Bryce Canyon Natural History Association

call (435) 834 - 4784 or e-mail caitlins@scinternet.net to schedule a program 1

New
Beginnings
Bryce Canyon Natural History Association is proud to
welcome Caitlin Scully as the new Education and
Outreach Specialist. She has experience teaching in the
classroom and in the eld, as well working in marine
biology, geology, and climate laboratories.
A Note from Caitlin,
I am so happy to be working with the Bryce Canyon
Natural History Association to bring my enthusiasm
for teaching into the classroom. I come from a strong
science background. I graduated from the
University of San Diego with a degree in
Environmental Studies, and focused on the past
climate history of Bryce Canyon for my Masters
Degree in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation at
Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of
California, San Diego.
While working at the Birch Aquarium at Scripps, I
taught Pre-Kindergarten through Twelfth Grade
students, college students, as well as the general
public. I love teaching both in the classroom and in
the eld. I have training in Kids Included Together
(KIT), English Second Language, and will soon
begin my Utah Teaching Credential. My style of
teaching is fun and engaging, and I am especially
passionate about geology.
In the next few months you will see many changes
to the BCNHA programs. Expect more technology
in the classroom and exciting new opportunities for
both students and teachers.
Thank you,
Caitlin Scully
Our Mission
Bryce Canyon Natural History Association
(BCNHA) is a non-prot organization
created to aid the interpretive, educational
and scientic activities of the National Park
Service, at Bryce Canyon National Park and
the USDA Forest Service on the Dixie
National Forest.
Elementary School
Kindergarten
through Fifth grade
classes focus on the
natural world
around us. Ecology,
geology, and
paleontology are just
a few of the main
themes.
Page 3
Middle School
Earths history,
dynamic hikes, and
the night sky are
featured for older
students. Key
questions are
answered in the
classroom and
at the park.
Page 5
High School
What is it like to
work in and around
Bryce Canyon
National Park? High
school students can
explore careers and
experience the park
in new and
exciting ways.
Page 6
Contact:
Caitlin Scully
Education Specialist
CaitlinS@scinternet.net
(435) 834-4784
P.O. Box 64051
Bryce, UT
84764
Fall 2013 - Spring 2014
Education Specialist, Caitlin Scully.
Education & Outreach
Programs
Bryce Canyon Natural History Association is dedicated to providing
interpretive, engaging, and educational opportunities to students in the
classroom and in the eld.
Programs for All Ages
Incorporating
Core Curriculum
Bryce Canyon Natural History Association
prioritizes Utahs Core Science Standards when
presenting classes. We do our best to incorporate
standards while exposing students the the dynamic
nature of Bryce Canyon National Park.
Opportunities in the eld and in the classroom
bring these standards to life.
In this Brochure:
Introduction ........................................................ 1
Field Programs ................................................... 2
Elementary School Programs ........................... 3
Middle School Programs .................................. 5
High School Programs ...................................... 6
Special Events ..................................................... 7
How to Apply ...................................................... 7
B C N H A
2 call (435) 834 - 4784 or e-mail caitlins@scinternet.net to schedule a program
Field Programs incorporate geology,
ecology, and cultural history to
promote interpretive learning and
stewardship. These specialized classes
challenge students to immerse
themselves in the subject wile creating
lasting memories.
Ages: Kindergarten - 12th Grade
Students of all ages are welcome to
participate in Field Programs. The
experience will be tailored to the
science standards for your grade level.

Rim Walks
0.9 miles (or less), Easy, 1 hour
Enjoy an easy paved rim walk as
students take in the view and learn
about Bryce Canyon from above the
Amphitheater. Take time to observe
plants, birds, and mammals along the
way. This walk is ideal for young
students.
Queens Garden
1.8 miles, Easy, 1-2 hours - Sturdy shoes
or hiking boots are recommended
This is the least difcult trail entering
Bryce Canyon from the rim. It takes
you through dramatic hoodoos that
spark the imagination. This is a great
hike for botany and geology themed
programs.
Navajo Loop
1.3 miles, Moderate, 1-2 hours - Sturdy
shoes or hiking boots are recommended
Dive straight down into the hoodoos
on this dramatic trail entering Bryce
Canyon from the rim. Switchbacks
ease the descent as ns and hoodoos
tower over students heads. Navajo
Loop Trail is an excellent hike for
geology themed programs.
Navajo/Queens Garden Loop
Combination
2.9 miles, Moderate, 2-3 hours - Sturdy
shoes or hiking boots are recommended
Combine the best of both worlds, as
students explore the Navajo and
Queens Garden Trails. This hike is
ideal for older students and highlights
geology, ecology, hydrology, and
Earths complex past.
Exploring Valleys and Forests
If you are more interested in
experiencing the ora and fauna of
Bryce Canyon National Park, then ask
about hikes through the valleys and
forests on top of the plateau. Look for
pronghorn, mule deer, prairie dogs,
and an assortment of birds while
experiencing the sights and smells of
Bryce Canyons diverse habitats.
Snowshoeing Adventure Paria Point
Grades 7 & 8
1 mile, moderate, 1-2 hours -
WATERPROOF BOOTS REQUIRED!
For more information on
Snowshoeing hikes for 7th and 8th
graders please see page 5. Snowshoes
are provided by Bryce Canyon
Natural History Association.

