Bridging the Watershed (BTW) is an outreach program of the Alice Ferguson Foundation (AFF), in partnership with the National Park Service (NPS) and area schools, designed to promote student academic achievement, personal connections with the natural world, lifelong civic engagement, and environmental stewardship through hands-on curriculum-based outdoor studies in national parks and public lands. This is accomplished by:

• Field studies for students
  Secondary students from the capital region visit national parks with their science classes to conduct field studies. The trips give students an authentic experience that allows them to take measurements and make field observations just as a scientist would do. View our Programs Video and How to Participate for more information.
   
• Teacher training
  Summer institutes for graduate and professional development credits as well as shorter workshops during the school year prepare teachers to bring students on field studies.
   
• Standards-based curriculum development
  BTW offers 5 core modules, as well as a host of park-specific curriculum units, that offer classroom lessons to prepare students for their field studies, guidance for data analysis after a field study, and background information on the subjects covered in the module. Visit Curriculum Overview for more information.