There are many remarkable places for students to explore in Utah. But sometimes, the one of the most memorable parts of vacationing is how you choose to go sightseeing. Whether it’s by car, horseback, ATV or tour bus, Utah offers plenty of ways for students to experience its breathtaking scenery.
Natural Phenomenon Offers Outdoor Fun and Education
The Southwest is filled with plenty of interesting outdoor phenomenon for your students to discover. Start off by hiking to the Cedar Breaks National Monument, located near Cedar City. The monument is actually a small canyon; a geologic amphitheater that is made up of natural “hoodoos” which look like colorful totem poles.
Cedar Breaks also has one of the darkest skies in the Southwest, so take advantage of the experience with your students. One way to appreciate Utah’s nighttime skies is to book one of the Star Parties, hosted deep within the remote canyon. Local astronomers and park staff volunteer to educate visitors about the various constellations, and they provide telescopes for sky viewing.
A meteor shower. Credit: National Park Service
Explore Utah’s canyons by reserving a guided horseback tour for your students. Visit the Bryce Canyon National Park, located near Bryce. Students can tour the natural amphitheater on horseback or by hiking and then camping along the canyon plateau. Then, wake up in the morning to enjoy all of the fascinating and colorful scenery.
If your group is visiting Eastern Utah, be sure to drive to the Arches National Park, located near Moab. The park contains over 2,000 natural wonders for your students to appreciate, including the freestanding Delicate Arch, which measures approximately 65 feet tall.
Delicate Arch. Credit: Wikipedia
For some exhilarating outdoor fun, contact Seldom Seen Adventures, located in Kanab. Students can learn to rappel down various slot canyons, including the Bull Horn Canyon, which measures at a staggering 120-foot rappel height.
Getting up close to nature. Credit: Seldom Seen Adventures
Southern Utah also has the Grand Staircase – Escalante National Monument for your students’ viewing pleasure. Located in Kanab, the monument is a favorite among tourists because of its uniquely shaped landscape, but also for paleontologists looking for dinosaur fossils.
If you visit Lake Powell, stop by the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. The park offers many Junior Ranger programs for students and teachers to check out the wildlife.
Also, be sure to take a boat tour on the beautiful Lake Powell. While you’re visiting, get a behind-the-scenes look at the Glen Canyon Dam. Learn about Lake Powell with the guided tour of the dam.
If your students are ready to get off the beaten path, contact Dreamland Safari Tours, also located in Kanab. The guided tour offers four-by-four traveling for a rugged yet leisurely way to explore many secluded slot canyons, some with historic rock art paintings and pictographs.
Before leaving Kanab visit the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, an off-roading paradise. Students can hike the dunes, but the best way to experience the park is by riding an ATV or sand board around its ever-changing scenery.
Riding an ATV over the Coral Pink Sand Dunes. Credit: Visit Southern Utah
Historic and Cultural Discoveries
Visit the Parowan Gap, near Brian Head, to discover many rock formations and Native American petroglyphs with your students.
Then, stop by the Frontier Homestead State Park to learn some interesting facts about pioneer and Native American life in the Southwest. The park contains a museum and several early pioneer and Native American exhibits and activities.
Participating in the youth rodeo competition. Credit: Utah Youth Rodeo Association.
If you get a chance, check out the Utah Shakespeare Festival, located in Cedar City. The festival offers a fantastic educational opportunity for students to learn about performing arts and literature in a creative way. The city hosts a number of plays and performances, as well as a local competition that allows local students to showcase their literary strengths.
A scene from King Lear. Credit: Utah Shakespeare Festival
Of course, a trip to the Southwest wouldn’t be complete without a rodeo – but, not just any rodeo. Check the events calendar for the Utah Youth Rodeo Association for some pint-size rodeo fun! Join the young and courageous participants as they demonstrate bull riding, goat tying, barrel racing and calf roping in this non-stop action event. As a rule, the rodeo participants are no older than 14 years old or in ninth grade.
Take your students’ Utah adventure to the max. Step off the beaten path to explore and natural wonders, and secluded tours that await your students. An exciting Southwest adventure like this is sure to leave lasting memories. If you’ve visited Utah, be sure to leave a comment about your trip, and tell us what you think is best for students.
