Programs

Field Trips to GEECe:
The Grassland Environmental Education Center is available for tours by prior reservations year around starting November 1, 2006. Visiting school groups hike into the wetlands maintained by the California Department of Fish and Game at Los Banos Wildlife Area, where they explore the fascinating plants, animals, and habitats found on site. Our new field scientists then return to the GEECe facility for further investigations – dissecting owl pellets or analyzing water samples in the lab, playing games that illustrate how wildlife managers and biologist restore lands back into habitat, make connections between the local agriculture companies and the item we buy in the store, or participating in activities that reinforce their understanding of resource conservation.

Sample activity stations with descriptions
            Please see sample activity stations under Activities

Sample schedule –
              9:30am          Arrive, Ground Rules and Introduction to Wetlands/Habitats with hike
            10:15am          Outside activity stations
            11:30am          Lunch
            12:00pm          Inside activity stations
              1:15pm          Conclusions and Discussion
              1:30pm          Departure

School Presentations:
Would you like to reinforce something your students are studying in class, but the district budget doesn’t have the funds for your students to come to GEECe?  What if GEECe came to you?  Most activities at GEECe can easily be transported to your school whether it is activities that normally would be done during a school visit or reduced to a student-interactive presentation by our education coordinator with cool photos, mounts and skulls, activities, and discussion.

Teacher/Training Workshops:
GEECe can provide educators, parents and community members with education on water and the habitats in this area.  Both Project WET and WOW! have background information, curriculum, and activity guides to make learning about science both interesting and fun.  The curriculum and activity guides have been correlated to national and California state standards for most subjects.

            Project WET (Water Education for Teachers)
            Interdisciplinary, hands-on activities to educate about water.
            www.projectwet.org

            WOW!: The Wonders of Wetlands
            Interdisciplinary, hands-on activities to educate about U.S. wetland habitats.
            www.wetland.org

Publications:
Central Valley Joint Venture Habitat Fun Packs
Created with waterfowl and wetlands in mind, fun packs for K-3, 4-6, and junior/senior high school.  Habitat Fun packs can be printed at the below address or picked up from GEECe.
www.centralvalleyjointventure.org/resources/education.php

Wide World of Wetlands Activity Guide
In Spring 2006, Mrs. Sparks’ 4-5 class from Charleston Elementary School in Los Banos created the Wide World of Wetlands Activity Guide for fellow students that participate in one of GEECe’s programs.  The activity guide is full of information, activities, coloring, and information at an elementary school level.