Today marked a milestone we've been looking forward to for a long time—our very first STEAM in the PARK camp at Indiana Dunes National Park.

For years, we've driven past these dunes, admired this incredible landscape, and dreamed about bringing educators here. This place is unlike anywhere else in the National Park System. More than 15,000 years ago, glaciers helped shape these towering dunes along the southern shore of Lake Michigan, creating one of the most biologically diverse national parks in the country. It's a place where forests, wetlands, prairies, rivers, and beaches exist side by side, offering endless opportunities to wonder, explore, and learn.

We're especially grateful to be spending the week at the Dunes Learning Center, a place with an incredible story of its own. Our campus was originally Camp Good Fellow, a summer camp built by U.S. Steel in 1941 for the children of employees at the Gary Works steel mill. Thousands of children spent their summers here exploring the woods, the river, and the dunes. After the National Park Service acquired the property in 1976, a vision emerged to transform it into a place where new generations could learn about this remarkable landscape. Today, through a unique partnership with Indiana Dunes National Park, the Dunes Learning Center serves as the park's official outdoor school, welcoming students and educators from across the region to experience one of the most biodiverse national parks in the country. 

One of our favorite moments happened before camp even officially began. Every one of our 24 campers had arrived within the first 90 minutes. That almost never happens! There was so much excitement as hugs were exchanged, new friendships began, and returning campers welcomed those joining us for the very first time. It already feels like this is going to be a wonderful week together.

This afternoon we introduced one of our favorite activities, To Each Its Own. Each camper selected an apple tree leaf, carefully observed every detail, and then entrusted it to us for a while. Later, when dozens of leaves were mixed together, the challenge was to find their own. At first glance they all looked nearly identical, but as campers slowed down, they began noticing tiny characteristics they had overlooked before—the shape of the edges, small blemishes, subtle color differences, the curve of the stem, even tiny insect bites. Before long, almost everyone had reunited with their leaf.

It reminded us of an important lesson that extends far beyond nature. The world is full of incredible things waiting to be noticed, but too often we move too quickly to really see them. Whether it's a leaf, a bird call, a kind gesture, or someone sitting quietly who could use a friend, noticing changes everything.

One of our campers, Jen T, shared a wonderful children's book called Noticing and suggested it might become part of our future camps. We loved the idea. Sometimes the best ideas come from the people around us, and we're grateful whenever campers help make STEAM in the PARK even better.

This evening we met with our new Book Buddies, sharing stories, conversations, and the excitement of getting to know someone new. Those partnerships always become one of our favorite parts of the week, and we can't wait to watch those friendships grow over the next few days.

As the sun began to set, we gathered around the beautiful campfire area at the Dunes Learning Center for one of the best camp traditions—s'mores. This year's version included classic chocolate bars from Walmart alongside some delicious Albanese chocolates, which made for some pretty amazing combinations. We also celebrated Satomi and Stefannie's birthdays with s'more cupcakes, plenty of laughter, and a campfire full of new friends singing "Happy Birthday."

We're so thankful to finally be here at Indiana Dunes National Park. A huge thank you to our host, Erin, at the Dunes Learning Center and to Ranger Erin from Indiana Dunes National Park for welcoming us so warmly. We have a feeling this first Indiana Dunes camp is going to become one we'll remember for a very long time.

Here's to an incredible week of learning, exploring, laughing, and noticing all the wonderful things this remarkable place has to teach us.

As another STEAM in the PARK week comes to a close, I keep looking around at the people gathered here and thinking how incredibly fortunate we are. Beautiful people. Humble hearts. Kind spirits. The kind of people who notice when someone is carrying too much and quietly step in to help. The kind of people who celebrate one another's successes without needing the spotlight for themselves. The kind of people who remind us that the world is still full of goodness.

This week at Glacier National Park has been one we will carry with us for a very long time. Between the mountains, the lakes, the wildlife, the laughter, the learning, and the friendships that formed around campfires and hiking trails, it has been a reminder of why we continue saying yes to this work year after year. It isn't simply because Glacier is breathtaking—although it certainly is. It's because places like this have a way of bringing out the very best in people.

