4th Graders Complete Unit on National Parks with Visit from Chuck Sams
Do you want to know something about America’s National Parks? Just ask a fourth-grade student at Washington Elementary. They recently completed a unit about the national parks, where they researched a specific park, created a presentation, and made a diorama of their park. The unit culminated with a visit from former National Park Director Chuck Sams.
Sams is Cayuse and Walla Walla and an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR). He was the first Native American to lead the National Park Service, serving in the role from 2021 to 2025. On Friday, April 10th, he shared some of his experiences in that role with fourth graders at Washington Elementary.
Sams attended second through fourth grade at the previous Washington Elementary School. He said growing up, hearing his people’s creation stories of how humans were created helped forge his connection with the natural world.
During his tenure leading the National Park Service, Sams visited 132 national parks and many more National Park historic sites. He worked with more than 20,000 employees of the agency, which he really enjoyed.
“Each of our national parks is unique and special and has its own story to tell. You represent all that’s good about America; each of you owns our national parks, but are equally responsible for protecting them,” Sams said.
Washington fourth graders recently took a field trip to Fort Walla Walla and the Whitman Mission National Historic Site, and will visit Spring Creek, the Heritage Museum in Baker City, and the Sumpter Dredge before the end of the school year. Students’ park dioramas will be on display at the District Art Show, May 5-7, 2026, at the Pendleton Convention Center.
