K-12 Education at the Environmental Learning Center

The Environmental Learning Center offers three field trip options, all providing interactive, hands-on learning at the ELC’s wetland and forest ecosystems. Field trips are two hours long.

Thanks to generous support from the agencies listed below, and their commitment to healthy watersheds, some field trips are available at no cost for schools in their districts.

• Who: Ages K-5 (classroom with teachers)
• When: Two hours (select days), fall 2023 and spring 2024
• Where: Environmental Learning Center, Oregon City campus
• Cost: Pricing varies depending on school district and class size.

For more information, email Sarah Bidwell, ELC Kids’ Education Coordinator, sarah.bidwell@clackamas.edu.

LET'S GET DUCKY: DISCOVERING WETLAND WILDLIFE

Grades: K-1

Wetlands make up only about 5% of the earth's surface, yet they are crucial habitat for a wide array of plants and animals. During their visit, students will learn about several species of wildlife that live in and around our wetland. Field trip activities include solving wildlife mysteries, playing wildlife games and observing the wetland.

WELCOME HOME: EXPLORING WETLAND AND FOREST HABITATS

Grades: 2-3

Wetlands and forests are important habitats to a diversity of plants and animals. This field excursion will give your students a better understanding of how these habitats provide clean water, food, shelter and space. Field trip activities include discovering macroinvertebrates in the wetland, exploring micro habitats in the forest, building wildlife shelters and observing the wetland.

HEALTHY WATERSHEDS: HOW DO WE GET THERE?

Grades: 4-5

We all live in a watershed, but what does that really mean? In this field trip, a variety of activities and games will engage students in learning about the inter-connections that exist within a watershed, including how our actions can impact the water quality, the people and the wildlife within it. Students will measure the quality of water in our wetland, experiment with the role that soil plays in filtering pollutants from the water, and sample the water for macroinvertebrates.

For more information, contact Sarah Bidwell, ELC Kids' Education Coordinator, sarah.bidwell@clackamas.edu.

Register now

These hands-on field trips will introduce students to three professionals working in careers related to the water industry. Students will learn about their day-to-day job activities, skill sets needed and the joys and challenges encountered on the way. As part of this learning, students will also participate in hands-on science inquiry activities that demonstrate aspects of each career, and may lead to increased awareness of individual aptitudes and career interests.

All field trips are two hours long and take place within our beautiful wetland and forest environment.

• Who: Grades 6-12
• When: 10 a.m.-noon, fall 2023, Sept. 11-Nov. 17 and spring 2024, April 1-June 14

Presentations and activities may include:

• The Pipe Challenge: A professional explains infiltration and inflow in sanitary and stormwater systems and students build model systems with pvc pipes.
• Plant Identification: A professional explains the use of plant identification in natural resource management and students practice identifying wetland plants.
• Drone Technology for Natural Resource Management: A professional demonstrates the use of drones and students examine mapping data.
• Water Quality Investigation: A professional explains why water testing is important and students measure temperature and pH in the wetland.
• Scope it Out: A professional demonstrates the use of robots for inspecting sanitary and stormwater pipes and students operate the robot.

Clackamas Water Environment Services sponsorship

These programs are available to all, but thanks to support from Clackamas Water Environment Services, we are able to offer a limited number of free career exploration field trips to schools located within its district. See supported schools list.

For more information on grades 6-12 field trips, contact Michelle Scholz, ELC program coordinator at michelle.scholz@clackamas.edu.

Register

The ELC’s Nature Spy Explorer Kits are sent right to your door and have all the supplies your budding naturalist will need to learn, create, and play. Engaging crafts, fun facts, and playful activities will help them discover the natural world that surrounds them – from the comfort of home and neighborhood! Kits are designed for children ages 4-8, although we hear that older children enjoy them too!

The Wild About Winter collection explores nature in the winter and includes the following kits. Order one or all three!

Cost: $35 per kit, includes shipping

WHOOO ARE THE OWLS

Kit ships December 7, 2023

Build a nighttime forest scene with owls hiding in the trees and glow-in-the-dark moon and stars. Explore owl habitat, hiding places, and signs of owls and color an owl picture. Dissect an owl pellet and discover what your owl ate!

WIGGLY WONDERFUL WORMS

Kit ships December 14, 2023

Make a home for your worms and watch what they do. Use the journal page to record your wormy observations and make the connection between worms and other living things. Make a worm maze for your worm and see if they can find their way to safety.

WEATHER WATCHER

Kit ships December 21, 2023

Make a boat with natural materials and set sail! Reflect on how you and wildlife survive a cold winter day. Make a pinwheel and learn fun facts about wind power. Create a beautiful raindrop mobile and go on a rainy day scavenger hunt.

Each kit includes:

• easy to follow instructions
• materials for creating one nature-themed craft
• nature journal page with fun facts
• activities to keep them exploring all week long
• a nature guide or storybook

Purchase a Kit

Nature Striders is the Environmental Learning Center's preschool program for ages 2–5. This program will give you and your little one a chance to explore nature together through activities like story time, crafts and walks in the forest/wetland habitat. Each session includes both indoor and outdoor activities, so be sure to dress for the weather!

For more information, email Sarah Bidwell, ELC Kids’ Education Coordinator, sarah.bidwell@clackamas.edu.

• Who: Ages 2-5 and their caregivers
• Cost: $10 per child (caregivers are free)
• When: Programs are held on the third Wednesday of the month, 10-11:30 a.m. Pre-registration is required.
  
