After Outdoor Education
Curriculum After Outdoor Education: Solutions and Reflection
After students return from Outdoor Education, they will:
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review and reflect upon their experiences at Camp Jones Gulch.
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reflect upon the Camp Jones Gulch energy, water, waste, and land-use practices, as compared to those at their school campus.
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work in small teams to design either an advocacy or action campaign to make their school more like Camp Jones Gulch.
Additional Activities
THE WRITE STUFF
If you enjoyed working on your student journal while you were at Outdoor Education, here are some similar fun activities. Test your memory on what you learned at Outdoor Education, reflect on what it feels like to be outside, and on how you can help the earth and have a good time exploring the wildlife around you.
REDWOOD TRIVIA
Match the following statements to the correct answer.
- Redwoods can live up to ______ years.
- Redwoods weigh as much as ______ cars.
- There are ______ different types of redwoods.
- Redwoods can grow to ______ feet.
- The type of redwood found at Outdoor Education is called a ______.
- The redwoods' namesake is ______.
- Redwoods can hold ______ gallons of water.
- ______ protects the redwoods from insects.
- Redwood cones are ______ inches long.
- The type of redwood found in the Sierras is called a ______.
- Lumber from one redwood could build ______ cabins.
- Redwood bark can be ______ inches thick.
- The redwoods' favorite weather is ______.
- Most coastal redwood trees begin as ______.
- The type of redwoods found in China is a ______.
- 8,000
- Fog
- 12
- 1
- 300
- 3,000
- Giant redwood
- 3
- Chief Sequoyah
- 10
- Tannic acid
- Burls
- 800
- Coastal redwood
- Dawn redwood
REDWOOD TRIVIA (ANSWERS)
- = F Redwoods can live up to 3,000 years.
- = M Redwoods weigh as much as 800 cars.
- = H There are 3 different types of redwoods.
- = E Redwoods can grow to 300 feet.
- = N The type of redwood found at Outdoor Education is called a coastal redwood.
- = I The redwoods' namesake is Chief Sequoyah.
- = A Redwoods can hold 8,000 gallons of water.
- = K tannic acid protects the redwoods from insects.
- = D Redwood cones are 1 inch long.
- = G The type of redwood found in the Sierras is called a giant redwood.
- = J Lumber from one redwood could build 10 cabins.
- = C Redwood bark can be 12 inches thick.
- = B The redwoods' favorite weather is fog.
- = L Most coastal redwood trees begin as burls.
- = O The type of redwoods found in China is a dawn redwood.
WATER CYCLE
Did you know that the water you drink has been around for thousands of years? It travels around the earth in a path known as the "water cycle."
- Evaporation is the part of the cycle in which water is heated by the sun and becomes a gas or vapor. Draw an arrow, and write the letter "E" next to it to show evaporation.
- Condensation is the part of the cycle in which water vapor is cooled in the air and forms tiny water droplets, seen as clouds or fog. Write the letter "C" over the part of the picture that shows condensation.
- Precipitation is the part of the cycle in which the water droplets collect to form rain or snow and fall to the ground or streams and oceans. Draw an arrow, and write the letter "P" next to it to show precipitation.
- Write "fresh" over fresh water and "salt" over salt water.
Water Facts
Three-quarters of the earth is covered with water. If all of the earth's water equaled 100 glasses, then salt water would equal 97 glasses and fresh water would equal three glasses. Of all fresh water, two glasses are frozen in glaciers, and one glass is available to share among all living things, plants, and animals.
How many gallons of water do you use in a day? Add it up.
| Action | # of gallons | # of times | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brush your teeth | X | = | |||
| Wash your hands | X | = | |||
| Wash your face | X | = | |||
| Take a drink | X | = | |||
| Flush the toilet | X | = | |||
| Take a bath | X | = | |||
| Take a 5-minute shower | X | = | |||
| Total gallons | = |
What other things do you do that use water?
Examples: laundry, swimming, water the grass, wash the car.
What can you do to conserve water?
Think of as many ways as possible.
