Home

WSTA EEAW Conference Field Learning Opportunities

We will be featuring a day of "Field Learning Opportunities" this year which will include 
clock hour credit. 
Field Trip #1
Quilcene School’s Garden and Compost Program (a.m.)/ Sound Experience 
(p.m.) 
Candice Cosler, Quilcene School District/ Megan Addison, Sound Experience (Maximum 45 people) 
  
The Jefferson County School Garden and Compost Program works with over 500 students in two 
school districts.  Students learn how to garden and compost, learn where their food comes from, learn 
about nutrition & observe the inter-relationship with nature.  Students snack on food they have grown 
and grow some food for the school’s cafeteria.  This experience teaches them to make healthier food 
choices.  Join Sound Experience as you step aboard a 98-year-old schooner, Adventuress, and learn 
how she can be used as a platform for teaching about our unique Puget Sound ecosystem.  Take the 
opportunity to look at plankton samples, tour the boat, and learn about the unique day-long and 
overnight programs offered aboard. 
  
Field Trip #2
Taylor Shellfish (a.m.)/ Quilcene School’s Garden and Compost Program (p.m.) 
Jennifer Hopper, Taylor Shellfish / Candice Cosler, Quilcene School district 
Participants will learn about some of the many education opportunities with Taylor Shellfish Farms 
with a trip to a state of the art shellfish hatchery, located in Quilcene, at the north end of Hood Canal.   
In addition to production for commercial shellfish growers, a portion of the facility is used for a 
variety of research projects.  Participants will learn about the shellfish and how they are grown as well 
as challenges facing shellfish farmers in our changing environment. The Jefferson County School 
Garden and Compost Program works with over 500 students in two school districts.  Students learn 
how to garden and compost, learn where their food comes from, learn about nutrition & observe the 
inter-relationship with nature.  Students snack on food they have grown and grow some food for the 
school’s cafeteria.  This experience teaches them to make healthier food choices.   
  
Field Trip #3
Salish Sea Expeditions (a.m.) / IslandWood (p.m.) 
Stephen Streufert, Salish Sea Expeditions and IslandWood 
Salish Sea Expeditions will host a half-day sailing excursion aboard a 61’ sailing research vessel, 
with the primary focus centered on inquiry-based learning.  We hope to share approaches and 
activities that integrate field science inquiry and classroom curricula.  We’ll introduce inquiry-based 
learning theory as an accessible method to facilitate hands-on field-based science experiences and that 
promote students’ efforts to create interesting, relevant, and technically feasible research designs.  
IslandWood's experience will center around a group discussion on the topic of Sustainability
Education (led by our educators), a sharing of best practices from our perspective on how to take kids 
out of a standard classroom setting and how to use the environment as a context to teach science and 
other academic subjects.  The half-day program will also include a tour of IslandWood’s incredible 
campus.  
  Field Trip #4  See Description for Field Trip #3 
IslandWood (a.m.) / Salish Sea Expeditions (p.m.) 
  
Field Trip #5
Port Townsend Marine Science Center  
Judy D’Amore, Port Townsend Marine Science Center (Limited to 24 people)  
Experience the beauty of the Fort Worden and at the same time discover some tools for teaching with 
inquiry while exploring the mysteries of marine invertebrates in live exhibits. You’ll create and direct 
your own investigations as students as we highlight some elements of an inquiry structure that you 
can use to teach science content through inquiry.  All day trip.   
  
Field Trip #6
Hurricane Ridge Guided Snowshoe Walk  
Dean Butterworth, National Park Service (Limited to 30 people)  
  
Participants will join a range for a guided hike along Hurricane Ridge exploring how the extreme 
winter conditions found on the ridge influence the lives of the flora and fauna that inhabit this 
beautiful part of Olympic National Park.  The walk is considered moderately strenuous.  After the 
walk participants can warm up in the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center and the enjoy the movie in the 
auditorium  
  
Field Trip #7
More than a Dam Tour - Elwah River Restoration Tour - Elwah Valley,
Olympic Nat. Park  
Dean Butterworth, National Park Service (Limited to 24 people)  
  
Visit the Elwah River and see the dams one last time!  The largest dam removal and river restoration 
project in U.S. history is entering the dam removal stage.  Participants will meet the range at the 
Olympic National Park Visitor Center and from there the tour will take participants to the mouth of 
the Elwah River, the Elwah Dam the Elwah River between the dams and the Glines Canyon Dam.  At
various stops participants will learn about the effects the dams have had on the ecosystem and the 
anticipated effects when dams are removed starting in 2011.  Participants will also have the 
opportunity to participate in activities designed for students to measure sediments, large woody debris 
and water quality.  Learn about this historic project and bring back a few ideas for your classrooms or

environmental education programs.    

Share this