Continuing Education – Teacher Workshop in Zion

Zion National Park, in partnership with local universities, will organize, coordinate, and execute a Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (STEAM) education teacher workshop in 2027. Teachers who participate will come from K-12 schools in Southern Utah. The workshop will be place-based, utilizing the cultural and natural landscape as resources for engagement and learning. Teachers who attend may receive education credits. This project will also work to update and create educational resources for teachers.  

Educating teachers about available resources will allow teachers to see how the park can be used as an outdoor classroom and learn about ranger-led curriculum programs available or develop their own activities to meet their curriculum needs.  

From Jorge Hernandez, Supervisory Park Ranger in Zion, “Working directly with local teachers through a teacher workshop is a wonderful opportunity to increase Zion National Park’s outreach in Southern Utah’s education community. We look forward to welcoming educators to Zion National Park and collaborate with them to incorporate Zion’s educational resources into their classroom and identify opportunities to supplement the curriculum they teach.”  Through the hosting of this teacher workshop, Zion National Park Rangers will also provide an avenue to grow their collaboration with local educators and extend the opportunities their students have in connecting with Zion National Park. 

For every teacher educated, there is a connection being made to all the students that they have contact with this year and in the future. Techers who attended similar workshops are more likely to utilize on-site, off-site and web-based park resources thus increasing student reach for the park.  Teachers who attend the workshop will have an increased knowledge about park natural and cultural resources, and how these may connect to their curriculum goals.