Topics Related to Notes from the Field
If you've ever seen lines of school buses unloading in downtown Raleigh or watched hundreds of excited students winding their way through the city's most prominent sites, chances are you've seen the work of the Capital Area Visitor Services (CAVS) in action!
I was incredibly thankful for the opportunity to learn outside the classroom by attending a private panel discussion and screening of the new documentary, The American Revolution, with its creator Ken Burns.
After months of research, creativity, and passion for the past, 67 middle and high school students from across North Carolina are packing their bags for College Park, Maryland. From June 8–12, they’ll represent our state at the 2025 National History Day® Contest, joining nearly 3,000 students from around the world on the University of Maryland campus for a week of historical storytelling, scholarship, and celebration.
Attending the Biscuits & Banjos Festival was a transformative experience and a powerful reminder of the innate human connection provided by food and music. As a science teacher in Durham Public Schools, where my students come from a wide range of cultural backgrounds, I’m always seeking ways to make science relevant, relatable, and inclusive. This festival not only gave me ideas of ways to incorporate culture into my classroom, but provided me with a renewed sense of connection with my fellow educators and with the deeper purpose of what we do in the classroom.
Let’s be honest—chaperoning a field trip with three energetic 9-year-old boys isn’t exactly anyone’s idea of a relaxing day. But there I was, bright-eyed (okay, maybe bleary-eyed) and ready for roll call at 5:45 a.m., boarding a charter bus bound for the Outer Banks. While I may have questioned my sanity at the time, what unfolded that day became one of the most memorable experiences of my career as an educator—and one of the most heartwarming moments of motherhood as I got to witness pure joy in my own children’s eyes.
As educators, we know the value of bringing history to life for our students. While field trips often focus on more traditional destinations, the State Library of North Carolina and State Archives of North Carolina, nestled within the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR), are vital institutions that preserve our state’s rich history and provide resources for all North Carolinians. Third graders at Exploris Elementary recently took advantage of these history-rich spaces to learn about Civil Rights in North Carolina.
“The real world is more complex, beautiful, and spontaneous than we can possibly convey in a classroom. When we take our students outside, we immerse them in this environment and build deeper meaning to their learning.” -Fred Pfeiffer, teacher and Earth Week at the Eno organizerWhat does it take to get every student from Lakewood Montessori Middle School in Durham to Eno River State Park in one week?
“When any of us faces an important challenge, we search for strength. Strength to rise to the occasion. Strength to reach across differences in search of common ground. Strength to stand up for what we know is right. Strength to meet the moment. Sometimes, you don’t know how strong you are until you are put to the test.” Governor Josh Stein, State of the State AddressIt’s been six months since Hurricane Helene disrupted life in Western North Carolina, leaving communities to rebuild everything from homes and roads to schools and classroom routines.
History You Can TouchFor too long, the history, culture, and natural wonders of this state have been waiting quietly, hidden in plain sight. The truth is that North Carolina holds some of the greatest treasures in the country. I’ve recently learned about some of the ways the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) is creating spaces that share these treasures, tell the stories of this state, honor its past, and provide experiences that change the way students see the place they call home.