High Plateaus Institute

Mission Statement

The High Plateaus Institute fosters scientific inquiry, provides unique learning and experiential opportunities to local students and residents, engages regional visitors and the Academic community at large, while enhancing the area's economy.

Background

In the spring of 2004, the Bryce Canyon Natural History Association (BCNHA) and the National Park Service (NPS) in collaboration with, the local business community, school officials, universities, and city, county, state and federal government entities began facilitating the inaugural year of the High Plateaus Institute (HPI).   This new educational endeavor provides researchers, students and teachers, local residents and visitors with expanded opportunities for exploration and science based investigation.

The HPI is located in the historic Bryce Canyon Headquarters building and established its mission directives through a volunteer advisory group that assisted with the development of programmatic ideas. This group directly reports to the BCNHA Board of Directors for review and implementation.   Principal funding for the HPI is through BCNHA and its partners.

Goals and Objectives

What specifically are the goals and objectives of the High Plateaus Institute?

The HPI fosters scientific inquiry ....... The need for science-based resource management is a critical element to the stewardship of America's Public Lands. Federal and State resource managers, through extensive collaboration with academia and others must gain a sophisticated knowledge of their resources and conditions to direct present and future management strategies. This knowledge base must then be communicated to the public.   For it is the broader public that will strongly influence the fate of these resources.  

The HPI provides unique learning and experiential opportunities to local students and residents .......   Paramount to the operations of the HPI is the direct involvement of the local population in learning and research opportunities that will develop a greater connection and stewardship to the resources that surround them.   Key to this effort is the linking of classroom learning with experiences in the field.   When what is learned in school is connected to nature's classroom, students better retain content, gain stronger skills, build confidence and adopt new values and behaviors.

The HPI engages visitors and the academic community at large ......... By providing an opportunity for a diverse audience to learn and experience quality educational programming, the HPI will endeavor to set the standard of quality for experiential learning.   Researchers will be welcomed and provided with assistance to expand important work.

The HPI enhances the area's economy ........It is the desire of the HPI to encourage participants to extend travel plans in the area through programs that will be offered.   Economic growth can also be stimulated through the continued development of Heritage and Learning Based Tourism and other educational opportunities.  

The HPI will serve as catalyst in developing positive relationships with all partners through understanding, patience and mutual respect for area lands and resources.   HPI partnerships will bring local, state and federal agencies together to promote good, credible science and link all those who participate with shared research and science.