Fish
& Wildlife Service
California/Nevada Operations Office
Disclaimer
Environmental Education Programs
Environmental
Education
Have you discovered the joys of teaching in the outdoors? Would you like expert assistance in teaching your students about ecology, wetlands, and the environment? Bring your class to one of the nation's largest urban wildlife refuges for your next field trip. It's fun, it's interesting, and your students will remember what they learn at the refuge for years to come.
What types of programs are available?
- Field
trips
Our dynamic Environmental Education program offers free all-day educator-led field trips. Teachers, outdoor education leaders, adult leaders, and students are actively involved in exploring the diverse habitats of the refuge. Students participate in a variety of hands-on group activities that are designed to teach ecological concepts that focus on the San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge's resource management issues such as habitat preservation, endangered species, and migratory birds. Integrating science, art, history, social studies, math, language arts, and physical education, the activities are adaptable to students of all grade levels. And what's more, they're fun! All programs have been correlated to the appropriate State of California Education Standards.
There are two field trip programs at the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge:
1. "Wetland Round-up" Field Trip "Wetland Round-up" is designed for grades K-6 and is offered at both the Environmental Education Center in Alviso and the Newark Slough Learning Center in Fremont. Through a variety of activities, students explore and compare the diverse habitats found at the Refuge. Wetland Round-up activities are designed to help participants recognize the importance of preserving these resources and the ways that students can be and are involved in protection. Each field trip consists of a staff-led opening and closing, activities led by adult leaders and a lunch break. Chaperones walk with the groups of students from activity to activity. The coordinating educator acts as a "floater" to help when needed.
|
 |
2. Slow the Flow Field Trip Program (sponsored by the City of San Jose.) |
|
|
 |
habitat preservation. A key focus for Slow the Flow is to demonstrate the relationship between our personal habits and their effects on local habitats. All activities are correlated to fit California content standards. Slow the Flow Integrated is now available for 5-12 grade classes. Slow the Flow Integrated offers a classroom presentation preceeding the field trip. The goal of this program is to develop a more meaningful experience for students that motivates true life change. These life-style changes will ignite a reduction of south bay water use and help preserve endangered species habitat. Become a Slow the Flow Volunteer! Click here to see a 3-minute video (3.64 MB) about Slow the Flow volunteer opportunites, or call *A modified field trip is available for college groups and educators are encouraged to contact us to discuss options for customizing field trip activities and schedules. |
|
As with the field trips, these free presentations are available to educators located in San Jose, Alviso, Milpitas, Santa Clara, Saratoga, Monte Sereno, Los Gatos, Campbell and Cupertino. Off-site presentations are appropriate for libraries, youth groups, after-school programs, and such.
The Slow the Flow Program offers three, hands-on classroom presentations geared for grades 5-12. All activities are correlated to fit California content standards. Presentation options are described below:
1. Reduce, Re-use, Refuge Classroom Presentation
This presentation includes a slide show overview of the habitats found at the Refuge located in Alviso. The slide show focuses on how our human actions have or can impact local habitats. The presentation then explores one habitat in particular, the habitat in which the San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant releases its freshwater effluent. Students use hydrometers and habitat samples to determine what effect the fresh wastewater is having on the salty Slough. Presentation requires a slide projector, local creek water sample (500 ml), and ability to have students work in groups.2. The Mysteries of Wastewater Treatment Classroom Presentation
This presentation offers students first hand experience creating their very own waste water sample. Students then work in groups and use things like filters, sieves, paper towels, spoons, and pipettes to attempt to clean their dirtied water samples. The activity is followed by an overhead slide presentation of the real cleaning process at the San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant. Presentation requires an overhead projector and classroom setting able to allow students to work in small groups.3. Water Drop Dilemmas Classroom Presentation
During this presentation students will learn how precious water is as a resource and truly how little water we have on which to depend. Students will have the opportunity to use two different types of watershed models to learn more specifically about where water flows and how our actions can have an effect. This presentation teaches the importance of water conservation and pollution prevention. Presentation requires a classroom setting allowing students to work around one large central table. Recommended for classes of 20 or fewer.
As an extension of the Common Murre Restoration Project, this program explores the food webs of the central California coastal marine environment. Students learn about the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, Farallon National Wildlife Refuge, and Devil's Slide Rock, and adaptations of the common murre and what they can do to help protect marine life.
While plenty of schools are scheduled throughout the year for presentations we are also providing, through our website, some of the activities from the Webs Under Waves program to teachers for use as a supplement to their ocean education programs. These on-line activities include: A Student Science Journal; Seabird Adaptation Card Game; Ocean Pledge Card and Banner; and Newsletters - the Murre Maniac and Farallon Fanatic.
You! One primary purpose of San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge is to provide high-quality environmental education to an interested audience. Our list of participants includes schools, youth associations, nature centers, environmental education organizations, civic groups, libraries and more!
Slow the Flow programs are available for educators located in San Jose, Alviso, Milpitas, Santa Clara, Saratoga, Monte Sereno, Los Gatos, Campbell and Cupertino.
All other programs are open to all educators. Check the age guidelines and program descriptions to determine which are appropriate for your group.
Where are environmental education programs conducted?
