For Immediate Release

Monday, Oct. 7, 2019

Media Contact: Kelsey Bode
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Raymond Students Learn about Nature Directly from Yellowstone Park Ranger

Skype Video Conference Technology Allows New Hampshire Students to Interact in Real Time with Ranger in Wyoming

RAYMOND — Third grade students at Lamprey River Elementary School gleaned a newfound insight into the natural world, thanks to a presentation from a Yellowstone Park Ranger live via Skype on Thursday.

The entire third grade, approximately 100 students, gathered in the school library at 11 a.m. Thursday to listen to a  presentation from Park Ranger Tim Iverson, who shared comparisons between the forests of New England and Yellowstone National Park, as well as fun facts about America’s oldest national park and stories of the ranger’s encounters with wildlife. He also showed students a grizzly bear skull and an elk antler during the presentation.

The presentation tied in with the students’ studies of trees and tree pollination this fall, and was made possible by a distance learning program Yellowstone National Park offers. The program connects classrooms nationwide to park rangers, using technology such as Skype, for presentations on everything from geology to cultural history.

“Our students were thrilled to learn first hand from a Yellowstone Park Ranger new information about the natural world, and to hear his stories from working in the park as well,” Superintendent McCoy said. “It was a one of a kind, profound opportunity that really highlights the incredible learning that is made possible by technology. It’s wonderful that Yellowstone offers this program, and we’re so grateful to Ranger Tim for speaking to our students.”

Lamprey River educators were inspired to plan the presentation after third grade students went on a field trip to Maine on Monday, Sept. 30, where they hiked Mt. Agamenticus. It was the first time the school has ever utilized Yellowstone’s distance learning program.

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