11/13/25 Update:

The government shutdown is over! This morning we heard from some of the rangers that they’ve been called back to their parks.

I’m so proud of what we came together to do these past few weeks to support furloughed rangers and students. This is exactly who we are and what we do every day, working to bring more extraordinary educators into classrooms. We believe teachers don’t need to change; teaching does. That’s why we create flexible, rewarding, and fun teaching opportunities. Teachers are the beating heart of the classroom, and supporting them is how we ensure students have the best learning experiences possible. We’ve always said that when students are laughing, they’re learning. Learning is rooted in human connection, social interaction, and the human experts who bring material to life.

Over the past six weeks, we mobilized to send park rangers into classrooms. More than 40 classroom visits and assemblies took place. We helped rangers earn ~$1,500–$2,000+ each during this time, meaningful wages for valuable outdoor education work while their parks were closed and their incomes on hold.

In a true testament to what Grasshopper means to both teachers and students, many rangers found deep purpose in this work and will be continuing to teach with us on their off days. Schools, too, have shown how much they value Grasshopper experiences. They rallied to schedule sessions as quickly, and moved around their own red tape.

On a personal note, as a volunteer at Muir Woods National Monument, it means so much to me to see this program support so many. Today, I couldn’t be happier to see the rangers back in their parks. These lands are irreplaceable, and I’m grateful that we were able to bring their stewards into classrooms at a time when the public couldn’t access them. My boys (also volunteers as you know) will never forget this shutdown. The 3 of us have a volunteer shift this afternoon, and can’t wait to get back to the woods.

Thank you all for making this possible. I’m incredibly proud to be building Grasshopper with you. — Cris