Press release from Great Smoky Mountains National Park:
Great Smoky Mountains Park officials announce the completion of two unique summer programs engaging selected high school students and teachers as park rangers. The Teachers in Parks and the High School Student Intern programs are six-week paid work experiences where participants learn about the resources of the Park through on-site training exercises that enable them to perform ranger duties. Participants will complete the programs just in time for the new school year to begin, allowing them to return to the classroom with a wealth of knowledge and experience gained from a summer working with rangers in a National Park.
“These programs are mutually beneficial,” said Susan Sachs, Education Coordinator for the Appalachian Highlands Science Learning Center located in the park. “The students and teachers get an in-depth study of resource education techniques, scientific methods, and field research to enhance their skills and talents, and, in turn, the Park creates advocates through better understanding of and appreciation for the Smokies. Teachers will bring the knowledge into their classrooms and the interns will share their education and experience with the local community through their friends and family.”
During their time in the park, teachers work alongside park rangers in the field assisting with resource management activities and education programs. When not in the field, teachers are working with resource educators to develop elementary, middle, and high school curriculum for the popular Parks as Classrooms program.
In partnership with American Conservation Experience (ACE), student interns, from different local high schools within the surrounding counties and communities, assist scientists and park staff with field research and education programs while exploring possible career opportunities. They get exposed to and gain knowledge about a variety of areas while working in the park, including wildlife biology, fisheries science, front and backcountry campground management, forest and stream ecology, preventative search and rescue, archaeology, appalachian history and park management.
The two successful programs were expanded this summer, thanks to a variety of public and private funding sources. Grants were received from Alcoa, Friends of the Smokies license plate funds, Community Foundation of Haywood County, Great Smoky Mountains Association and the federally-funded Youth Partnership Program (YPP). These funds supported five teachers and 24 high school students from Tennessee and North Carolina school systems.
The following high school students were selected for the program:
In North Carolina: Kat Casey and Skyler Singleton, Smokey Mountain High School; Matthew Sullivan and Evan Young, Oconaluftee Job Corps; Laura Booth and Brett Treadway, Swain County High School; Wess McCoy Hooper, Robbinsville High School; Kyra Mehaffey and Hannah Ensley, Pisgah High School; Nicole Welbourn, SILSA; Linden Jones, The Asheville School; and Kahawi’s, Salmon River Central Schools
The following teachers were selected for the program:
In North Carolina: Sharon Flowe, Tuscola High School; Greg Tucker, Nesbitt Discovery Academy.
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