Middle School Earth Science Field Trips

Field Trips for Middle School Earth Science

These websites support the NGSS standards at this grade level and are labeled by the type of website that it is (Student or Teacher Background, Student Online Activities, Teacher Activities, Student or Teacher Videos).

Back to our Grade Level Programs & Websites Page

Provider Name	Resource Link	Provider Location	Abstract
Alcatraz Island	Field Trips to Alcatraz	San Francisco	Alcatraz Cruises is the official National Park Concessionaire for Alcatraz. School groups include grades Kindergarten through Grade 12. If you would like to bring a school group of 15 students or more to Alcatraz Island, you must request permission in advance. The link for the request form is https://www.alcatrazcruises.com/groups/grouptrip.aspx
American River Water Education Center	Education Center Tour	Folsom	The history and headwaters of the American River Watershed are explored through interactive exhibits which focus on this integral part of California’s waterworks. Find out where the American River actually starts. Discover just how much water is needed to make a pair of jeans or grow a tomato. Water management and conservation are critical issues today and are stressed with fun ‘hands on’ demonstration areas and displays. A section on Folsom Dam explains why it was built, it’s dynamic history over the past 50+ years and the dam’s many uses.
Angel Island State Park	Nature Tours	San Francisco Bay	Nature Tours Wonderful in wild flower season, March to May, available year round. Group maximum 30.
Angel Island State Park	Cove Tours	San Francisco Bay	Students lean about the early explorer who came to the island, how to make a map, explore what it is like to live on an island and why the animals that live here are unique.
Archaeological Research Facility	Lab Tours/ Guides for Field Trips	Berkeley	Archaeology is an interdisciplinary subject that uses history, math, science, art, literature, and cultural studies to investigate the past. Graduate student researchers can provide guided tours of their archaeological laboratory facilities for class groups, or serve as job-shadow mentors for a day. If a teacher is interested in bringing their students on a guided tour of a local archaeological site, the ARF can help arrange that, as well.
Bay Model Visitor Center	Guided Ranger Tour	Sausalito	The Bay Model Visitor Center provides public information and educational programs focusing on the environmental, historical and cultural elements of the San Francisco Bay region. These educational programs focus on concepts such as geography, geology, tide cycle, water cycle, the food chain and map scale. Pre-scheduled programs can be arranged for groups of 10 or more, and are approximately 1-½ hours in length. This tour will provide valuable knowledge about the history of the hydraulic model of our estuary in San Francisco Bay and Delta and can be tailored to specific interests of your group.
Big Break Regional Shoreline	Kayaking Big Break	Oakley	There is no better way to explore and understand the wonders of the Delta than by kayak. Kayak seats are limited. FEE PROGRAM. Please call 510-544-3050 for program details and pricing
Big Break Regional Shoreline	Creatures of the Wetland	Oakley	Discover why many different animals live at Big Break. From mammals and birds to fish and insects, students will learn how various creatures can survive and thrive in a wetland habitat.
Big Break Regional Shoreline	Delta Variety	Oakley	We’ll set up a variety of stations with a variety of opportunities to explore the unending variety of the Delta. Plants, animals, crafts, games, and other activities all guaranteed to make Delta experts out of your large groups.
Big Break Regional Shoreline	Delta Wetlands Inquiry	Oakley	Explore the science of the Delta and its powerful impact on everyday lives. Your class will create and test a hypothesis about the Delta ecosystem. Field work may include sampling water chemistry, cataloging wetland plants, investigating invertebrates, or more.
Big Break Regional Shoreline	Discover the Delta Watershed	Oakley	Learn about water in one of California’s most significant watersheds – the Delta. Our 1,200 square-foot Delta map and targeted field/learning activities clarify watershed concepts, processes, and applications to students’ lives.
Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve	Coal Mining History Tour	Antioch	1.5 hours Hike through the townsite of Somersville to learn of the immigrants who carved a life from these hills. Then continue underground into the Coal Mine Experience, a replica 19th century coal mine, to discover how and why coal was critical to the young state of California.
Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve	Black Diamond Mining History Tour	Antioch	Experience a day in the life of a coal miner and a sand miner. Discover how mining changed from the 1850 to 1945 on this tour through the Hazel-Atlas Mine and the Coal Mine Experience.
Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve	Black Diamond Geology	Antioch	A hike along the trails at Black Diamond to learn how millions of years of geologic activity have influenced the cultural and natural history of this Preserve. This program no longer includes an underground visit to the Greathouse Visitor Center. The program is 2 hours long.
Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve	Hazel-Atlas Mine Tour	Antioch	Explore 400 feet of an underground silica sand mine on this guided tour and learn the mining history and techniques that were used here. Hard hats and flashlights are provided. From the mid-1920s to the mid-1940s, the Hazel-Atlas Mine produced silica sand to make jars, bottles, and other glass items. Today, tour participants can take a 950-foot walk into the mine to see mine workings, ore chutes, the shifter's office (mine boss), and ancient geological features. Because of its size and the need for safety, visitors will be taken in only on guided tours, with a limit of 15 persons per tour (minimum age seven years, parental participation is required). See this brochure for more program information: http://www.ebparks.org/files/Hazel_Atlas_Brochure.pdf
Bodega Marine Lab	Lab Tour	Bodega Bay	Group tours are scheduled on other weekdays up to four times a week. Group tours must be reserved and scheduled in advance. Tour size is limited to 45 adults or 30 children. A minimal fee is charged for group tours. For more information about arranging group tours please contact (707) 875-2211. One class/tour, other classes drive to nearby beach for lunch. If you want to prepare students prior to field trip the following topics are discussed: History of Bodega Marine Laboratory, local geology, definitions of a research laboratory, biological reserve, and marine refuge; whales, salmon migration from freshwater to seawater, intertidal animals (e.g. sea stars, crabs), sea urchin fisheries, and aquaculture.
CA Dept of Fish and Wildlife, Sacramento Region	Fishing in the City	Sacramento	Available to assist local communities to create ongoing and sustainable fishing opportunities within their community. Most programs include: school-based watershed and fishing education, school-fishing events, community-fishing events, rod-lending libraries, and habitat improvement projects. The ultimate goal is to create repeatable fishing experiences, improve the quality of life for residents of your community and create stewards of our waterways.
California Academy of Sciences	Planetarium: Our Solar System and Beyond	San Francisco	Your students become virtual space travelers in the Morrison Planetarium’s 75-foot digital dome, exploring the solar system and our place in the Milky Way. Find out what planets, stars, and galaxies are and glimpse the mind-boggling size of our incredible Universe! Classes will begin entering the Planetarium dome 15 minutes prior to show time. The show lasts approximately 40 minutes.
California Coastal Commission	Adopt-a-Beach Program	San Francisco	In order to "adopt" a local beach, volunteers agree to clean the beach at least three times a year, although school groups can fulfill their obligation with a single cleanup. Groups are encouraged to re-adopt at the end of the year.
Call of the Sea	Bay Explorations	Sausalito	From three hour day sails to multi-day overnight adventures, Call of the Sea's programs provide hands-on, impactful learning experiences for youth from grades 4-12. Students gain a connection with the outdoors in a completely unique way aboard the classic schooner SEAWARD or the Matthew Turner. Content focuses on ecology, maritime history, navigation and seamanship, teamwork, and much more, with all lessons taught by our crew of professional educators and mariners.
Chabot Space and Science Center	Mars Lander Challenge	Oakland	Perseverance, our most recent Mars rover, was deployed last year in February 2021: but how did it successfully arrive? Come build your own lander to keep our rovers safe on their travels! In this workshop, young engineers will be briefed on the challenges of landing science instruments on Mars. Then, they will take on the task of designing a Mars lander, testing it, and testing again, to see if it can successfully tackle the red planet.
Crab Cove Visitor Center and Aquarium	Nature Walks in the Regional Parks	Alameda	Use the parklands as your classroom! Programs are available at the following East Bay Regional Parks: Redwood, Roberts, Lake Chabot, Anthony Chabot, Huckleberry Botanic Preserve, Sibley Volcanic Preserve, Temescal, Arrowhead Marsh at MLK Jr. Shoreline, and Oyster Bay. Lake Chabot boat tours aboard the “Chabot Queen” may be available; separate fee applies for boat rental.
Dolphin Charters	3-Hour Petaluma Cruise	El Cerrito	View this river from a different perspective. Come enjoy an entertaining and informative tour of the Petaluma River. Sail this historic waterway from the turning basin in downtown Petaluma to the mouth of the river in San Pablo Bay and return. See how Petaluma is preserving its past while stepping into the 21st century.
