Bring your school or scout group on a guided hike of the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve!
Explore the many wonders of Bolsa Chica! Students will get to experience the wetlands first-hand with an expert guide. The Bolsa Chica Conservancy offers a full spectrum of educational opportunities and activities for students in grades TK-College. Our programs align with the Next Generation Science Standards and are tailored to suit the age, grade, and maturity level of our participants.
We cover all aspects of wetland ecology, watershed protection, biology, and history, with an emphasis on conservation and restoration. Visiting students will come to understand the importance of wetland habitats as well as the role they play within the larger water cycle. Students are encouraged to consider the role they play in maintaining the health of our watersheds, wetlands, and oceans, and how ultimately, we are all connected.
Program Activities
The Bolsa Chica Conservancy strives to align all of its education programs with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) – the California state standards for science, grades K-12. The goal of NGSS is to give educators the flexibility to design learning experiences that stimulate students’ interests in science and prepare them for college, careers, and citizenship. When exploring the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve with the Conservancy, teachers and students can expect the following standards to be addressed in some capacity (with more in depth and additional coverage provided upon request):
K-LS1-1, K-ESS2-1, K-ESS2-2, K-ESS3-3
1-LS3-1, 1-ESS1-1
2-LS4-1, 2-ESS1-1, 2-ESS2-3
3-LS2-1, 3-LS3-2, 3-LS4-3, 3-ESS3-1
4-LS1-1, 4-ESS3-2
5-LS1-1, 5-LS2-1, 5-ESS2-2
MS-LS1-4, MS-LS1-5, MS-LS2-1, MS-LS2-2, MS-ESS3-3, MS-ESS3-4
HS-LS2-3, HS-LS2-4, HS-LS2-6, HS-LS2-7, HS-LS4-5, HS-LS4-6, HS-ESS2-5, HS-ESS3-6
History also plays a big role in the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve. While not as prevalent in the Conservancy’s programs, some aspects of local history are critical to understanding Bolsa Chica. Teachers and students can expect the following standards to be addressed in some capacity (with more in depth coverage provided upon request):
K.1.1, K.4.1, K.6.3
1.1.2, 1.2.4
2.2.4, 2.4.1
3.1.1, 3.1.2, 3.2.2, 3.2.4, 3.3.3, 3.4.1
4.2.1, 4.2.3, 4.2.7, 4.4.6
5.1.1
The Conservancy also engages with scout groups! Our education programs are flexible and able to be adjusted for many scouting opportunities. Leaders and scouts looking to complete the following badge/adventures can look to the Conservancy for assistance in the following activities:
Girl Scouts
Daisy Scout Badges
Clover Petal, Animal Observer, Trail Adventure, Eco Learner,
Math in Nature (1-3), Outdoor Art Maker, STEM Career Exploration
Brownie Scout Badges
STEM Career Exploration, Trail Adventure, Bugs, Eco Friend,
Hiker, Wonders of Water Journey, Math in Nature (1), Outdoor Adventurer
Junior Scout Badges
Animal Habitats, Flowers, STEM Career Exploration
☆ If you have another badge/journey idea for your troop, please don’t hesitate to let us know!
Scouts of America
Tiger Scouts
My Tiger Jungle
Wolf Scouts
Paws on the Path
Bear Scouts
Fur, Feathers, and Ferns
Webelos/AOL Scouts
Into the Wild; Into the Woods
☆ If you have another adventure/achievement idea for your den/pack, please don’t hesitate to let us know!
If you are a part of a different scouting organization, and are still interested in visiting Bolsa Chica for an outing, please don’t hesitate to let us know. We’d love to work with you as you and your scouts explore the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve!
Description: Explore the many wonders of Bolsa Chica! Students will get to experience the wetlands first-hand through a guided nature hike within the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve and tour of the Bolsa Chica Conservancy interpretive center. Subjects covered during the program can include, but are not limited to, wetland ecology, plants and animals, adaptations, food webs/chains, watersheds, the importance of wetland habitats for migration and flyways, California endemic species, abiotic and biotic factors, flood control, pollution control, and endangered species. With hundreds of animal and plant species to be found while exploring Bolsa Chica, every visit is guaranteed to be a unique experience.
