Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center - School Programs
Pricing information is available here (180KB PDF).
WETLAND FIELD STUDY PROGRAMS
Explore bog, marsh, pond, slough and forest habitats with a half field-based and half lab-based fieldtrip from September - June. Use scientific equipment to examine wetland life including looking at macroinvertebrates on "Bug TV" with our video microscope. Field Study Programs require one adult participant for each group of fifteen K-8th grade students. Adults are free of charge. All programs address the revised Washington State K-12 Science Standards (131 KB PDF). We have also included a link to the OSPI Science Standards page for your convenience. Call (206)443-2925 to register.
Habitat Wonderers -- Grades: K-2 -- Length: 3 hours with break for lunch
Ever wonder what makes a habitat? Search the wetlands for wildlife and compare them to animals in a forest habitat. Become an animal and figure out what kind of habitat you need to survive. In the lab, examine aquatic life in pond samples with a variety of magnifying tools. This program is compatible with the Insect and Tree FOSS kits, along with the Organisms STC Kit.
Soil Adventurers -- Grades: K-2 -- Length: 3 hours with break for lunch
Roll up those sleeves - it is time to explore soils! During the wetland hike, examine the characteristics of different soils, using soil probes and your senses. In our lab, use magnifying lenses to identify the recyclers that live in wetland soils and experiment with a sedimentation tube. Discover the recipe for soil soup and find out why we should conserve this resource. Program developed to enrich the Soils STC kit, but can be taken without the kit.
Wetland Naturalists -- Grades: 3-5 -- Length: 4 hours with break for lunch
Experience the secrets of a bog and make the earth move under your feet. As a naturalist, compare wetland soils and take pond samples to study in the lab. Encounter the challenges of a migrating bird and the importance of wetlands. Use microscopes and other scientific tools to study and learn about the organisms collected from the pond.
Ecosystem Explorers -- Grades: 4-5 -- Length: 4 hours with break for lunch
Come to the Slough and explore how a wetland ecosystem works. Collect pieces of the wetland food chain and hunt for plants and animals that keep the wetland healthy. Play a game to learn the differences between an ecosystem and a community. Using microscopes, examine the sun's energy flow through the pond's organisms. This program compliments the STC Ecosystem kit.
Wetland Ecologists -- Grades: 6-8 -- Length: 5 hours with break for lunch
Identify wetland plants using a dichotomous key, delineate wetland habitats and compare wetland soils using a soil probe. In the lab, collect pond organisms and determine their pollution tolerance levels. Test pond water for pH and dissolved oxygen levels. Program is great with the FOSS Diversity of Life and Chemistry kits.
We thank the Bellevue Red Lion Hotel for their generous support of our
programs by offering parking for our school bus groups.
Soil Investigators -- Grades: K-3 -- Length: 1 hour
Investigate the world under your feet. Use scientific tools to collect creatures from samples of soil. Then use our portable video microscope to examine soil organisms up close and to learn about their secret underground lives. Investigate the layers and textures of soils and discover why soil is a precious resource. Lab designed to enrich the Soils FOSS kits but can be taken without the kit. Up to 30 students per program.
Wetland Waters -- Grades: 1-5 -- Length: 1 hour
Explore pond dips from the Mercer Slough with various scientific tools. Use tolerance levels to identify the aquatic creatures and infer the health of the pond. Choose an aquatic organism and use your observations and research skills to record data. Share your findings with our video microscope. Up to 30 students per program.
Boneheads -- Grades: 1-4 -- Length: 1 hour
View, hold and feel the skulls and bones of various animals. Explore questions like how can you tell the difference from a predator and prey by their skull? What do their teeth tell us about their diet? Then explore and disassemble an owl pellet that gives you a rare peek into what an owl eats. Up to 30 students per program.
SNOWSHOE SCIENCE GROUP EXPEDITION
Animal Tracking -- Grades: 4-12 -- Length: 4 hrs.
Take your class into the winter wonderland of Snoqualmie Pass for an exciting snowshoe adventure. Meet at Snoqualmie Pass then follow the trail of a snowshoe hare, ground squirrel or raven. Look for signs of animal life, including tracks, scat, fur, burrows, and more. Learn how animals adapt to winter environments. Participate in introductory activities, then strap on snowshoes and hit the trail! Prior snowshoeing experience is not necessary!
To register for school programs, call (206) 443-2925.
This program requires 15 - 25 participants with one adult per five students. $28/student, participating adults that maintain required ratio are free (1 adult per 5 students). Additional adults are charged $28/ea. The fee includes snowshoes, an interpretative guide, and one Sno-Park parking pass per five participants. Program is offered December - March or as long as good snowshoeing conditions prevail.
School Group Assistance at Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center is provided by the Russell Family Foundation.
