| Audubon Outdoor Adventures |
a hands-on science program for 4th - 6th grade classes |
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| microscope |
feather study |
pond water study |
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Developed in 1992, our outdoor discovery program has received high praise from local educations, and is used as a national model of excellence by the National Audubon Society. The 2 1/4 hour interactive program is designed for 4th, 5th, and 6th grade classes, and is offered on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 9:30 to 11:45 AM. The program fee of $5 per student includes a copy of Birds of the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary for each student, plus the loan of our teacher Field Trip Curriculum Kit. |
Minimum
number of students 30
Maximum number of students 68 |
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| CLASSROOM PREPARATION |
| We loan teachers
a Field Trip Curriculum Kit three weeks in advance of the trip.
It contains posters, wetland and math activities, an audio-cassette
of bird calls, and a bird research project which includes a
taxidermy bird specimen and bird field guides. Each student
receives our 28-page illustrated field guide Birds of the
San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary. |
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| PROGRAM ACTIVITIES |
| We divide 68 students
into 4 small groups, each led by an experienced naturalist.
Students complete 2 worksheets of their observations and conclusions.
Their goal is to discover how wetlands are an important habitat
for birds! |
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| BIRD WALK (1 hour) |
| What are birds doing
in the wetlands? Students use binoculars to observe/identify
common birds and behaviors as they walk around the freshwater
ponds and meadow. Binoculars are loaned to each student. |
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| POND LIFE STUDY (1/2 hour) |
| What are birds eating
in the wetlands? Students use microscopes to observe/identify
common microscopic species. They measure water quality and determine
adaptations of aquatic animals for underwater life. Microscopes
are provided for each student. |
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| BIRD ANATOMY (1/2 hour) |
| Students observe
taxidermy specimens to compare species, based on shape and sizes
of beaks and feet. They handle feathers and bones to learn what
makes a bird a bird. |
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| What teachers
say about Audubon Outdoor Adventures: |
| "This is a
wholly worthwhile and excellent program. The students enjoy
the preparation activities before arrival. It is very exciting
to recognize a bird in the field that was studied in the classroom." |
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| "The program
is exceptional. The field trip to the Audubon Center is the
highlight of their six-week long period. It is also a great
"lead-up" for our week at Outdoor Ed. in the mountains." |
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| "It is excellent!
The preparation materials were amazingly well-organized, insightful
and educational. Thank you for all the resources! The tours
were wonderful, very hands-on, providing lots of opportunities
for discovery and exploration." |
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| "The guides
were very knowledgeable and friendly." |
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| "You provide
information and activities that are educational and interesting
to kids. Most importantly, students develop understanding an
appreciation for wetlands!" |
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| ABOUT THE SITE |
| The San Joaquin
Wildlife Sanctuary is a 300-acre freshwater wetland on the grounds
of the Irvine Ranch Water District. It is home to many different
kinds of egrets, herons, ducks, hawks, shorebirds and songbirds.
Other wildlife includes rabbits, coyotes, raccoons, tree frogs,
lizards, butterflies, and dragonflies. |
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| Hours:
Sanctuary
trails are open daily from sunrise to sunset. Audubon House
is open daily between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. |
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| Location:
The
San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary is located at 6 Riparian View, Irvine. Use directions below; do not use Google. Entrance for our facility is from Campus Drive, not from Michelson. |
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| Directions: From
the San Diego Freeway (405), exit on Jamboree toward Newport
Beach. At the 1st signal (which is Michelson), turn left. Continue
on Michelson (past the old entrance to the SJWS) to the 5th
signal which is Harvard and turn right. Drive to University
& turn right. Drive to Campus & turn right. Stay in
far right lane and immediately turn right onto Riparian View
which will enter the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary. (There
is a dark green sign by the turnoff identifying this as the
route into the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary.) At the end
of the road, you will make a sharp left turn down a steep
driveway and into the parking lot. The 1st building you will
see will be Audubon House; the Duck Club is adjacent to Audubon
House. Beyond this area are the ponds and marsh mitigation
areas of the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary which are open
every day from dawn to dusk. . . . (If you miss the turn on
to Riparian View, and reach Carlson, which is the next signal,
just turn right and go around the block again to Harvard.) |
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| Directions: From
Pacific Coast Highway (1),
exit on Jamboree and head inland through Newport Beach to
Irvine. Turn right on Michelson. Continue
on Michelson (past the old entrance to the SJWS) to the 5th
signal which is Harvard and turn right. Drive to University
& turn right. Drive to Campus & turn right. Stay in
far right lane and immediately turn right onto Riparian View
which will enter the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary. (There
is a dark green sign by the turnoff identifying the route
into the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary.) At the end of the
road, you will make a sharp left turn down a steep driveway
and into the parking lot. The 1st building you will see will
be Audubon House; the Duck Club is adjacent to Audubon House.
Beyond this area are the ponds and marsh mitigation areas
of the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary which are open every
day from dawn to dusk. (If you miss the turn on to Riparian
View, and reach Carlson, which is the next signal, just turn
right and go around the block again to Harvard.) |
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| Questions?
Contact
Project Director of Marsh Education, Trude Hurd, at Audubon
House (949-261-7964) or by email at
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| To
schedule an Audubon Outdoor Adventures school tour: contact
Project Director of Marsh Education, Trude Hurd at
(949-261-7964) or by email at
,
or contact Trude's assistant, Deborah Brin, at
(949-261-7963) . |
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| AUDUBON OUTDOOR ADVENTURES REGISTRATION FORM: |
| Click here
for a copy of the Audubon Outdoor Adventures Registration Form.
Print it out, fill it in and mail it to: Tour Programs. Sea
& Sage Audubon Society, 5 Riparian View, Irvine CA 92612. |
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| Thank
you for your interest! |
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