Sea
& Sage Audubon |
Audubon
Outdoor Adventures
|
at
the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in Irvine |
| |
A
hands-on science program for 4th - 6th grade classes |
Pond
Life Study with Microscopes
photo by James R. Gallagher
|
| |
Sea
& Sage Audubon seeks to protect birds and their habitats
through conservation, science and education. We provide outstanding
environmental programs such as Audubon Outdoor Adventures
science program for elementary classes, plus nature day camp,
bat walks, group tours, and more at the San Joaquin Wildlife
Sanctuary in Irvine. Come join us this year to increase your
knowledge and awareness of the natural world which surrounds
you! |
| |
| About
the program: |
| Developed in 1992,
this outdoor discovery program has received high praise from
local educators, and is used as a national model of excellence
by the National Audubon Society. The 2-hour interactive program
is designed for 4th, 5th, and 6th grade classes, and is offered
on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 9:30 to 11:45 a.m. The
program fee of $5 per student includes a copy of Birds of
the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary for each student, plus
the loan of our teacher Field Trip Curriculum Kit. |
| Classroom
Preparation |
| We loan teachers
a Field Trip Curriculum Kit three weeks in advance of the trip.
It contains posters, wetland and math activities, an audio-cassette
of bird calls, and a bird research project which includes a
taxidermy bird specimen and bird field guides. Each student
receives our 28-page illustrated field guide Birds of the
San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary. |
Minimum
number of students 30
Maximum number of students 68
|
| Program
Activities |
| We divide 68 students
into 4 small groups, each led by an experienced naturalist.
Students complete 2 worksheets of their observations and conclusions.
Their goal is to discover how wetlands are an important habitat
for birds! |
| Bird
Walk (1 hour) |
| What are birds doing
in the wetlands? Students use binoculars to observe/identify
common birds and behaviors as they walk around the freshwater
ponds and meadow. Binoculars are loaned to each student. |
| Pond
Life Study (1/2 hour) |
| What are birds eating
in the wetlands? Students use microscopes to observe/identify
common microscopic species. They measure water quality and determine
adaptations of aquatic animals for underwater life. Microscopes
are provided for each student. |
| Bird
Anatomy (1/2 hour) |
| Students observe
taxidermy specimens to compare species, based on shape and sizes
of beaks and feet. They handle feathers and bones to learn what
makes a bird a bird. |
| What teachers
say about Audubon Outdoor Adventures: |
| "This is a
wholly worthwhile and excellent program. The students enjoy
the preparation activities before arrival. It is very exciting
to recognize a bird in the field that was studied in the classroom." |
| |
| "The program
is exceptional. The field trip to the Audubon Center is the
highlight of their six-week long period. It is also a great
"lead-up" for our week at Outdoor Ed. in the mountains." |
| |
| "It is excellent!
The preparation materials were amazingly well-organized, insightful
and educational. Thank you for all the resources! The tours
were wonderful, very hands-on, providing lots of opportunities
for discovery and exploration." |
| |
| "The guides
were very knowledgeable and friendly." |
| |
| "You provide
information and activities that are educational and interesting
to kids. Most importantly, students develop understanding an
appreciation for wetlands!" |
| |
| About
the Site |
| The San Joaquin
Wildlife Sanctuary is a 300-acre freshwater wetland on the grounds
of the Irvine Ranch Water District. It is home to many different
kinds of egrets, herons, ducks, hawks, shorebirds and songbirds.
Other wildlife includes rabbits, coyotes, raccoons, tree frogs,
lizards, butterflies, and dragonflies. |
| |
| Hours:
Sanctuary
trails are open daily from sunrise to sunset. Audubon House
is open daily between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. |
| |
| Location:
The
San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary is located at 3512 Michelson
Drive between Jamboree and Harvard in the city of Irvine.
|
| |
| Questions?
Contact
Project Director of Marsh Education, Trude Hurd, at Audubon
House (949-261-7963) or by email at
. |
| |
| To
schedule an Audubon Outdoor Adventures school tour: csontact
Project Director of Marsh Education, Trude Hurd at Audubon House
(949-261-7963) or by email at
,
or contact Trude's assistant, Deborah Brin, at Audubon House
(949-261-7963) . |
| |
| Audubon
Outdoor Adventures Registration Form: |
| Click here
for a copy of the Audubon Outdoor Adventures Registration Form.
Print it out, fill it in and mail it to: Tour Programs. Sea
& Sage Audubon Society, 5 Riparian View, Irvine CA 92612. |
| Thank
you for your interest! |
|