Dolphin Charters	Petaluma River Cruise - full day	El Cerrito	Rediscover this once active river artery while treating yourself to an insider’s view of seldom visited parts of Marin and Sonoma County. Today all along the River lies marshland, a de facto wilderness area, rich with wildlife. Don't leave home without your binoculars. Arriving at Petaluma, enjoy a stroll in Victorian Old Town. Tour can include historic commercial and or homes plus historic museum located in a Carnegie Library Building. Tour may also include shore side lunch along side the river or onboard Delphinus. Lunch is extra. After exploring Petaluma, you relax while “rollin down the river“. Enjoy the flowing, tranquil experience of the river and its inhabitants.
Dolphin Charters	Napa River Cruise	El Cerrito	A cruise along the Napa River is like a voyage into the past. Beginning at historic Vallejo, the cruise continues along the waterfront of Vallejo and Mare Island. Vallejo once rivaled or surpassed San Francisco in importance. Mare Island is a monument to the industry of the US Navy and began building ships during the civil war. Historic ships from the Mothball Fleet are often found here. Once beyond Vallejo, you enter a different world, one of vineyards, agriculture, backwater homes and marinas. Some of the largest contiguous marshes are located along the Napa River, with much bird life. The old Leslie salt ponds as well as former agricultural lands are being returned as well to marsh land as part of the S.F. Bay National Wildlife refuge. The collection of historic buildings in Napa contains much of the charm of Old California and was the site of the last California Mission.
Dolphin Charters	Heart of the Delta	El Cerrito	Discover the Delta, the hidden heart of California, its watering hole and the source of over 50% of the water used in the state. It's fascinating. In the midst of the arid Central Valley, there are hundreds of miles of rivers, sloughs, and canals forming a maze of waterways connecting the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers. This is also the richest and rarest terrestrial habitat in the state. Streamside forests mingle with freshwater marshes creating a wildlife paradise. River otters, beavers, and muskrats are commonly seen as well as numerous birds.
East Bay Municipal Utility District	Outdoor Education	Orinda	Hands-on learning provides children experiences that help them to better understand what it takes to protect the environment, how natural systems function and how our drinking water supply relates to those systems. EBMUD rangers work with school age children to enhance habitats, stabilize soils, and restore natural conditions for creeks and disturbed areas in the East Bay. Registration is first come first serve starting in August every year
Environmental Discovery Center of Sonoma County	Climate Change Agents	Santa Rosa	Through experiments, games, and plays, students will learn the science behind Earth’s changing climate. Students will understand that human activities are impacting the climate system and that we can take actions to reduce climate change. Students will explore how they can be change agents to have a positive effect on our climate future.
Environmental Discovery Center of Sonoma County	Discovering Earth Science in the Parks	Santa Rosa	A place-based field trip program, for 4th, 5th, and 6th grades focusing on Earth Science and conservation. Choose from six locations! • Helen Putnam Regional Park in Petaluma • Foothill Regional Park in Windsor • Riverfront Regional Park in Windsor • Crane Creek Regional Park in Rohnert Park • Ragle Ranch Regional Park in Sebastopol • Stillwater Cove Regional Park in Jenner Program Choices: * Rockin' and Recycling - This fieldtrip will focus on the properties of the common rocks and minerals in the park and the processes that formed them. Students will also learn the importance of recycling products manufactured from minerals and rocks. * Weather or Not - Students will learn the science behind weather and weather patterns. They will learn about some of Sonoma County's many microclimates within the parks, and forecast local weather based on observation and data collection.
Environmental Discovery Center of Sonoma County	Healthy Earth, Healthy Bodies	Santa Rosa	Take a field trip to a farm! This program combines the best in science education while making the connection between protecting natural resources and growing healthy bodies. Students will learn the benefits of eating healthy foods, take a rigorous hike, tour the farm, and work in the garden. Reinforces grade-level state science standards in life science and health. Held at Tolay Lake Regional Park in Petaluma.
Environmental Discovery Center of Sonoma County	Acorn to Oaks	Santa Rosa	Looking for a different field trip experience focused on California history? Acorns to Oaks engages students with the rich heritage and culture of native communities in Sonoma County. Early California Indians had an incredibly detailed knowledge of natural resources and passed this knowledge down through generations. Students will take an extended hike, explore kotchas, the traditional housing structures, and will participate in storytelling and crafts specific to the living local tribal people.
Environmental Discovery Center of Sonoma County	Only Rain Down the Drain	Santa Rosa	Introduction to watersheds. Activities reinforce grade-specific science standards that include the water cycle, seasons, weathering, erosion deposition, the Sonoma County watershed, non-point source pollution, and the effects of water pollution.
