Watershed Education Program

Sonoma Ecology Center’s Watershed Education Program offers valuable environmental science instruction for Sonoma Valley students. The program consists of three grade-level science modules for 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th grades, which we are able to offer to schools at no cost thanks to our generous funders and donors. Teachers are encouraged to book classes early, as the calendar fills up fast.

Delivered by experienced environmental educators, each module includes five one-hour classroom lessons and a four-hour field experience. Additionally, our Watershed Education Program modules are designed to support the Common Core State Standards and California’s newly adopted Next Generation Science Standards.

Wildlife Defenders is the 2nd grade module of our Watershed Education Program. This module focuses on concepts of habitat, adaption and survival, natural communities, and life cycles through the lens of the oak woodland ecosystem. Using models and hands-on explorations, students will learn about the specific flora and fauna that make up their local ecosystem, including what they can do as stewards of this diverse natural community. Our field trip is to the Montini Open Space Preserve (located near downtown Sonoma), a beautiful oak woodland with meandering trails.

Fire Followers is the 3rd grade module of our Watershed Education Program. This module focuses on the positive and negative effects of wildfires on our lands and topics such as prescribed burns, fire-dependent plants and animals, soil chemistry and carbon sequestration. The Fire Followers field trip is to the Van Hoosear Wildflower Preserve.

Growing Discovery is the 4th grade module of our Watershed Education Program. Using interactive games and investigations, this module focuses on pollination and pollinators, the structure and function of flowers, food chains, and decomposition. Students will learn how our food is grown and sustainable agriculture concepts, including what they can do to foster a healthy local and backyard ecosystem. Our field trip is to the Sonoma Garden Park, a 6-acre working farm and garden.

Water Wonders is the 5th grade module of our Watershed Education Program. This module focuses on watersheds using our very own Sonoma Creek Watershed as a model. Topics include water conservation, types of pollution and its prevention, the salmon life-cycle and anatomy (with a salmon dissection), and creek ecosystems. Students will learn where Sonoma Valley’s water comes from and goes to, and what they can do to foster a healthy local watershed and ecosystem. Our field trip is to Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, home to the headwaters of Sonoma Creek.

Climate Champions is the 6th grade module of our Watershed Education Program. This module focuses on climate change through a local lens by exploring the impacts of climate change through the elements of air, water, fire, and earth. Using models, simulations, and games, students will learn about the connections between earth systems, and how human impacts can alter these systems. They will engage hands-on in citizen science to monitor the ecosystem of Sonoma Creek watershed and discuss solutions to locally relevant issues. The program consists of three in-class lessons, and a field trip to Sugarloaf Ridge State Park for field-based science and projects.

To find out more or to schedule your classroom, please contact Tony Passantino at tony@sonomaecologycenter.org or 707-996-0712, ext. 124.