National Park Service Rangers have made some fun daily writing prompt videos to inspire your writing, and can’t wait to ‘visit’ you in your classroom, your home, or your office! Respond to the prompts online via #writeout or send a postcard back to the Rangers; they can’t wait to hear from all of you!
The Ranger prompts on this page are also available as a Google Slideshows (below), courtesy of Western Massachusetts Writing Project teacher-consultant, Kevin Hodgson.
Week Two
Week One
Week 2
Park Ranger Pearl at Springfield Armory National Historic Site
Park Ranger Pearl asks: Filling the shoes of men who left for wartime military service through the 20th century, thousands of Women Ordinance Workers (WOWs) worked throughout the factories and faced many challenges, such as poor working conditions, low wages comparing to their male co-workers, and discrimination. How do you think these women felt when they joined the workforce?
Respond to Ranger Pearl on social media using #writeout or send her a postcard at:
Ranger Pearl
c/o Springfield Armory National Historic Site
One Armory Square, Suite 2
Springfield, MA 01105
Park Ranger Ann at Capitol Reef National Park
Park Ranger Ann asks: Leaves have elaborate vein systems. But imagine each leaf is really a map. Draw a leaf map and then label places on the map.
Respond to Ranger Ann on social media using #writeout or send her a postcard at:
Ranger Ann
Capitol Reef National Park
HC 70, Box 15
Torrey, UT 84775
Park Ranger Amber at Homestead National Monument of America
Park Ranger Amber asks: Imagine the people of the past in a place you know well. Invent a story they might tell that has cultural roots in that specific place?
Respond to Ranger Amber on social media using #writeout or send her a postcard at:
Ranger Amber
Homestead National Monument of America
8523 West State Highway 4
Beatrice, Nebraska 68310
Park Ranger Kyle at Longfellow House NHS
Park Ranger Kyle asks: We often only see the world from the ground, up. Write a story of a creature (insect, animal, etc.) that only experiences the world from the ground, down.
Respond to Ranger Kyle on social media using #writeout or send him a postcard at:
Ranger Kyle
Longfellow House NHS
105 Brattle Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
Park Ranger Beth at Thomas Edison National Historical Park
Park Ranger Beth asks: Imagine you can leave one important artifact for some future generation to find. What will you leave that will allow a future historian to better understand us?
Respond to Ranger Beth on social media using #writeout or send her a postcard at:
Ranger Beth
Thomas Edison National Historical Park
211 Main Street
West Orange, NJ 07052
Park Rangers Casey and Gianna at Delaware Water Gap NRA
Park Rangers Casey and Gianna ask: Draw a picture of a wild bird that has nested on a city building. Write a journal entry of a day in the life of that bird.
Respond to Rangers Casey and Gianna on social media using #writeout or send her a postcard at:
Rangers Casey and Gianna
Delaware Water Gap NRA
1978 River Road
Bushkill, PA 18324
Park Ranger Zoe at
Great Falls Park
Park Ranger Zoe asks: Imagine you are standing beside a river. Where did it start? Where is it going? What would you see if you floated along with it?
Respond to Ranger Zoe on social media using #writeout or send her a postcard at:
Ranger Zoe
Great Falls Park
c/o Turkey Run Park
George Washington Memorial Parkway
McLean, VA 22101
Ranger Joan at Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site
Ranger Joan asks: Define the term “unintended consequence”, then write about one unintended or unforeseen consequence of integration.
To help respond to this prompt, see the Brown v. Board of Education’s 360 Tour.
Respond to Ranger Joan on social media using #writeout or send her a postcard at:
Ranger Joan
Brown v. Board NHS
1515 SE Monroe Street
Topeka, KS 66612-1143
Week 1
Park Ranger Maggie at Niobrara National Scenic River
Park Ranger Maggie asks: Find a place of quiet. Pause there for five minutes. Use your senses to experience. Write what you experience. What is nature telling you?
Respond to Ranger Maggie on Twitter by mentioning @NiobraraNPS and the hashtag #writeout, or send her a postcard at:
Ranger Maggie
Niobrara National Scenic River
214 W. Highway 20
Valentine, NE 69201
Park Ranger Makenzie at Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
Park Ranger Makenzie asks: We know that some trees can “talk” to each other through their root systems. What kind of messages might trees send to each other?
Respond to Ranger Makenzie on Twitter by mentioning @SequoiaKingsNPS and #writeout, or send her a postcard at:
Ranger Makenzie
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
47050 Generals Highway
Three Rivers, CA 93271
Park Ranger Kristin at Weir Farm National Historic Site
Park Ranger Kristin asks: National Parks are not just open lands. The park system includes historic buildings and sites. Which building or site in your neighborhood would you preserve for the future and why?
Respond to Ranger Kristin on Twitter by mentioning @WeirFarmNPS and #writeout, or send her a postcard at:
Ranger Kristin
Weir Farm National Historic Site
735 Nod Hill Road
Wilton, CT 06897
Park Ranger Scott at Springfield Armory National Historic Site
Park Ranger Scott asks: Write a story in which a city block or urban center has been retaken by nature over time. What does it look like?
Respond to Ranger Scott on social media using #writeout or send him a postcard at:
Ranger Scott
c/o Springfield Armory National Historic Site
One Armory Square, Suite 2
Springfield, MA 01105
Park Ranger Tyler at Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
Park Ranger Tyler asks: Write an argument about the need for protected public spaces. What do you think could have happened to these lands if conservationists didn’t work so hard to protect them?
Respond to Ranger Tyler on Twitter by mentioning @SagamoreHillNHS and #writeout, or send him a postcard at:
Ranger Tyler
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
20 Sagamore Hill Road
Oyster Bay, NY 11771