Every conversation, every shared meal, every trail, every quiet moment by the creek reminded us that education is about so much more than information. It is about relationships. It is about curiosity. It is about kindness. It is about becoming the kind of human being who leaves every place and every person just a little better than you found them.

Today also marks Day 62 of our summer journey. In just a little while, we'll board a plane and fly home for a brief visit before heading back out to finish our final three STEAM in the PARK camps. We are looking forward to sleeping in our own bed for a couple of nights, hugging our family, taking a deep breath, and letting our hearts catch up with the miles we've traveled. Then we'll pack our bags once again and head back out, ready to finish this summer strong.

Behind every journey like ours is a family that sacrifices alongside us. They cheer us on from hundreds or thousands of miles away. They celebrate the victories, pray through the challenges, answer late-night phone calls, and welcome us home without keeping score. They remind us who we are when the miles get long.

As author Lisa Wingate wrote, "Family isn't just an important thing. It's everything." The love and encouragement we receive at home become the strength we carry with us when we serve others. We couldn't do this work without the people who faithfully support us behind the scenes.

There is wisdom in taking time to refill what has been generously poured out. As Anne Morrow Lindbergh wrote, "If one is to keep putting forth, one must have something to put forth." A few days at home aren't a pause in the mission—they are part of it. They remind us that caring for others begins by allowing ourselves to be cared for, too.

So today, we leave Glacier thankful beyond words—for extraordinary campers, remarkable environmental educators, dedicated park rangers, and a place that welcomed us with open arms. This has truly been one of the most meaningful STEAM in the PARK weeks we have ever experienced.

The mountains will remain long after we leave, but the friendships, lessons, laughter, and hope we've shared this week will travel home with us. We can't wait to see the people we love, and after a little rest and rejuvenation, we'll be back on the road to finish these final three camps with the same joy, purpose, and gratitude that have carried us through the first sixty-two days.

​Keep the lights on kids! We are coming home! 

Day 4 invited us to slow down and experience Glacier National Park in a completely different way. With Rangers Matt and Lindsay leading the way, our campers rotated through a series of Five Senses stations before heading out on a sensory hike. Instead of rushing to the next destination, we paused to notice the small things that are so easy to overlook. We listened to the water of nearby streams, felt the rough bark of ancient cedars, breathed in the fresh mountain air, searched for the subtle colors woven throughout the forest, and even tasted a few Glacier-inspired treats along the way. It was a wonderful reminder that nature has so much to teach us when we simply pay attention.

Back on campus, it was time for one of our favorite challenges of the week—Glacier Rescue. Every camper became either an animal, plant, or natural feature found within Glacier National Park. Through games, problem-solving, and plenty of laughter, they discovered just how connected every living thing is. It didn't take long before food webs, habitats, predators, pollinators, decomposers, and forests all came together in ways that made perfect sense. Watching those "aha" moments happen never gets old.

The afternoon brought something every camper had been looking forward to: free time. Some chose to kayak or paddleboard across the crystal-clear waters of Lake McDonald while others headed for the beautiful Trail of the Cedars and Avalanche Lake Trail. Of course, another stop for huckleberry ice cream was absolutely necessary. At this point, we're fairly certain the black bears are wondering where all the huckleberries have gone. Ironically, not long afterward, we spotted a black bear enjoying a moose carcass, a powerful reminder that nature follows its own rhythms and that every animal has a role to play in this incredible ecosystem.

Our final evening together was filled with the traditions that make the end of every STEAM in the PARK week so memorable. Campers signed our camp poster, wrote postcards to each other, and gathered together to watch National Parks Adventure, and then made our way outside for our closing Firefly Ceremony.

This evening carried even more meaning as we celebrated the twelve campers who joined us for their very first STEAM in the PARK experience, along with three outstanding environmental educators who shared their knowledge, enthusiasm, and hearts with us all week. Welcoming new people into this community is one of the greatest joys of what we do, and watching them become part of the family in just a few short days is something I'll never stop appreciating.

