Education
Fourth Grade Environmental Education Program
Over a three-day period in late spring, Willapa
National Wildlife Refuge hosts students from regional schools who
excitedly visit educational science stations to learn more about
the environment and how to be good future stewards. Friends
of Willapa National Wildlife Refuge and Willapa National Wildlife
Refuge annually co-sponsor this educational event as part of their
4th grade environmental education program. Volunteers from the Friends
group, Refuge staff, Washington State Parks staff, Ilwaco High School
students, and parts further afield have led the field stations at
Refuge’s Tarlett Slough Unit. There is something for everyone, such
as examining critters who live in the ponds, identifying skulls,
exploring life in the bay, looking at bird specimens, and learning
about soils and rocks. The students experienced first-hand skill
in wildlife viewing, wetlands animal identification, aquatic shellfish
and invertebrate identification, the amphibian lifecycle, an introduction
to soil science/geology, and an appreciation for animal behavior
based on interpretation of bone structure.
The field trip is a culmination of a year long program where 4th
graders learn about the refuge system, bird basics, habitat, and
the local amphibian population as Refuge staff visit classrooms
in multiple schools over the course of the year. All activities
are aligned to Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASLs).
Each classroom activity takes about one class period, approximately
45-55 minutes. If you are a school in the southwestern Washington,
northwestern Oregon area and would like to get your classroom involved,
please contact us at willapa@fws.gov or 360/484-3482.
Other Classroom Programs and Field Trips
If
you are an educator and would like to bring your class to Willapa
NWR or have Refuge staff come to your classroom, please contact
us at willapa@fws.gov or 360/484-3482.
