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, K-5 livestream programming 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, please contact Sarah Bidwell, kids education coordinator, at 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.

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ELC programs for kids

School Field Trips, K-5 (Fall 2024-Spring 2025)

The Environmental Learning Center offers three field trip options, all providing interactive, hands-on learning at the ELC’s wetland and forest ecosystems. Field trips are two hours long.

Thanks to generous support from the agencies listed below, and their commitment to healthy watersheds, some field trips are available at no cost for schools in their districts.

Who: Ages K-5 (classroom with teachers)
When: Two-hour field trips are offered in fall 2024 and spring 2025
Where: Environmental Learning Center, Oregon City campus
Cost: Pricing varies depending on school district and class size.

For more information, email Sarah Bidwell, ELC kids education coordinator, 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.

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, going on a habitat safari, building wildlife shelters and observing the wetland.

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, experiment with the role that soil plays in filtering pollutants from the water and sample the water for macroinvertebrates.

For more information, contact Sarah Bidwell, ELC kids education coordinator, sarah.bidwell@clackamas.edu.

Sponsor logos (Clackamas WES, Oak Lodge Water Services, Gladstone, Oregon City)

Career Exploration Field Trips (Grades 6-12)

Nature Striders Preschool Program

Livestream: Wild About Water (Winter 2025)

Water Wizard Nature Spy Explorer Kits - Summer 2025

Interested in donating to the ELC?

Your donation is tax deductible, and your generosity helps us continue to offer all our programming and scholarship opportunities.

Donate to the ELC