And maybe that's why our closing Firefly Ceremony has become one of the most meaningful traditions of every STEAM in the PARK week. A single firefly doesn't light up the forest. Its glow is small, quiet, and easy to miss. But when hundreds of fireflies begin to shine together, the darkness is transformed. No one asks another firefly to glow exactly the same way. Each one simply offers the light it was created to give.

I think people are a lot like that.

None of us can solve every problem or change the entire world by ourselves. But each act of kindness, every encouraging word, every listening ear, every helping hand, and every moment of choosing compassion over criticism adds a little more light. Before long, those small lights become something beautiful that others can see from far away.

Our hope has never been to create people who all think alike. Our hope has always been to create people who choose to be light wherever they go. If every camper leaves this place carrying just a little more kindness, a little more courage, and a little more willingness to look for the good in others, then that light won't end when camp ends. It will travel home with them, into their classrooms, their families, their communities, and into countless lives they'll never even realize they've touched.
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That's how darkness loses. Not because one bright light overpowers it, but because thousands of ordinary people decide to shine.

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Today we loaded into three top-notch travel vans and made our way up the legendary Going-to-the-Sun Road toward Logan Pass. It is easy to understand why this drive is considered one of the most spectacular in the world. Towering peaks, waterfalls spilling from impossible places, and wildflowers stretching across alpine meadows reminded us that Glacier National Park is a place where nature still feels wonderfully untamed.

The wildlife certainly didn't disappoint. Along the way we spotted a black bear, a grizzly bear, mountain goats gracefully navigating cliffs that looked impossible to climb, yellow-bellied marmots soaking up the sunshine, and what may have been the loudest Columbian ground squirrels on the planet. They announced their presence long before we ever saw them.

Our hike to Hidden Lake was everything we hoped it would be. Snow still clung to the mountainsides while wildflowers painted the landscape with color. Every few steps someone would stop to point out another incredible view, another animal, or another memory worth capturing. We also made the required stop at the Logan Pass Visitor Center where, somehow, everyone found something they "needed." The good news? Every purchase helps support our national parks, so we felt pretty good about our shopping adventures.

On the way back we made one more essential Glacier stop—Apgar Village for huckleberry ice cream. If you've never had huckleberry ice cream in Glacier National Park, add it to your bucket list. It was the perfect ending to an unforgettable afternoon before we returned to campus where a few of us discovered that a quick nap can be just as glorious as a mountain view.

Tonight, however, became something truly special.

As the sun settled behind the mountains and Big Creek quietly flowed beside us, we gathered around the campfire to welcome Jack Gladstone. Many of our campers already felt like they knew Jack after watching Out There last summer, and meeting him in person was every bit as meaningful as we had hoped.

Jack Gladstone is an acclaimed storyteller, musician, educator, and cultural ambassador from Montana who is a citizen of the Blackfeet Nation. For decades, he has shared Indigenous history, culture, music, and storytelling with audiences across the country, helping people build a deeper understanding of the land and the people who have called it home for generations. Rather than simply performing for us, Jack invited us into an experience. Through songs, humor, history, and heartfelt stories, he reminded us that every landscape holds a story, every community has wisdom to share, and each of us has a responsibility to honor, cherish, and protect the places we call home.

As we shared sweet and savory s'mores around the fire, Jack left us with words that will travel home with all of us.

"What we do in life will echo in eternity."

This is not just a beautiful quote. It's a reminder of how we hope to live—paying attention, caring for one another, respecting the places that have welcomed us, and leaving them better than we found them.

As I write this, we're getting ready to head back outside for some dark sky festivities beneath the Glacier night sky. Today was about mountains, campfires, good friends, and people like Jack Gladstone who remind us that learning isn't just about what we know—it's about who we become.

