, or spring programing? Start your “ah ha!” moment to see what your park has to offer!

 

 

For information about field trips, environmental programs, and other teacher resources, please contact [e-mail]

 

Plan a Field Trip at Pictured Rocks!

Pictured Rocks is a wonderful place to bring your students for a field trip experience! Winter field trips (January - April) for school groups are offerred, which cover topics such as animal adaptations and Leave No Trace. Spring field trips (April - May) cover topics such as water quality, maritime history, and traditional navigational skills.

School groups coming to the park for a ranger-led program can get their entrance fees waived.

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore will begin accepting requests for winter 2025 field trips September 1, 2024.

 

Request a Field Trip

 

Every Kid Outdoors Program

The Every Kid Outdoors Program is a program for 4th graders in public, private, tribal, and homeschools. This program provides FREE National Parks passes to 4th graders ($80 value), and many schools are eligible for FREE buses to a field trip to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, provided by a grant from the National Park Foundation. This program is also made possible by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Field trips and classroom visits support 4th grade Michigan science and social studies curriculum standards.

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore partners with many schools in the Upper Peninsula to provide a three-part Every Kid Outdoors (EKO) program to 4th graders. Part one of the EKO program is a "pre-field trip" visit to your classroom, your students will learn about Great Lakes ecosystem and be prepared for what they will learn and experience during their field trip to Pictured Rocks!

Part two is a field trip to Pictured Rocks! Students will learn about winter animal adaptations, play games, and (weather-permitting) go on a snowshoe adventure!

Finally, part 3 of the EKO program is a "post-field trip" visit to your classroom, when everything is tied together and students learn about where they can use their new National Parks pass and the value of public lands!

To find out more about the Every Kid Outdoors program, contact the Education Specialist at 906-387-2607 ex. 1206 or send an email to [e-mail]. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore will begin accepting requests for field trip dates on September 2nd, 2024.

 

Ranger Classroom Visits

Want a Pictured Rocks ranger to visit your classroom? Classroom visit topics include Junior Ranger programs, lessons on animal adaptations, and professional development talks for older students!
We will begin accepting requests for winter 2025 classroom visits on September 2, 2024. Classroom visits can be requested via the link below.

 

Request a Classroom Visit

 

Other education resources

NPS Education Curriculum - Curriculum materials from parks across the National Park Service.
Project WET - Project WET is dedicated to solving critical environmental challenges by teaching the world about water.
Project WILD - Project WILD's mission is to provide wildlife-based conservation and environmental education that fosters responsible actions toward wildlife and related natural resources.