Exploratorium	Fisher Bay Observatory Gallery 6: Observing Landscapes	San Francisco	Explore the local environment. Natural and human forces interact to create the dynamic landscape surrounding us. Learn to uncover the stories embedded in a place by directly observing the geography, history, and ecology of the San Francisco Bay region.
Exploratorium	Outdoor Gallery: Open your senses to this place by the Bay.	San Francisco	Investigate forces shaping the City, Bay, and region. Watch shifting winds and tides, reveal hidden life, shake a bridge, observe human behavior, and find new ways to notice the places we inhabit.
Golden Gate National Recreation Area	Living with the Land- Parks as Classroom		introduces 6th grade students to Crissy Marsh and the Indigenous knowledge of the area that was developed over thousands of years.
Golden Gate National Recreation Area	Rocks on the Move: A Study of Plate Techtonics - Parks as Classroom		Here's your chance to take your class on a hike through underwater volcanoes that erupted millions of years ago. Students study the global geologic forces that formed today's dramatic Bay Area landscape, and then come to the Marin Headlands to conduct a detailed geologic trail exploration to unveil how these global forces are recorded in local rocks. Activities challenge students to use observational and critical-thinking skills to speculate about possible future geologic developments. Teachers who are new to this program must attend the Teacher Workshop on January 28, 2012. Applications for the 2011-2012 school year will be available on the website in mid-August, 2011.
Golden Gate National Recreation Area	Alcatraz Uncovered- Parks as Classroom		initiates 5th-8th grade archeologists into the mysteries of time as they uncover layers of human history on the island.
Greater Farallones Association	Visitor Center Fieldtrip	San Francisco	The Sanctuary Visitor Center offers a variety of grade specific, lively, hands-on programs for students grades K-6. Programs are two hours long and take place in the Sanctuary classroom, Visitor Center, and on beautiful Chrissy Field Beach. Custom programs available.
Greater Farallones Association	Student Monitoring Programs (LiMPETS)	San Francisco	Through research-based monitoring, students develop their problem solving skills, gain experience using tools and methods employed by field scientists, and learn to analyze data. Teachers are provided with a Monitoring Handbook, equipment, an in-class introduction to the project, and a training session at the monitoring site to ensure that teachers and students are familiar with the protocols. Pick from the Sandy Beach Monitoring Project or the Rocky Intertidal Monitoring Project. Sandy Beach and Rocky Intertidal Monitoring Program options available
Hiller Aviation Museum	Star Watchers - Field Trip	San Carlos	Take an adventure into the night-time sky! Students enter a giant inflatable Starlab dome to explore by day the stars, planets and constellations that will be visible in the sky that night and discover the means by which early navigators found directions and plotted their courses by the stars.
Hiller Aviation Museum	Storm Chasers	San Carlos	Explore how weather affects flight in a challenging foul-weather flight simulation. Discover thunderstorms and other weather hazards and how they affect aircraft, and then enter the Flight Sim Zone to embark on a realistic mission into inclement conditions. It’s a thrilling adventure to the edge of aviation!
Lick Observatory	Dome Tour	Santa Cruz	A staff person is available to give a 15 minute talk in the 36-inch telescope dome. The teacher leads class through the gift shop. This is a general tour-- students will not get to look through the telescope. It is their decision to maximize the effectiveness of these tours by limiting them to college astronomy classes, science teachers workshops, and professional societies.
Marina Education Programs - City of Berkeley	Animal Programs - Birds	Berkeley	Identification of local species, adaptations, sounds, feathers, nesting, conservation and weather permitting, walking w/ binoculars. Includes a 40-50 minute interactive slide and video presentation and 2 hrs of hands-on stations. Each program requires a mandatory teacher's IN-SERVICE training workshop during which teachers preview the site, update staff for their current science program, and naturalists add to it with a packet of informational lesson plans for pre- and post-trip lessons geared to their class' grade level. These lessons were written by our staff, and correlate with the California State Science Framework and include 47 large animal identification cards and pictures. The fee for the packet is $25.00 with out the program. Available only on specific days.
Marine Science Institute	Wonders of Watersheds	Redwood City	Explore local watersheds and discover how humans depend on and influence them with the Wonders of Watersheds program. This inquiry-driven multiple-exposure program combines an in-class visit (“Inland Voyage”) with two field trips, which build upon each other to deepen students’ understanding and create opportunities for cross-cutting between concepts. Through this series students gain an in-depth appreciation for what a watershed is and for their connection to the environment.