Two education facilities are heavily used by educators and students to learn about the ecology of San Francisco Bay: the Environmental Education Center (EEC) in Alviso, and the Newark Slough Learning Center in Fremont. Together, they serve 10,000 students each year.
- Environmental Education Center 408-262-5513
- Newark Slough Learning Center 510-792-0222
The Newark Slough Learning Center, located just south of the Dumbarton Bridge Toll Plaza in Fremont near the Visitor Center, is perched on a hillside above miles of salt marsh, tidal sloughs, mudflats and salt ponds. The Pumphouse, our environmental education ‘outpost,' along with an amphitheater and Environmental Education Pavilion, serve as the hub of an extensive system of bridges, boardwalks and trails that make it easy to see and explore the San Francisco Bay habitats. The Visitor Center has wildlife exhibits, an observation deck, a bookstore and an auditorium. Click here for hours.
How do I sign up for a program?
- "Wetland Round-up"
Field Trips and Orientations
Reservations for Autumn field trips (Sep. - Dec.) begin on the second week of September. We continue to accept reservations for these field trips as long as spots are available.Reservations for Winter and Spring field trips (Jan.- June) begin the first week in December. We continue to accept reservations for these field trips as long as spots are available.
"Wetland Round-up" field trips are offered at both sites. To reserve a field trip at the Environmental Education Center in Alviso, call
408-262-5513. For field trips at the Newark Slough Learning Center in Fremont, call 510-792-0222.Slow the Flow Program (sponsored by the City of San Jose):
Reservations for all of these Slow the Flow programs are taken on an ongoing basis. Please call 408-262-5513.
Once I have signed up, how do I prepare for a program?
- Field Trip Orientation Workshops
These workshops give information to help you design your field trip as well as answer questions and provide hands-on experience at learning stations. Educators who are bringing groups to the Refuge for a field trip (at least one per group) are required to attend a Field Trip Orientation Workshop. (Educators must attend a field trip orientation every 2 years.)We provide easy to follow "scripts" for each station, but both "leaders" and "chaperones" are strongly encouraged to attend a Field Trip Orientation Workshop. Educators who have conducted field trips at the Refuge have reported that due to the active role that adult volunteers play during the field trip, it is very helpful if they have attended our workshops before the trip.
Click here for orientation dates at the Visitor Center in Fremont or the Environmental Education Center in Alviso.
- Educator Guides
Each workshop participant receives materials with helpful field trip information. Educators who attend the "Wetland Round-up" Orientation Workshop receive the Salt Marsh Manual. The Slow the Flow Program also provides a free educator guide to those who come to a teacher orientation workshop for "Sinks, Sewers and Sloughs." Each guide includes activities matched to CA Education Standards for use before, during and after the field trip; natural history of San Francisco Bay; a bird and plant list as well as in-depth background information particular to the themes of each field trip program. Adult leaders who attend the "Wetland Round-up" Field Trip Orientation Workshop receive a leader packet and Refuge information.
- Group Size and Adult:Student
Ratio
On a weekday, each education facility can accommodate group sizes of up to 65 students for "Wetland Round-up" field trips and up to 36 students for the "Trekking the Refuge" field trips. Adult volunteers play active roles as chaperones and leaders of the small group learning stations. A ratio of at least 1:5-6 (adult to students) is required for an enjoyable and educational field trip.
"Sinks, Sewers and Sloughs" can accommodate up to 36 students and a 1:6-8 (adult to students) ratio is required.
- Lunch
No trash cans are available at lunch areas. Bring sufficient numbers of boxes or bags to collect lunch garbage. We strongly encourage "no-trash" lunches, and we require the recycling of glass, aluminum and plastics (where applicable).
Costs and available resources.
- Program costs
All field trip, classroom and outreach presentation programs are FREE. A variety of equipment, including binoculars, microscopes, dip nets and hand lenses is available at no charge for group use. Please note that groups are responsible for replacing any equipment that is lost or damaged.
- Transportation
Unfortunately, the Refuge generally cannot provide money for bussing.
**A small stipend ($3 per child) for transportation is available for Slow the Flow field trips through the San Jose Rotary Club Youth Education in Science (Y.E.S.) program. Teachers should first sign up for a Slow the Flow field trip and then visit http://www.sjrotary.org/yes/ to fill out the online application for the stipend. Please note that the Y.E.S. program has a limited amount of money and that stipends are given out as long as funds are available in a first come, first serve basis.
**Educators participating in Slow the Flow field trips are also encouraged to check the Youth Watershed Education Grants website for information on this City of San Jose grant program. This program does consider grant applications that include transportation costs for Slow the Flow field trips as long as the educator applicant can show how the trip activities fit into his/her curriculum. If you are interested in pursuing this option, please read the information at the website below and contact the YWEG program coordinator, Tamara Gilbert. Please also contact us to inform us of your plans. - Educator resources
In addition to the educator guides (described above), environmental education specialists are available to provide planning assistance. Both the Environmental Education Center (EEC) in Alviso and the Newark Slough Learning Center in Fremont have audio-visual lending libraries containing a selection of educational tapes for students and training videos for field trip learning station leaders. The EEC also has a small, cataloged environmental education resource library that educators are welcome to use on-site and photocopy.
For more information, contact:
Newark Slough Learning Center in Fremont:
Phone: 510-792-0222
Environmental Education Center in Alviso:
Phone: 408-262-5513
