Sierra Streams Institute offers a number of field experience opportunities to the schools of Western Nevada County and beyond. Our field program content ranges from stream biology, water quality, forests, student open ended investigations, pond studies and more. Generally we run field experiences with 2nd through 8th grades. However we can and have run programs for high school aged students as well. All of our field based experiences are hands-on and chock full of environmental science concepts and natural history of the Sierra Nevada. If you are a teacher or school administrator and are interested in a field experience with SSI Education please fill out an interest form and we will reach out to you!
Pond field day (2nd Grade)
The pond field day is designed for 2nd graders to increase their curiosity and knowledge of a local habitat. In the morning, students engage in a variety of activities at the pond related to pond life and the water cycle. They also collect pond water samples. In the afternoon, students examine these samples in the classroom using microscopes and create observational drawings of the organisms they find. Pond field trips are generally run at schools with ponds within walking distance
Environmental Science Investigations (3rd-5th grade)
Students spend the day working with our science educators exploring the various habitat types on 230 acre Woolman property. Students conduct several investigations which allow them to explore both how these ecosystems are connected, and how scientists use direct observation to learn about natural systems. The program allows students to participate in structured and unstructured science investigations so that they can tap into their inner scientist!
Environmental Science Investigation field days are offered at the Woolman Outdoor School campus located off Jones Bar Road / Woolman Lane.
Watershed Explorers (3rd-5th grade)
Sierra Scientists (6th-8th grade)
This is our oldest running program for the Sierra Streams Education field program. In the field students learn the skills and tools to collect water quality data, collect and ID macroinvertebrates, and learn their riparian plants. Watershed Explorers is for the 3rd through 5th grade and Sierra Scientists is for the 6th through 8th grade. Contact us today to get your students in the stream learning about their watershed
Our Forest (3rd-5th grade)
Our Forests is a community science field based program where students learn science by collecting real world forest health and fire data. This program provides the context for why data collection is critical in understanding and protecting our forests and our community. Teachers have the opportunity to extend the learning through data analysis in the classroom and presenting their scientific findings to forest scientist working in the field.
Click HERE for Our Forests curriculum, guide, and other resources for teachers and informal educators.
If you are interested in hosting an Our Forest class for higher grades, please feel free to fill out our interest form, and we will do our best to accommodate.