Take your students on a eld trip they will never forget!
Field Programs
Short rim walks or long hikes through the hoodoos - immersive
experiences at Bryce Canyon National Park allow students of all ages
to experience science and nature rst hand.
B C N H A
call (435) 834 - 4784 or e-mail caitlins@scinternet.net to schedule a program 3
Kindergarten
Awesome Animals!
What animal made those tracks? Who left that scat
behind? What kind of animals live here? Where are
the animals hiding? These are just a few of the
important questions kindergartners will learn to ask
about animals that live in and around Bryce Canyon
National Park. Students will become familiar with
the signs of animals, and learn that animals are
everywhere even though they often cannot be seen.
Important basic ecology topics, such as habitats and
adaptations, will be introduced. Examples of animal
scat and games with tracks help students learn
about, and identify, different kinds of local animals.
The Forest and Valleys or Rim Walk Field Labs would
be an excellent accompaniment.
Program Length: 45 minutes
UT Science Core Curriculum: Kindergarten
Standard 3; Objective 2
First Grade
Trees Forever
Do trees have the same parts as a person? How does
a tree live? How does it make its food? Plant
anatomy and physiology are highlights of this class.
Utilizing costumes, games, and The Grandpa Tree
makes botany accessible and fun! This class is very
interactive. Students will also be introduced to the
important relationships between tress and animals.
Charismatic Vinnie the Raven shows students
how birds help transport tree seeds around Bryce
Canyon National Park.
This class can easily be combined with a Field Lab
component. Students visit Grandpa Tree deep in the
Bryce Amphitheater along the Queens Garden Trail.
Program Length: 45 minutes
UT Science Core Curriculum: 1st Grade Standard
4; Objectives 1 & 2
Second Grade
Whats for Lunch?
Who eats whom at Bryce Canyon? Herbivores,
carnivores, and omnivores are all important
members of the natural community. How do living
and nonliving components of an ecosystem interact?
What is a keystone species and why are these
special organisms important when protecting the
natural environment? Students ask these important
questions as they explore the world outside looking
for animal and plant interactions.
A Field Lab is also a great opportunity to see an
ecosystem in action at Bryce Canyon National Park.
Program Length: 45 minutes
UT Science Core Curriculum: 2nd Grade Standard
4; Objectives 1 & 2
Razzle Dazzle Rocks
What makes rocks different? Is it just their color and
texture? Are all rocks made the same way? Hands
on activities expose students to the diverse and
exciting world of geology. Students will be
introduced to the Rock Cycle and challenged to
gure out what kind of rocks are found at Bryce
Canyon National Park.
The Navajo/Queens Garden Loop hike is a Field Lab that
immerses students in a memorable geologic wonderland.
Program Length: 45 minutes
UT Science Core Curriculum: 2nd Grade Standard
2; Objective 1
Elementary
School Programs
Kindergarten through Fifth Grade classes
focusing on ecology, geology, and paleontology
B C N H A
4 call (435) 834 - 4784 or e-mail caitlins@scinternet.net to schedule a program
Wanted: Dead or Alive
What are the roles of different organisms in the web
of life? Are they all important? In this class students
explore the dynamic interplay between living,
nonliving, and once living things. Symbiosis,
mutualism, and parasitism are just a few of the
relationships that are introduced. Student
participation is essential in this activity based class!
A Field Lab would be an excellent accompaniment.
Program Length: 45 minutes
UT Science Core Curriculum: 3rd Grade Standard
2; Objectives 1 & 2
Become a Geodetective
Join Professor Allister Holmes McFragillis and his
team of paleontologists from the past to explore the
fascinating world of geology. Students learn about
the rock cycle, erosion, and fossils through hands on
activities. Classroom experiments and an interactive
computer game connect students to the ever-
changing world of rocks. As a bonus, each student
has the
opportunity to
earn an ofcial
Geodetective
Patch!
Field Labs buttress
the lessons learned in
this program. The
Navajo/Queens
Garden Loop allows
students to see components of this lesson rst hand.
Program Length: 45 minutes
UT Science Core Curriculum:
Its Cold Outside
How do animals and plants survive as the seasons
change? Ecology and adaptations are important
themes for this program. How does a habitat change
throughout the year? Is it easier for animals and
plants to live during one time of year over another?
Students learn how organisms are classied and
have a diverse array of adaptations to help them
survive through the seasons at Bryce Canyon
National Park
A Field Lab that takes students below the rim or through
the forests and plains will supplement the main themes of
this class.
Program Length: 45 minutes
UT Science Core Curriculum: 4th Grade Standard
5; Objectives 1, 2, 3,
School of Rock
What makes the geology of Bryce Canyon National
Park and the Colorado Plateau unique and exciting?
Students explore this and many more questions as
they learn about the Rock Cycle and the differences
and similarities between igneous, sedimentary, and
metamorphic rocks.
The Navajo/Queens Garden Loop hike is an excellent
supplementary Field Lab to this course.
Program Length: 45 minutes
UT Science Core Curriculum: 4th Grade Standard
3; Objectives 1 & 2
Digging for Dinosaurs
Students become Junior Paleontologists in this
hands-on Program. What is a fossil? How is it
