In my many visits to Voyageurs NP with @expeditionsined.bsky.social and #STEAMinthePark, we've been told that the virtual Star Parties and other virtual activities have spawned increased visitation; students see the park online, and then convince their parents to visit in person. #ParkChat
A9 #ParkChat Maybe Assateague Island? I am not a beach person, so I've kind of ignored it as a semi-local NPS site because I thought it was mostly a beach. Going there with #STEAMinthePark in 2024, I found it was more than the seashore.
A9 #ParkChat I don't know about "misjudge". I have gone with 0 expectations before because I didn't know what to expect, and been absolutely WOWed by what I got out of the site. Maggie Walker NHS was one of those. Voyageurs NP is the gift that keeps giving, too, partly because of #STEAMinthePark.
A7 #ParkChat I haven't done an art workshop in a park, unless you count the artistic sessions at a #STEAMinthePark. My best artistic creation is apparently something I don't have a photo of. I was going to post it, but can't find it.
A10 #ParkChat Probably the last day at Voyageurs NP for #STEAMinthePark, every time. I have to get up earlier than I want, have to pack everything up and have it on the dock by 8AM. Breakfast that morning is minimal, since everything needs to be packed up and ready to go first thing.
Night views of auroras from "Karen's Rock" at K54 group campsite at Voyageurs National Park
A6 #ParkChat Voyageurs NP. Forests. Waterways. Quiet, solitude. Fishing.
Over the three years going to a group campsite on Lake Kabetogama for #STEAMinthePark, there's an area that's been designated "Karen's Rock," where I fish, sit/meditate, and otherwise reflect.
A11 #ParkChat If you're an educator or Park Ranger, the #STEAMinthePark application window closes on 1/31! Go to www.steaminthepark.net to apply now! It's an amazing professional learning and community opportunity.
A12 #ParkChat If you are an educator or park ranger, don't delay in applying for the amazing professional development that is #STEAMinthePark. Applications close on 1/31. The schedule of camps and the link for applications -- all available at steaminthepark.net
A12 #ParkChat If you are an educator (or aspiring educator (college student)) or park ranger that would like to participate in a great PD opportunity, @expeditionsined.bsky.social #STEAMinthePark applications are open though the end of the month. Check out their website for this year's camps!
A3 #ParkChat Yes. A nature journal I originally got from a #STEAMinthePark camp, plus my personal journal, and usually a "general" journal (for things like ideas for class or to-do items). If I'm currently reading a physical book, that'll be there too.
An olive green shift with a brown sign motif saying "Wildlife & History & Culture & Scenery"
Consider buying a shirt to support #STEAMinthePark! The actual shirt looks better than the mockup on the order page. #BrownSignLife #IBrakeForBrakeSigns www.bonfire.com/brown-sign-l...
STEAM in the Park 2026 parks, 12 "poster" style images. Great Smoky Mountains, Assateague Island, Golden Gate, North Cascades, Olympic, Bryce Canyon, Rocky Mountain, Acadia, Glacier, Indiana Dunes, Voyageurs and Sitka are the NPS units this year!
#STEAMinthePark applications open on January 1st to all educators, rangers and students of education. I'm probably applying to Voyageurs and maybe Glacier. I'd love to do Sitka, but it just isn't good timing for me. #ParkChat #TeacherSky
A3 #ParkChat Badlands NP this past August, and with #STEAMinthePark at Voyageurs, we got a special night sky program from the Dark Sky Ranger Jesse himself (with telescopes he brought over on his boat) at our group campsite on Lake Kabetogama!
Got my Bonfire order today for my t-shirt, which is awesome! I hope you agree & would like to order too! A portion of the proceeds goes to @expeditionsined.bsky.social for their work w/ educators such as #STEAMinthePark.