Our morning belonged to Ranger Lindsay, who somehow managed to make all of us appreciate beavers even more than we already did. Two of our campers became honorary beavers as Lindsay dressed them for the part and helped us discover why these remarkable animals are often called nature's engineers. We learned the difference between a beaver lodge and a beaver dam, bushwhacked through an active beaver complex, and examined wildlife camera photos that revealed just how many creatures depend on these incredible wetland builders.

Then it was our turn to think like beavers. Using baking pans, rocks, sticks, mud, and other natural materials, teams designed and built their own miniature dams before putting them to the test with flowing water. Some held strong. Some...well...provided valuable engineering lessons. Every group walked away with a better understanding of just how much planning, persistence, and problem-solving goes into every dam a beaver creates.

The afternoon took us into the cool waters of Big Creek, where campers searched for and identified macroinvertebrates—tiny aquatic creatures that tell us a great deal about the health of a stream. It's always amazing how quickly a small insect can become the most exciting discovery of the day.

One of our favorite activities followed: our Adaptation Auction. Each team received a budget and had to strategically "bid" on animal adaptations like camouflage, sharp claws, waterproof fur, powerful wings, venom, or incredible eyesight. The catch? You couldn't buy everything. Teams had to decide which adaptations were worth spending their limited budget on before creating a brand-new animal perfectly suited for its habitat. The creativity was unbelievable, and every creature came with its own story and survival strategy.

After another incredible dinner, we mixed our own natural paints using materials from around camp. It's been fun watching everyone's confidence grow with this activity. Each day the colors become richer, the techniques become bolder, and the artwork becomes even more personal.

We wrapped up the evening continuing our CCC Legacies, reflecting on the lasting impact of the Civilian Conservation Corps and considering the kinds of legacies each of us hopes to leave behind.

One thing has become abundantly clear after just two days: this place is special. The Glacier Institute staff has welcomed us like family. Their knowledge, enthusiasm, kindness, and willingness to jump into every adventure alongside us have made this week even more meaningful. We are pretty sure we've gained at least 13 new best friends.

Tomorrow we head up the legendary Going-to-the-Sun Road, one of the most spectacular drives in America. And yes...every time someone says the name, at least one person can't resist thinking, "Heeere's Johnny!" We have a feeling tomorrow is going to be unforgettable.

Today we began another week of STEAM in the PARK, this time surrounded by the mountains, forests, and rushing waters of Glacier National Park. Twenty-eight educators arrived throughout the afternoon, including 12 who are joining our community for the very first time. New places always have a way of bringing new energy, and you could feel the excitement as everyone settled into Big Creek Outdoor Education Camp.

This beautiful campus, operated by the Glacier Institute, has a fascinating history. Years ago, it served as the Fire Hot Spot Center for the U.S. Forest Service, where wildfires were monitored and coordinated throughout the region. Today, the buildings still serve an important purpose, but instead of tracking fires, they help spark curiosity, learning, and a deeper appreciation for the natural world.

We were fortunate to spend the day with an incredible team. Eleven environmental educators, along with Glacier National Park Rangers Matt and Lindsay, welcomed us into this place through our orientation, map activity, Camera Walk, and one of our favorite traditions—the Glacier National Park Secret Tree Sniffing Society. There is something wonderfully silly about watching a group of adults press their noses against the bark of a ponderosa pine, only to discover that trees can smell like vanilla, butterscotch, cinnamon... or something completely different depending on who is doing the sniffing.

Dinner was another highlight. Turmeric chickpeas and fresh watermelon were the perfect ending to a warm summer afternoon, and judging by the empty plates, they were a big hit.

As daylight began to fade, we gathered for our Book Buddy Exchange before heading down to Big Creek for our first campfire together. It was one of those Glacier evenings that reminds you how quickly the mountains can change the weather. The temperature dropped from 83 degrees to 69 degrees in just a couple of hours, and sweaters quickly replaced T-shirts as we sat around the fire listening to the creek rush by.

Our theme this week is Gathered Here, and tonight those words already felt true. Twenty-eight educators from different places, backgrounds, and experiences have come together in one extraordinary place. We have no idea what stories will be shared, what friendships will grow, or what moments will stay with us long after we leave Glacier. But if today is any indication, this is going to be a beautiful week.

