Western National Parks supports field trip to Bandelier National Monument
Educator Liz Gilroy of Arroyo del Norte Elementary School immersed 2nd- and 3rd-grade students in the landscapes and heritage of New Mexico with a James E. Cook Nature's Classroom Grant, open now for applications.
Learning about history and science in a national park is a transformative experience. A field trip to a national park deepens a student's connection to these landscapes and encourages them to become future stewards of the parks.
In April 2026, 33 Arroyo del Norte Elementary School students from second and third grade visited Bandelier National Monument. The second graders visited the main trails at Bandelier, while the third graders visited the Tsankawi region of the park. All of the students completed the park's Junior Ranger program. "Visiting both Bandelier and Tsankawi strengthen[ed] students' sense of place, deepen[ed] content understanding, and inspir[ed] curiosity, respect, and responsibility for our shared public lands," said Liz Gilroy.
The field trip was built around three learning strands. The Cultural History component aimed to teach students about the lives and culture of the ancestral Puebloans, who built the cavates and structures at Bandelier. The Earth & Environmental Science portion aimed to educate students about how volcanic activity, wind, water, and erosion shaped the canyons and mesas at the New Mexico park. Finally, the Outdoor Skills & Stewardship learning strand taught students about how to hike safely, practice Leave No Trace and be good stewards of public lands.
Students especially liked hiking the Tsankawi trail. Students Ty-Ohni and Eric were excited to spot signs of erosion as they hiked, whereas Isaac and Kenzlee were excited to see the ladders on the trail. Students also practiced Leave No Trace principles on their field trip including observing cultural resources without touching them, staying on the trail, and packing out everything they brought in.
As one student, Isabella, said "People have to leave what they find so that other people will get to see the cool things." Many students expressed that this was "the best field trip ever."
For many of our underrepresented students, this was their first opportunity to visit a national monument, making the experience meaningful academically and on a personal level. –Educator Liz Gilroy
Third graders hike along a narrow trail in the Tsankawi unit.
Second graders enjoying Bandelier National Monument.
Students sitting in a cavate (carved room) made by the ancestral Puebloans.
Third graders explore the park's Tsankawi unit.
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James E. Cook Classroom Grant
Make a national park your classroom. Funds are available for virtual experiences, in-person classroom visits, and field trips.
After the field trip, students illustrated one natural landmark and one cultural site that they observed in their field journals. They also created posters and wrote about how to be good public land stewards in the future, based on the behaviors they practiced at the park. The posters will be shared with other students at the school to bring the field trip's lessons to other classrooms.
In addition to educating students about history, heritage, and science, the trip to Bandelier had a lasting impact on those who attended. "Students gained confidence navigating an outdoor, natural setting many had never experienced," said Liz Gilroy. "And they left with a personal, tangible connection to a national park close to home."
This field trip is just one of many Western National Parks has supported with the James E. Cook Classroom Grant. Learn more about funding opportunities and how to apply on our grants page.
By Nikki Stavile
