Project

HISTORY

Give a brief history of the park. Include any special features like if it is a rainforest or a volcano, or it has glaciers. Explain how the park received its name. What is the highest elevation point? Who was the first person, recorded, to summit the mountain? Identify when it was established as a national park. Also research its location, map coordinates, how many visitors a year, and the area of the park. For example Mount Rainier National Park:

· Location: Pierce/Lewis County Washington State

· Established: March 2, 1899, by President McKinley

· Area of Park: 236,381 acres

· Coordinates: 46°51′N 121°45′W Click to see location

· # of people who have visited the park in 2011 1,038,229

· Highest elevation point and location: Columbia Crest 14,410 ft

Links to get you started:

Field Trips to National Parks

Virtual Field Trip: Find your Virtual Park

National Parks: List of Parks in the USA

PBS: The National Parks: America's Best Idea

National Park Service: History

USA Today: Article

National Park Foundation: National Park Week

HIKING TRAILS

Identify the most popular hiking trails in the park, at least three. Give a brief description of each trail, including how long the hike is. Is it a moderate, easy, or difficult hike? Is it a day hike? 3-5 hike, or a week hike? Also identify any special features the hike might have, waterfalls? Lakes? Historical landmarks? For example Mount Rainier National park has three well-known hiking trails:

· Wonderland Trail

· Pacific Crest Trail

· Mount Fremont

· Sourdough Ridge

Links to get you started:

20 Best Hikes: National Parks

Hiking: Glacier Nation Park Montana

Men's Fitness: Top 10 National Park Hiking Trails

USA Today: 9 Best Hiking Trips in North America

Travel: 25 Best Hikes In America's National Parks

5 INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE PARK

While researching the national park what are things that make the park unique? Why do people travel from far places to see the park? For example at Mount Rainier National Park:

· It is an Active Volcano

· It has more than 25 glaciers

· The highest point in the Cascade Range.

· It is the fifth national park in the United States.

· Mowich Lake is the largest and deepest lake in the park

Links to get you started:

National Geographic: National Parks

In the News: Paterson Great Falls

Yellowstone: Information

Great Smokey Mountains National Park: Information

Acadia National Park: History

Carlsbad Caverns National Park: Information

Olympus: The First National Park

5 INTERESTING THINGS TO DO AT THE PARK FOR KIDS OR FAMILIES

Identify 5 different things to do at the park. For example camping, fishing, hang gliding, skiing, rock climbing? or even a visitor center. Also, include a brief description of the activity you choose. Is there anything you need to have before you do it? For example a camping permit? A fishing license? A climbing rope?

Links to get you started:

Zion National Park: Fun for Kids

Glacier National Park: Fun for Kids

Acadia National Park: For Kids

Parenting: 10 Amazing Things to do at Yosemite National Park

Acadia: Kids favorite things to do in Acadia

LIST 3 CITIES OR TOWNS THAT ARE PART OF THE NATIONAL PARK

Identify three different towns/cities that are included in the park. Give a brief description of each town and what there is to do in that town. Identify different places someone could stay as well in that area. For example at the Mount Rainer National Park Paradise is a hot spot for visitors. They have an old lodge that people can book rooms at. There were also other things to do at the lodge, like watch movies, cross country skiing, eat at the restaurant, go to the gift shop.

Links to get you started:

Yellowstone: Cities Near Yellowstone

National Geographic: Top 10 Urban Escapes

Five Best Cities: for National Park Lovers

National Parks: in Urban Areas

MAPS

Create three maps of the park. You can choose what kind of map you pick. (Political, hiking/trail map, resource map, climate, physical, or a road map.

Links to get you started:

Maps: US National Parks

Find a National Park: Maps

Maps: US National Parks

MapQuest: National Park Maps

PICTURES

Include several different pictures of the park: Landmarks, animals, insects, flowers, or anything you would like. Next to or under each picture give a brief description of the picture.

Links to get you started:

Google: Images

Pictures: National Parks

Pictures: U.S. National Parks Service Photo's