Additional Resources
- PLANTS COMMONLY FOUND AT OUTDOOR EDUCATION
- ANIMALS COMMONLY FOUND AT OUTDOOR EDUCATION
- ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FILED TRIPS
- ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ACTIVITIES RESOURCES LIST
PLANTS COMMONLY FOUND AT OUTDOOR EDUCATION
The following plants, listed by their common names, are commonly found in areas visited during a week at the Outdoor Education program.
Plants
- Sticky Monkeyflower
- Common Yarrow
- Horsetail
- Poison Hemlock
- Redwood Sorrel
- Indian Paintbrush
- Lupine
- Milk Thistle
- Hound's Tongue
- Bedstraw
- Coralroot
- Scarlet Pimpernel
- Yerba Buena
- Soap Plant
- Miner's Lettuce
- California Poppy
- Honeysuckle
- Wild Cucumber
- Blackberry
- Maidenhair Fern
- Coastal Wood Fern
- Goldenback Fern
- California Poppy
- Western Sword Fern
Aquatic Plants
- Cat Tails
- Common Tule
- Rush
- Pickleweed
Trees
- Coastal Redwood
- Douglas Fir
- California Buckeye
- Willow
- California Bay Laurel
- Big-Leafed Maple
- Live Oak
- Tan Oak
- Madrone
Shrubs
- California Hazelnut
- Toyon/Christmasberry
- Poison Oak
- Coffeeberry
- Coyote Bush
- Ceanothus
Shrinking Habitat and Plants
Redwood Forest
- Dudley's Lousewort
- Chaparral
- Alameda Manzanita
- Rock Sanicle
- Santa Cruz Cypress
- Inland Marine Sandhills
- California S. Cruz Wallflower
Coastal Scrub
- San Francisco Lessingia
- San Bruno Mountain Manzanita
- Native Grassland
- Santa Cruz Tarplant
- Large Flowered Fiddleneck
- Presidio Manzanita
Serpentine Grassland
- San Mateo Thornmint
- Fountain Thistle
- Presidio Clarkia
- Alkali Sink
- Ferris' Bird's-beak
ANIMALS COMMONLY FOUND AT OUTDOOR EDUCATION
The following animals, listed by their common names, are commonly found in areas visited during a week at the Outdoor Education program.
Amphibians
- California Newt
- Western Bullfrog
- California Slender Salamander
- Pacific Giant Salamander
- Western Toad
- Ensatina Salamander
- Rough-skinned Newt
- Pacific Treefrog
- Reptiles
- Common Garter Snake
- California Kingsnake
- Western Garter Snake
- Western Fence Lizard
- Gopher Snake
- Western Pond Turtle
Birds
- Turkey Vulture
- Great Horned Owl
- American Kestrel
- Marsh Wren
- Red-tailed Hawk
- Pygmy Owl
- Red-Shouldered Hawk
- Sowett Owl
- Wrentit
- Scrub Jay
- California Quail
- European Starling
- Red-Winged Blackbird
- Steller's Jay
- Acorn Woodpecker
- American Robin
- Winter Wren
- Black-Shouldered Kite
- Dark-eyed Junco
- Common Barn Owl
- White-crowned Sparrow
Water Birds
- Mallard Duck
- Ring-Necked Duck
- Double-crested Cormorant
- American Coot
- Great Blue Heron
- Green-winged Teal
- Snowy Egret
- Greater Yellowlegs
- Caspian Tern
- Willet
- Herring Gull
- Great Egret
- Spotted Sandpiper
- Gadwall
- Western Grebe
Mammals
- Deer Mouse
- Coyote
- Dusky-footed Wood Rat
- Broad-footed Mole
- Evening Bat
- Virginia Opossum
- Striped Skunk
- Brush Rabbit
- Raccoon
- California Ground Squirrel
- Bobcat
- Eastern Gray Squirrel
- Mule Deer
- Western Gray Squirrel
- Harbor Seal
Endangered Species of the San Francisco Bay Area
- Mission Blue Butterfly
- San Bruno Elfin Butterfly
- Bay Checkerspot Butterfly
- Smith's Blue Butterfly
- San Joaquin Kit Fox
- Stellar Sea Lion
- Southern Sea Otter
- California Brown Pelican
- California Least Tern
- Marbled Murrelet
- American Peregrine Falcon
- Bald Eagle
- Bank Swallow
- Whales
- Grey
- Humpback
- Blue
- Northern Right
- Fin or Finback
- Sei
- Sperm
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FILED TRIPS
Field trips provide opportunities for direct study of the environment and exposure to resources not available at the school site. The following list highlights some of the best and most accessible field trip destinations for environmental education in San Mateo County.
