School Programs
THPRD's Environmental Education School Programs are exciting, outdoor, hands-on, minds-on experiences. Objectives for the programs are aligned with Oregon State science standards. Our experienced environmental educators provide small group instruction and foster memorable outdoor learning experiences that cannot be duplicated in a classroom. These programs are available only to school groups. Fee and reservation information can be found at the end of this page.
Survey for Teachers
We are continually working to offer programs that meet the needs of teachers and their students. We are looking for feedback from teachers that have taken our programs in the past as well as those that have not. We would greatly appreciate you taking 5-10 minutes of your time to fill out this environmental education survey for teachers. Thanks in advance.
Program Offerings
Nature "Sense-ations"
How do animals use their senses to survive in the Nature Park? Follow a raccoon's path as you smell, feel, listen, and observe your way around the park. Through activities and games, students will compare their five senses to those of animals in the Nature Park.
Months available: September through June
Grade levels: Kindergarten-1st
Length: 1.5 hours
Home Again, Home Again
The park's mosaic of plant and animal "neighborhoods," known as habitats will be our grounds for exploration. Students will go on a habitat hunt, explore micro-habitats, and play the competition game as they try to determine what makes up a habitat and what lives in various habitats.
Months available: September through June
Grade levels: 1st-2nd
Length: 2 hours
Bug Safari
By exploring several habitats within the park, students will go on a bug hunt! They will look at bug characteristics and learn about some of the adaptations that bugs have in order to survive. We'll search for spiders, centipedes, and other spineless creatures using sweep nets and magnifiers.
Months available: September, October, April, May, and June
Grade levels: 1st-5th
Length: 2 hours
We All Need a Seed
How do tiny seeds turn into a huge tree? Using the forest as our classroom, students will find out by going on a forest scavenger hunt, playing seed bingo, and learning basic classification skills.
Months available: September through June
Grade levels: 1st-3rd
Length: 2 hours
Amazing Adaptations
In this program, students will investigate the different body parts and behaviors that help the plants and animals in the Nature Park survive. They'll take a close-up look at life in the Tadpole Ponds, discover the secrets of plant survival, and examine the teeth, skulls, and pelts of local animals to see their amazing adaptations.
Months available: September through June
Grade levels: 2nd-4th
Length: 2 hours
For the Birds
Play a bird beak game; discover what makes a bird a bird, what they need to survive, and where they live in this egg-citing class. Participants will examine bird specimens and use binoculars on a "birding" expedition in the park.
Months available: September through June
Grade levels: 2nd-6th
Length: 2 hours (2.5 hours for 6th graders)
Rainforest Connection
Most people think of a rainforest as near the equator with giant flowers and tropical birds. But in fact there's a similar rain forest right here in Oregon! Discover the connection between temperate and tropical rain forests as we search for wildlife, study the many layers of the forest, and find out how people and nature are connected to rainforests here and far away.
Months available: September through June
Grade levels: 3rd-6th
Length: 2 hours
Forest Recycles
Using a cedar grove as a classroom, students will learn about the life cycle of trees. They'll find out what creatures inhabit the area's many snags, use microscopes and observation tools to discover the "stuff in duff," see how fallen logs give life to new trees, and learn how disturbances like wind, beavers and people can change a forest.
Months available: September through June
Grade levels: 3rd-5th
Length: 2 hours
Nature's Detectives
This program offers the opportunity to learn about who eats who in the forest. Students will learn the basics of animal tracking, use "animal evidence" to figure out what an animal has eaten, and learn about the food web through a hands-on activity that demonstrates the food chain.
Months available: September through June
Grade levels: 4th-5th
Length: 2 hours
Field Study
This hands-on program is a great introduction to our region's natural history and meets several benchmarks. Students will study dichotomous keys, plant communities, classification, and animal characteristics.
Months available: September through June
Grade levels: 6th
Length: 2.5 hours
Middle and High School Programs
Individualized programs for higher grades can be made by special arrangement. Contact the program coordinator to discuss possibilities.
Come On Your Own
If you are interested in bringing your class for their own self-guided hike, please give us a call ahead of time at 503/629-6350 so that we know to expect you and can direct you to areas of the park that won't be as congested.
Connecting Children to Their Neighborhood
We are continually working to introduce people of all ages to the nature in their neighborhood. If you would like to know more about arranging a program at a park within walking distance to your school, please call us to discuss the possibilities.
Reservation Information
Group size: 14-36 students per program, up to two programs per day.
Time: Programs generally run between 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Availability: Weekdays, September through June (unless otherwise stated). Programs run rain or shine. We are now taking reservations for the 2011-12 school year. Please call to reserve your spot for a nature field trip.
Cost:
Prices are listed below. If you do not have sufficient funding available for the program or for transportation, we have scholarships available for qualifying classrooms. Please contact Elisa Joy Payne for details.
Kindergarten (1 1/2 hour) Programs
$7.00/student
1st-5th Grade (2 hour) Programs
$8.00/student
6th-12th Grade (2 1/2 hour) Programs
$9.00/student
Chaperones and teachers are free. Groups that fail to show up on the day of their reservation will be billed for the full program fee. Cancellations must be made in writing at least 14 days in advance to accommodate our staffing schedule. If your school is outside the Beaverton School District please call for pricing. Prices are valid through June 2012.
Registration: To register, please contact Elisa Joy Payne, program coordinator at the Interpretive Center at 503/629-6350. Please have the following information ready:
- Contact person (first and last name)
- School name, phone number, address, grade level and number of students
- Program choice
- First and second choice date preferences
Upon confirmation you will receive a Teacher's Guide filled with trip information, pre and post-visit activities, and a map of the park to help you get the most from your outdoor experience.