Six years ago this week, we packed up our very first STEAM in the PARK at Acadia National Park. It was only a three-day experience, but something happened that week that none of us could fully explain. Thirty-two mostly strangers became friends. Educators rediscovered wonder. We watched nature do what it has always done so well—it slowed us down enough to notice each other. We drove away believing we had to do it again. Today, six years later, we wrapped up Camp 54 right back where it all began.

When people see STEAM in the PARK, they see the hikes, the ranger programs, the journals, the campfires, the wildlife, the laughter, and the friendships. They don't often see the behind-the-scenes pieces that keep me awake at night. Every camp comes with the same questions. Will enough people register? Will we be able to cover our expenses? Can we continue making these adventures affordable for educators while still sustaining the work of Expeditions in Education? Those questions never really go away. They travel with us from park to park, and every year we trust that somehow the path will become clear.

From the beginning, our dream has never been to build expensive experiences for a few people. Our dream has always been to find the funding and partners that would allow us to keep these adventures affordable while still covering the costs it takes to make them happen. We haven't fully figured that part out yet, but we haven't stopped believing we will. Every year we take another step forward, believing there are people who understand that investing in educators is one of the greatest investments we can make.

This week we learned that several of our campers found each other because they belonged to a club no one ever wants to join—the widows club. Watching them recognize one another, hug, cry, share stories, and simply understand each other without needing many words was one of the most beautiful moments of the week. You couldn't have planned it if you tried. It simply happened because they showed up.

Another educator came because of a recommendation from a roommate she met in Egypt two years ago. Several campers found us simply by searching the internet. One came because this school year had been particularly hard and she needed a place to breathe again. Others came because former campers quietly told them, "You need to go." Every person had a different reason for making the trip to Acadia, but every one of those roads led to the same place.

That matters.

Over and over again, we watch people who have never met become a community. They encourage one another on the trails, laugh around dinner tables, celebrate each other's victories, sit beside each other in the hard moments, and leave carrying friendships that will last long after the week is over. They return to classrooms across the country with renewed purpose, fresh ideas, and hearts that are just a little lighter than when they arrived. I don't think that's an accident. I think that's what happens when people are given the space to slow down, listen, and remember why they became educators in the first place.

We are confident this work is vital. We are confident educators need places like this. We are confident our national parks have something to teach that can't be found inside four classroom walls. We are also confident there is someone—or many someones—who believes in this mission and wants to help us continue the work we have started through Expeditions in Education. We simply haven't found all of those partners yet.

​If you've ever shared one of our posts, encouraged someone to attend, partnered with us, or simply believed in what we're doing, thank you. If you know a business, foundation, school district, or organization that believes educators deserve experiences like this, we would be grateful for an introduction. Or maybe your business, your family, or someone you know is looking for a way to make a lasting difference by investing in educators, students, and our national parks. We'd love the opportunity to share our mission and explore what that partnership could look like. Please help us spread the word. Six years ago this week, this was just an idea. Today, it is a community that continues to change lives, and we believe the best chapters are still ahead.

And now- we head off to Glacier National Park for Camp 9!

This morning we climbed aboard the Miss Samantha for our lobster boat and wildlife cruise out of Bar Harbor. Trap by trap, we learned how the lobster fishery works and discovered the incredible wildlife living beneath the surface of Frenchman Bay. We brought up lobsters, crabs, and other sea life, giving everyone the chance to see these animals up close before they were carefully returned to the water. And yes...we continued one of our favorite STEAM in the PARK traditions. We kissed the wildlife. This year's honored guest? A lobster. There aren't many professional development programs where that sentence makes perfect sense.

