Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Just For Kids
Traveling Trunks
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore has several educational trunks available for free loan. Each learning trunk comes complete with four or more lesson plans, the materials needed to conduct the lessons, suggested follow-up activities and lists of other educational resources.
Each truck is written for students in grades 3-6. The lessons are designed to help teachers address Michigan Science or Social Studies Teaching Objectives.
Geology of Michigan: Materials and lessons to help students understand the rock cycle, igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks and geologic time.
Birds: Materials and lessons to help students understand bird migration and adaptations.
Beavers: Materials and lessons to help students understand the natural history of beavers, how they can change the landscape and what role they played in human history.
Black Bears: Material and lessons to help students understand the natural history, cycles and interrelationships of this fascinating mammal.
Non-Native Species: Materials and lessons to help students understand what a non-native plant or animal species is and how they can impact other species and the environment.
Au Sable Light Station: Materials and lessons to help students understand why the Au Sable Light Station was constructed near Grand Marais, how it was constructed, the lives of the light station keepers and their families, and why these cultural resources are important.
To borrow the learning trunks, please contact:
David Kronk, Park Ranger
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
P.O. Box 40
Munising, MI 49862
(906) 387-2607, ext. 206
Pick-up and return of these trunks must be arranged for or paid by the borrower. Sorry, the National Park Service does not pay for shipping.
Be A Junior Ranger
Junior Ranger Activity Book
Are you in kindergarten through sixth grade? Would you like to have even more fun during your visit to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore?
If so, just ask a Park Ranger at the Interagency Visitor Center in Munising or Grand Sable Visitor Center in Grand Marais for a free Junior Ranger Activity Book.
In it you will find ideas for fun games and explorations in and around the National Lakeshore. Complete the activities and earn your official Junior Ranger badge and certificate. Once you fill out the questions for your grade group, take the booklet back to the visitor center. If you have completed your portion, you'll earn a Junior Ranger Badge!
So c'mon ... join in the fun! Become a National Park Junior Ranger! We need your help taking care of our national treasures. You'll enjoy learning about and taking pride in America's National Parks.
After School and Summer Junior Ranger Programs
These programs are offered for Alger County schoolchildren in grades 3-6. They are hands-on fun activities designed to build an appreciation and understanding of our natural and cultural resources.
These two hour programs are offered each season during the school year and during a special summer session in June. There is a small fee to participate in the Junior Ranger Program.
To learn more about these programs, please contact:
David Kronk, Park Ranger
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
P.O. Box 40
Munising, MI 49862
906-387-2607, ext. 206
email
Materials For Loan
Materials
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore has an extensive collection of educational materials to loan to area educators including videos, DVDâs, books and education materials and equipment catalogs.
Equipment
If you are interested in doing field study activities with your students, we might have the equipment you need. We have a wide variety of science education gear from thermometers to water test kits.
Curricula
If you are looking for a particular environmental science or social studies lesson plan we might be able to help. We have a wide variety of K-12 curricula including two new materials produced by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (Ecosystems and Biodiversity and Land Use). Both are written to met Michigan Science and Social Studies Benchmarks in Grades 4-9.
Learning Trunks
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore has six traveling educational âtrunksâ available for free loan. Each trunk comes complete with four or more lesson plans, the materials needed to conduct the lessons, suggested follow-up activities and lists of other educational resources you may want to review. Each truck is written for students in grades 3-6; each lesson helps address Michigan Science or Social Studies Benchmarks.
For more information, please contact:
David Kronk, Park Ranger
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
P.O. Box 40
Munising, MI 49862
(906) 387-2607, ext. 206
FOR KIDS
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is rich with plants, animals, and stories of human history, giving children plenty of opportunity to explore.
Kids visiting the lakeshore enjoy the exhibits at the visitor centers. There are several easy day hikes that kids of all ages can go on, including the Munising Falls trail and the Log Slide overlook. For older children, the Chapel Trail provides a good challenge and is an excellent day hike.
In the summer, get kids involved in ranger-led programs including lighthouse tours and campfire programs. Stop by any of the parkâs visitor centers to check the schedule, ask directions or further suggestions.
