Make your first stop the CREEC Network - a Searchable Database for Outdoor Education Programs
Altacal Audubon Society
The Altacal Audubon Society has existed since 1955 to encourage conservation, ecological education and the preservation of habitat for birds and other wildlife. We have adaptable indoor/outdoor presentations on ecological concepts and birds, their habitat, birding and scientific studies on birds. We also partner with other organizations to provide a volunteer birder to spot birds, offering a birding perspective.
Grades K-8, programs are both free and fee-based, contact www.altacal.org
Grades K-8, programs are both free and fee-based, contact www.altacal.org
Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park
Adjacent to downtown Chico, the Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park offers the "Maidu Program" that explores ways the natural environment was essential to Native American life and culture. In the "Gold Program", students discover how gold mining changed California's population and natural environment.
Grades 3 and 4, programs are fee-based, contact 530-895-6144 or bidwellmansionpark.com
Grades 3 and 4, programs are fee-based, contact 530-895-6144 or bidwellmansionpark.com
California Urban Streams Alliance - The Stream Team
The Stream Team offers standards-aligned classroom and field trip instruction within nature areas, stream habitats, and parks near most schools. Students participate in citizen science research projects: restoration, watershed assessments, and water pollution prevention. Service learning through the Science Ambassador program is available.
Serves all ages, programs are both free and fee-based, contact 530-342-6620 or thestreamteam.org
Serves all ages, programs are both free and fee-based, contact 530-342-6620 or thestreamteam.org
California Waterfowl Association
California Waterfowl Association (CWA) restores wetland habitat, conserves waterfowl, conducts waterfowl research, educates on waterfowl and wetland conservation and supports outdoor heritage. Our programs include: Federal Junior Duck Stamp classroom program, Wood Duck Wonders classroom program, Walking with Wood Ducks field day, Marsh Madness, Youth Leadership, and Scatastic field days. We also coordinate field trips to local wetlands, private property sites, farms, and wildlife refuges.
Serves all ages, programs are both free and fee-based, contact 916-648-1406 x 102 or calwaterfowl.org
Serves all ages, programs are both free and fee-based, contact 916-648-1406 x 102 or calwaterfowl.org
Chico Creek Nature Center
The Chico Creek Nature Center offers standards-aligned field trips in Bidwell Park, including: hikes, hands-on labs, and "Meet the Animals." Classroom visits are also available. We also act as a regional training hub for Project WET and Project Learning Tree.
Grades pre-K through 6, programs are fee-based, contact 530-891-4671 or bidwellpark.org
Grades pre-K through 6, programs are fee-based, contact 530-891-4671 or bidwellpark.org
Community Youth Center, Rancho Esquon
Rancho Esquon is a 10,000 acre private, working ranch that features 1,000 acres of restored wetland habitat in Durham. Field trip activities include study of wetlands, wildlife, migration, agriculture, and wildlife-friendly farming. Transportation scholarships are available.
Grades 3 through 6 (other ages can be accommodated), programs are free, contact 530-321-6715 or ranchoesquon.com
Grades 3 through 6 (other ages can be accommodated), programs are free, contact 530-321-6715 or ranchoesquon.com
CSU, Chico Ecological Reserve's Outdoor Classrooms
Hands-on science is available at two sites (Butte Creek and Big Chico Creek) making up a 4,000 acre "outdoor laboratory." Spark children's interest with fun programs, aligned with state standards, inspiring the next generation of scientists and land stewards.
Grades 3 through 12, programs are free and fee-based, contact 530-898-5010 or 530-342-1371 or csuchico.edu/bccer/
Grades 3 through 12, programs are free and fee-based, contact 530-898-5010 or 530-342-1371 or csuchico.edu/bccer/
Earthbound Skills
Our programs are deeply influenced by Native American culture, rooted in an intimate connection to the earth. We offer unique programs that teach survival skills, are customized to meet your needs, and are provided at schools or outdoor field trip sites.
Grades 3 through adult, programs are fee-based, contact 530-513-2542 or earthboundskills.com
Grades 3 through adult, programs are fee-based, contact 530-513-2542 or earthboundskills.com
FISHBIO
Our biologists visit classrooms or go outdoors to present lessons, activities, and crafts that highlight connections between fish, rivers, and people in California and beyond. Programs explore biology, hydro-ecology, technology, and culture, fostering scientific learning and environmental conservation using real data.
Grades 1 through adult, programs are free, contact 530-892-9686 or www.fishbio.com or www.threeriversprogram.com
Grades 1 through adult, programs are free, contact 530-892-9686 or www.fishbio.com or www.threeriversprogram.com
Forebay Aquatic Education Center
Using Common Core standards, design experiences around your educational focus. Day field trips, overnight camping, water safety education and on-the-water boating activities, team building, non-competitive games and off-site adventure programming. Some transportation scholarships may be available.