Marine Science Institute	Marsh & Beach Exploration	Redwood City	Pescadero Marsh & Beach Exploration is a wonderful opportunity to get students to experience nature through hands-on learning. Our instructors will guide your students through activities based on sandy beach and marsh & mudflat ecology. Students will compare sand found locally with sand from beaches around the world, explore the beach wrack-line, bird watch with the aid of binoculars while traversing the marsh and mudflat, and learn about the indigenous & invasive flora of California's coastline. Students will gain an understanding of how beaches, marshes, and mudflats are formed and how humans impact these delicate ecosystems.
Math Science Nucleus	Fossils	Fremont	Students learn the different animals that lived in the Fremont area during the Pleistocene including mammoths and sabertooth cats. They will go on a scavenger hunt in the Museum. They will compare the present with the past. Learn about fossil excavations by sorting through fossils and receive a fossil shark tooth.
Math Science Nucleus	Volcanoes	Fremont	Look at rocks produced by volcanoes from around the world? Students will be able to distinguish volcanic and plutonic rocks by learning different characteristics. They will determine the clues and act as a geologist to determine how the rocks were formed. Sixth Grade: Earth Sciences (1 a-g)
Math Science Nucleus	Self-Guided Tour of Children's Natural History Museum	Fremont	Explore a world of fossils from long ago including those from the Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic. Walk to more modern times with fossils of mammoths, sabertooth cats, sloths, camels, and other large mammals. Discover modern day animals through their bones. Visit the Boy Paleontologist room to see how they discovered the fossils in Fremont in the 1940’s. View the Minerals and Rocks, Hall of Small Wonders and Tools of Early Humans. Hands-on activities for small groups are located throughout the museum.
Math Science Nucleus	Ocean Life - Present and Past	Fremont	Students look at animals without backbones (invertebrates). They learn how we sort and classify shells produced by invertebrates. They will learn the the key characteristics that identify the invertebrates by looking at the different phylums. Then they will look at fossil shells, many from the San Francisco bay area, and learn what it means to find them in rocks. A tour of museum included.
Math Science Nucleus	Tule Ponds - Climate Change through Time	Fremont	The Hayward Fault created Tyson Lagoon over time, the change in this area is related in part to plate tectonics. See how microorganisms tell a story over time.
Monterey Bay Aquarium	Discovery Lab Workshop	Monterey	In an interactive classroom setting, your students will get a fun, hands-on introduction to some of Monterey Bay's most precious habitats and the animals that live there. All programs include time for self-guided exploration of the Aquarium.
Monterey Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center	Wharf Oceanography	Santa Cruz	Students will use real oceanographic tools to take an “assessment” of the current conditions of Monterey Bay on the Santa Cruz Wharf. Through investigation in the field, and in the Exploration Center classroom, students will understand what physical, biological and chemical parameters affect marine life and how scientists monitor them. By monitoring these conditions over time, scientists can determine the health of the bay and how changes over time could influence the animals we see.
Monterey Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center	Guided Tours	Santa Cruz	Experience the Exploration Center with your own personal tour guide. Your group will be split into smaller groups of 8-12 to explore our exhibits with a trained docent who will provide an orientation, focused discussions and observations. 75 minutes Group Size: Maximum of 35 participants Not including Chaperones Chaperones are free
Monterey Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center	Marine Debris	Santa Cruz	Become a citizen scientist while helping to protect our ocean. Using scientific protocols, your group will collect debris, record detailed records and make observations. Sanctuary naturalists will lead your group in a discussion on the causes and effects of marine debris and compare your cleanup results with data previously collected.
Monterey Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center	Self-Guided Tours	Santa Cruz	You determine the focus and set the pace. Docents will welcome your group to the Center and be available to assist while you explore the exhibits and answer any questions you may have.
Monterey Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center	Plankton Discovery	Santa Cruz	Explore the tiny drifters of the ocean: Plankton! Students will learn that plankton are the basis of the marine food web, are critical for producing oxygen on earth, and can be important indicators of ocean health. Monitoring these “tiny drifters” can give scientists important clues as to the condition of the ocean. Using scientific tools, students will take a plankton “tow” off the Santa Cruz wharf. Back in the Exploration Center classroom, we will investigate the sample under microscopes to see what species of plankton is currently in Monterey Bay.
