Virtual Destination Training
Northern U.S. National Parks
Instructor: Ashley Levy
Watch the 2.5 hour recording, and explore the resources below!
Additional Resources
- US National Park Service: Types of Sites
- Map: US National Park System, Classic / Unified Regions
- US National Forests: Map, Classic / Northern Stops
- America’s Public Lands Explained
- Tribal National (Native American) Lands: Map, Original Territories
- Tribal National (Native American) Lands: Map, Current Native American Lands
- Rapid City: The City of President’s Walk
- Yellowstone’s Old Faithful Geyser Predictions, also call 307-344-2751 – Option 2
- Yellowstone App, prediction times built into smartphone app – iPhone or Android
- Jackson’s Town Square Antler Arch Webcam
- The Oregon Trail Center
- David Beach’s Salt Lake City & Mormonism Show & Tell Webinar
Resources for YOU: Books (numbers at the end are the ISBN#)
- Prophets and Moguls, Rangers and Rogues, Bison and Bears Heather Hansen (9781594858888)
- The Wonder of It All Yosemite Conservancy (9781930238626)
- Creating the National Park Service: The Missing Years Horace M. Albright & Marian Albright Schneck (9780806131559)
- Ranger Confidential, Andrea Lankford (9780762752638)
- The Story Behind the Scenery Series
- Who Was Children’s Book Serie
- Our Hearts Fell to the Ground Colin G. Calloway (9781319088163)
- Camping and Tramping with Roosevelt John Burroughs (9781429093132
- Famous Gun Fighters of the Western Front W.B. (Bat) Masterson (0896460878)
- Bedside Books of Bad Girls: Outlaw Women of the Midwest Chris Enss (9781560375258) Mountain Men Rick Steber
Resources for YOU: Reference Guides & Pamphlets
- US Flag Store
- America the Beautiful Annual National Park Pass ($80 for 12 months) Purchase at any National Park that charges entrance fee or online
- Support a National Park Foundation (yearly membership, price varies) & receive a supporter card + discount at most NPS concessioner gift shops Yellowstone Forever, Grand Canyon Conservancy, Mount Rushmore Society, etc.
- National Park Service Information Pamphlets & Junior Ranger Booklets Free information pamphlets found at entrance booths and Visitor’s Centers (and even online!) filled with helpful information on anything from Geology to Birds
- Trail Guides found at Trailheads or Visitor’s Centers $1 donation to for-pay small trail guides packed with information about destinations within different National Parks
- A Pocket Naturalist Guide Series Can be purchased at Gift Shops or online https://www.acornnaturalists.com/products/waterford-press-guides/pocket-naturalist-guides-national- regional.html
- Nature Guide to… Various Authors, published by FalconGuides http://falcon.com/books/category/Nature
- Wolves of Yellowstone Double-sided information page for purchase about the Wolves of Yellowstone that can be found at the Gift Store
Resources for YOU: Websites
- Official National Park Service Website
- Official U.S. Forest Service Website
- Native America Travel (Tribal Experiences) Website
- Smokey Bear
- (State) Department of Transportation Bookmark the road conditions pages and download the smartphone apps
- The National Parks: America’s Best Idea (Ken Burns) companion website
- PBS’ American Experience: The American West Category (documentaries and films)
- PBS’ American Experience (documentary and film transcripts) Click the film or collection of interest, then look for the “transcript” tab!
- Smithsonian Channel: Aerial America
Resources for you: DVDs & TV Series
- The National Parks: America’s Best Idea (Ken Burns)
- Smithsonian Channel: Aerial America
- PBS’ American Experience: The American West Category
- Native Americans: People of the Plains (Discovery Education, Youtube, 30 minutes)
- Crazy Horse Dynamite & Dreams
- Mount Rushmore (American Experience)
- Badlands Suite (NPS)
- The Making of Tatanka: The Story of the Bison
- Last Stand at Little Big Horn (American Experience)
- Their Shots Quit Coming: Little Bighorn (NPS)
- Triumph & Tragedy at Little Bighorn
- Buffalo Bill (American Experience)
- Yellowstone Aflame
- Wolves: A Legend Returns to Yellowstone (National Geographic) Yellowstone (IMAX)
- Silver & Snow: The Park City Story
Resources for YOU & your guests: Applications & References
- National Park Service Official Apps for Smartphone/Tablet – Most allow you to download the information to your device for use in “offline” mode. This means you can GPS locate yourself within the Park without cell service.
- Official National Park Service Maps & Pamphlets – Ask for these at the entrance gate, download them from online and show on the coach screen, or let guests know they can be acquired at any Visitor’s Center.
- National Park Newspaper – For Parks that offer it, these might be offered to you at the entrance gates or they can be acquired at any Visitor’s Center.
- State Highway Road Maps – These can be found at Rest Stops and State Welcome Centers along your route.
- PeakVisor You can download regions to offline mode and learn what various mountains & peaks are along the way.
- My Altitude – There’s always that ONE guest that wants to know what the altitude is ALL the time. Download an app and make it easy! (iPhone or Android)
- Postcards! A great memory and resource for information. Buy information-packed ones for you and scenic ones with one tidbit for your guests. Laminate your resource ones and pass them around on the coach.
