Rock Island For Educators
Warning Alert
Safety Closures in Effect at Rock Island State Park
The following alert is important for all Rock Island State Park visitors
TVA Great Falls Dam and/or the TVA Great Falls Powerhouse may release water on an irregular schedule. Water discharge may change day to day or even hour to hour. All river gorge areas downstream of the TVA Dam are closed when the dam is in Active water spill mode or a discharge is likely for the day. Before planning your visit, please check TVA's website for Great Falls Dam and Powerhouse for the most current water discharge schedule. Visitors are encouraged to check the discharge schedule often. Discharge schedules can change rapidly based on lake levels, rainfall forecasts, etc. Water releases may occur with or without warning any time you are near a TVA dam or powerhouse. Visitors should be prepared for a quick exit should they hear warning sirens or notice water rising. Life jackets and hiking shoes are strongly encouraged in this area.
The park has also seen very high visitation over the last year. Please do not park on roadsides or in non-designated areas. If the park is full, please consider visiting another state park in the area.
Please check the park’s Facebook page for updates before your visit.
Know Before You Go
The park often experiences high visitation. Please do not park on roadsides or in non-designated areas. If the park is full, please consider visiting another state park in the area.
Also, please check the status of the Caney Fork River Gorge section of the park before visiting, as access is dependent on approval from TVA based on hourly water release predictions. Gorge closures may occur without notice and can be in place for varying lengths of time. Learn more on our safety information page.
Rock Island Gorge Safety
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFO: Please note that swimming or wading is not permitted downstream of the Powerhouse at any time, regardless of water releases. Check TVA’s website for water release information and dam safety data at: www.tva.gov/Environment/Lake-Levels/Great-Falls.
Rock Island Educator Programs
Want a fun way to get your students excited about learning? Why not learn with a Park Ranger?
Rock Island State Park offers accessible, experiential educational opportunities to both engage and educate students.
Our Programs
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Field Trips
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School Outreach
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Self-guided/Teacher-led
Rock Island Programs
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Meet a Ranger
Who are Park Rangers and what do they do? Students will learn that it takes skill, knowledge, experience, and education to be a Park Ranger.
Do you have a high schooler interested in a career as 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: 10th, 11th, 12th grades
Length: 30 minutes
Capacity: 150 students
Cost: $0/student -
Reptiles of Tennessee
Meet our resident Corn Snake and Box Turtle! These reptiles love making appearances and will help students discover the important role that snakes and turtles play in the ecosystem. Students will learn the significance of conservation in parks and at home by investigating what happens if we remove or introduce a species in an ecosystem.
Students may explore the characteristics of different animals that call Tennessee home through a hands-on program that involves critical thinking and reviewing data.
Meets: 2.LS2.1, 2.LS2.2, 4.LS2.1, 4.LS2.2, 4.LS2.3
Location: Park or school
Grade Level: All grade levels
Length: 45 minutes
Capacity: 40 students
Cost: $0/student -
Tennessee Critters
Feathers and skulls and pelts, oh my! What better way to celebrate Tennessee than through learning about its native wildlife? Students will learn about the significance of conservation in parks and at home by investigating what happens if we remove or introduce a species in an ecosystem.
Students may explore the characteristics of different animals that call Tennessee home through a hands-on program that involves critical thinking and reviewing data.
Meets: 2.LS2.1, 2.LS2.2, 4.LS2.1, 4.LS2.2, 4.LS2.3
Location: Park or school
Grade Level: All grade levels
Length: 45 minutes
Capacity: 25 students
Cost: $0/student -
Rock Island History Hike
They said that we couldn’t make history fun, but we beg to differ. Students will learn about Falls City Cotton Mill during the turn of the century in 1880-1920, and visit a historic cotton mill. We will then hike into the Caney Fork River Gorge and investigate the mill site to discover how it changed agricultural and labor practices during this industrial shift.
Distance: 0.10 miles
Terrain: Uneven terrain with some unstable and steep surfaces
Location: Park only
Grade Level: All grade levels
Length: 120 minutes
Capacity: 25 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 prepare 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, park program fees, and park shelter rentals. 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