Mount Diablo State Park	Mitchell Canyon Visitor Center	Clayton	The Mitchell Canyon Interpretive Center is located in Mount Diablo State Park at the south end of Mitchell Canyon Road in Clayton,CA. The Mitchell Canyon Visitor Center is staffed by State Park Volunteers and is supported by the Mount Diablo Interpretive Association whose main goal is to provide visitors with information so they can better enjoy the Park and it's natural wonders. The Center is currently open on Saturdays and Sundays, and some holidays 8am to 4pm during spring and summer months and 9am to 3pm during fall and winter months. The Center has displays about various aspects of Mt. Diablo State Park, such as geology, wildlife, trails, and plant life. Interpretive materials about the Park, such as geology, wildlife, and plants, are for sale. There are also postcards, note cards, trail maps, and water for sale. A docent is on duty when the Center is open to answer questions and to handle sales of materials. In the future the Center will also serve as a focal point in Mitchell Canyon for scheduled group hikes and lectures. We welcome all visitors to this part of the State Park to stop in and see the new Mitchell Canyon Visitor Center.
Mount Diablo State Park	Summit Museum Self-Guided Visit	Clayton	Exhibits chronicle the history of the mountain and capture its majesty. A rock wall with instructional video examines the geological forces which created the mountain. Panels describe the native American history of the region. A diorama, complete with native sounds, offers an overview of the park's ecosystems. A model of the mountain acquaints visitors with important park locations. Photographs enhance the visitor's experience. In addition to the exhibits, the summit museum features a gift shop and audio-visual room. Link to survey points- Mt. Diablo's importance as the highest peak in the Bay Area to cartography.
NASA Ames Research Center	Exploration Encounter	Moffett Field	Ames Research Center hosts 4-6th grade classes in an interactive, hands-on program designed to teach about science, math, and technology. The Encounter involves students in activities focused around aeronautics, space science, space station and mission control/remote sensing. Students use computers to design aircraft, experiment with table-top wind tunnel, locate geographic features from high altitude aircraft photos, and simulate a mission aboard a space station, an interactive, hands-on experience designed to teach students about science, mathematics and technology. The encounter involves students in activities focused on four areas: aeronautics, space science, space station, and mission control/ earth science. Online information available at http://encounter.arc.nasa.gov
Oakland Museum of California	Self-Guided Tours	Oakland	Create your own experience for students at OMCA. Explore California art, history, and natural sciences in the core galleries and special exhibitions with your students and chaperones. Self-guided school groups have access to all galleries and exhibitions.
Pegasus Voyages	Pegasus Project Sailing Voyage	Albany	Classes will experience the magic of Pegasus under sail, with students able to move around the vessel. Time allowing, students will have the opportunity to steer the vessel, along with a tour below decks upon conclusion of the sail. The purpose of these voyages is to provide a marine educational experience that kids will remember for a lifetime!
Point Bonita YMCA	Habitats and Ecosystems	Sausalito	Students will explore the Coastal Scrub ecosystem of the Marin Headlands through interactive games and investigations of the local plants and animals. They will explore different habitats and learn about the interdependent relationships and interactions between the living and non-living elements in the ecosystem.
Point Bonita YMCA	Introduction to the Marin Headlands	Sausalito	Explore the natural and cultural history of the Marin Headlands on an engaging hike along the trails and batteries near Point Bonita YMCA's campus. Learn about the plants, animals, minerals and people that have inhabited this national park. Depending on Park availability, a tour of the historic Point Bonita Lighthouse can be requested as part of this program.
Point Bonita YMCA	The Wonders of Wetlands & Watersheds	Sausalito	Allow your students to truly understand what a watershed is by seeing it firsthand as they hike from the top to the bottom of Point Bonita's very own watershed! At the bottom, students will have the chance to investigate the aquatic macroinvertebrate population of Rodeo Lagoon and continue the trail from the lagoon out to the beach and ocean and seeing the culmination of their watershed adventure.
Point Bonita YMCA	Geology Rocks!	Sausalito	Explore the Headlands and learn about California rocks and other geological features while viewing them in their natural habitat!
Point Reyes National Seashore	Earthquake Trail	Point Reyes Station	A short, informative trail with exhibits about the 1906 earthquake and the San Andreas Fault zone. Allow 35 minutes to walk this trail. Park in the gravel parking lot east of the Bear Valley Visitor Center. The trailhead is next to the picnic area restrooms. 0.6-mile loop wheelchair accessible.