Año Nuevo State Reserve
San Mateo Coast District
New Year's Creek Road
Pescadero, CA 94060
(650) 879-2025 Information
1-800-444-4445 Reservations
www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=523
Año Nuevo State Reserve was established to protect the habitat and breeding grounds for the Northern Elephant Seal and is a unique landscape of the California coast.
Programs
Guided walks are available during breeding season (December 15-March 31) $21 for groups of 20, $20 parking fee for buses.
California Academy of Sciences
Golden Gate Park
San Francisco, CA 94118
(415) 750-7159
www.calacademy.org
Programs
School tours on natural science topics. Cost: approximately $1.50/person.
California Department of Parks and Recreation
San Mateo Coast District
95 Kelly Avenue
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
(650) 726-8820
Programs
Class visits and Ranger-led park activities can be scheduled with availability of Park staff. Subjects include marsh, tide pool, birds, Native Americans, fish, insects, and others.
CuriOdyssey science playground & zoo
1651 Coyote Point Drive
San Mateo, CA 94401
(650) 342-7755
https://curiodyssey.org/
Contact
Call Bonnie at (650) 340-7598 to schedule activities regarding environmental education and the natural history of the San Francisco Bay Area.
Programs
The museum's community education program includes field trips, slides, lectures, and other activities. Fee varies by activity.
Environmental Volunteers
921 E. Bayshore Rd.
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 961-0545
www.evols.org
Contact
Hillary Leonard
Programs
EVS offers hands-on classroom presentations and docent-led field trips in the area. Subject areas include ecology, geology, conservation, and Native American culture. A minimal fee is required.
Fitzgerald Marine Reserve
P.O. Box 451
Moss Beach, CA 94038
(650) 728-3584
www.fitzgeraldreserve.org
Contact
Bob Breen, Naturalist
Programs
Docent-led field trips are available in this protected marine area with a diversity of coastal wildlife. Groups of 10 or more are required to make a reservation to visit the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve tide pools. For more information, visit http://parks.smcgov.org/fitzgerald-marine-reserve-reservations or call 650-363-4021.
WildCare
76 Albert Park Lane
San Rafael, CA 94901
415-453-1000 x19
www.wildcarebayarea.org
Contact
Tory Russell, Education Program Manager
Programs
Education programs are available for pre-k through high school, including Live Wildlife Ambassador classroom presentations, Nature Van classroom presentations, Nature Hikes at sites throughout the North Bay and Center Tours at our center in San Rafael. Scholarships are available.
Marine Mammal Center
Marin Headlands, GGNRA
Ft. Cronkhite, CA 94965
(415) 289-7325
www.tmmc.org
Programs
Class tours focus on features of marine mammals. Visits to your school can also be arranged.
Marine Science Institute
1200 Chesapeake Drive
Post Office Box 7142
Redwood City, CA 94063-7142
(650) 364-2760
www.sfbaymsi.org
Programs
The Institute offers two programs, one on the beach and one in your school. Both are hands-on marine science learning. One of them can be brought to your school.
Oakland Museum
Natural Sciences Department
1000 Oak Street
Oakland, CA 94607
(510) 238-3818
www.museumca.org
Contact
Education Department
Programs
School education programs offered in both marine and freshwater sciences.
Field trips provide opportunities for direct study of the environment and exposure to resources not available at the school site. The following list highlights some of the best and most accessible field trip destinations for environmental education in San Mateo County.
Año Nuevo State Reserve
San Mateo Coast District
New Year's Creek Road
Pescadero, CA 94060
(650) 879-2025 Information
1-800-444-4445 Reservations
www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=523
Año Nuevo State Reserve was established to protect the habitat and breeding grounds for the Northern Elephant Seal and is a unique landscape of the California coast.
Programs
Guided walks are available during breeding season (December 15-March 31) $21 for groups of 20, $20 parking fee for buses.