Serves all ages, programs are free and fee-based, contact 530-774-7934 or www.forebayaquaticcenter.com
Serves all ages, programs are free and fee-based, contact 530-774-7934 or www.forebayaquaticcenter.com
Gateway Science Museum
Gateway Science Museum provides engaging hands-on science exhibits, interactive workshops, activities and science-based demonstrations. Gallery tours, field trips, and birthday parties are available. Explore the native plant garden and organic vegetable garden; partake in programs that focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math).
Serves all ages, programs are fee-based, contact 530-898-4121 or www.gatewayscience.org
Serves all ages, programs are fee-based, contact 530-898-4121 or www.gatewayscience.org
Gray Lodge Wildlife Area
Managed by the CA Department of Fish and Wildlife, this 9,200 acre wetland provides a haven for wildlife. Educational programs and guided tours focus on wetland wildlife and habitat conservation. Programs are engaging and correlate to the latest State Science Standards.
Serves all ages, programs are free and fee-based, contact 530-846-7505 or www.dfg.ca.gov
Serves all ages, programs are free and fee-based, contact 530-846-7505 or www.dfg.ca.gov
GRUB Education Program
GRUB Education Program offers classroom visits that explore all levels of food, from growing to eating to understanding the magical world of food. After the classroom visit, a field trip to the Heartseed Community farm is available, where the classroom lessons will come alive.
Serves all ages, programs are free and fee-based, contact 530-342-1995 or grubchico.org
Serves all ages, programs are free and fee-based, contact 530-342-1995 or grubchico.org
Lake Oroville State Recreation Area and Visitor Center
Guided tours and educational programs focus on the construction of the Oroville Dam and the natural and cultural history of the foothills around the Feather River Canyon. Interpretive programs are also offered at the fish hatchery and in classrooms.
Serves all ages, programs are free and fee-based, contact 530-538-2219 or parks.ca.gov
Serves all ages, programs are free and fee-based, contact 530-538-2219 or parks.ca.gov
Lassen Volcanic National Park
Programs offered include: Winter Ecology Snowshoe Walks, Winter Survival and Snow Shelters, Volcanoes of Lassen with demonstrations, Hydrothermal Features, Lassen Habitats and Communities, and Lassen Peak. Range of program times available. Help planning school field trips is available.
Grades 3 to adult, programs are free, contact 530-595-6132 or nps.org/lavo
Grades 3 to adult, programs are free, contact 530-595-6132 or nps.org/lavo
Northern California Regional Land Trust
Offering professional skills development for educators and young adults, as well as classroom activities and field trips for K-12 students integrating NGSS standards. Emphasis in conservation, ecology, and management of working and wild land resources. Programs available in Spanish.
Serves all ages, programs are free and fee-based, contact 530-894-7738 or landconservation.org
Serves all ages, programs are free and fee-based, contact 530-894-7738 or landconservation.org
Odyssey for Youth
Odyssey for Youth offers team building and leadership, full day or half day high/low ropes courses, assemblies/keynotes, superhero workshops and facilitator training. We can come to you or you can come to our very popular Paradise High Ropes Challenge Course.
Grades 3 through Adult, programs are fee-based, contact 530-342-1650 or odysseyforyouth.com
Grades 3 through Adult, programs are fee-based, contact 530-342-1650 or odysseyforyouth.com
Patrick Ranch Museum
Our programs focus on the area's agricultural development, California history, the evolution of transportation, and earth, life, and physical sciences. An historic home, museum exhibits, orchards and drought tolerant gardens are some of the sites that can be used for programs.
Grades K through 6, programs are fee-based, contact 530-342-4359 or patrickranchmuseum.org
Grades K through 6, programs are fee-based, contact 530-342-4359 or patrickranchmuseum.org
R.A.R.E. (Rubbish Recycling and Re-use Education), Butte Environmental Council
Through games and interactive demonstrations, RARE offers hands-on recycling and composting workshops communicating the importance of appropriate waste disposal practices using the "Four R's" - reduce, reuse, recycle, and rot. RARE also coordinates field trips to the Neal Road Landfill.
Grades K through 12, programs are free, contact 530-891-6424 or becnet.org/RARE
Grades K through 12, programs are free, contact 530-891-6424 or becnet.org/RARE
Sacramento Wildlife Refuge Complex
Programs include: Chompers and Stompers; Migration Madness; Wetlands Walk; Nature's Nests; Discovery Room; and Wetlands, Waterfowl, and Refuges. The Junior Duck Stamp Outreach Program brings a naturalist to classrooms to learn about waterfowl, wetlands, migration and more.
Grades 1 through Adult, programs are free, contact 530-934-2801 or fws.gov/refuge/sacramento
Grades 1 through Adult, programs are free, contact 530-934-2801 or fws.gov/refuge/sacramento