Point Reyes National Seashore	Woodpecker Trail	Point Reyes Station	A rustic trail through fields and trees with exhibits highlighting the flora and fauna of the area. Allow 45 minutes to walk this trail. Park at the south end of the Bear Valley Visitor Center parking lot. The Woodpecker Trail starts at the Bear Valley Trailhead. 1-mile loop. Trail is steep in places.
Portola Redwoods State Park	Redwood Hikes - Portola Redwoods	La Honda	The road leading to the park's 2,800 acres drops from a ridgetop into a deeply shaded redwood forest, offering a hushed getaway from the suburban bustle of nearby Silicon Valley and the South Bay Area. The visitor center, with its couches and fireplace, feels like a wilderness lodge. Eighteen miles of trails follow meandering creeks, where moisture-loving coast redwoods stand tall among ferns and huckleberries. Waterfalls on Fall and Pescadero creeks tumble down mossy banks over rocks and woody debris. The park has a 55-site family campground, 4 group campsites, and a trail camp for backpackers. It also protects some of the most remote and scenic redwoods in the region, the Peter’s Creek Grove.
Randall Museum	Bay Area Geology - Grades 3 - 8	San Francisco	Students begin their exploration by constructing the Earth’s geologic history that begins at Earth’s formation, 4.6 Billion years ago. The class also uses the museum’s rock and mineral collection to identify distinguishing properties of different rocks. Topping off this field trip is an instructor-led hike through stunning geologic features that are unique to Corona Heights, home to the Randall Museum.
San Francisco Maritime National Park	Explorers: Sail The Bay on the Historic 1891 San Francisco Bay Gaff-Rigged Scow	San Francisco	Take your class on a voyage into history! The Alma was built here in San Francisco in 1891. She was one of almost 400 workhorse “scow” schooners, plying their trade all over the Bay and Delta region. She is a living link to California’s past. Your students will join the many generations of Californians who have trod her Douglas Fir decks. The Alma, owned by the National Park Service, and her skipper are licensed and certified by the United Sates Coast Guard. The program is taught by our specially trained team of maritime educators. Explorers uses a hands-on, multidisciplinary approach to enable students in small groups to experience how the tools of exploration such as the magnetic compass, and charts, are used. After the hard work of hoisting and trimming the sails they will try to “navigate” the bay. In doing so they will discover the origins of weather and it’s effect on the earth, the physics of sails, and what it was like for the earliest explorers and immigrants to sail the challenging waters of California. Each student will take a “trick at the helm” to steer the ship, under the watchful eyes of the Captain. For inquiries or to apply, visit maritime.org/education, or call (415) 561-6662 ext. 5.
San Francisco Maritime National Park	Life on the Barbary Coast	San Francisco	(at Mare Island) Students become sailors for an afternoon aboard an historic vessel when they are picked up as green hand sailors. As San Francisco is scrambling to rebuild itself following a devastating earthquake, the vessels in Mare Island, must scramble themselves to prepare for their voyage to bring cargo to the city in need. This program emphasizes teamwork and group problem solving skills. The immersive nature of our programming engages students through ship board activities such as; raising and lower a bosun chair, loading and unloading cargo, setting sails, and using lead lines and hawsers aboard the 1886 Full Rigged Ship, Balclutha. For inquiries or to apply, visit maritime.org/education, or call (415) 561-6662 ext. 5.
San Francisco Maritime National Park	The Gold Rush	San Francisco	(at Mare Island) A ship's captain, a merchant, and a miner from California's gold rush days will invite the students to work as crew aboard a tall ship, met with a merchant, and learn the tools of the trade from a miners await their trip to the Gold Fields. For inquiries or to apply, visit maritime.org/education, or call (415) 561-6662 ext. 5.
San Francisco Zoo	Close Encounters: Shifting the Balance	San Francisco	This lesson explores the effect that altering nature’s delicate balance has on wildlife populations. Issues addressed include the pet trade, misunderstood animals, introduced species, and habitat destruction. Students will learn how they can help save habitats every day.
San Francisco Zoo	Shifting the Balance - Docent guided tour	San Francisco	Introduces and explores the causes of wildlife endangerment. The terms “rare,” “threatened” and “endangered” are discussed. Designed to increase public awareness of the plight of endangered wildlife (an especially important concept for older children). Teacher Guides available online.
