They’re beautiful, full of educational value, and powerfully refreshing. Our country’s national parks are ready-made for student travel.

They’re also economical. There are lots of exciting destinations around the country filled with theme parks, live performances, and innovative restaurants. But with these tours, every attraction requires more money. This can put the final bill far beyond a student group’s budget. Even after the Saturday car wash and bake sale. If the school is funding any of the trip at all, they may be less likely to pitch in for expensive attractions as well. National Parks don’t cost much more than the price of travel and a few sensible meals.

But the take-away is awesome. You’ll find you don’t have to spend extravagant money to induce awe and wonder. Nature has consistently done a pretty powerful job of this all by itself. Our national parks were chosen as such because somebody stood in awe and said, “We can’t let this get paved over for roller coasters.”

The impact is highly individualized. While man-made entertainment typically produces a similar reaction in all its participants (e.g., “That ride is thrilling,” “This restaurant is colorful.”), nature has a way of affecting its visitors personally. Some are moved toward faith, others to action, still others to a sense of quiet unmatched by the daily grind. Visiting national parks guarantees a unique and powerful response in almost every person. Nature and wildlife – they move people.

They inspire participation. National parks are also a great choice for student volunteering. Many have programs already in place for this. A two-day tour could easily include one half day of eco-friendly volunteerism. The most beautiful spots on earth are of course the most inspiring for taking care of the planet. Students not only feel encouraged to join global efforts for the environment, they participate in practical ways to do it.

Acadia National Park is a different kind of landscape than the other featured parks last week. Whereas they were all in the west, Acadia is one of the eastern-most regions of the United States. Again, we owe this gorgeous landscape and its preservation to that common denominator of national parks, the visionaries of yesterday who managed to protect it for future generations to enjoy.

Acadia includes the coast of Maine, so this park has ocean shores in its varied scenic options. The park’s mountains include the tallest peak on the Atlantic coast, Cadillac Mountain. Acadia is a cluster of islands and includes many fresh water sources besides its ocean shores. One of the great learning centers in the area are the tide pools where students will be amazed at the plant and animal life.

Acadia National Park sits at the edge of deciduous and coniferous forests, adding to its rich variety. This park is a beautiful choice for educational tours. Its landscape is a learning center on its own. The area is rich with human history as well – consider for instance reading a sea captain’s letter from over 150 years ago. And its ranger-led programs highlight all kinds of educational aspects to the park. Acadia national Park has beautiful scenery, a powerful glimpse of America’s eastern coast, and is an inspirational setting for education.

Photo Credit: Lee Coursey on Flickr

Yosemite was one of the first wilderness areas to become a national park, and it is a beautiful choice for student travel destinations. The waterfalls are perhaps the most famous natural wonder in this area and reason enough to walk, hike, or bike the famous paths. But there is more to Yosemite than the falls.

For a comprehensive look at all it has to offer, bus tours might be the way to go – at least the first day. Students can get an overview of the many different aspects of this amazing area – the falls, the meadows, the deep valleys and giant, ancient sequoias. These are the reasons Yosemite will take your breath away.

To make the most of the educational opportunities in the park, choose a ranger-guided tour, rich with information about Yosemite and its history. “A shrine to human foresight,” the National Park Services declares, and the “strength of granite,” and “the persistence of life.” Yosemite can teach students all kinds of valuable, life-changing lessons. 

For an even richer experience, after a day of exploring, consider a few hours of volunteering. You won’t find a more wonderful work environment nor a place that more fully inspires the preservation of our beautiful earth.

Photo Credit: Rob Inh00d on Flickr

There is one thing all national parks have in common: They have been preserved because someone at some point recognized their amazing beauty and stood up for them, realizing they must be treasured, that they must remain as places of ultimate inspiration. For some, they are reminders of what nature provides us all on its own and our responsibility to it. For some, they point to a deliberate Creator. For almost everyone, they are a wake-up call to our own small place in a vast and beautiful universe. 

National Parks, like this one – the amazing and incomparable Grand Canyon – are therefore the perfect environment for educational tours. They are learning centers all on their own without any human hand. And yet, they are usually rich with guides who can steer the inspiration toward an interest in nature, conservation, and history. 

The Grand Canyon has made it to world wonder lists for a reason. It’s simply breathtaking – a play of light and color and deep caverns that cannot be properly reproduced on film. Standing above this amazing footprint of nature is something so moving you simply have to experience it for yourself. There are all kinds of accommodations just minutes from this amazing US attraction, making it both possible and a must-see. It’s just one more gorgeous landscape carefully preserved and honored by the National Park Services. But you have to admit once you’ve seen it, this park kind of stands alone.

Photo Credit: mandj98 on Flickr

As long as we’re talking about national parks – for that matter, if you’re considering making a tour of them or adding even one to your list of must see US attractions – then you’ve got to consider Yellowstone. Besides its expanse and beauty – this is the first National Park established in our country and certainly deserves a nod just for that.

We like educational tours around here.  When you put students and travel together, education is almost inevitable.  There is simply so much to learn from our earth, from travel, and about our country’s rich and amazing history. Yellowstone is full of educational treasure like this.  Ranger-led programs give students insight into ecology, geology, wildlife, weather patterns, and so much more. Plus, every American should see Old Faithful at least once – the amazingly consistent geyser. Can you imagine the history it could share? And, although the most famous, Old Faithful is not the only geyser in Yellowstone. There are hundreds of others as well as hot springs – one of the most fascinating wonders of nature.

Yellowstone is an unequaled experience.  It has its own Grand Canyon and amazing sights throughout. There are activities galore and a rich, fantastic history – all brilliant choices for student tours.

Photo Credit: Savannah Grandfather on Flickr

This week:  National Parks. Our country has hundreds of beautiful reserves and natural wonders – many of them conveniently preserved by the National Park Services, a national treasury of natural beauty.

The Black Hills of South Dakota are first up. This unique area of the country actually contains SIX national parks.  Today, with students in mind, I want to focus on one famous portion of these hills – not strictly “natural” – but easily one of the most famous historical sites in the nation and something every American should see at least once. So why not consider it for educational tours?

I’m talking about Mt. Rushmore, the 16-story presidential faces carved into the granite in the famous black hills themselves. Can you name all four? I guarantee you’ll always be able to if you see it even once. The figures of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Franklin Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln are completely recognizable in their detail. They are beautiful and almost seem animated, or lifelike, in the sunlight.

This National Memorial is more, of course, than just some landscaping and the famous sculpture. You’ll find a museum, the sculptor’s studio, walking paths, various viewing spots, and the Avenue of Flags with one for each state, commonwealth, and US territory.

This memorial is just a great choice for students, and it is smack dab in the middle of the beautiful black hills/national parks territory – making it a great choice for this week’s theme.

(photo by bcmom on Flickr).