Mississippi Park Connection is a proud supporter of the National Park Service's Mississippi River Learning Program, an outdoor and online youth education program that provides fresh, hands-on approaches to the ways learning can be integrated with the outdoors. Programs empower young people to begin building a lifelong relationship with the river.
Nestled between the neighborhoods of Beaver Lake Heights and Lincoln Park in east St. Paul is the vibrant school community of Nokomis Montessori-North Campus, where Katy Paquette has become a leader of innovative teaching and holistic environmental learning.
There is more push in education to teach students in expansive ways, including not only honoring the wealth of knowledge students bring on their own but also with engaging students in critical thinking, problem-solving, and interest-based learning. I believe this sets students up to build positive learning identities which in turn brings more opportunity and joy to learning.
I am a Park Ranger and Education Technician for the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MNRRA). I started my park ranger career as an Education Technician for the Bureau of Land Management in Newport, Oregon where I led students through tidepools
The inaugural Big River Teacher Award recognizes outstanding achievement and innovation by a teacher who has participated in the park’s education programs.
