What is the purpose of the Estuary Partnership education program?
Our outdoor environmental education programs build environmental curiosity and knowledge, empower citizens to make a difference in their communities and foster a personal connection to the lower Columbia River region.
We:
- Deliver developmentally appropriate classroom and field science programs based on best teaching practices.
- Increase student understanding of biodiversity, the interconnectedness of living things, and the unique role humans play in the health of the environment.
- Provide safe, land and water-based opportunities for individuals to experience and explore their local watershed.
- Engage students and citizens in hands-on stewardship.
What type of programs do the Estuary Partnership offer?
We offers classroom science lessons, field trips to nearby natural areas, canoe trips, and a lending library of science materials to support formal and informal educators. A typical education program might include a series of classroom or school based lessons and a culminating field trip to apply concepts learned in the classroom in a real-world context.
With whom do you work?
Most of our programs include 3-6th grade students but we also provide age appropriate programs for all types of k-12 school groups.
What is the cost?
Thanks to the contributions of our funders, our education programs are provided at no cost to students, parents, or schools. We also cover full or partial field trip transportation costs when possible. Donations to support our education programs can be made here.
Where are programs offered?
We provide programs along the lower Columbia River in Oregon and Washington from Bonneville Dam to the coast. Our educators travel to schools for classroom programs. We choose field trip locations based on many factors, including proximity to school. View our searchable map for examples of field trip sites.
Who delivers the programs?
Staff from our Education Team delivers all classroom and field programs. Our educators have backgrounds in science and education and have extensive experience working with students of all ages.
How do I choose which programs to request?
Programs offered change each year and are based on available grant funds, project goals, and geographies. Programs are offered by grade level for grades 2-6. For younger and older grades, we ask teachers to choose individual classroom lessons and field trip activities to supplement their curriculum. All programs are age appropriate.
How do I request a program?
Submit a request for programming using the online program request form located on our Schoolyear Programs page. We begin accepting requests for the following school year on May 15th of the current year. We begin scheduling our programs and will contact schools in mid-August before the start of the fall quarter.
Programs are developed based on funding and project priorities and offered on a first-come, first-served basis with priority given to Title 1 eligible schools, or schools with high percentages of students of color and/or low-SES students. We do maintain a waitlist and encourage schools to reapply each year.
Are field trips safe?
We choose field trip locations and activities with safety as the top priority. Our educators are Wilderness First Aid and CPR trained. Please contact us if you have questions about our field trip safety protocols.
What if there is bad weather on a field trip day?
We offer most of our field programs all year and encourage students to dress appropriately. Teachers should also prepare students for the weather. We have raincoats and rain pants available for loan if needed. Unsafe weather due to high wind, lightening, or any other condition deemed unsafe by Estuary Partnership staff will result in trip cancellation. Whenever possible, notice of trip cancellation will be the day prior to the trip or when conditions are first determined unsafe. On average, we cancel one to two field trips per year due to unsafe weather conditions.
My students are working on a special project. Can I request an individualized set of lessons and/or field trips?
Our program descriptions are offered as a starting point. We frequently work with teachers to customize programs. Please email or call to see how we can support your goals.