Field Trip - Save the Bay

Summary
This section will give you information to help you plan a field trip with Save the Bay. I brought 32 students to Arrowhead Marsh, a hidden wetland near the Oakland Airport, to meet up with extraordinary Save the Bay Instructors. The day was divided into two parts: 1) Canoeing – where we did water quality monitoring, explored the marsh with all our senses, and went on a wildlife scavenger hunt 2) Restoration – where we repotted 300 native plants, cleaned up the shoreline, and went for a walk on a boardwalk above the marsh. Students were able to explore a wetland up close and observe a leopard shark, feel the Bay’s muddy bottom, and listen to the endangered snowy plover.

 

Objectives
Can apply knowledge about water quality monitoring and the role of wetlands to the San Francisco Bay.
Can conduct a scientific investigation.
Can use a field guide to identify animals in the wild.
Can participate in habitat restoration efforts.
HAVE FUN!

Time
A canoe trip alone lasts approximately 5 hours.
A combined canoe and restoration trip lasts 6 hours.
 

Save the Bay - Planning Guide

Planning Guide
Save the Bay has excellent educational staff that is very skilled at working with students. They offer canoeing programs (Canoes in Sloughs) and restoration opportunities at several sites around the Bay. You can also adopt a site and return to the same restoration site several times in a given year to assist in the transformation of a piece of wetland over time. They will even come to your classroom to do a pre-trip lesson if you wish. Given the quality of the restoration work that Save the Bay does, I strongly recommend a double program that combines canoeing and restoration work. The only drawback is that you will have less time on the water, but still enough for kids to learn and play.

The cost for programs is on a sliding scale depending on the number of students that qualify for free and reduced lunch. My students paid $30 each to attend which was well worth it.

To schedule a program, fill in the registration form available on the Save the Bay website or download it below. For more information, contact Save the Bay directly at:

Save the Bay 350 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Suite 900 Oakland, CA 94612 phone: (510)452-9261 fax: (510)452-9266 [email protected]

Sample Schedule (The time and activities in your program may vary!!)

Typical Canoes in Sloughs program: 

9:00am – 9:15am    ARRIVAL

• students use bathroom if necessary
• teacher hands health forms to Save The Bay instructor
• discuss any concerns for the day (specific behavioral issues, group dynamics, time constraints, weather conditions, etc.)
• form a circle to begin the day

9:15am – 10:00am    INTRODUCTORY ACTIVITIES

• introduction to Save The Bay
• name game
• mapping exercise
• we do a brief mapping exercise with all groups in order to enhance their sense of place and highlight a few key ecological concepts/terms that will be used throughout the day.
• upon request of the teacher/group leader, this activity can be extended using additional maps and a small group investigation/discussion process

10:00am – 10:15am      PREPARE FOR PUT-IN

• remove canoes from the trailer, distribute paddles and lifejackets to participants

10:15am – 10:30am      PADDLING Instruction and SAFETY Awareness Talk

• Put – In (one or two canoes at a time)

10:30am – 1:15pm       ON THE WATER!!            

• Paddling practice   
• Sense of place observation activity      
• On-the-water science activities customized to the requests of the teacher (may include water quality testing, species study or other exploratory activities)
• Lunch in the boat   

1:30 - 2:00pm             TAKE-OUT (group comes off the water)

• Clean-up
• Program Evaluations (done by teacher(s))   
• Wrap-up activity
• Closing Circle   

Typical Restoration Program:

• Welcome and Introduction to Wetland Ecology and Issues
• Discussion of Habitat Restoration and why it is important
• Description of the restoration project, including safety and tool use
• 2-3 hours of actual project time (weeding, transplanting, monitoring, etc.)
• Interactive learning activities & games
• Time for a snack break and lunch
• Wrap-up activity, discussion of what we accomplished and how it made a difference