School & Group Environmental Science

Morning: Gather in the dining hall for breakfast, pack backpacks and prepare for the day.

Instructional Day on Trail: Spend the day in small learning groups led by a professional NatureBridge educator. Students engage in collaborative, authentic scientific learning experiences in a safe and supportive environment. These experiences are designed to support Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and student’s social and emotional development. 

Sample Activities 

• Study the adaptations of tide pool creatures in an intertidal marine touch tank.
• Collect and identify macroinvertebrates from Rodeo Pond.
• Engage in rock inquiry and explore 200 million years of geologic history.
• Visit the Point Bonita Lighthouse and observe seal behavior from the coastal bluffs.
• Hike to the top of Hawk Hill or Hill 88 and enjoy 360° views of the San Francisco Bay.

Afternoon/Early Evening: Return to campus to reflect, relax and unwind while school chaperones supervise. Dinner in the dining hall gives everyone a chance to share their trail stories.

Evening: NatureBridge educators facilitate evening programs selected by group coordinators that could include a short night hike, campfire or beach visit to look for bioluminescent plankton. Students then return to the dorms and get ready for bed.

Marine Science: Students visit coastal, lagoon and rocky intertidal habitats while exploring human impacts on the ocean and estuarine resources.

Terrestrial Plants & Animals: Students gain an understanding of the components and intricate interconnections of terrestrial ecosystems while exploring issues such as resource management, habitat loss, and conservation.

Watershed Studies: Students learn about the structure and function of aquatic ecosystems, the role of water in terrestrial systems, how their actions affect the world's oceans regardless of their distance from it and how the ocean affects all of us, in turn.

Earth & Physical Science: Students engage their scientific inquiry skills to discover why this region, as well as their home community, has developed over geologic time to have its unique character.

Climate Change (5th grade and up): Students begin to define and understand climate change by learning about the carbon cycle, the greenhouse effect and phenology.

NatureBridge environmental science educators bring our programs to life. Our skilled and passionate educators provide inclusive and culturally responsive programming that challenges students to step out of their comfort zones and connect to themselves and one another. Our staff have a Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent work and training experience, cleared background checks and are certified to manage risk in the field. 

The energy and passion our educators have for engaging with youth and the natural world is a vital element of our success.

Connect to SCIENCE + NATURE +  SELF AND OTHERS: Students experience personal growth, build interpersonal skills, gain science knowledge, strengthen critical thinking skills and act as environmental stewards. NatureBridge strives to create an impactful and lasting educational program for every student.