ANALYSIS OF GEOSCIENCE EDUCATION TECHNIQUES WITHIN THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

The future of sustaining our global environment lies in the education of all generations of people. By increasing awareness of individual and larger-scale environmental impact, methods of mitigating their ecological footprint, and the geological processes in play, members of all societies have the opportunity to benefit their community and the world. As we all face the challenges of anthropogenic climate change, excessive resource use, and the destruction of natural landscapes and ecosystems, organizations such as the National Park Service (NPS) have taken on the mission of educating the public about the importance of the preservation and conservation of Earth’s resources. The success of the NPS in providing geoscience education is reflected by visitor information retention and response; it relies on the effectiveness of NPS interpretation and teaching strategies, including the presentation of geosciences within interactive experiences, displayed exhibits, and written material.

Through analysis of published NPS literature and qualitative investigation of the effectiveness of NPS geoscience interpretation and presentation, ongoing research has demonstrated that the NPS has developed geoscience education techniques that are positively impactful on our global environment and universally applicable to all communities and organizations. Investigation and analysis include general NPS publications and specific national site information including, but not limited to, Zion National Park, Utah, and Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, Wyoming, Montana.

By utilizing demonstrated effective geoscience education techniques, educational centers such as schools and natural resource observatories can advocate for and promote environmental awareness and sustainability to students of all ages. Through an increase in general environmental awareness and sustainability practices, all societies can positively impact their ecosystems and will, in turn, benefit from a protected global environment.