Science Ed 173

Enrichment Opportunities

Fall 2002 Workshops
Date(s)/Time
Description
Cost
More information
September 14, 2002 BAESI Geology Field Trip: Loma Prieta/Lexington Reservoir Free! (or for-credit (@$37/unit) Visit the Bay Area Earth Science Institute Web Page for further details.
September 21 & 28, 2002 Sun-Earth Connection Astronomy Workshop Free! (plus stipend) Visit the Bay Area Earth Science Institute Web Page for further details.
October 5 & 6, 2002 Educators' Weekend: Reopening of the Tech Museum Free! (when registered) Visit the Tech's Web Page after September 10 to sign up for free admission, including IMAX showings of "The Human Body" and "Space Station."
TBA MASTEP Delta River Trip Free! Check in again soon for further details.
October 13, 2002 BAESI Geology Field Trip: Los Trancos, Monte Bello, Russian Ridge Free! (or for-credit (@$37/unit) Visit the Bay Area Earth Science Institute Web Page for further details.
November 16, 2002 BAESI Geology Field Trip: Anderson Lake and Coyote Creek Free! (or for-credit (@$37/unit) Visit the Bay Area Earth Science Institute Web Page for further details.

 

Biology: Zoology

Site
Target Grade(s)/Subjects
Cost
Travel Time
Further Information
California Center for Wildlife (San Rafael) All grades/Life Science, Biology, Ecology Free.  1 1/2 hour This center is a rescue mission for the rehabilitation of native species.  Injured animals are treated, and returned to their environment.  Open 9:00AM-5:00PM Tuesday through Thursday.  Call 415/456-7283 for information.
Coyote Point Museum (San Mateo) Elementary through high school/Life Science, Biology, Ecology Adults: $3.00; ages 13-17 and seniors: $2.00; ages 4-12: $1.00; under age 4: free.  Free to teachers, at all times! 1 hour Open 10:00AM-5:00PM (Monday-Saturday), and 12:00 noon-5:00PM (Sunday).  Closed Mondays after Labor Day.  Call 650/342-7755, or visit their website for more information.
Emma Prusch Farm Park Elementary through high school/Life Science, Biology, Ecology, Geology, Integrated Science Free! 1 hour
Marine World (Vallejo) All grades/Life Science, Biology, Ecology, Physics Adults: $42.99; children: $21.50; seniors, diabled: $32.99; under 3: free.  Parking: $10.00.  Advance tickets are available; many discounts are advertised in newspapers and magazines.  Call for group rates. 1 hour Open Fridays, Saturdays (10:00AM - 11:00PM) and Sundays (10:00AM - 9:00PM) until November 1.  Park reopens in spring.  Call 707/643-ORCA, or visit the Marine World website for more information.
Oakland Zoo  All grades/Life Science, Biology, Ecology Adults: $7.50; ages 2-14, and seniors: $4.50; under 2: free.  Group rates for 12 or more: $4.50 (adults), $3.50 (children).  Parking fees: $3.00 (car)/ $9.00 (bus). 45 min. Open every day 10:00AM-4:00PM, except Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Visit their website, or call 510/632-9523 for further information.
Ohlone Wilderness Middle and high school/Biology, Ecology, Earth Science Free! 1 hour
San Francisco Zoo All grades/Life Science, Biology, Ecology Adults: $9.00; ages 12-17 and seniors: $6.00; ages 3-11: $3.00. 45 min. Open daily: 10:00AM-5:00PM (Main Zoo); 11:00AM-4:00PM (Children's Zoo).  Visit their website, or call 415/753-7083 for group rates and information.

Biology: Ornithology

Site
Target Grade(s)/Subjects
Cost
Travel Time
Further Information
Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve (Watsonville) All grades/Life Science, Biology, Ecology, Earth Science Under 16: free; 16 and over: $2.50 (fee is waived for holders of valid California fishing or hunting licenses)  1 hour Docent-led ours are conducted at 10:00AM and 1:00PM on Saturdays and Sundays.  An early bird-watching tour is conducted the first Saturday of every month at 8:30AM.  The reserve is open 9:00AM-5:00PM, Wednesday through Sunday.  Call 408/728-2822 for more information, or visit their website.
Point Reyes Bird Observatory (Palomarin Field Station, Marin County) Elementary through high school/Life Science, Biology, Ecology Free! 2 hours The field station is open to the public from dawn to dusk every day, including holidays.  Call ahead (415/858-1221) for information on tours and bird-banding.
San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex (Alviso, Fremont) All grades/Life Science, Biology, Ecology, Earth Science, Chemistry Free! 15-30 min. Open all year, 7:00AM-sunset.  The Don Edwards Environmental Education Center (Alviso) offers hikes, tours and educational activities for school groups.  Call 408/262-5133 (Alviso), 510/792-0222 (Fremont) for more information on activities.

