Environmental Education

Regional Park naturalists provide environmental education to thousands of children each year through the Environmental Discovery Center, school field trips and classroom presentations. (Teachers, please see the “School Field Trip Information” section below.)

Environmental Discovery Center

The Environmental Discovery Center at Spring Lake Regional Park in Santa Rosa is the cornerstone of our environmental education program. The EDC is staffed by professional naturalists and features interactive displays and activities designed primarily for children 6 to 12 years old. Kids can learn about environmental stewardship and earth science through hands-on exhibits that show them healthy habitats and watersheds.  They can explore a tide pool with live, touchable sea creatures and view live corn snakes and an aquarium full of fish from Spring Lake. They can get up close to a mountain lion, coyote and other taxidermied wildlife. They can hear stories about the earth in the storytelling cavern, play with animal puppets in an outdoor amphitheater and test their parks knowledge in the technology tent.

Visitor information

The EDC is open to the public from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays and is located at 393 Violetti Road, Santa Rosa just inside the entrance to Spring Lake Regional Park. (PDF: 150kB) Admission is free with paid parking ($7 or free with Regional Parks membership ) For more information, call (707) 539-2865.

 

Current programs at the EDC

• Down the Drain - This exhibit running through June 3 follows a raindrop's journey from cloud to creek. Visitors can pretend to be a raindrop by climbing the “cloud stairs” and then “flowing” through a life-size storm drain. This exhibit focuses on the effects of water pollution and preventing storm drain contamination.

• Family Hikes - On the third Saturday of each month, EDC naturalists lead all-ages hikes into the park at 1 and 3 p.m. Families learn more about the park’s wetlands, woods and ecosystems on these outings and then get to complete a fun “eco” crafts project.

• Science Saturdays - On the first Saturday of each month, naturalists host “Science Saturday” experiments at 1, 2 and 3 p.m. Families can join a naturalist for a series of tangible, fun science experiments that explore the world around us.

The Environmental Discovery Center is a partnership established by the Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation with Regional Parks and the Sonoma County Water Agency

School Field Trip Information for Teachers

The Environmental Discovery Center - From August through January, the EDC hosts the “Habitat & Home” field trip, which introduces 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders to ecosystem diversity and the importance of healthy habitats. From February through May, the EDC hosts the “Down the Drain” field trip for 4th, 5th, and 6th graders, which demonstrates a raindrop’s journey from cloud to creek and teaches about the water cycle, the local watershed and the need to prevent storm drain contamination.

“Discovering Science in the Parks” – EDC naturalists lead two earth science field trips for 4th, 5th and 6th graders at Regional Parks in Windsor, Petaluma, Sebastopol, Healdsburg and Sonoma.  “Rockin’ and Recycling” focuses on the properties of common rocks and minerals in the parks and the processes that formed them. Students learn the importance of recycling products manufactured from minerals and rocks. “Weather or Not” focuses on the science behind the weather and weather patterns and helps children understand Sonoma County’s many microclimates.

“Science to Go” – This is a traveling program in which naturalists enliven K-6 classrooms and engage students through science activities, live marine animals and hands-on fun without the need for schools to provide expensive transportation.

Healthy Earth Healthy Bodies – This is a unique field trip to the farm and garden at Tolay Lake Regional Park in Petaluma. The Healthy Earth, Healthy Bodies field trip combines the best in science education while making the connection between protecting natural resources and growing healthy bodies. Students will learn the benefits of eating healthy foods, take a rigorous hike, tour the farm and work in the garden.  

Tolay Fall Festival – School field trips are available during the two weeks of the Tolay Fall Festival in October. Students can interact with farm animals, make traditional crafts, play old-fashioned games, learn about local wildlife through live displays in a historic barn, take hayrides with a ranger and visit a pumpkin patch. This special field trip introduces students to the important role of agriculture and farming in healthy communities.

For additional information or to request a field trip, please download the following brochures and forms and follow the registration instructions.  

School Field Trip Brochure (PDF: 628 kB)
Field Trip Information (PDF: 94 kB)
Request a Field Trip (PDF: 160 kB)