For Kids
Kids Take Charge!
What if you asked your parents if you could help plan your visit to the Lakeshore? How would you do that? Here are a few ideas.
* First Step
Look at a lot of this website and find the information you and your parents are interested in. Show them how you can cruise around this site to get ready for your trip. What are you interested in? What do you want to see? Where do you want to go?
* Once You Are Here
Stop by one of the Lakeshore visitor centers to get maps and information on weather, trails, places to see and things to do. Ask if anyone has reported any cool wildlife sightings lately. Ask them if there are any Ranger programs that day.
* Plan Your Day
How much time do you have? What do you and your parents want to see? If you plan to go on a boat cruise, how does that influence your schedule? Write out a list of things you want to see that day.
* Slow Down!
So many people rush from place to place and once home, their visit seems like a BIG BLUR! Encourage your parents to just sit down by a tree or by a cliff or at the beach and soak it all in! Get a picnic lunch from town and relax in a place you really like. No need to rush! Have another visitor take a picture of your whole family, so mom or dad are in the photo too.
* Keep Them Safe
The Lakeshore is a beautiful place, but there are hazards for the unwary. Remind your parents to stay on the trails, read signs and bulletin board warnings, and watch for changes in weather. And above all - keep them back from the edge of the cliffs!
* At Day's End
Work with your parents to do a sketch or create a poem about your day in the park. HINT: Have each person in your family think of five words that describe your day, Write the words down, then organize them into a poem. Send the poem and your family photo to a relative who would enjoy knowing about your visit.
FOR TEACHERS
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore encompasses the wild and beautiful shoreline along the south shore of Lake Superior between the communities of Munising and Grand Marais, Michigan. The Lakeshore includes spectacular cliffs, sand dunes, pristine beaches, waterfalls, inland lakes, and the habitats of plants and animals. Stories and artifacts of human history involving early Native Americans, lake travel, lumbering, and other now abandoned industries are found throughout the Lakeshore, including an 1874 light station.
The Lakeshore's education staff is dedicated to providing high quality programs and services. Pictured Rocks provides 35 fun, hands-on interdisciplinary K-12 programs for Alger County, Michigan, students which address Michigan Department of Education Content Standards in Science, Social Studies, Language Arts and History.
Other services and materials are also available to students, teachers, and youth leaders outside the immediate park neighborhood.
The goal of this education program is to help create good stewards of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and elsewhere. We welcome your involvement.
Youth Group Special Programs
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is pleased to provide programs for youth groups whenever schedule time permits. We will work closely to help students earn their merit badge or educational objective while learning about an important resource or resource management tool at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
To request a program, please contact:
David Kronk, Park Ranger
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
P.O. Box 40
Munising, MI 49862
(906) 387-2607, ext. 206
e-mail
Plan A Field Trip
These interdisciplinary programs for schools address Michigan Department of Education Content Standards in science, language arts, history, and social studies. Please choose from these pre-school through twelfth grade natural resource or cultural resource programs or request a topic of your own that will meet your needs. We offer classroom programs, school site programs, and field trips. Teacher in-service programs are available upon request.
For more information or to schedule a program, please contact:
David Kronk, Park Ranger
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
P.O. Box 40
Munising, MI 49862
(906) 387-2607, ext. 206
e-mail
Pictured Rocks In Depth
News from the Parks
Obama's Chili Recipe
January 7, 2009 - 1:14pm
By now it's a well-known fact that Hillary doesn't bake cookies, but Barack has been known to brag about his chili, and today Good Morning America ran the recipe. Obama Family Chili Recipe 1 large onion, chopped 1 green pepper, chopped Several cloves of garlic, chopped 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 pound ground turkey or beef 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin 1/4 teaspoon ground oregano 1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric 1/4 teaspoon ground basil 1 tablespoon chili powder 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar Several tomatoes, depending on size, chopped 1 can red kidney beans Saute onions, green pepper and garlic in olive oil until soft. Add ground meat and brown. Combine spices together into a mixture, then add to ground meat. Add red wine vinegar. Add tomatoes and let simmer, until tomatoes cook down. Add kidney beans and cook for a few more minutes. Serve over white or brown rice. Garnish with grated cheddar cheese, onions and sour cream.