Biology: Botany

Site
Target Grade(s)/Subjects
Cost
Travel Time
Further Information
Acres of Orchids (South San Francisco) All grades/Life Science, Biology Free! 45 min. Tours are conducted at 10:30AM and 1:30PM.  Open 8:00AM-5:00PM, except holidays.  Call 650/871-5655 for more information.
Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems (at U.C. Santa Cruz) Elementary through high school/Life Science, Biology, Ecology Free! 1  hour Tours are offered on Sundays (2:00PM) and Thursdays (12:00 noon).  Special tours may be arranged; call 831/459-3248, or visit their website.
Muir Woods National Monument (Marin County) All grades/Life Science, Biology, Ecology $2.00 per person entrance fee, free with Golden Eagle Pass.  Call for school group information. 1 1/2  hour Open all year, 8:00AM-sunset, including holidays.  Visit their website, or call 415/388-2595 for more information on ranger-led activities.
Strybing Arboretum (Golden Gate Park, San Francisco) All grades/Biology, Life Science, Ecology  Free! 45 min. Phone: 415/661-1316.  Tours are available at 1:30PM daily; an additional tour is conducted at 10:30AM on Saturday and Sunday.  The arboretum's hours are 8:00AM - 4:30PM (weekdays), and 10:00AM - 5:00PM (weekends). 
Tilden Park Botanical Preserve (Oakland) All grades/Biology, Life Science, Ecology Free!  1 hour Hours: 10:00AM-5:00PM daily.  Call 510/635-0135 for more information.
UC Berkeley Botanical Gardens (Berkeley) All grades/Biology, Life Science Free! 45 min. Open 9:00AM-4:45PM daily, with extended hours from Memorial Day to Labor Day.  Tours Saturday and Sunday at 1:30PM.  Call 510/642-3343 for more information.
UCSC Arboretum (Santa Cruz) All grades/Biology, Life Science Free! 1 hour Open daily except Christmas and Thanksgiving. Docent-led tours 2:00-4:00PM Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays.  Self-guided tours 9:00AM - 5:00PM daily. Call 831/427-2998 for more information.

Geosciences

Site
Target Grade(s)/Subjects
Cost
Travel Time
Further Information
Black Diamond Mine High school:/Earth Science Free tour, $3.50 parking fee 1 1/2 hour Visit a real mine shaft!  Tours are conducted the first and third Saturday of every month.  For information, call 925/757-2620.
California Caverns, Moaning Caverns, Boyden Caverns Elementary through high school (Moaning Caverns); High school (California and Boyden Caverns)/Earth Science, Biology Varies, with the number of cave tours purchased. Discount coupons available on their website. 2 1/2 hours Visit the website for all California Caverns, or call 209/736-2708.  Caverns are open from 10:00 AM -6 :00 PM (M-F), and 9:00 AM - 5:00 (Sa-Su).
Hayward Fault All grades, Earth Science, Integrated Science Free! 45 min.
Petrified Forest in Calistoga Middle and high school/all science disciplines Adults: $5; 
ages 12-17: $4; 
ages 4-11: $2		 1 1/2 hour Hours: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM.  Call 707/942-6667 for further information, or visit their Website.  It is possible to combine a trip to the Petrified Forest with a visit of Old Faithful Geyser (see below).
Pinnacles National Monument Middle and high school/ all science disciplines $5 per vehicle; school groups may be eligible for a fee waiver.  Call the Park for details. 1 1/2 hour The area is open during daylight hours.  Vivitor Center: 8:00 AM-4:30 PM daily.  Call 408/389-4485 for park information, or visit the NPS Pinnacles Home Page
Old Faithful Geyser Middle and high school/all science disciplines $6 (adults); $2 (ages 6-12) 1 1/2 hour Hours: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM.  Call 707/942-6463 for more information, or visit their website.  See Petrified Forest (above).
Robert Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve Elementary through high school/all science disciplines Free! 45 min. Open daily from 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM.  Call 510/635-0135.  Visit their website for more information.
Yosemite Institute Middle and high school/Geology, Biology, Environmental Science, Ecology Varies with Program 4 hours

Hands-on Museums

Site
Target Grade(s)/Subjects
Cost
Travel Time
Further Information
California Academy of Sciences (Golden Gate Park, San Francisco) All grades/all subjects! Adults: $8.50; youth (ages 12-17) and students with ID: $5.50; children (ages 4-11): $2.00; under 3: free. Admission is free the first Wednesday of every month. Reduced rates for school groups.  1 hour Hours: daily 10:00AM-5:00PM, including holidays.  Admission includes entry to the Steinhart Aquarium and Natural History Museum.  Morrison Planetarium admission is extra.  Visit their website, or call 415/750-7145.
Children's Discovery Museum (San Jose) Elementary through high school/all subjects Adults/Children: $7.00/$7.00  Easily accessible by Light Rail, or parking ($2.00-$7.00 fee). N/A Hours: 10:00AM-5:00PM daily.  Visit their website, or call 408/298-5437 for group rates.
The Exploratorium (San Francisco) All grades/all subjects Adults: $9; university students with valid ID: $7.50; ages 6-17: $6; ages 3-5: $2.50; under 3: free.  Admission is free the first Wednesday of every month. 1 hour Hours: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM.  Call 415/561-0317 (weekdays, 2:00PM-5:00PM) for information on school group rates, or visit their website. For general information, call 415/561-0630.
Lawrence Hall of Science (Berkeley) Middle and high school/ all science disciplines Admission to exhinits, labs and planetarium: $6.00 (adults); $4.00 (students); $2.00 (ages 3-6).. 1 hour Hours: open daily, 10:00AM-5:00PM.  Call 510/642-5132 for information on school groups, or visit their website.
The Tech Museum of Innovation (San Jose) All grades/all science disciplines Adults: $9 (for exhibits or IMAX Theater), $16.00(combination ticket); ages 3-12: $7 (for exhibits or IMAX Theater), $13 (combination ticket).  N/A Hours: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Tuesday-Sunday.  Call 408/279-7150 for more information, or visit their website for more information.

