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K-12 Education at the Environmental Learning Center
The John Inskeep Environmental Learning Center (ELC) is a place where all ages can learn about the environment through hands-on, interactive activities that are both educational and fun!
We offer K-12 class field trips, day camps and a preschool program - all designed to enrich student learning through outdoor education. Students get to explore, interact with, measure and create within the lush outdoor surroundings of the ELC, which contains both forest and wetland habitats.
For more information about opportunities, contact sarah.bidwell@clackamas.edu.
Children attending ELC programs are expected to follow Oregon's immunization policy. Please visit the Oregon Health Authority for more information.
ELC programs for kids
The Environmental Learning Center offers three field trips that will immerse your students in discovering and exploring the beautiful wetland and forest ecosystems.
These programs are available to all, but thanks to support from Clackamas Water Environment Services, the city of Gladstone, the city of Oregon City and Oak Lodge Water Services, we are able to offer a limited number of free watershed health field trips to schools located within their districts (please see our supported schools list).
- Who: Ages K-5 (classroom with teachers)
- When: Two hours (select days), fall 2022 and spring 2023
- Where: Environmental Learning Center, Oregon City campus
- Cost: Pricing varies depending on school district and class size. Please inquire with our Children's Program Director for pricing details to ensure you register for the correct field trip: sarah.bidwell@clackamas.edu.
LET'S GET DUCKY: DISCOVERING WETLAND WILDLIFE
Grades: K-1
Wetlands make up only about 5% of the earth's surface, yet they are crucial habitat for a wide array of plants and animals. During their visit, students will learn about several species of wildlife that live in and around our wetland. Field trip activities include solving wildlife mysteries, playing wildlife games and observing the wetland.
NGSS alignment: Relationships in the Environment (K-LS1-1, K-ESS2-2, K-ESS3-1), Exploration of Plants and Animals (1-LS1-1).
WELCOME HOME: EXPLORING WETLAND AND FOREST HABITATS
Grades: 2-3
Wetlands and forests are important habitats to a diversity of plants and animals. This field excursion will give your students a better understanding of how these habitats provide clean water, food, shelter and space. Field trip activities include discovering macroinvertebrates in the wetland, exploring micro habitats in the forest, building wildlife shelters and observing the wetland.
NGSS alignment: Diversity of Life (2-LS2-1, 2-LS4-1), Growth and Development of Organisms (3-LS1-1), Traits and Organisms Influenced by Environment (3-LS4-3, 3-LS4-4).
HEALTHY WATERSHEDS: HOW DO WE GET THERE?
Grades: 4-5
We all live in a watershed, but what does that really mean? In this field trip, a variety of activities and games will engage students in learning about the inter-connections that exist within a watershed, including how our actions can impact the water quality, the people and the wildlife within it. Students will measure the quality of water in our wetland and experiment with the role that soil plays in filtering pollutants from the water.
NGSS alignment: Natural Hazards and Steps to Reduce Their Impacts (3-ESS3-1), Interpreting Earth Features from Maps (4-ESS2-2), Using Science to Protect Earth Resources and the Environment (5-ESS3-1)
For more information, contact Sarah Bidwell, ELC Kids' Education Coordinator, sarah.bidwell@clackamas.edu.
Nature Striders is the Environmental Learning Center’s preschool program for ages 2 – 5. This program will give you and your little one a chance to explore nature together through activities like story time, crafts and walks in the forest/wetland habitat. Each session includes both indoor and outdoor activities, so be sure to dress for the weather!
Who: Ages 2-5 and their caregivers
Cost: $10 per child (caregivers are free)
When: Programs are held on the third Wednesday of the month, 10-11:30 a.m.
Where: Environmental Learning Center at the Oregon City campus
Upcoming programs
- Sept. 21, 2022: Spiders
Discover the diversity of fascinating spiders and their intricate webs. - Oct. 19, 2022: Trees are Terrific!
Meet and learn about the superheroes of the forest: trees! - Nov. 16, 2022: Fungus Among Us
Discover the rich variety of fungus living all around us. - Dec. 21, 2022: Winter’s Slumber
Learn about some of the animals that take long naps in the winter. - Jan. 18, 2023: Tracks: Clues that Tell a Story
Solve track mysteries and learn to "read" the tracks left behind by our wildlife neighbors. - Feb. 15, 2023: T-Rex at the ELC?
Observe and discover the modern-day dinosaurs living all around us: birds! - March 15, 2023: Whoo-oo is it?
Learn about owls and their special features that make them silent hunters of the night. - April 19, 2023: Frogs Hop to it!
Explore the wetland for different kinds of frogs that live in our area. - May 17, 2023: Mamma Built a Little Nest
Explore and discover the variety of bird nests in and around our wetland. - June 21, 2023: The Salamander Room
Learn about our amphibian friends, the salamanders, explore our wetland area for salamanders and create our own salamander "rooms."
Thanks to our sponsor Clackamas River Water Providers!