National Parks & Public Lands are so important for myriad reasons. #ParkChat
Io moth
fan foot moth
yellow shouldered slug moth
clymene moth at antietam creek campground (C&O Towpath)
A9 #ParkChat I'm always looking at the little things, but something that is small and I wouldn't have seen otherwise had to be a moth program that was part of my #STEAMinthePark trip to New River Gorge in 2023. I never realized the immense diversity of moths. The first three are from New River.
the night sky at Voyageurs NP
A6 #ParkChat Laying out on the dock with Rodney, @missmeyeritjhs.bsky.social and other #STEAMinthePark campers at Voyageurs, trying to see the northern lights, and Katherine counting satellites (hah hah hah)
visiting Roddy Road Covered Bridge (outside of Catoctin Mountain Park) with my mom last weekend.
A11 #ParkChat I don't think there are enough characters available for this without threading it. Still, any #STEAMinthePark trip, any #404family road trip, any trip with @patred.bsky.social, the trips with my mom.... they are all beautiful in their own ways.
I was fortunate enough to see #OutThere at a special #STEAMinthePark showing, outdoors at our campsite at Voyageurs National Park. It's a great film. I totally recommend it, too! #ParkChat
Me and my fishing pole at "Karen's Rock" at group campsite K54 on Lake Kabetogama.
A11 #ParkChat Again, I'm not really a lake person. But when I'm at the campsite for #STEAMinthePark at Voyageurs, there's this rock the others have taken to calling "Karen's Rock", and I'll fish there, and sometimes just sit there.
IW Stevens' house
Kettle Falls, looking toward Rainy Lake
A10 #ParkChat As part of #STEAMinthePark at Voyageurs, we get to do a boat tour with Ranger Mark to IW Stevens' island and Kettle Falls. Two years ago, we went to Ellsworth Rock Garden and Anderson Bay.
The "entrance sign" to Ellsworth Rock Gardens
This looked like a whale to me
Lilies at the Ellsworth Rock Garden
balancing rocks
We got to go there as part of our #STEAMinthePark activities in 2023 (this was replaced with trips to Kettle Falls and IW Stevens Island in 2024-25). It's cool, and I'm not sure what more than half the sculptures are about!
The first first I caught on "my" rock, in 2023. A 20+ inch walleye!
A5 #ParkChat I should know the answer to this & it's just not coming to me (I was able to retrieve "stibium" as the reason for antimony's Sb symbol earlier today).
I don't exactly have a "favorite," though the #STEAMinthePark Voyageurs camps have designated Karen's rock for my fishing there.
I saw #OutThere in a special screening with #STEAMinthePark at Voyageurs National Park. Such an awesome evening, watching it under the stars (with tons of insect repellant). #ParkChat
Hoosier Bear, Snappy, Speedy and Beefy at Fort Falls at Niobrara WSR
How many satellites in that photo? (ha ha ha) #ParkChat #STEAMinthePark
Seriously, I know the two of us alone could come up with a thousand ways to answer all of these memory related questions. You and Dino. Me and HoosierBear & Snappy....
A9: #parkchat All of our hikes with #STEAMinthePARK were adventures! It’s so great hiking through new places with great people and experiencing new things!
A5 #ParkChat I can't say I have been particularly creative or silly.... I'll read a book, or just go hiking. Even when I'm with others (like #STEAMinthePark), I might entertain myself by fishing or journaling.
It's site K54 on Lake Kabetogama (a group campsite). #STEAMinthePark works directly with the Parks and Conservancies (or other associated group). #ParkChat
A3 #ParkChat I sometimes feel that way about "our" #STEAMinthePark campsite, though obviously plenty of other people camp there when we're not there. But the memories there, and the stupid jokes ("How many satellites?" "7 satellites, ha ha ha") make it feel super special.
The 1st trip with my husband, and getting surrounded by bison at Theodore Roosevelt. The impromptu solo trip in 2018 where I went to Yellowstone for the first time. #STEAMinthePark adventures at Voyageurs (5 more minutes!). So many awesome Park memories.... #ParkChat
A4 #ParkChat Probably hrm... thinking.... um.... Maybe Assateague Island, since I was going there with #STEAMinthePark, and I had passing knowledge of the ponies (Misty of Chincoteague FTW!).
