Environmental Education

Thank You for your interest in a field trip to Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge! Each year approximately 5,000 students, teachers, and group leaders visit Nisqually NWR. The Refuge offers an invaluable opportunity for students to experience and learn about the natural world.

The Refuge is a popular place and reservations for school groups are required. So, call the Education Coordinator or send in your field trip application form (found below) as soon as possible!

Teacher Resources
We recommend that teachers visit the Refuge and walk the trails prior to their field trip in order to have clearly defined goals and objectives. The Refuge also offers many resources to assist in planning and to ensure that you make the most of your field trip. You may access the Refuge resource library, containing: videos, educator's guides, reference books, and children's books available for checkout.

Offices are open Mon-Fri 7:30am - 4:00pm, or call the Education Coordinator at (360) 753-9467 to make an appointment.

Lesson Planning Assistance
The Refuge Environmental Education Coordinator is available to meet with teachers and group leaders to help plan field trips. This staff member can recommend activities and places to go on the Refuge that will help you achieve your learning objectives.

Teacher Workshops
Several times a year, the Refuge offers Field Trip Orientation Workshops, where teachers can learn about the facilities and resources available, how to structure a field trip to the Refuge, and how to prepare students with pre-trip classroom activities. Admission is free, and participants receive a free copy of the educators’ guide, "Where the River Meets the Sound." Clock hours are also available for this workshop.

All teachers wanting to schedule a field trip from May 15 through June 30 are required to have attended a Field Trip Orientation Workshop within the last two years.

For more information on the workshop, download the
Field Trip Orientation flyer and the Workshop Agenda.
To register for one of the training workshops, download the Registration Form, and send your completed form to the Refuge.

The Educator's Guide to Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge "Where the River Meets the Sound"
"Where the River Meets the Sound," is the most up-to-date version of the educator's guide that offers complete field trip planning, preparation, and activities for the classroom and field trip. It offers great background information and numerous activities--each matched with Washington State Essential Academic Learning Requirements (EALRs). Get more out of your field trip to the Refuge and check out a copy from the library or purchase a copy in the Visitor Center bookstore!

You can also download a copy of the educator's guide as a pdf file (2.09 MB):

"Where the River Meets the Sound"

Program Offerings
Teachers are responsible for planning and leading their field trip activities. The volunteers or staff guides will assist you with the following program elements:

Orientation Talks by Refuge Volunteers
Refuge volunteers are available upon request to give a brief (15-20 minutes) orientation program to groups with reservations. In order for the refuge staff and volunteers to adapt their orientation program to address your teaching goals, it is important that you fill in the sections on the reservation application titled "Field Trip Goals", "Pre-trip Activities" and "At-the-Refuge Activities."

Environmental Education Center
The Environmental Education Center is located next to the orchard, a short walk from the Visitor Center. It is open by appointment only. Teachers may reserve the Education Center to view the exhibits or to conduct hands-on activities. The Education Center has six theme rooms, a main room, restrooms, a covered picnic area, and access to the Refuge trails.

Education Center Exhibits
The exhibits include bird mounts, bones, insect collections, an aquarium, and historical information about the Refuge. The Education Center can hold up to 40 students and viewing the exhibits takes 15-30 minutes.

Education Center Activities
The Education Center also offers hands-on activities designed for Grades 3-7 in six theme rooms:

Birds & Migration
Cycles of Nature
Earth Stewardship
Endangered Species
Habitat & Wildlife
Cultural History of the Nisqually Watershed

The activities in the Education Center are designed for small groups (5-7 students), each led by a parent or group leader. To complete all the activities, plan on spending at least one hour in the Education Center. Please assign groups and leaders to each other before you arrive.

Making Field Trip Reservations
Advanced reservations are required for all school groups visiting Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge. Nisqually NWR is a popular place with limited facilities. With reservations we can:

• Schedule classes so they do not use the Refuge at the same time. This will reduce overcrowding of the Refuge facilities, minimize wildlife disturbance, and ensure a better opportunity for wildlife observation.

• Coordinate with volunteers.

• Provide better interpretive and educational programs.

• Determine the number of people participating in Refuge activities. This information can help us obtain funding for future improvements to our programs.

To make a reservation, contact the Environmental Education Coordinator, at (360) 753-9467 or maricelle_cardenas@fws.gov or download a copy here Application for Field Trip Reservation .

NOTE: This reservation form is for schools and scouts groups only.

Reservations are processed on a first come, first served basis from the day the application forms are received at the Refuge office. If you have requested a service provided by Refuge staff and volunteers, allow at least two weeks for your application to be processed. Once the application has been processed, you will receive written notification confirming dates and times for your group's visit. Please bring this confirmation form with you when you visit the Refuge.

• Visiting the Refuge for educational purposes and
• Integrating their field trip into a larger course of study that focuses at least partially on the natural environment.

Groups that qualify for the fee waiver will have "exempt" stamped on their field trip confirmation notice.

For more information, contact
the Education Coordinator at:
Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge
100 Brown Farm Road
Olympia, WA 98516
Phone: (360) 753-9467
Fax: (360)534-9302