• Where: Environmental Learning Center at the Oregon City campus

Upcoming programs

• Dec. 20, 2023: Winter's Welcome
  Welcome in winter with stories, games and hands-on activities exploring how plants and animals prepare for winter.
• Jan. 17, 2024: Tracks: Clues that Tell a Story
  Solve rack mysteries and learn to "read" the tracks left behind by our wildlife neighbors.
• Feb. 21, 2024: T-Rex at the ELC?
  Observe and discover the modern-day dinosaurs living all around: birds!
• March 20, 2024: Whoo-oo Is It?
  Learn about owls and their special features that make them silent hunters of the night.
• April 17, 2024: Frogs Hop to It!
  Explore the wetland for different kinds of frogs that live in our area.
  
• May 15, 2024: Mama Built a Little Nest
  Explore and discover the variety of birds nests in and around our wetland.
• June 19, 2024: The Salamander Room
  Learn about our amphibian friends, the salamanders, explore our wetland area for salamanders, and create our own salamander "rooms".

Register now

Thanks to our sponsor Clackamas River Water Providers!

These programs are designed primarily for children in grades K-5.

• What: For teacher-led classrooms in grades K-5. Join us virtually at the Environmental Learning Center to discover the diversity of wildlife living in and around the wetland. If your school allows online interaction, we would love to take comments and questions from you or your students! Student activity sheets accompany each program.
• When: Tuesdays, Jan. 9-March 12, 2024
  • Grades K-3: 10-10:20 a.m.
  • Grades 4-5: 10:30-10:50 a.m.
• Where: Join us on Zoom or view a recording. We have instructions for sharing a Zoom screen through Google Meets. Prior to each episode, we will email the Zoom link and student activity sheet. After the program, registrants will receive a recording of the episode.

MEET THE MALLARDS

Jan. 9, 2024

Mallards are frequently seen at the ELC. Join us to discover how the wetland provides habitat to this common and beautiful bird. Key concepts: adaptations, wetlands as nurseries, healthy water.

BEAVERS: NATURE'S BUILDERS

Jan. 16, 2024

We'll learn about beaver adaptation for living in and around water and how their dam-building benefits other wetland creatures. Key concepts: adaptations, wetlands as habitat, healthy water, ecological connections.

ROCKIN' RACCOONS

Jan. 23, 2024

Racoons are common predators in wetlands and a frequent night-time visitor at the ELC. We'll discover more about its role in the wetland food web. Key concepts: wetlands as habitat, adaptations, food webs.

HURRAY FOR HERONS!

Jan. 30, 2024

Meet the pterodactyl of the wetland, the great blue heron! Herons frequently visit the ELC wetland to hunt for food. Key concepts: wetlands as habitat, adaptations, wetlands as kitchens.

SLEUTHING OUT SALAMANDERS

Feb. 6, 2024

Secretive and sometimes slimy, salamanders emerge in the spring to mate and lay eggs in water. We'll learn how the wetland provides an important place for these creatures to raise their young. Key concepts: habitat, wetlands as nurseries, healthy water, adaptations.

COYOTE: YOUR WILDLIFE NEIGHBOR

Feb. 13, 2024

Coyotes share our fields, forests and neighborhoods. We'll discover how the ELC's wetland is like a kitchen for the coyote. Key concepts: habitat, adaptations, wetlands as kitchens.

GIVE A HOOT FOR OWLS!

Feb. 20, 2024

With their silent flight and amazing hearing and eyesight, owls are uniquely adapted to hunting at night. We'll explore their adaptations and discover how they use wetlands for hunting and roosting. Key concepts: adaptations, habitat, wetlands as kitchens, animal senses and structures.

FUN WITH FROGS

Feb. 27, 2024

In the spring, the ELC wetland is alive with Pacific chorus frogs calling and laying their eggs. We'll learn about the frogs life cycle and how frogs need wetlands to survive. Key concepts: adaptations, wetlands as nurseries, healthy water.

FANTASTIC FOXES

March 5, 2024

The red fox comes to the ELC's wetland for fresh clean drinking water, food and a place to rest. We'll learn about the red fox's adaptations for survival and how they fit into the wetland food web. Key concepts: adaptations, food webs, wetlands as kitchens and resting places, ecological connections.

DARTING DRAGONFLIES

March 12, 2024

Dragonflies begin their life in water and grow up to be fierce flyers, catching insects out of the air. We'll learn about their unique adaptations for hunting in and out of the water. Key concepts: adaptations, food webs, healthy water.

For more information, email Sarah Bidwell, ELC Kids’ Education Coordinator, sarah.bidwell@clackamas.edu.

Register now (Grades K-3)

Register now (Grades 4-5)

Thanks to support from Clackamas Water Environment Services and Oak Lodge Water Services for making these programs accessible to students in their districts!

We are excited to offer virtual field trips for educators thanks to support from Clackamas Water Environment Services, the city of Gladstone and Oak Lodge Water Services!

WATER IS LIFE

Grades: K-2 

Every drop of water around us could ultimately be linked to the life-sustaining waters in our rivers. In this engaging virtual field trip, students will explore the wetland and surrounding forest at the Environmental Learning Center. They will explore aquatic life, the movement of water in the ecosystem and the concept that healthy water supports life everywhere.

WELCOME TO THE WATERSHED

Grades: 3-5 

Watersheds are home to lots of animals, plants and waterways that are connected to each other in interesting ways. In this field trip, students will learn about how trees and other plants provide food, shelter, and places for animals to raise their young, and the special role that wetlands play in cleaning the water. They will also explore what it means for water to be healthy and how to give water a health check-up.

Virtual Field Trips Videos