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The educational program in the national parks with particular reference to those in the western states

Author

John S. Germain, University of the Pacific

Date of Award

1941

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (M.A.)

Department

Education

First Advisor

J. William Harris

First Committee Member

G. A. Werner

Second Committee Member

John H. Jonte

Abstract

A series of radio broad casts over Station KGO, San Francisco, California, in the spring of 1935, first brought to my attention the great value of the National Parks in the field of adult education.

Subsequently, in visiting some of the world's greatest natural wonders, which are located in the National Parks in the western part of the United States, I have had the opportunity to observe some of the fine educational facilities made available to the visitor through the service of the park naturalists. The purpose of this thesis is to bring out the importance to the visitor of this educational service. It is my aim to present a clear picture of this educational work and to interpret the material gathered in the survey, and to comment on outstanding problems in this relatively new field of education.

During the past five years, I have had the privilege of spending from one day to two weeks in each of the following National Parks: Bryce Canyon, Crater Lake, Glacier, Grand Canyon, Lassen Volcanic, Mesa Verde, Mount Rainier, Rocky Mountain, Sequoia, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Zion, and Kings Canyon . In 1935 I visited the Olympic Peninsula, and have been in the region which is now the Olympic National Park.

A great deal of the material has been gathered by interviews with the naturalists in the various parks and from observations made by the writer. Therefore much of this information is not recorded in books or bulletin form.

My interest in National Parks is of long standing, and it was rekindled in 1934 when the Post Office Department issued a series of postage stamps known as the National Park Series. In my opinion this was one of the most beautiful sets of stamps ever issued by our Government, and it has served to attract the attention of millions of our citizens t o the great natural resources controlled by our nation in the interest of all people. This novel way of calling attention to the most beautiful spots in America, the National Parks, the public's playgrounds, has undoubtedly resulted in heightened interest in these regions and exerted a real influence in directing the travel habits of the American people.

Pages

154

Recommended Citation

Germain, John S.. (1941). The educational program in the national parks with particular reference to those in the western states. University of the Pacific, Thesis. https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/uop_etds/1014