Distance Learning

A park ranger holding up American Indian arrowheads to a screen as a part of a distance learning program
A park ranger showing American Indian artifacts as a part of a distance learning program.

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Introduce your classroom to their national park virtually today!

If bringing your students to the Natchez Trace Parkway is a challenge, consider scheduling a distance learning program where we bring the Parkway to your classroom whether you're in Mississippi or across the country. Since we began presenting distance learning programs in the Fall of 2020, we have given virtual programs to schools in Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas, Florida, New Jersey, Colorado, and California. Through our distance learning programming we have greatly expanded our reach allowing us to teach even more children about the importance of cultural and natural history the Parkway has to offer. We offer programs that cover topics such as general Parkway history, geology, westward expansion, Meriwether Lewis, and American Indian history and their removal. Schools can connect directly to the park rangers through Microsoft Teams and other video conferencing software. We can also receive Zoom calls. We can work with you or your IT staff beforehand to set up a virtual meeting to make sure all of the equipment works.

Look below to find a program below that best suits you and your class.


Traces Through Time: A General History of Natchez Trace

  • Are you a person who likes history or national parks? Join us for 45-minutes and learn the history of the Parkway, going back thousands of years when bison roamed through today. Learn about the people, explorations and stories held along this special place.
  • Best for 4th grade through College.

Those Who Walked Before Us: American Indians of Natchez Trace

  • There is always so much to learn from people who were here before us. Join us in this 45-minute program to learn about the people who called this place home for over 12,000 years. From the Paleo Indian period, the Trail of Tears to today, the American Indians of Natchez Trace have seen it all.
  • Best for 4th through 8th grades

Out of the Depths and Into the Park: Geology of the Mississippi River Valley

  • Learn the role of geologic activity in drawing people to the Mississippi River Valley. This 45-minute program discusses the physical and human characteristics of places and regions and how they are connected to human identities and cultures.
  • Best for 4th through 8th grades

The Spark of Bravery, a Fire of Discovery: The Life of Meriwether Lewis*

  • One of the bravest men in American history, join us for 45-minutes as we take a look at the incredible life of Meriwether Lewis from childhood through the Corps of Discovery, to his final days along Natchez Trace. *This program briefly discusses his suicide, with minimal detail, and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline contact information.
  • Best for 6th grade through high school.
For more information or to schedule a program, please email us or call (662) 680-4053 to speak with a ranger!

Do you have a younger crowd? Check out our
Read with a Ranger program!
Looking to come in person? Check out our
self-guided field trips!
 

Request a Distance Learning Program with a Ranger!

Complete this form to reserve a distance learning program for your students.

NPS Form 10-1750 (Rev. 04/2021)
National Park Service

OMB Control No. 1024-0228
Expiration Date 11/31/2025

Discussion Points for Virtual / Distance Learning Program

Virtual and/or Distance Learning can vary depending on the technical capabilities of the park and the school. in order to find appropriate accommodations for your learning experience, here are some categories to be prepared to discuss with the park:

  1. Internet Access
  2. Phone Access (speaker phone or conference line)
  3. Mobile or digital video conferencing capabilities
  4. Firewall
  5. Hardware and Software Capabilities
  6. Classroom pre-work or assignments

Disclaimer:

A park representative will follow-up to confirm group details once this request has been received and reviewed.


NPS Form 10-1750 (Rev. 04/2021)
National Park Service

OMB Control No. 1024-0228
Expiration Date 11/31/2025

Notices

Privacy Act Statement

Authority: Public Law 114-289 National Park Service Centennial Act and 54 U.S.C. 100701 Protection, interpretation, and research in System.

Purpose: To administer education programs for education audiences including but not limited to school groups, scouting groups, extracurricular groups, and home school groups.

Routine Uses: To effectively manage requests for education received by the NPS, the Education Reservation Request Form is used to collect basic education reservation information to facilitate operational aspects of scheduling groups for park education programs, including in-park education programs, ranger in classroom programs, and/or online distance learning programs.

Disclosure: Voluntary, however, failure to provide the requested information may impede the ability to grant your education reservation request.

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement

We are collecting this information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501) to provide park managers and educators the information needed to schedule and conduct education program activities. All applicable parts of the form must be completed in order for your request to be considered. You are not required to respond to this or any other Federal agency-sponsored information collection unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. OMB has approved this collection of information and assigned control number 1024-0288.

Estimated Burden Statement

Public reporting for this collection of information is estimated to average 5 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the Information Collection Clearance Officer, National Park Service, 1201 Oakridge Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80525. Do not send your completed form to this address.

 
 
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    Last updated: June 22, 2024

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    Contact Info

    Mailing Address:

    2680 Natchez Trace Parkway
    Tupelo, MS 38804

    Phone:

    800 305-7417
    The Parkway Visitor Center near Tupelo, MS, is open 9am-4:30pm seven days a week. The visitor center is closed Thanksgiving, December 25th and January 1st.

    Contact Us