A Season of Learning: Minidoka’s Education Programs Reach More Than 1,500 Students and Teachers in 2026

The Visitor Center at Minidoka National Historic Site officially closed Sunday, September 27, bringing the 2026 summer Visitor Center season to a close. But while the seasonal doors have closed, the work of connecting people with Minidoka’s history continues.

This year, Minidoka’s education programs reached 1,527 students and teachers from across the country through school tours, classroom visits, teacher trainings, and virtual learning programs.

The park’s education team led 25 school tours, visited two schools, held three teacher trainings, and presented six virtual learning programs during the 2026 season.

For Park Guide Midori Tanada, some of the most meaningful moments came through the questions students asked. “I really enjoy the questions younger students ask,” Midori said.

During one school tour, a fourth-grade student asked, “What was the camp used for before Japanese Americans were put here?”

It was a simple question, but one that offered an opportunity to reflect on history and landscape — how this enormous camp was built entirely for one singular purpose. Then it was taken down and dismantled like nothing was here.

Questions like this one, Midori said, encourage her to think about Minidoka’s history from new perspectives. Students also frequently ask about the Visitor Center and talk about returning with their families.

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Building connections with educators

The growth in Minidoka’s education programs this year is the result of many factors, including the work of local educators and community partners who continue to bring this history into classrooms and communities.

Lisa Olsen Shiosaki, Chief of Interpretation and Education at Minidoka National Historic Site, points to several developments that have helped expand the program.

• This year’s tours incorporated more interactive components, including opportunities for students to check their understanding and pause for reflection.

• Staff worked to accommodate educators’ schedules and needs, sometimes offering multiple school tours on the same day.

• Minidoka staff increased their networking with educators and community organizations through events such as “Be My Neighbor Day” in Rupert and “Living History Day” in Jerome, as well as visits to county historical museums and other community partners.

• An ever growing educator network built on decades of experience in education, including Lisa’s more than 20 years working in the field.

Together, these relationships help extend Minidoka’s educational reach beyond the historic site itself.

Keeping the learning going

Though the Visitor Center closes for the season, visitors may explore the site and the exteriors of historic structures at their own pace year-round. Educational exhibits are placed along the trail to provide information. In addition, Friends of Minidoka offers year round programming, teacher trainings, online resources, and more. Visit minidoka.org.

While the Visitor Center is closed until next year, if you would like to schedule a private or educational tour, please reach out to minn_information@nps.gov.