Note: Few teachers in El Paso have the opportunity that Doris Evans, our new guest blogger, had when she taught school years ago in Big Bend National Park. In addressing the need to help more students value and understand the Chihuahuan Desert, the Zoo currently offers a Zoo Adventure Program entitled Animals of the Chihuahuan Desert that teachers can sign up for on field trips. Since the Chihuahuan Desert is our big backyard we need to develop additional tools for teachers in the classroom. Your El Paso Zoo Education Team in collaboration with the Chihuahuan Desert Education Coalition is working to accomplish this goal in 2023. Subscribe to this blog to stay informed.

by Doris Evans, Guest Blogger

For eight years during the 1980s I taught elementary students at San Vicente School in Big Bend National Park. The park is a treasure of resources for subject material, and we were always going on field trips to learn more about the plants, animals, geology, and history of the park. I subscribed to Ranger Rick Magazine (published by the National Wildlife Federation) for my class and had a thought that perhaps they might be interested in a photo article about kids growing up in a national park. I contacted them, and to my delight I quickly received a positive response.

Here is the article including a photo of our very own Ranger Rick!

Photos
All images from this magazine reprint courtesy Doris Evans
Boquillas Canyon, Big Bend National Park cover by Jasperdo, Wikimedia Creative Commons