Student Programs
Our student programs, aligned with California’s Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards, help students gain an understanding of Bay ecology and local wetlands, drawing on the connections between human actions and the impact on the environment. Learn more about the opportunities we offer below and discover how your students can experience San Francisco Bay.
Bay Discovery
This in-person program brings students to the shoreline to gain a deeper understanding of San Francisco Bay and our rich relationship to it. Students also have an opportunity to complete a service learning project exhibiting the positive impact we can have on our environment. Save The Bay’s field staff lead students in grade specific educational activities that explore a range of themes. After learning about threats such as flooding, pollution, and invasive species, participants engage in seasonally dependent activities to restore the shoreline and improve habitat for a healthier, more sustainable San Francisco Bay now and for generations to come.
A typical program includes one hour for educational activities and games, and one to two of restoration project time. All of our restoration activities are accompanied by educational and informative games or activities to teach about the importance of wetland habitats to San Francisco Bay. All equipment and instruction is provided; your students should simply be prepared to be outdoors for the day.
GRADES
K–12
SITES
Oakland and Palo Alto
Scholarships for bus transportation are available to Title 1 schools or schools where at least 40 percent of the student body is eligible to participate in the free or reduced-price meal program.
DAYS
Programs are hosted Wednesday–Friday, year-round
TIME
Bay Discovery Programs are three hours in length, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
RESTORATION ACTIVITIES
Depending on the season, activities include mulching and watering, removing invasive weeds, planting seedlings or picking up trash.
THEMES
Bay History & Geology
Bay Ecology & Biodiversity
Watershed Science
Human Impacts & Climate Change
Creative Expression
Virtual Expedition
Join Save The Bay staff on the shoreline from home or from the classroom. We offer virtual field trips by grade bands. Each session includes a short presentation, a live virtual tour of our nursery and the shoreline, and finishes with an activity encouraging students to share what they’ve learned.
Programs are available for customization to support classroom curriculum. Simply let us know your learning objectives and we will tailor the program to meet your educational needs.
GRADES
K–12
SITES
Virtual Programs are run at our Native Plant Nursery on the Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline
DAYS
Programs are hosted Wednesday–Friday, year-round
TIME
The Virtual Program is 1 hour in length, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.
THEMES
K-2: Thinking Like a Scientist – Students practice science by making observations and asking questions.
3-5: Adaptations in the Tidal Marsh – Students investigate the adaptations marsh flora and fauna have that allow them to survive on the shoreline.
Middle School: Ecosystem Explorer – Students join Save The Bay staff in an examination of the living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem.
High School: Ecosystem Services and Habitat Restoration – Students consider the benefits that humans and wildlife gain from healthy marsh
Inquire About a Program
If you are interested in a virtual or shoreline program for your class, use the form below and we will be in touch with availability. We run in-person programs on the MLK Shoreline in Oakland and the Palo Alto Baylands.
