+----------------------------+------------------+---+-------------------+
| National Park Service      | Great Sand Dunes |   | 11500 Highway 150 |
|                            | National         |   |                   |
| U.S. Department of the     | Monument and     |   | Mosca, Colorado   |
| Interior                   | Preserve         |   |                   |
|                            |                  |   | 81146             |
|                            | Use the complete |   |                   |
|                            | site name here   |   | 719-378-2312      |
|                            | (e.g. Palo Alto  |   | phone             |
|                            | Battlefield      |   |                   |
|                            | Historic Site).  |   | 719-378-2594 fax  |
+----------------------------+------------------+---+-------------------+

![](media/image1.png){width="0.5597222222222222in"
height="0.7201388888888889in"}

**Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve**

News Release

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
  Use a "short-hand" version of the site name here (e.g. Palo Alto
  Battlefield not Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Site).

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------

For Immediate Release---April 15, 2008 Carol Sperling 719-378-6341

#### Spring Field Trip Season Begins at Great Sand Dunes

Teachers are invited to enhance curricula and cap off the school year
with a field trip to the Great Sand Dunes. Medano Creek is flowing and
the rangers at Great Sand Dunes are ready to meet with instructors and
students for educational programs. Programs at the Dunes are hands-on,
minds-on, and curriculum-based to support Colorado Content Standards.
Teachers who would like to schedule their students to meet with a ranger
while at the Dunes, or who would like to schedule a ranger visit to
their classroom, should contact Education Specialist Melanie Rawlins by
phone: 719-378-6344 or email:
[Melanie_Rawlins@nps.gov](mailto:Melanie_rawlins@nps.gov). Program
requests are taken on a first-come/first served basis.

Additional Great Sand Dunes curricula resources are accessible online
at: <http://www.nps.gov/archive/grsa/resources/curriculum/intro.htm>

Educational fee waivers are available to groups from accredited schools
which are pursuing educational goals while at the park, and should be
requested in advance of a visit. Contact the Education Specialist for
more information.

Funds are also available to cover transportation costs for school field
trips to outdoor destinations in the San Luis Valley. The San Luis
Valley Environmental and Conservation Education Council (ECEC), a
coalition of natural resource agencies, private conservation groups,
educators, and students dedicated to promoting outdoor education in the
Valley, oversees the distribution of transportation funding to public
and private San Luis Valley schools. The application is available online
through ECEC's website: [www.slv-ecec.org](http://www.slv-ecec.org/) or
for more information, please contact Carol Gurule at the San Luis Valley
Resource Conservation and Development office, (719) 589-6432, ext.123.
**-NPS-**