The ELC’s Nature Spy Explorer Kits are sent right to your door and have all the supplies your budding naturalist will need to learn, create, and play for the winter. Engaging crafts, fun facts and playful activities will help them discover the natural world that surrounds them – from the comfort of home and neighborhood! Kits are designed for children ages 4-8, although we hear that older children enjoy them too.
The kit includes:
- Easy to follow instructions
- Materials for creating one nature-themed craft
- Nature journal page with fun facts
- Activities to keep them exploring all week long
- A nature guide or storybook
Three Wild About Winter explorer kits:
- Nature Spy tracker
Use air-dry clay and paints to make animal tracks. Make a Track Trap and see who’s out and about in your neighborhood at night! Head outside to play tracking bingo. Use the journal page to reflect on wildlife signs in your neighborhood or park, and try to solve the track mystery. - Mosses, Lichens and Ferns - Oh My!
Design and build a beautiful terrarium of mosses, lichens and ferns. Record your observations and get creative in inventing a new lichen species! Go on a scavenger hunt to find a variety of mosses, lichens and ferns in your local natural area. - Whoooo are the Owls?
Build a nighttime forest scene with owls hiding in the trees and glow-in-the-dark moon and stars. Explore owl habitat, hiding places and signs of owls and color an owl picture. Dissect an owl pellet and discover what your owl ate!
Cost:
- $35 each (includes shipping)
- Limited number of scholarship (free) kits available
Shipping:
- Kits are available to order now
- Shipping begins Dec. 1, 2022
For questions about our explorer kits, email Jill Sorber at jill.sorber@clackamas.edu
Winter Break Camp: Winter Survival Games
It may be cold and wet outside, but nature is full of activity and wonder. Hands-on activities, crafts, and active games will engage campers in exploring how plants, animals, and people get through winter. Each day of the camp will focus on a different aspect of winter survival.
- When: Monday, Dec. 19-Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022
- Grades 1-2: 9 a.m.-noon
- Grades 3-5: 1-4 p.m.
- Cost: $175 for one week of half-day camp
- A limited number of scholarships are available
For more information, email Sarah Bidwell, ELC Kids' Education Coordinator, sarah.bidwell@clackamas.edu.
Thanks to support from Clackamas Water Environment Services, Oak Lodge Water Services and Gladstone Public Works for making these programs accessible to students in their districts.
What: Join us virtually as one of our instructors leads you on an exploration of a specific aspect of the Environmental Learning Center watershed habitat.
We would love to take comments and questions from you or your students during the programs (if your school allows online interaction).
Join us on Zoom, or view a recording at your convenience. Using Google Meets? No problem. We have instructions for sharing a Zoom screen through Google Meets.
For each program that you register, you will receive:
- Zoom link to the livestream program
- Student activity sheet
- Recording of the episode
When: Every Tuesday (ten episodes total), Jan. 10 – March 14, 2023. Attending all episodes is not required.
Wild About Water (register here)
- When: 10-10:20 a.m.
- Grades: K-3
Wild in The Wetland (register here)
- When: 10:30-10:50 a.m.
- Grades: 4-5
Schedule:
- Jan. 10: (K-3) Go With The Flow
(4-5) Where Are You in the Watershed?
- Jan. 17: Mighty Tiny Wetland Creatures
- Jan. 24: Plants With Wet Feet
- Jan. 31: (K-3) Beavers – Nature’s Builders
(4-5) Watershed Health Art Project
- Feb. 7: Animal Homes
- Feb. 14: Wetland Wildlife in Winter
- Feb. 21: Duck, Duck, No Goose
- Feb. 28: (K-3) Nature’s Recyclers
(4-5) Raccoon The Masked Bandit
- March 7: Water Check-up
- March 14: Water on the Move
We are excited to offer virtual field trips for educators thanks to support from Clackamas Water Environment Services, the city of Gladstone and Oak Lodge Water Services!
WATER IS LIFE
Grades: K-2
Description: Every drop of water around us could ultimately be linked to the life-sustaining waters in our rivers. In this engaging virtual field trip, students will explore the wetland and surrounding forest at the Environmental Learning Center. They will explore aquatic life, the movement of water in the ecosystem and the concept that healthy water supports life everywhere.
WELCOME TO THE WATERSHED
Grades: 3-5
Description: Watersheds are home to lots of animals, plants and waterways that are connected to each other in interesting ways. In this field trip, students will learn about how trees and other plants provide food, shelter, and places for animals to raise their young, and the special role that wetlands play in cleaning the water. They will also explore what it means for water to be healthy and how to give water a health check-up.
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ELC K-12 event updates
Clackamas Community College is closely monitoring the coronavirus (COVID-19) and continues to follow the guidance of the Oregon Health Authority, Clackamas County Public Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As restrictions are lifted at the college, we are excited to bring students, teachers, and families back to the ELC for programming and events. School field trips are scheduled to return this spring. Check the website for date announcements, as we will update information as it becomes available.