made? What do real fossilized dinosaur bones feel
like? Why did dinosaurs go extinct? Are there any
modern day dinosaurs? Animals of the Mesozoic are
highlighted as students explore different techniques
to uncover fossils in a Dinosaur Dig Activity.
Combine this class with a geology themed Field Lab.
Program Length: 45 minutes
UT Science Core Curriculum: 4th Grade Standard
4; Objectives 1 & 2
How Old is the Earth?
Millions of years? Billions of years? What is geologic
time? What is Earth like miles below our feet? Fifth
Graders have the opportunity to learn how Earth
has changed over the last 4.5 billion years. Plate
tectonics, erosion, and land building processes are
all explored as students participate in hands on
activities. How old is Bryce Canyon? Students learn
how the forces that make changes on a global scale
have affected local geology over the last 55 million
years.
The Navajo Loop or Navajo/Queens Garden Loop Field
Lab would be an excellent accompaniment.
Program Length: 45 minutes
UT Science Core Curriculum: Standard 2;
Objectives 1, 2, & 3
Third Grade Fifth Grade Fourth Grade
B C N H A
call (435) 834 - 4784 or e-mail caitlins@scinternet.net to schedule a program 5
Sixth Grade
The Night Sky -
In Class or Evening
Program
What is it like to experience true darkness? Learn
about the stars and how to identify modern day
constellations. Are all stars the same? How does the
night sky change throughout the year? How have
people throughout the ages viewed the stars?
Students will learn about problems with light
pollution and how it affects the way millions of
people view the night sky.
Another option is to attend an evening Astronomy
Ranger Program. Students will get the opportunity to
view constellations that they have studied with a Dark
Ranger at Bryce Canyon National Park, then view the
night sky through telescopes. Subject to availability. If
interested, please book as far in advance as
possible.
Program Length: 45 minutes in class or 1.5 hours
for evening program
UT Science Core Curriculum: 6th Grade Standard
4; Objective 2
Seventh Grade
No Place Like it On
Earth - Snowshoeing
Adventure
Snowshoeing at Bryce Canyon National Park is an
experience not to miss! Beginner and advanced
snowshoers are welcome - no experience required.
After an introduction to this exciting winter activity,
students are taken on a breathtaking mile-long hike
to Paria Point. The hike offers views of the Bryce
Amphitheater as well
as the opportunity to
teach students about
geology, ecosystem
processes, and the
adaptations
organisms need to
survive in harsh
winter conditions.
This program starts in January, please call to
schedule a date after winter break.
Program Length: 45 minutes
UT Science Core Curriculum:
Eighth Grade
No Place Like it on
Earth - Snowshoeing
Adventure
Please see description under Seventh Grade
Programs.
This program starts in January, please call to
schedule a date after winter break.
Program Length: 45 minutes
UT Science Core Curriculum:
Middle
School Programs
Classes that transport students to the engaging
world of Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon Natural History Association is in the process of updating our middle school classes.
Please contact Caitlin Scully at CaitlinS@scinternet.net to inquire about future classroom programs
for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders.
B C N H A
6 call (435) 834 - 4784 or e-mail caitlins@scinternet.net to schedule a program
Upcoming Programs
We are in the process of creating new high school programming for the classroom
and the eld. Please contact BCNHA for Updates.
Encouraging
STEM
Bryce Canyon National Park is
an ideal place to encourage
students to engage in Science,
Technology, Engineering, and
Mathematics. The sciences are
present in all realms of the park,
from telescopes and astronomy
to structural development and
wildlife biology. High School
Classes are taught in
accordance to Utah State
Standards while also
highlighting the diverse career
options available through the
National Park Service.
Field Programs
Field Programs for High School Students focus on Earth
Science and Biology.
Guided hikes down into Bryce Amphitheater allow students to
see geologic processes in action. Bryce Canyon National Park
straddles the highest point of the Grand Staircase of the
Colorado Plateau, thus providing an excellent opportunity to
discuss plate tectonics. Bryce Canyons Eocene Claron Rock
Formation also holds one of the best, and most accessible,
climate records on the Colorado Plateau. Students will learn
about how scientists study past climate, why understanding
climate is important, and implications for the future.
These walks can also be focused on Biology. Bryce Canyon
National Park is an excellent place to learn about how
organisms interact with their environment, diversity, and
population dynamics.
Classroom Programs
Classroom Programs focusing on Earth Science or Biology
incorporate a multimedia presentation and a hands on
classroom activity.
Bryce Canyon National Park, The Grand Staircase, and the
Colorado Plateau are used to highlight key concepts involving
plate tectonics, past and present climate change, and
hydrological systems. These engaging presentations utilize
essential vocabulary and encourage students to use real life
examples to understand core standards.
The dynamic habitats of Bryce Canyon National Park also offer
excellent opportunities to discuss biological processes. Real
data collected by the Parks Wildlife Biologists will be used to
discuss Evolution, diversication, population dynamics, and
diversity.
Earth Science

