On Tuesday, April 25th, the National Park Foundation, its Honorary Chair Mrs. Laura Bush, Ball State University, and approximately 37 million children and community members from 49 states and seven countries will make history by participating in the largest-ever simultaneous "visit" to a National Park.

In celebration of National Park Week, children from around the world will take part in Ball State's Electronic Field Trip to Carlsbad Caverns National Park complete with in-class experiments, an online panel of experts and an opportunity to "choose your own adventure." 

Mrs. Bush will participate live from the Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston National Historical Park with twenty-three fourth graders from Warren-Prescott School, National Park Foundation President and CEO Vin Cipolla, Ball State University President Jo Ann Gora, and National Park Service Director Fran Mainella.

"Our nation's parks were given to us as a gift with the expectation that we would safeguard them for future generations," said Vin Cipolla, President and CEO of the National Park Foundation.  "There is no better way to celebrate National Park Week across the nation and around the world than connecting our children with our parks so that they can develop the sense of ownership and pride necessary to become the stewards of these great places."

"In my role as Honorary Chair of the National Park Foundation, I have visited our National Parks with children from all across the United States and have seen their faces as they discover our land and our history for the first time," said Mrs. Bush.  "I'm pleased to support the National Park Foundation in its efforts to ensure that all children have the opportunity to experience America's amazing landscapes and share in the significant milestones of our history."

Ball State's Electronic Field Trip "Exploring Nature's Plumbing System" is an interactive 90-minute broadcast from Carlsbad Caverns featuring Park experts, online activities and in-class experiments.  The program, developed by teachers and National Park Service educators, will broadcast live from five locations in Carlsbad Caverns and from Boston National Historical Park. 

Working alongside experts on the show, students will learn about cave formation by creating their own miniature cave from clay and sugar cubes; find out how pollution affects Carlsbad by replicating a parking lot above the caves with sand, rocks and liquid; and ask their own questions to experts through a live satellite feed, email and phone calls.

"Ball State is excited to partner with the National Park Foundation to present this Electronic Field Trip and inspire the next generation of Park enthusiasts," said Ball State President Jo Ann M. Gora. "Through the innovative use of interactive technology, millions of children and community members will explore one of our national treasures guided by leading experts and using Web-based educational games and lesson plans based on national standards."

Ball State's Electronic Field Trip program, which is supported by Best Buy Children's Foundation, received six Telly Awards for last year's programming. The Web site is a key part of the program and has been honored by the Center for Digital Education with a Best of the Web award and gold and silver awards at the 2005 World Media Festival.

The Electronic Field Trips to National Parks take advantage of Ball State University's successful 10-year program.  The partnership with Ball State is part of the National Park Foundation's ongoing efforts to connect America's youth to their National Parks. In December 2004, the National Park Foundation and Ball State University hosted the first Electronic Field Trip from a National Park when they explored the Grand Canyon. 

In 2007, the University and the Foundation will partner on three Electronic Field Trips, examining the birth of America at Independence National Historical Park, the unique ecosystems and distinct human culture at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and the Japanese internment camps at Manzanar National Historic Site. 

"This remarkable event celebrates what this year's National Park Week is all about - connecting children to America's National Parks," said Fran Mainella, Director of the National Park Service. "With critical support from the National Park Foundation, we can continue to use cutting edge technology to connect more children and their families to America's National Parks."

In addition to participating onsite in Carlsbad, NM, there are opportunities for members of the media to participate in local schools across the country or to access the satellite feed of the broadcast airing at 1 p.m. (EDT).  The satellite coordinates are 12064 (V) on KUBAND and 3840 (V) on C-BAND.  The field trip can also be viewed via webstream at http://ali.apple.com/caves/.  More information about the field trips can be found at www.bsu.edu/eft.

Pre-registration is requested by April 24 at 6 p.m. Contact Elizabeth Levitan at (202) 487-7847 or elevitan@nationalparks.org.

About the National Park Foundation
The National Park Foundation (www.nationalparks.org) is 501(c)(3) organization chartered by Congress in 1967 to continue a century-long tradition of private philanthropy and raise essential funding to help preserve and enhance the legacy of our National Parks. As the official non-profit partner of America's National Parks, the National Park Foundation strengthens the connection between the American people and their National Parks by raising private funds, making strategic grants, creating innovative partnerships and increasing public awareness.  Support of the National Park Foundation ensures that the evolving history and rich heritage of our Nation remains vital and relevant. 

About Ball State University
Ball State University (www.bsu.edu), located in Muncie, Ind., is the third-largest public university in Indiana, with more than 18,000 students. Named the nation's best wireless campus in 2005, the university has 11 nationally ranked or recognized academic programs and initiatives. Originally a private teacher training school when it opened in 1899, Ball State became a university in 1965. The 1,035-acre campus in Delaware County is an hour's drive northeast of Indianapolis.

About the National Park Service
Established by Congress in 1916, the National Park Service is charged with management of the Nation's most precious cultural and natural resources. These resources, located in 388 sites nationwide, are inextricably woven into our national heritage. They provide citizens the world over with invaluable opportunities for recreation, appreciation of beauty, historical reflection, cultural enrichment and environmental education.