California Academy of Sciences
Golden Gate Park
San Francisco, CA 94118
(415) 750-7159
www.calacademy.org
Programs
School tours on natural science topics. Cost: approximately $1.50/person.
California Department of Parks and Recreation
San Mateo Coast District
95 Kelly Avenue
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
(650) 726-8820
Programs
Class visits and Ranger-led park activities can be scheduled with availability of Park staff. Subjects include marsh, tide pool, birds, Native Americans, fish, insects, and others.
CuriOdyssey science playground & zoo
1651 Coyote Point Drive
San Mateo, CA 94401
(650) 342-7755
https://curiodyssey.org/
Contact
Call Bonnie at (650) 340-7598 to schedule activities regarding environmental education and the natural history of the San Francisco Bay Area.
Programs
The museum's community education program includes field trips, slides, lectures, and other activities. Fee varies by activity.
Environmental Volunteers
921 E. Bayshore Rd.
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 961-0545
www.evols.org
Contact
Hillary Leonard
Programs
EVS offers hands-on classroom presentations and docent-led field trips in the area. Subject areas include ecology, geology, conservation, and Native American culture. A minimal fee is required.
Fitzgerald Marine Reserve
P.O. Box 451
Moss Beach, CA 94038
(650) 728-3584
www.fitzgeraldreserve.org
Contact
Bob Breen, Naturalist
Programs
Docent-led field trips are available in this protected marine area with a diversity of coastal wildlife. Groups of 10 or more are required to make a reservation to visit the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve tide pools. For more information, visit http://parks.smcgov.org/fitzgerald-marine-reserve-reservations or call 650-363-4021.
WildCare
76 Albert Park Lane
San Rafael, CA 94901
415-453-1000 x19
www.wildcarebayarea.org
Contact
Tory Russell, Education Program Manager
Programs
Education programs are available for pre-k through high school, including Live Wildlife Ambassador classroom presentations, Nature Van classroom presentations, Nature Hikes at sites throughout the North Bay and Center Tours at our center in San Rafael. Scholarships are available.
Marine Mammal Center
Marin Headlands, GGNRA
Ft. Cronkhite, CA 94965
(415) 289-7325
www.tmmc.org
Programs
Class tours focus on features of marine mammals. Visits to your school can also be arranged.
Marine Science Institute
1200 Chesapeake Drive
Post Office Box 7142
Redwood City, CA 94063-7142
(650) 364-2760
www.sfbaymsi.org
Programs
The Institute offers two programs, one on the beach and one in your school. Both are hands-on marine science learning. One of them can be brought to your school.
Oakland Museum
Natural Sciences Department
1000 Oak Street
Oakland, CA 94607
(510) 238-3818
www.museumca.org
Contact
Education Department
Programs
School education programs offered in both marine and freshwater sciences.
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ACTIVITIES RESOURCES LIST
Environmental education lessons provide opportunities for teachers to integrate subject areas and meet the goals of the school curriculum. The following list of environmental education resources are recommended for use by classroom teachers:
The Growing Classroom
Roberta Jaffe & Gary Appel of Life Lab Science Program, University Of California at Santa Cruz, 1990.
This guide describes how to develop a garden and use it in teaching science and environmental education.
Project Learning Tree
Western Regional Environmental Education Council and the American Forest Institute.
A supplemental activity guide involving environmental awareness, tree and forest cycles, and human use of natural resources.
Project Wild
Western Regional Environmental Education Council.
An interdisciplinary environmental education program focusing on wildlife education. Available for elementary or secondary grade levels.
Project Wild Aquatic
Western Regional Environmental Education Council.
A follow up of Project Wild focusing on aquatic wildlife and habitats.
Ranger Rick's Nature Scope Series
National Wildlife Federation, began in 1985.
A series of periodicals including activities by theme such as insects, mammals, wetlands, and trees.
Save Our Seas
The Center for Marine Conservation and The California Coastal Commission, 1993.
Interdisciplinary activity guide about oceans and marine pollution.
Schoolyard to Barnyard to Your Yard
Hidden Villa Environmental Education Program, 1992.
Describes many activities suitable as pre- and post-outdoor education activities.
Sharing Nature With Children
Joseph Cornell, Ananda Publications, 1979.
Sensory and exploratory outdoor activities.