Standard 2; Objectives 1, 2, & 3

Standard 3; Objectives 1, 2, & 3

Standard 4; Objectives 1, & 2

High
School Programs
Using Bryce Canyon National Park to inspire
future careers
Program Length: 1 hour Program Length: Approximately 3 hours
Biology

Standard 1; Objectives 1, 2, & 3

Standard 5; Objectives 1, 2, & 3

Utah Core Standards for High School:
B C N H A
call (435) 834 - 4784 or e-mail caitlins@scinternet.net to schedule a program 7
Special Events
Throughout the year Bryce Canyon National Park and Bryce Canyon Natural
History Association host special events that engage visitors, students, and teachers.
Please visit www.nps.gov/brca/
index.htm for more information
Audubon Annual
Christmas Bird Count
December 14th, 2013 - January
5th, 2014
Each year tens of thousands
of volunteers throughout the
Americas become citizen
scientists as they participate
in the Audubon Christmas
Bird Count. Special programs
and ornithology classes are
available for schools that
would like to be involved in
this tradition.
Field Seminar for Educators
June 2014
Bryce Canyon National Park
and Southern Utah University
present an exciting
opportunity for educators.
This multi-day immersive
seminar features hikes,
lectures, ora, fauna, geology,
and cultural experiences.
Participants also complete 4
units of credit through SUU.
The program lls quickly,
please contact Caitlin Scully,
BCNHA Education Specialist,
for more information
Adventures In Science
Summer Camp
June 2014
This free camp is o!ered each
summer to 3rd, 4th, and 5th
graders. Past camps have
featured, geology, local
plants, and Critters. Space
is limited so inquire early!
Astronomy Festival
June 2014
Bryce Canyons Dark
Rangers and The Salt Lake
Astronomical Society present
an extended weekend of
space themed learning,
crafts, rocket building, and
viewing the cosmos through
over fty telescopes!
Prairie Dog Day
June 2014
Join Park Rangers to view
endangered prairie dogs in
their natural habitat. Dont
miss the Prairie Dog themed
programs, crafts, and
activities at the Visitor Center.
Geology Festival
July 2014
Millions of visitors come to
Bryce Canyon each year to
view the spectacular geology
the park has to o!er. Ranger
guided geology hikes,
geology themed bus tours,
exhibits featuring geology of
Bryce Canyon and around the
Colorado Plateau, fossil
viewing, family oriented
activities, crafts, evening
programs, and special guest
speakers make this an
experience not to miss.
Contacts:
Caitlin Scully
Education Specialist
Bryce Canyon Natural History Association
CaitlinS@scinternet.net
834-4784
P.O. Box 64051
Bryce, UT 84764
Bryce Canyon National Park
An array of teaching materials can be found at Bryce Canyon
National Parks Website. There are also links to important
forms and eld trip information.
http://www.nps.gov/brca/forteachers/index.htm
Applying For School Programs
Its easy to apply for programs through Bryce Canyon Natural
History Association. The best way to schedule is to e-mail Caitlin
Scully, whose contact information is on the right. If you have any
questions about Field Programs, class content, borrowing materials, or
scheduling, please do not hesitate to e-mail or call.
Fee Waivers:
National Park Service policy allows waivers for educational and
scientic groups engaged in the study of resources specically related
to the park. If you are participating in a Bryce Canyon Natural
History Association program, then you are eligible for a Fee Waver.
You can download a copy of the Bryce Canyon Fee Waiver
Application from the Bryce Canyon National Park link to the right.
Please follow the directions carefully as both the Waiver Application
as well as supplementary materials must be submitted via Fax.
Follow BCNHA
Follow Bryce Canyon Natural History Association! We will be increasing our social media
presence in 2014! Keep an eye out for updates.
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