Crossing America visited Covington Elementary School in Covington, IN! On Thursday, December 12th, from 11:00 am ET - 2:00 pm ET, we aired a special Holiday in the Parks LiveStream featuring 18 national park sites! 🎥✨ You can find the archived event and resources below—enjoy the adventure!
Get ready to explore what "winter" looks like in some of America’s most stunning national parks. Rangers from across the country will share how winter transforms their parks, from snow-covered forests to desert landscapes under frosty skies. You’ll discover the unique wildlife, scenic beauty, and winter adventures each park has to offer, all without leaving the classroom! We will send a list of all parks that are attending soon.

📚 We’ll also introduce an exciting Engineering Design Challenge: Can you create a Winter Shadow Box or your own Snow Globe to represent what winter looks like in your community? Your challenge is to collect and design items that show the local plants, animals, and weather you experience during winter. Whether it’s pinecones, snowflakes, or cozy homes, let’s see how creative you can be in capturing the magic of winter where you live!
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We can’t wait to see YOU there for this festive virtual journey across America’s national parks!

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Click on the Marvin & Huck graphic to learn about each park from this event.

CLICK BELOW FOR THE ENGINEERING
​DESIGN CHALLENGE!

Click for Activities and Supply Lists!

Click for Schedule for the day!

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Select the video below to view our broadcast of Holiday in the PARKS

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Winter Weather Comparisons: Local vs. National Parks
Objective: Help students explore and compare the differences in winter weather between their local community and various national parks across the U.S. 
Activity:

• Show students images of winter weather in their local community and at different national parks (e.g., Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Everglades).
• Provide data on average winter temperatures, snowfall, and daylight hours for each location.
• Have students create graphs comparing the weather patterns in their hometown to those in the parks.
• Discuss how weather conditions in each park impact the plants, animals, and human activities there. 

Discussion: How does the weather in your community compare to national parks? How does the amount of snow or cold affect ecosystems in each place? What kinds of adaptations do humans and animals make to survive winter?

History and Traditions of Winter: Then and Now
Objective: Explore how winter traditions and activities have evolved in your local community and compare them to traditions in national parks.
​Activity:

• Research historical winter traditions in your community, such as holiday celebrations, winter sports, or survival techniques.
• Compare these traditions to the winter activities and cultural practices of Indigenous communities and settlers in national parks (e.g., Great Smoky Mountains, Glacier).
• Have students create a timeline showing the evolution of winter traditions locally and in a selected national park.
• Discuss how changes in technology, weather patterns, and cultural influences have shaped winter traditions over time. 

Discussion: How have winter traditions in your community changed? What similarities or differences do you notice between winter traditions in your community and those in national parks? How do these traditions reflect the environment?

​Winter Ecosystem Exploration: Local vs. Park Wildlife
Objective: Help students understand how winter affects local ecosystems and compare those ecosystems to national park wildlife during the winter months. 
Activity:

• Research how local wildlife, such as birds, mammals, and plants, adapt to winter conditions.
• Compare this to the adaptations of animals in national parks during the winter, such as elk in Yellowstone or mountain goats in Glacier National Park.
• Have students create a “Winter Survival Guide” for a local species and a national park species, detailing how they adapt, migrate, or hibernate.
• Discuss the impact of winter on food sources, habitats, and survival strategies. 

Discussion: How does winter affect animals in your community versus in a national park? What are some survival strategies you see in both places, and how do they differ depending on the environment?​

Winter Traditions Around the World and in National Parks
Objective: Explore winter cultural traditions from around the world, including those practiced in national parks.
Activity:

• Research winter cultural traditions from around the world, such as festivals, celebrations, or survival techniques used in cold climates.
• Compare these to winter traditions or ranger-led programs in national parks, such as stargazing in Bryce Canyon, snowshoeing in Yosemite, or dog sledding in Denali.
• Have students choose a winter tradition from their own culture and create a presentation comparing it to a winter activity in a national park.
• Discuss the role that the environment plays in shaping these traditions. 

Discussion: How do winter traditions in your community reflect the culture and environment? How do national park winter activities compare to traditions around the world? What role does nature play in these celebrations or activities?