For The Cortez Journal

Mesa Verde National Park has announced the availability of transportation funding assistance for local schools who wish to bring students to the park. Mesa Verde was awarded a grant through the “Ticket to Ride” program, funded by the National Park Foundation with support from Disney. The Mesa Verde Museum Association and Mesa Verde Foundation will provide additional financial and administrative support.

Transportation funds are available for students in grades 3-8 from Cortez, Mancos and Dolores schools. Schools may apply for reimbursement of travel costs for a class visit to the park during the 2015-2016 school year.

“Local schools often cite limited transportation funding as one barrier for field trips,” said Jill Blumenthal, education coordinator. “We hope to remove that barrier, and encourage local teachers to bring their students to Mesa Verde.”

Teachers have the option of scheduling an educational tour of Balcony House cliff dwelling. Educational tours will be conducted through Oct. 15, and will resume in April 2016. Teachers may also wish to try out several new lesson plans, developed in a partnership between Mesa Verde and Crow Canyon Archaeological Center. These place-based, standards-based lessons are written by educators and curriculum development specialists. The lessons are available for review and field testing by classroom teachers. Each lesson has a pre-visit activity, a field trip, and a post-visit component.

For more information, email MEVE_Education@nps.gov, or call the Education Office at (970) 529-5079.