Duration: 1-2 hours Suggested Donation: $6.00 per student*
Before your field trip to Bolsa Chica, introduce your students to the wetlands using these free introductory packets!
[Pre-Visit Kindergarten]
[Pre-Visit Grades 1-2]
[Pre-Visit Grades 3-5]
[Pre-Visit Grades 6-8]
[Pre-Visit Grades 9-12]
Description: Create your own unique animal while learning about adaptations in this STEM-based craft activity! Students will learn about different types of adaptations and how they are used to help animals survive in the wild, and then create their very own animal out of oven-bake clay that they can take home and complete with their family.
Duration: 30 minutes Suggested Donation: $4.00 per student (when combined with the guided hike; $6 alone)*
Description: Make a memorable impression at the wetlands! Students will learn all about the types of animal tracks found at the wetlands and then make some of their own! By mixing together water and plaster, students will bring home a unique animal track from the local wildlife.
Duration: 30 minutes Suggested Donation: $4.00 per student (when combined with the guided hike; $6 alone)*
Description: Get creative while learning about marine life at the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve! Students will learn about the different types of marine organisms living in the wetlands and then bring out their artistic creativity by making paint prints of a fish, shark, or ray!
Duration: 30 minutes Suggested Donation: $4.00 per student (when combined with the guided hike; $6 alone)*
Description: Get your students laughing and learning with Bill Nye the Science Guy and his fun‐filled educational video about wetlands! This engaging video uses exciting demonstrations and humorous images to help kids learn about wetlands. It is a sure way to get your students excited about wetland science!
Duration: 30 minutes Program Detail: Available when partnered with a guided hike or other activity only.
Description: Investigate the changing features of the wetlands and discover some of the birds that call the wetlands home! Students will learn how tides change the wetlands every day, and how low tides help create an all-you-can-eat buffet for the birds. Using binoculars, students will have the opportunity to count birds, record the numbers, and learn to identify some of the birds they see. A group discussion will be facilitated after students have recorded their sightings, so as to discuss the differences between the many bird species within Bolsa Chica.
Duration: 30 minutes Suggested Donation: $4.00 per student (when combined with the guided hike; $6 alone)*
Description: This activity is designed to give students the chance to identify and learn about the many different marsh invertebrates living in and on the mud at the Bolsa Chica Wetlands in a fun and interactive way. Students will be able to see live specimens and view them under the microscope as well. Topics discussed include taxonomy, adaptations, feeding habits, and food webs.
Duration: 30-60 minutes Suggested Donation: $4.00 per student (when combined with the guided hike; $6 alone)*
Description: Dive into this program about the importance of plankton in wetland ecology and how these microscopic organisms make huge impacts on the world. Students will have the opportunity to collect plankton samples from the wetlands using a plankton tow net and observe their findings under microscopes while identifying the various types of plankton found.
Duration: 45-60 minutes Suggested Donation: $4.00 per student (when combined with the guided hike; $6 alone)*
Description: Learn about the different aspects of water quality that inform scientists about the overall health of the water in an ecosystem! Students will be able to test different aspects of water quality (ie. temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, nutrients, etc.) using portable testing kits and comparing full and muted tidal spaces.
Duration: 60 minutes Suggested Donation: $4.00 per student (when combined with the guided hike; $6 alone)*
Description: Students will discover the different plant communities at Bolsa Chica, and learn about special adaptations plants have to enable them to survive in these communities. They will also learn about native versus non-native vegetation and the impacts of invasive species on plant communities. Students will study plant composition in these communities using either the quadrat method (Pound & Clements, 1898) or transect method. (Available during the non-nesting season only! Contact us for more information.)
Duration: 60 minutes Suggested Donation: $4.00 per student (when combined with the guided hike; $6 alone)*