Save The Bay	Bay Discovery	Oakland	This in-person program brings students to the shoreline to gain a deeper understanding of San Francisco Bay and our rich relationship to it. Students also have an opportunity to complete a service learning project exhibiting the positive impact we can have on our environment. Save The Bay’s field staff lead students in grade specific educational activities that explore a range of themes. After learning about threats such as flooding, pollution, and invasive species, participants engage in seasonally dependent activities to restore the shoreline and improve habitat for a healthier, more sustainable San Francisco Bay now and for generations to come. A typical program includes one hour for educational activities and games, and one to two of restoration project time. All of our restoration activities are accompanied by educational and informative games or activities to teach about the importance of wetland habitats to San Francisco Bay. All equipment and instruction is provided; your students should simply be prepared to be outdoors for the day.
Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve	Volcanic Tour	Oakland	Folding and erosion have exposed a cross section of a great volcano, right down to its roots, providing an unsurpassed outdoor laboratory for the study of volcanism in the Central Coast Ranges. An unstaffed visitor center next to the staging area at the park entrance has displays illustrating the park's geology, and a supply of park brochures containing a map with a self-guided volcanic tour. Sibley Volcanic Preserve's main entrance is on Skyline Boulevard just east of the intersection with Grizzly Peak Boulevard in the Oakland hills. You can make a reservation wtih the naturalists at Crab Cove to have a guided hike/program.
The Lawrence	Self-Guided Visit	Berkeley	Take your students to the Lawrence Hall of Science to enjoy the exhibits. Outdoor Nature Lab Animal Explorations Well Played Young Explorers Area Planetarium Hands-on Biotech Forces that Shape the Bay
The Petrified Forest	Self Guided Field Trips	Calistoga	Step back in Time, over 3 million years, and follow the trail of majestic petrified redwood giants arrayed before you in a fascinating grove. Be a witness to redwood trees that once grew in abundance here and were turned to stone 3.4 million years ago by a local volcano.
The Tech Interactive	IMAX Film: Educational Film Libary	San Jose	If you are the first school to request the 10 a.m. or 11 a.m. time slot for that day, you can reserve a film of your choosing from our library (see below). Showtimes and IMAX films are based upon availability.
The Tech Interactive	Engineering for Earthquakes - Lab	San Jose	Students learn about earthquakes and engineering principals, then design and construct seismically sound buildings that they put to the test on a shake table simulating seismic waves
The Watershed Project	Ecosystem, Our Community: Greening Urban Watersheds	Richmond	In Ecosystem, Our Community: Greening Urban Watersheds, middle school students (grades 6-8) will investigate the guiding question, “How am I part of my local ecosystem?” The lessons in this program will provide students with a foundational understanding of biodiversity and interdependence in ecosystems, and opportunities to explore their local ecosystem through nature journaling, guided walks and more. Students will build and test models to learn how restoring urban ecosystems benefits communities and wildlife and manages stormwater. At the conclusion of the program, students will transform their knowledge into meaningful action to understand and protect their local ecosystem.
Tilden Nature Area-Tilden Regional Park	Wet ‘n Wild Watersheds (Year round)	Berkeley	If you live on land, you live in a watershed! Investigate the fascinating tale of how water connects all living things. 1 - 1.5 hours
Tilden Nature Area-Tilden Regional Park	Tailored Naturalist Program: Habitats	Berkeley	the Tilden Naturalists can adapt their programs to meet the specific needs of your science unit. Sign up for a fieldtrip via the lottery system and give them a call once you are selected.
West Contra Costa Waste Management Authority	On-Site Recycling and Organics/Composting Program	San Pablo	This is a site visit to your school from the Republic Services and RecycleMore teams to view the current program and how to set up a new successful program. RecycleMore suggests including leadership of the school, maintenance staff, any teachers, and students if available.
West Contra Costa Waste Management Authority	Field Trips to the Integrated Resource Recovery Facility (IRRF)	San Pablo	This is a tour of the West County Resource Recovery (WCRR) Facility with an interactive presentation by Republic Services Recycling Coordinators. Bus transportation will be provided at no charge by RecycleMore. Available Grades: Field trips available for grades 2 – 12 Duration: Field trips take a total of 2 hours, travel time included The Authority offers a limited number of Recycling Field Trips each semester. The Field Trips include tours of County's own recycling facility and landfill. Students taking the tour get a closer look at a recycling sort line, green waste composting, concrete recycling and much more! Field trips are limited to West County school groups