January 7, 2009 - 1:14pm
By now it's a well-known fact that Hillary doesn't bake cookies, but Barack has been known to brag about his chili, and today Good Morning America ran the recipe. Obama Family Chili Recipe 1 large onion, chopped 1 green pepper, chopped Several cloves of garlic, chopped 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 pound ground turkey or beef 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin 1/4 teaspoon ground oregano 1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric 1/4 teaspoon ground basil 1 tablespoon chili powder 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar Several tomatoes, depending on size, chopped 1 can red kidney beans Saute onions, green pepper and garlic in olive oil until soft. Add ground meat and brown. Combine spices together into a mixture, then add to ground meat. Add red wine vinegar. Add tomatoes and let simmer, until tomatoes cook down. Add kidney beans and cook for a few more minutes. Serve over white or brown rice. Garnish with grated cheddar cheese, onions and sour cream.
Colorado Section of Vast Bike Network is 1,000 Miles
January 5, 2009 - 12:43pm
More than 1,000 miles of the 50,000-mile bikeway being spliced together throughout North American lies in Colorado. The Colorado portion is part of the Great Parks section, which includes 2,518 miles from Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada, to Mesa Verde National Park outside of Durango.
January 5, 2009 - 12:43pm
More than 1,000 miles of the 50,000-mile bikeway being spliced together throughout North American lies in Colorado. The Colorado portion is part of the Great Parks section, which includes 2,518 miles from Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada, to Mesa Verde National Park outside of Durango.
Ranchers Oppose Yellowstone Bison Relocation
January 5, 2009 - 12:32pm
Ranchers are voicing concern about plans to relocate some Yellowstone Park bison to Indian reservations in Montana and Wyoming. The ranchers are worried about the animals' history of carrying brucellosis, a disease that causes domestic cows to miscarry.
January 5, 2009 - 12:32pm
Ranchers are voicing concern about plans to relocate some Yellowstone Park bison to Indian reservations in Montana and Wyoming. The ranchers are worried about the animals' history of carrying brucellosis, a disease that causes domestic cows to miscarry.
A Trip to Yosemite National Park via YARTS is a Must for Valley Residents
January 5, 2009 - 12:31pm
The YARTS bus sped up Highway 140 from Merced into the foothills. It passed Mariposa and stopped at the entrance to Yosemite National Park. A sign read, “Chains required.” The driver parked, and deftly fitted the chains over the tires. A horde of enthused travelers lined up outside the bus, but there were no more seats. Instead of turning them away, the kindly driver allowed them to board the bus and stand in the aisle for the remaining 13 miles of the trip.
January 5, 2009 - 12:31pm
The YARTS bus sped up Highway 140 from Merced into the foothills. It passed Mariposa and stopped at the entrance to Yosemite National Park. A sign read, “Chains required.” The driver parked, and deftly fitted the chains over the tires. A horde of enthused travelers lined up outside the bus, but there were no more seats. Instead of turning them away, the kindly driver allowed them to board the bus and stand in the aisle for the remaining 13 miles of the trip.
Nene Killed on the Road in Haleakala National Park
January 5, 2009 - 12:21pm
An adult nene was killed on the road at Haleakala National Park on Dec. 28. Motorists traveling to the park are asked to drive slowly and cautiously. Visitors reported the dead nene to Visitor Use Assistant Tony Manion at 7:30 a.m. Park Ranger Chad Riggin retrieved the dead nene from the road near mile marker 16.
January 5, 2009 - 12:21pm
An adult nene was killed on the road at Haleakala National Park on Dec. 28. Motorists traveling to the park are asked to drive slowly and cautiously. Visitors reported the dead nene to Visitor Use Assistant Tony Manion at 7:30 a.m. Park Ranger Chad Riggin retrieved the dead nene from the road near mile marker 16.
