Cumberland Mountain For Educators
Cumberland Mountain Educator Programs
Want a fun way to get your students excited about learning? Why not learn with a Park Ranger?
Tennessee State Parks offer accessible, discovery-based educational experiences aligned with Tennessee’s academic standards. Choose a program for your class, plan your day at a park, and request an experience today.
Our Programs
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Field Trips
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School Outreach
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Self-guided/Teacher-led
Cumberland Mountain Education Programs
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Meet a Ranger
Who are Rangers? What do they do? Find out! It takes skill, knowledge, experience, and education to be a Park Ranger. Join us today to explore a day in the life of a Tennessee State Park Ranger!
Location: Park or school
Grade Level: All grade levels
Length: 30 minutes
Capacity: 150 students
Cost: $0/student -
Birds of Prey
View our birds of prey and learn things about each species. We will discuss how each bird was impacted by humans and how they came to live permanently at the park. Depending on grade level, we can focus more on ecological roles, adaptations, and biological diversity.
Meets: K.LS1.3, 2. LS1.1, 2.LS1.2, 2.LS2.1, 4LS.2.2
Location: Park or school
Grade Level: All grade levels
Length: 45 minutes
Capacity: 150 students
Cost: $0/student -
Tennessee Snakes
Meet the snake ambassador of Cumberland Mountain. We can discuss survival adaptations specific to snakes, their roles in the ecosystem, and ideal habitats for our native snakes.
Meets: K.LS1.3, 2. LS1.1, 2.LS1.2, 2.LS2.1, 4.LS2.2
Location: Park or school
Grade Level: All grade levels
Length: 30 minutes
Capacity: 30 students
Cost: $0/student -
Habitat Hike
Take a walk along the Byrd Lake Trail and discover the flora and fauna of Cumberland Mountain State Park. We can discuss ecosystems, habits, invasive species, animals, and more.
Distance: 1.0 mile
Terrain: Mostly flat, paved trail
Meets: K.ESS3.1, 1.LS2.3, 4.LS2.4, 4.ESS2.2
Location: Park only
Grade Level: All grade levels
Length: 60 minutes
Capacity: 30 students
Cost: $0/student -
Civilian Conservation Corps
Learn more about the New Deal era Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and see stonework built by the CCC, practice using CCC tools, and learn about the CCC’s impact throughout Tennessee.
Meets: 5.48, TN.51
Location: Park or school
Grade Level: All grade levels
Length: 60 minutes
Capacity: 30 students
Cost: $0/student
How to Request a Program
Program requests use the same form whether you are requesting funding support or not. Once you have submitted the form, allow 10 days for processing. Request educational program experiences at least four to six weeks in advance of the desired time frame for the program.
To complete the form:
Funding Assistance
Field trip funding may be available to remove barriers to participation.
The Tennessee State Parks Conservancy (501-C3) assists schools in covering the costs of scheduled programs at a Tennessee State Park. Funds can cover bus transportation costs and park program fees. Partial funds may be awarded. Awards are given after the field trip is completed.
When applying for a program, select “yes” on the application form if you are interested in receiving funding support.
What's Next?
Submitting the form begins the scheduling and funding process.
The request will be in Pending status until confirmed. Allow 10 days for processing. A park staff member will email confirmation of the program and notify you of any park-related fees.
If you requested funding, the Tennessee State Parks Conservancy Director will email the decision to award or deny funding. Funding is processed after the program as a reimbursement. Partial funds may be awarded. In this case, the school will be responsible for any costs above the amount written in the award email.
Submitting for Funding Reimbursement
To receive reimbursement, you must provide the following documentation:
- Bus invoice
- Park invoice
- Photos
- Number of students new to any Tennessee State Park
- Student and teacher feedback