Protecting Our Public Lands Through Education

Hi there! I’m Natalie Teboul, also known as Traveling Miss T. If you’ve followed my journey, you know my mission is simple… To make learning an adventure! But lately, it feels like my mission has taken on a new urgency.

The current government shutdown has forced the closure, or limited operation, of many of our nation’s public lands and national parks. These spaces are essential sites for connection, discovery, and learning.

Public lands remind us that the Earth doesn’t belong to one group, one generation, or one government. It belongs to all of us. AKA “PUBLIC” lands… But too often, access to these spaces has been shaped by inequitable policies that determine who gets to explore, learn, and belong outdoors. It always comes back to equity. The way we don’t share the world, and the way we don’t share our public lands.

Adventure is a privilege, and those of us who have traveled the world often forget how lucky we are. Which is why I made travel more accessible. Anyone can become a Pilot of the Coordinate Plane.

My Math Maps aren’t just about learning coordinates or reading maps. They’re about giving students, from every background, the experience to travel the world! One they may otherwise never have. It's that initial spark and exposure that needs to happen in the classroom. 

When young people understand geography, they understand the connection between what I like to call “The P’s.” People. Places. Perspectives. Our Planet. Geography education is often overlooked in schools, yet it’s one of the most powerful subjects we can teach. It’s how we make sense of our world. 

Education is the most powerful tool we have when it comes to keeping our planet open to everyone. As Traveling Miss T. always says, “We can’t protect our planet if we don’t know our place on the planet.”

Even while many public lands remain closed during the shutdown, teachers can bring the spirit of exploration into their classrooms with me. Head to my Free Field Trips Collection, featuring adventures to Cabrillo National Monument, Denali National Park and Preserve, and San Diego County Parks, sponsored by my nonprofit partners, to bring the power of public lands to your classroom.

Don’t forget to tag me in your travels! @travelingmisst 

About Traveling Miss T.

Traveling Miss T. creates coordinate plane worksheets that make learning creative, meaningful, and interdisciplinary. Math Maps © help educators bring curiosity, adventure, and exploration into every classroom.