Centennial Celebration Classroom Outreach
Teacher's Resource Guides, Kids Activity Books, DVDs & More!
Sample Materials:
Teachers Resource Guide (8.3 MB, Adobe PDF)
Kids Activity Guide (Adobe PDF) COMING SOON!
Place your order today! Contact information is located at the bottom of this page.
Outreach Program Overview
Celebrate the centennial of Idaho’s State Parks and share important historical, land stewardship and healthy lifestyle messages with your students – Free Teachers Resource Guides, DVDs and Classroom Activity Guides are available now through the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation. Information how to order classroom materials is available below.
Celebrating A Centennial
Idaho has 30 beautiful state parks and recreational trail ways that service over 2.5 million visitors annually. Both campers and day-use customers alike choose Idaho’s State Parks for the experiences that the parks promote and the benefits that they have to offer. But in the fast-paced age of techno-gadgetry, where do natural, outdoor experiences fit in? And how do we keep our children healthy and active? This is a serious issue faced not only by Idaho, but the nation. One of our goals as an agency is to reintroduce Idaho’s youth to the wonders of the outdoors and the plethora of experiences that await them just beyond their homes in Idaho’s State Parks.
In 2008, Idaho will celebrate the centennial of its first state park, Heyburn State Park located in Plummer, Idaho. To commemorate the occasion, we’ve planned two-years of statewide programs and events with a special celebration at every Idaho State Park on July 12, 2008.
Celebration Vision
The vision of the Idaho State Parks Centennial is to celebrate the rich legacy of Idaho’s State Park system and reach the public by providing a myriad of opportunities to come together, to learn and to appreciate each park’s magnificent heritage. Through historical, cultural, educational, and community based events and activities, the multi-year celebration will encourage all to cherish Idaho’s history through state parks, celebrating our past, embracing the present and preparing for the future. We hope to generate new awareness of these issues and engage Idaho’s youth during our upcoming Centennial Celebration.
Classroom Outreach
As a component of our centennial programming, the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation is offering classroom outreach materials or “Classroom Kits”, free of charge to Idaho teachers. We’ll even ship them to you for free. Included within these materials is a Teacher’s Resource Guide, Lessons, DVD, and Activity Guides. The bound Teacher’s Resource Guide, titled “Experience Idaho’s State parks – Just 4 Kids”, is a comprehensive unit of ten lessons, each pertaining to the celebration of Idaho’s historic structures, natural habitat, and the stewardship of Idaho’s public places.
The unit lessons have been specifically designed for introduction or reintroduction of Idaho’s youth to Idaho State Parks as well as for use as a supplement to the Idaho 4th Graders study of Idaho history. The lessons correlate with Idaho’s Curriculum Standards for 4th graders and specify the subject areas and content standards applied to that specific lesson. Not only do exercises and activities compel students to apply understanding and personal experiences about Idaho, everything you need to implement the lessons will be sent to you free of charge. Classroom kits are available now through the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation. See contact information below.
What Do Classroom Kits Include?
When you place your order, you will receive:
· The comprehensive Teacher Resource Guide, “Experience Idaho’s State Parks – Just 4 Kids” along with any visual aids required for the lessons
· An “Experience Idaho’s State Parks – Just 4 Kids” DVD
· Fun, 8-page “Experience Idaho’s State Parks – Just 4 Kids” activity guides, one per student.
· Free Idaho State Park day-use coupons, one per student
These materials offer a fun and educational way to engage your students in learning about Idaho State Parks and the role the parks play in Idaho history.
Expanding The Message
We know that sometimes a visitor to a classroom can add interest to a discussion topic. Idaho State Park and Recreation representatives are available to come to your class upon request. This would be a great way to begin the unit, having a park and recreation staff member introduce Idaho State Parks to your class and talk about the state park nearest you. Staff members can walk your class through an interpretive lesson and bring the DVD and activity guides along for your convenience.
Request A Classroom Kit / Schedule A Visit
You can obtain your Classroom Kits or schedule a classroom visit from an IDPR representative simply by contacting the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation and sharing your contact information, mailing address and the number of students within your class. Call or email to Jennifer Wernex, IDPR Communications Manager at: (208) 514-2254, inquiry@idpr.idaho.gov.