The afternoon belonged to adventure. Campers scattered across Acadia, each choosing their own way to spend these last precious hours together. Some challenged themselves on the Beehive and the Bowl Trail. Others hiked Gorham Mountain, explored Schoodic Peninsula, climbed to Raven's Nest, wandered the streets of Bar Harbor, made a trip to see Stephen King's house in Bangor, enjoyed authentic lobstah rolls, or celebrated another day together with one more scoop of ice cream. There wasn't one perfect way to spend the afternoon because everyone was writing their own ending to this chapter.

Tonight we gathered for KampiOKE, laughing louder with every song until the writing group from Johns Hopkins finally asked if we could keep it down for a little while. We couldn't help but laugh. I suppose thirty-one educators singing with great enthusiasm and questionable pitch can be a bit much. We gladly surrendered the stage...eventually.

As the sun settled over Frenchman Bay, we gathered around a fire beneath an osprey nest for our Firefly Ceremony. It is always a special way to end the week, but tonight carried a little extra weight. We talked about what had made this group of thirty-one educators so different. They are humble. They are grateful. They are kind. Every single person added something to this community. No one took away from it. They encouraged each other, celebrated each other, and made room for everyone to belong. You could see it in the conversations, on the trails, around the tables, and in every activity we shared this week.

I said something tonight that made everyone laugh because it was true. These are the kind of people I wouldn't hide from if I saw them in Target. If you've ever been in Target and spotted someone you know, you understand exactly what that means. These are the people you'd gladly push your cart toward. The ones you'd stop and talk with. The ones who leave you smiling after the conversation is over. That's what this week has been.
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Tomorrow we leave as friends, carrying a little piece of Acadia—and a little piece of each other—back into our classrooms.
I'm not quite ready for tomorrow.

​

The morning was filled with some of our favorite Expeditions in Education experiences. Campers worked through the Acadia Rescue challenge, created Nature Prints, and continued our Rewilding project. None of those activities are really about finding the right answer. They're about learning to notice. The cracks in a leaf. The texture of bark. The tiny details that most of us hurry past every single day. Funny how paying closer attention to nature often teaches us to pay closer attention to each other, too.

That same lesson followed us into the afternoon as we spent time with our Acadia National Park ranger family. Kate and Alexa have been part of STEAM in the PARK here since the very beginning, and it is always a joy to learn alongside them again. We were also joined by Maddie and Megan, who many of you know from Rocky Mountain and New River Gorge, along with Lex, a Fish and Feathers Intern whose excitement for this coastline was contagious. We have always believed that one of the greatest gifts we can give educators is time with the people who care for these places every single day. Rangers become storytellers, scientists, teachers, and before long, friends.

Then we walked into one of the most fascinating classrooms in Acadia...the tidepools.

It is amazing how much life can fit into such a small space. We found green sea urchins tucked deep into rocky crevices, blue mussels clustered together, acorn barnacles covering nearly every rock, common periwinkle snails, dogwhelks, hermit crabs carrying borrowed homes, green crabs weaving through the seaweed, tiny shrimp and amphipods darting through the water, and thick beds of rockweed, bladderwrack, Irish moss, and kelp dancing with every wave. Every few minutes someone would call out, "Come look at this!" and the whole group would gather around something that could have been missed if we had been in a hurry.

College of the Atlantic continues to spoil us with incredible meals. Tonight we enjoyed steak, corn on the cob, baked potatoes, salad, and fresh bread. I don't think anyone is leaving here hungry. More importantly, every meal has felt like an invitation to slow down, linger a little longer, and enjoy the people around the table.

This evening we gathered in the Gates Community Center Theater to watch National Parks Adventure on the big screen. Watching a film that celebrates our national parks while sitting on the shores of Frenchman Bay just felt right. Sometimes a story lands differently when you're standing in the middle of one yourself.

Before heading back for the night, our campers worked together on collaborative lesson plans. Watching ideas bounce around the room reminded me why we do this. The tidepools, the ranger conversations, the nature prints, and the laughter from today won't stay in Acadia. In a few weeks, pieces of this place will begin showing up in classrooms all over the country. That's the part that never gets old.

Tomorrow we'll trade tidepools for lobster traps and head out on the water for lobster boat fishing and seal watching. I have a feeling Acadia still has a few surprises waiting for us.

