Complex Home Page
Oaks to Wetlands Adventure - Educator's Website
for Ridgefield NWR
Special Events, Programs & Refuge News
Contact Us
Students visit the Carty Unit at Ridgefield NWR.
Children meet the 'Blue Goose' - the official mascot
of the National Wildlife Refuge System.
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- Environmental Education
Both Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge and Conboy Lake National
Wildlife Refuge offer a space for educators to conduct outdoor classroom
activities in areas open to the public. Because Pierce, Franz Lake
and Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuges in the Columbia River
Gorge are closed to the public, educators will be required to request
a Special Use Permit before accessing or conducing activities on these
refuges.
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- What do I need
to do to schedule a field trip to the refuge?
- All groups planning to visit the refuge for a field trip are required
to contact the refuge office and make a reservation. Reservations
are required to avoid conflicts with other groups and to get information
about current refuge conditions. It is also recommended that educators
or activity coordinators conduct a site visit prior to the scheduled
field trip date to become familiar with
refuge facilities, layout, and regulations.
What type of information will I need to provide when I
make my reservation?
1) Field trip contact person(s) name, phone number or e-mail address(es).
2) Date(s) & time(s) - planned or scheduled - of field trip
and how long the visit will last.
3) Name and address of school, organization, troop, etc. and grade
level or ages of the students.
4) Total number of people in the group (includes teachers and chaperones).
5) Refuge area or facilities to be used during the field trip.
6) A description of the activity(ies) planned for during the visit.
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How much does it costs
to visit the wildlife refuge?
- There is no fee to take a field trip to the refuge.
- Will there be a tour guide available
to lead my group during our field trip?
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- Because the Complex Refuges do not have full time educators on staff,
guided tours are usually limited to when staff or refuge volunteers
are available. Groups wishing to have a tour guide during their field
trip must inform the refuge staff at the time the reservation is made.
Being specific about tour information or topic(s) to be addressed
during the trip will help determine who is selected as a knowledgeable
guide. If a tour guide is not available, educators should be prepared
to lead their own groups while on the refuge.
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- What resources do you provide for
educators who do not get a refuge tour guide?
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- A Refuge Educator's Guide is available to assist teachers and group
leaders to prepare students for a visit to the refuge. It includes
both indoor and outdoor educational lessons and projects. Other resources
include the Dusky Duffel backpacks which contain binoculars, field
guide identification books and equipment, and lesson exercises that
may be conducted in the field. Other publications are ususally available
at no cost and include posters, coloring books, informational brochures
and flyers.
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- Periodially, teacher workshops are conducted on the refuge through
the Environmental Information Cooperative in Vancouver. The Birds
Go To School workshop instructs educators on how to guide students
at Ridgefield NWR and incorporating environmental education information
in the classroom and outdoors. You may reach their office at (360)
885-7737.
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What about
information regarding the cultural resources of the refuge?
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Educators guides about the refuge's cultural resources
are available and some are currently being developed specifically
for the Cathlapotle Plankhoue Project. For more information, you
may visit the Cultural Resources websites for Ridgefield
NWR or visit www.plankhouse.org.
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Periodically throughout the year, special events
will include educational demonstrations and tours that may be appropriate
for educators to attend with their students. Please check the Special
Events, Programs & Refuge News website for more information.
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