High-Tech Museums

Site
Target Grade(s)/Subjects
Cost
Travel Time
Further Information
Lawrence Livermore Visitor Center High school: upper grades/Physical Sciences, Biological Sciences Free! 1 hour Hours: M-F, 1:30-4:30 PM.  Group tours every Wednesday (reservations required).  Call 510/422-9797 (General Information); 510/422-6408 (Tours); LLNL Web Page
Independence High School Planetarium All grades: Earth Science, Integrated Science, Physics Free! Minimal
Lick Observatory Call for information Free! 1 hour Visitor Center Hours:  M-F, 12:30-5:00 PM; Sa-Su 10:00-5:00 PM.  Free tours are offered every half hour until 4:30 PM.   Call 408/274-5061 for information.  Lick Observatory Visitor Homepage
NASA Ames Research Center 4th grade and up/all science disciplines Free! 45 min.
NASA Ames Home Page
Santa Clara County Water Treatment Facility All grades/Ecology, Environmental Science, Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry, Integrated Science Free! 30 minutes
Stanford Linear Accelerator Suggested for students over 15 with a strong physical science background Free! 35 min. Tours at 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM are avialable; reservations are required.  Call 650/926-2204.  SLAC Tours Home Page
UC Museums at Blackhawk Middle-High School/Technology $8 (adults); $5 (students) 1 hour Hours: W-Su 10:00 AM -5:00 PM.  Call 510/736-2280 for more information or check out their website.

Coastal Localities

Site
Target Grade(s)/Subjects
Cost
Travel Time
Further Information
Ano Nuevo State Reserve (Hwy. 1, twenty miles north of Santa Cruz) All grades/Life Science, Biology, Earth Science Parking: $5.00 (car); $20.00 (bus, under 25 seats); $40.00 (bus, 25 seats and over). 1 hour The reserve is home to elephant seals, and other coastal critters.  Seal viewing hours: 8:30AM - 3:30PM (April through November); the reserve is closed Dec. 1-14, and accessibleby guided walks only Dec. 15-March 31 (breeding season).  See their website, send email, or call 650/879-0227 for more information.
James V. Fitzgerald Marine Reserve (Moss Beach) Elementary through high school/Life Science, Biology, Marine Biology, Ecology Free. 1 1/2 hour Tidal pools!  Hours: dawn to dusk,  daily.  Visit a good (though "unofficial") website compiled by Greg Gladman, or call 650/728-3584 for more information.
Jospeh M. Long Marine Lab (at U.C. Santa Cruz) Middle and high school/Life Science, Biology, Marine Biology, Ecology Admission is free the first Tuesday of every month.  At other times it is $2.00 (adults); $1.00 (students); free for ages 16 and younger. 1  hour Docent-led tours are conducted Tuesday through Sunday, 1:00PM-4:00PM).  Call 831/459-4308 for more information.
Marine Mammal Center (Marin Headlands, Sausalito) Middle and high school/Biology, Life Science, Marine Biology, etc.  Free! 1 1/2 hour The main hospital is open daily, 10:00AM-4:00PM.  Call 415/289-SEAL for information on group tours (must be arranged at least one month in advance), or visit their website.
Monterey Bay Aquarium (Monterey) All grades/all science disciplines Adults: $14.95; ages 13-17, students with ID or seniors: $11.95; ages 3-12, or disabled: $6.95.  Special rates for school groups.  1 1/2 hour Hours: 10:00AM-6:00PM daily.  Call 831/648-4888 for more information, or visit their website.  For group rates and reservations call 831/648-4860.
Natural Bridges State Park (Santa Cruz) All grades/Biology, Life Science, Earth Science Day use fee: $6.00.  Call for school rates. 1 hour Coastal geology is highlighted by James Tait's webpage.  This is also a great place to catch migrating Monarch Butterflies in winter.  Butterfly tours are offered every Saturday and Sunday (11:00AM and 2:00PM) mid-October through February.  Call 831/423-4609 for more information.
Point Reyes National Seashore All grades/Biology, Life Science, Earth Science Free! 2 hours Open all year.  Coastal geology, ecology and spectacular scenery!  Call 415/663-1092, or visit their website for more information.