​​Tonight's journal almost wrote itself because two campers shared reflections that captured the heart of what STEAM in the PARK is all about.

One camper talked about arriving in Acadia after a flight and a long drive feeling completely frazzled. Honestly, doesn't travel do that to all of us? But she said what happened next was what made this week so different. She shared that this group simply takes you as you are. There is no pretending to be someone you're not. It's a week to put life on the back burner, grow alongside fellow educators, laugh, and say yes to things you never imagined yourself doing. She talked about slowing down enough to notice the things in nature that are so often overlooked so that when she returns to her classroom, she'll be more intentional about noticing the child who may be struggling quietly. She finished by saying, "This week I am finding my joy, finding my people, and finding myself." I don't know that I could have summed up STEAM in the PARK any better than that.

Then another camper shared something that has stayed with me all day. She said, "One of my favorite things about STEAM in the PARK is you go at your own pace. We are all on the same walk. However, some are in front of me and some are behind me. Some stay up front talking and some stop to take pictures of everything. We all belong somewhere along the path." I immediately wrote those words down because what a beautiful reminder that there isn't one right way to experience this week. Some people love asking questions. Others quietly take everything in. Some are drawn to every wildflower, mushroom, and tide pool while others are eager to hear the next story from a ranger. Some friendships happen quickly while others take a little longer to grow. None of it is wrong because we're all walking the same path together. Those reflections stayed with me throughout the rest of the day.

Our morning began at Sieur de Monts, a place that tells the story of Acadia's beginnings. Named after Pierre Dugua, Sieur de Mons, the French explorer connected to one of the earliest French settlements in North America, this area later became the center of George B. Dorr's dream to preserve Mount Desert Island. Standing there, it's easy to appreciate that Acadia exists today because people believed this landscape was worth protecting long before it became a national park.

From there we continued exploring Acadia National Park, and honestly, even the bus ride became part of the adventure. So many campers were able to experience parts of the park they may never have seen otherwise. Sometimes the conversations between stops are just as memorable as the destinations themselves. We also made our way to Cadillac Mountain. Looking out over Frenchman Bay, the Porcupine Islands, and the rugged coastline never gets old. Named after the French explorer Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, the mountain has become one of Acadia's most iconic places. It's one of those views that naturally causes conversations to pause as everyone simply takes it all in.

We were fortunate to spend time with Lauren from Friends of Acadia, who helped us understand the impact invasive species have on the park and why protecting native ecosystems takes all of us. Stephanie followed with a fascinating discussion about soil stewardship, reminding us that healthy forests begin beneath our feet. It's easy to admire the trees while forgetting that everything depends on healthy soil. Tommy and Maddie introduced us to the fascinating world of beavers and freshwater ecosystems through dip netting. Watching educators become completely captivated by tiny aquatic creatures never gets old. Curiosity has no age limit, and today was proof of that.

Ranger Kate helped make today incredibly special. Every camp has people who quietly make the experience better for everyone around them, and today Kate was one of those people. Her kindness, encouragement, and willingness to help added something special to an already wonderful day.

Tonight we wrapped up by connecting everything we learned about the Civilian Conservation Corps with our CCC LEGO engineering challenge. It was amazing to watch history come alive through creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving. There was plenty of laughter around the tables, but there were also some thoughtful conversations about the legacy the CCC left behind throughout our national parks.

By the time we headed back to our rooms, we were tired—but it was the kind of tired that comes from filling a day with purpose, learning, and good people. As I closed my journal tonight, I kept coming back to those two campers. One reminded me that this is a place where you can simply be yourself, a place to find your joy, your people, and maybe even a little more of yourself. The other reminded me that we're all walking the same trail this week. Some of us are out front. Some of us stop to notice every little thing. Some of us are still finding our footing. The beautiful part is that no one is expected to walk at anyone else's pace. We all belong somewhere along the path. I think that's exactly what makes STEAM in the PARK so special.