Displaying items by tag: national environmental education foundation
Smokies accessibility program opens doors to the outdoors for everyone
Adaptive program participants in Great Smoky Mountains National Park during a backcountry trip. The park plans to expand its program this year with multiple outings throughout America’s most-visited national park. National Park Service
Adaptive ranger-led programs include trail, lake and camping outings
GATLINBURG — The National Park Service (NPS), in partnership with Catalyst Sports, Knox County, Kampgrounds of America Foundation and Friends of the Smokies, will expand adaptive ranger-led programs in 2024. Using assistive technology, the ranger-led programs are designed for visitors of all abilities and their families to learn about the natural and cultural history of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
“We strive to create equal and accessible experiences for visitors of all abilities in Great Smoky Mountains National Park,” said Superintendent Cassius Cash. “And we are thrilled to work with our partners to expand the adaptive programs and offer off-road wheelchairs.”
ORNL scientists fan out to local schools and bring their research home during National Environmental Education Week
Students listen to a presentation from an Oak Ridge National Laboratory researcher during National Environmental Education Week. Courtesy Oak Ridge National LaboratoryScientists link research to students’ lives and communities
(Editor’s note: Karen Dunlap is a public information officer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory).
Esther Parish is one of eight Oak Ridge National Laboratory scientists talking to students in nine schools across East Tennessee as part of National Environmental Education Week.
On Monday, she spoke to Cathy Kimball’s fifth-grade class at Lenoir City Middle School.
The discussion covered renewable energy resources, science career paths and how climate change may affect East Tennessee.
Other ORNL scientists, including Debjani Singh, Liz Agee, Shelaine Curd, Spencer Washburn, Colleen Iversen, Keith Kline and Matthew Langholtz are participating in classroom events through April 30.
The national event is organized by the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF), which celebrates environmental education.
“I think it is important to reach out to young people about environmental science because the choices that our society makes regarding renewable energy resource development and climate-change mitigation will have long-term effects on their environment, health and future quality of life,” Parish said. She is a member of ORNL’s Environmental Science Division and specializes in geography and landscape ecology.