Environmental Education programming at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge is available year-round for groups of all grade levels and abilities. National wildlife refuges provide wonderful outdoor classrooms to spark student interest and reinforce classroom lessons.
The education program at the wildlife refuge has four main components: guided field trip visits to the wildlife refuge, teacher-led (self-guided) field trip visits, classroom trunks (lessons in a box) and in-school visits by refuge staff and volunteers.
We are excited to announce the opening of a new resource for on-site education visits to Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge - the Outdoor Classroom! The Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Society, the Friends organization which supports the wildlife refuge, fundraised and constructed this new structure specifically for education programming. Groups, whether guided or self-guided, may reserve this space for education programming, offering a base for exploration with beautiful views of the Back Bay.
Join us for a celebration the Grand Opening of this new structure on Saturday, March 14 at 10:00am! The event will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony, student showcases, crafts and guided walks.
Guided Field Trip Programs
Programs fulfilling state standards of learning are available for schools visiting on field trips. Refuge staff work with teachers to create a field trip program that will align with classroom topics and objectives. Popular field trip programs include Sea Turtle Explorers, Exploring the Bay Habitat, nature hikes and many more. Field trip programs for September – March are scheduled beginning in June; field trip programs for the spring season are scheduled beginning January 1. Guided field trips may be scheduled Wednesdays - Fridays. Summer camps are also welcome to schedule environmental education programs at the Refuge. We look forward to providing a fun and educational experience for you and your students!
Teacher-Led Field Trip Programs
Teacher-led field trip programs are available throughout the year and are scheduled primarily on Mondays and Tuesdays. If desired, staff will work with teachers on creating a field trip program for their class. The wildlife refuge can provide materials for several lesson plans, as well as give an introduction to students upon arrival. Teachers are also welcome to bring their own lesson plans and materials, using the wildlife refuge as their outdoor classroom.
Classroom Trunks
The wildlife refuge maintains five classroom trunks that schools can check out for free. Trunks may remain at schools for up to three weeks, as scheduling availability allows. Current trunk offerings are Animal Tracks, Animal Olympics, Field Weather Measurements, Water Quality Testing and Bird Beaks.
In-School Visits
Refuge staff and Environmental Education Volunteers may also be available to visit your school. Staff availability for in-school visits is limited, with the highest availability in the winter. Similar to field trip visits, staff will work with teachers to develop a program or decide on the best lesson plan for the visit.
Fourth grade teachers may also take advantage of the Every Kid Outdoors program when bringing their students on a field trip to the wildlife refuge. Students who participate in this program receive a free federal lands recreation pass which covers the entrance fees for their families to any federal land in the country. Teachers complete an activity with students in the classroom after which they will receive a set of vouchers. The vouchers are turned in to refuge staff on the day of the field trip in exchange for the passes.
Please contact Erica Ryder at 757-301-7329 ext.4 or Erica_Ryder@fws.gov for further information about education programs and/or to inquire about scheduling.