A MULTI-TIERED APPROACH TO GEOSCIENCE EDUCATION AT THE OREGON CAVES NATIONAL MONUMENT

The average Oregon Caves visitor may not be able to tell apart stalactites and stalagmites, let alone comprehend the intricacies of the obducted ophiolite suites of the Siskiyou Mountains. In 1909, President Taft set aside the Oregon Caves National Monument for its “unusual scientific interest and importance.” To clearly communicate this scientific interest, five GeoCorps America volunteers and two geology volunteers were tasked with developing materials to help explain the geologic complexity of the Monument to rangers and visitors.

This process was comprised of three tiers. The first tier involved writing and presenting daily cave tours that enlightened the visitors on the geo-complexity of the Oregon Caves. The cave tours were given in a simple, easy-to-understand manner that made speleology accessible to the general public. The second tier focused on compiling geologic information in a digital encyclopedia of the Oregon Caves to assist rangers lacking a strong science background. The encyclopedia is composed of a room-by-room guide of the cave and an accompanying geologic glossary. The goal is to ensure that park rangers have an available resource to better understand the Monument’s geology, so in turn they can accurately relay this information to visitors. The third tier expanded educational opportunities by continuing geologic mapping at the Monument and surrounding areas. This led to a greater comprehension of the regional tectonic setting and the development of geology hiking guides for visitors.

These projects comprise a multi-tiered approach to geoscience education at Oregon Caves National Monument and provide an exportable model for educators focusing on place-based outdoor education. While the various projects have different scopes, all seek to inform visitors and rangers on the geologic complexity of the Monument.