Bring Rock Creek Park into your classroom.Can't visit the park in person? Let Rock Creek Park come to you! Rock Creek Park's Virtual Field Trips connect students with National Park Service rangers through engaging, interactive online programs that bring the park's natural and cultural resources directly into the classroom. Whether students are learning from school, home, or another educational setting, virtual programs provide opportunities to explore science, history, and stewardship while meeting curriculum standards. Programs typically last 45–60 minutes and include live presentations, interactive discussions, visual demonstrations, and time for student questions. Virtual Learning PlatformsRock Creek Park offers virtual programs through a variety of video conferencing platforms, including:
If your school uses another platform, please contact us to discuss available options. Park staff are happy to schedule a brief technology check prior to your program if needed. Curriculum-Based Programs
Books and Beyond with a Ranger (Grades PreK-K, 30-45 minutes)
Play and be inspired by nature in the forests around us. This program includes puppets, books, songs, and movement to teach students about forest animals, seasons, and our sky.
What is a Habitat / Animal Adaptations (Grades K-3, 60 minutes)
This program encourages the exploration of three habitats (forest, meadow, and stream) found within Rock Creek Park. Students will be able to compare the different habitats and learn how animals and places are connected. They will also explore what a food chain is and how it connects to all living things. NGSS: 2-LS4-1, 3-LS3-1 You Can Help the Earth! (Grades 3-5, 60 minutes) Things that people do to live comfortably can affect the world around them. Students learn that people can make choices that reduce their impacts on the land, water, air, and other living things. For example: reducing trash through reuse and recycling. NGSS: 5-ESS3-1 Aquatic Ecology (Grades 6-8, 60-90 minutes) Water is a renewable resource. Explore how it cycles through our system in the forms of clouds, precipitation, ground water, streams, rivers, oceans, plants, and animals. Also learn about how pollution enters the water. Lastly, you'll discover some of the macroinvertebrates that inhabit the creek and forest seeps. NGSS: MS-LS2-3, MS-LS2-4 Request a Virtual Field TripOrganized groups of ten or more may request a virgual ranger program. Staff are available on Wednesdays and Fridays for virtual programming. Please request your virtual field trip at least 2 weeks in advance.Once you know what program you'd like, please contact us via email to request an Educational Experiences Request Form. A ranger will follow up once you submit your request. |
Last updated: September 20, 2026