Alton Baker Park School Nature Walks

"The students enjoyed every single stop, explanation, demonstration, and story. We will come back next year."  -- Teacher, Buena Vista Elementary

Walk on the Wild Side!

Watch herons fish in the river and see wildflowers in bloom. Catch insects in the ponds and hear the music of songbirds. School children are invited to join our trained volunteer guides on weekdays in the fall or spring for morning nature walks in the Whilamut Natural Area of Alton Baker Park.

Walk groups are always small (six to nine kids) and each child who joins us takes home a copy of EXPLORE, our seasonal youth newsletter highlighting nearby natural areas and nature activities.

Note: Non-school youth groups or families hosting birthday parties are welcome to request walks with us during non-school hours and seasons.

Morning Nature Walk Themes

Link your walk to topics you are exploring in class or with your youth group. Choose from: Critter Quest (aquatic insects and other wild creatures), River Quest (water and geology), Conservation Quest (conservation and recycling in nature), Kalapuya Quest (our area’s original residents), Nature Detectives (a bit of everything), or Kinder Quest (shorter walks for pre-school and kindergarten children). Our knowledgeable and talented guides use nature games, hands-on exploring, and stories to make each walk educational and age-appropriate.

Afternoon Adventures

Treat your 1st-5th grade students to a whole day of discovery by adding an afternoon of adventure to their outdoor learning experience. After their morning nature walk, your students will split into larger groups and spend two hours rotating among three discovery areas: pond study (kids use dip nets themselves), creative writing and art, and large group nature games.

Program Details

• School Programs Cost (fall/spring): Morning nature walks for 1st-5th graders cost $3.25 per child. Kinder Quest walks cost $2.75 per child. Afternoon Adventures for 1st-5th graders are an additional $2.25 per child. For information about available scholarships, see Registration Forms and Scholarship Information.
• Non-School Group or Birthday Walks Cost: Non-school nature walks cost $3.50 per child with a minimum charge of $50 per group.
• Capacity: We can serve up to 60 kids per day during our school program sessions. For youth groups and birthday parties, we can serve up to 50 kids per adventure. All groups must bring one adult chaperone for each six to nine kids.
• School Program Times: 1st-5th grade walks run from 9:30-11:45 am. Unless other plans are made, students eat lunch during their walks. Optional Afternoon Adventures run from 12-2 pm. Kinder Quest walks run from 9:30-11 am. Times can be modified for different school schedules.
• Non-School Group or Birthday Walk or Times: Non-school and birthday walks last one-two hours. Times are subject to volunteer availability.
• Location: Alton Baker Park is accessible by LTD, school bus, car, or bike. School programs begin in front of the Science Factory (2300 Leo Harris Pkwy.). Parking is available. Non-school programs begin in the same spot or outside the Alton Baker Park Host Residence or Yurt. Note: If you are only planning a morning walk with Nearby Nature, we suggest you contact the Science Factory for an afternoon tour (682-7888).

Registration

To register for a school nature walk see Registration Forms and Scholarship Information.

Scholarships

Thanks to EWEB, the Staples Foundation for Learning, and the Jill Heinman Fund of the Oregon Country Fair, scholarships will be available for a limited number of schools to attend our school nature walks program for free during the 2010-11 school year. Information about these scholarships is available by clicking Registration Forms and Scholarship Information.