Teachers Guide to Surviving a Field Trip to the Wetlands


This page is dedicated to preparing teachers for their trip to Augusta Springs Wetlands. Below are materials and samples of what the process will be like.

First of all, you can call or email Sandy Greene (Sandy.Greene@va.nacdnet.net 540-248-6218 ext 3) at Headwaters Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) for information about field trips to the Wetlands. She can help facilitate the day or you can run it yourself. Here is another letter you would receive as a typical Wetland field trip overview. Typically teachers use 6 learning stations chosen from the list and rotate 6 equally sized groups to these stations. These groups rotate through the stations, visiting each station about 20 minutes so the formal part of the day will usually last from 10am to noon. Bring bag lunches and have lunch on the boardwalk and kids may be shocked to see a giant dragonfly nymph and adult. You should arrive at 9:45am and will be greeted in the parking lot.

After scheduling a field trip date (and a raindate) with Sandy, you will receive a letter than is similar to the following:
confirmation letter pg1
confirmation letter pg2

When you arrive, someone will greet you in the parking lot. The kids will be arranged in groups and taken to meet their volunteer station leaders. (If you, or someone you know is looking for an opportunity to volunteer, visit the volunteer page) There will be an short opening and the parents/chaperones will receive a bingo card. It has items on it to look for in the wetlands and gives the students opportunity to explore while traveling between stations. It also gets the adults involved as well! See a sample Bingo card. You can also create your own Bingo with this bingo template.

A volunteer program is often difficult to plug in individuals who work well with children. The model that has worked the best at Augusta Springs is for the elementary school to recruit their own high school students to host the station. This way a partnership is formed that can be continued every year. The kids adore the teens. We can help coordinate and set up the materials.

Augusta Springs is proud to provide students opportunities for a Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE). To learn more about what fits the definition of a MWEE, click on the following links.
MWEE pg1
MWEE pg2
MWEE pg3
MWEE pg4



Checklist:
  • Bag lunches
  • Name Tags for everyone (inc chaperones) with group name or symbol on them (try our Name Tag template)
  • Check the weather for appropriate attire (Compared to Staunton weather, in the fall it's slightly warmer and in the spring it's slightly cooler bc of the water.)
  • Suggest students wear old cloths. Also warm layers (esp in the fall) for the extended outdoor time. Bring hats and gloves.
  • Trash Bag - We ask that school bring trash bags, and take their own trash away with them since trash can space and volunteer trash haulers are very limited. Thank you.
  • Encourage the use of re-useable containers (to minimize trash and to reinforce the conservation message. We support conservation by providing a recycling center for aluminum, clean, dry paper and cardboard, glass, and #1 and #2 plastics. We'll take care of the recycling.)

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Last modified 11/27/06 2:20 PM by menichol