The Santa Clara Valley Urban Runoff Pollution Prevention Program recognizes that today’s students are tomorrow’s watershed stewards. This section is a compilation of field trips offered by Watershed Watch Campaign Partners, educational resources and training opportunities for educators. See the informative videos about free Watershed Watch educational programs and public services.
Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose
Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose provides a two-hour visit for school field trips. CDM is a hands-on museum with over 150 interactive exhibits and programs that provide children an opportunity to touch, explore and investigate what they see around them. Guided tours are not available, but chaperones and students are encouraged to explore and discover at their own pace.
City of San Jose Environmental Services
http://www.sanjoseca.gov/esd/schools/
Information about grants, field trip programs and classroom presentations offered by the City of San Jose.
City of Sunnyvale
Water Pollution Prevention for Schools and Youth
Fun, factual and free water programs!
Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge
http://www.fws.gov/refuge/don_edwards_san_francisco_bay/
Have you discovered the joys of teaching in the outdoors? Would you like expert assistance in teaching your students about ecology, wetlands, and the environment? Bring your class to one of the nation’s largest urban wildlife refuges for your next field trip. It’s fun, it’s interesting, and your students will remember what they learn at the refuge for years to come.
Gilroy Gardens
www.gilroygardens.org/teacher.html
A one-of-a-kind experience combining four unique gardens and amusements rides with the mid-20th century history and agricultural roots of Santa Clara Valley.
Guadalupe River Park & Gardens
The Guadalupe River Park & Gardens is a natural oasis in the middle of downtown San Jose that connects nature with science, history, art and recreation. Field trip destinations can be scheduled at most any area within Guadalupe River Park & Gardens or can include an educational tour along any or all of the sections. Most of the field trips are science based, with lessons about the river and our watershed the dominant theme. There is a fee for the field trips and transportation is not included. If you are interested in booking a field trip, please go to the website: www.grpg.org or call (408) 298-7657 for more information.
Happy Hollow Park and Zoo
www.hhpz.org/index.cfm/id/20/Education/
Let your group go wild with one of Happy Hallow’s fantastic group programs. A Happy Hallow Instructor will present an engaging interactive discussion followed by a live animal presentation. Programs correlate with California State Curriculum Life Science Standards. Programs may be presented at Happy Hollow, in a classroom, community center, or other non-residential facility.
Palo Alto Regional Water Quality Control Plant
http://cleanbay.org/regional-water-quality-control-plant/regional-water-quality-control-plant
Students learn about how water pollution affects the plants and animals in local creeks. They participate in activities to discover how pollution from urban areas ends in the creeks and how they can reduce water pollution. The relationships between creeks, wetlands, and the watershed are also studied.
San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory
www.sfbbo.org/activities/education.php
Volunteers and scientists collaborate on environmental research at the Coyote Creek Field Station as part of our Landbird Program. The primary tool that researchers use at the Field Station is the capture and release of banded birds. Visitors to the station learn about bird banding and its role in conservation science.
Santa Clara County Parks
www.sccgov.org/portal/site/parks
Let Santa Clara County Parks bring your nature and history lessons to life! Take part in a guided program at a local County park or historic site, or have park staff visit your classroom. For program options and information visit the “Teachers” section of the website.
Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society
www.scvas.org/index.php?page=text&id=education
SCVAS is dedicated to educating the Bay Area community about our diverse local bird ecology through many programs for both children and adults.
Santa Clara Valley Water District
www.valleywater.org/Programs/TeachersStudents.aspx
The Santa Clara Valley Water District offers a full range of educational program for both teachers and students. From puppet plays for preschoolers to workshops for educators. School outreach projects provide effective, hands-on learning experiences that meet state standards. Through the district’s educational programs, students can tour a groundwater recharge facility or explore the plant and animal life in a creek. All activities are geared for specific grade levels from pre-kindergarten to college. As an additional resource for teachers, the district offers in-service training sessions and free supplemental materials for all classes in Santa Clara County . For more information, contact Kathy Machado at (408) 265-2607, ext. 2331.
Watershed Watch
Informative videos about free Watershed Watch educational programs and public services.
