School Field Trips
(Includes FUSD 3rd & 4th grade GOAL2 trips)
Take your class to the river!
- The River Parkway Trust began offering school field trips to the river in 1989 and continues to be a leader in the field, offering trips for pre-K through 8th grade. Upon request we can also provide educational experiences for high school or college groups. If you need any assistance with field trip registration, please contact Teresa Magana at 559-248-8480 ext. 215 or tmagana@riverparkway.org.
1st-5th Grade River Field Trips
Give your students the opportunity of a lifetime with an outdoor education experience along the San Joaquin River. Field trips typically consist of 3-4 activity stations including nature walks, educational activities and games, and art or poetry. The Docent in charge of your trip will meet your group as it arrives, provide an opening presentation to the whole group, and then the students will divide into groups and proceed with the activities. Groups rotate from station to station, typically spending about 45 minutes on each activity. Our staff and volunteers will lead the majority of the activities, but teachers may need to lead one station (typically the scavenger hunt). All activity materials and supplies will be provided. If you have questions regarding choosing the activities for your trip, contact our office at (559) 248-8480 ext. 215.
Activities and Curriculum
All activities are aligned with grade-level-specific NGSS standards and include pre-trip materials, detailed activity descriptions, and post-trip follow-up activities.
Most activities can be adapted for any grade level; teachers are welcome to select activities outside their grade level with advance notice.
The San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust partners with local school districts to develop field trip curriculum that meet California NGSS standards.
Time Frame and Price
TIME: 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM, with flexibility depending on bus schedules. We are happy to adjust timing if transportation providers are informed in advance. Time is allotted for students to eat lunch on-site.
PRICE: $325 per classroom (up to 30 students). An additional fee will apply for groups exceeding 30 students.
Adult chaperones. A 7:1 student-to-chaperone ratio is allowed.
Each trip can accommodate a minimum of 1 classroom and a maximum of 4 classrooms.
Payment will be required in advance of the scheduled field trip unless alternative arrangements have been made.
Registration
To sign up, please use the link below. We allow for a maximum of 4 classrooms per trip. If you are registering more than 4 classrooms, please schedule multiple field trip dates to ensure proper accommodations.
Locations
All field trip locations are outdoor locations with full bathroom facilities. Field trip activities take place outdoors with the goal of introducing students to the local environment. Please have students dress accordingly.
Coke Hallowell Center for River Studies (River Center) - 11605 Old Friant Rd, Fresno, CAOwned and operated by the River Parkway Trust, the River Center is a more maintained facility offering historical, natural, and educational experiences to students with our 1880s Ranch House, Hidden Homes habitat nature walk, demonstration orchard, vineyard, and open spaces. **The River Center does not currently offer direct river access. **
Owl Hollow - Located next to the River CenterOwned and operated by the River Parkway Trust, Owl Hollow is a riverfront property with an outdoor amphitheater, picnic shelter, direct river access, and a secluded feel. This location is located next to the River Center but uses a different access point and requires a short (less than half a mile) drive down a flat dirt road.
Lost Lake County Park - 16385 N Friant Rd, Friant, CA A Fresno County Park, Lost Lake offers a historic nature trail, park atmosphere, and open spaces along the river. It is a public park, and the condition and availability of shared facilities cannot always be guaranteed.
6th-8th Grade Sycamore Island Field Trips
6th - 8th grade classrooms can join the River Parkway Trust for special field trips that include canoeing and teambuilding as part of the daily activities! All 6th-8th grade field trips take place at Sycamore Island, a 600-acre site with river access located near Children's Hospital in Madera.
Sycamore Island is owned by the San Joaquin River Parkway Conservancy, and managed by the San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust.
Activities
Nature Walk Scavenger Hunt
Canoeing
Teambuilding (ground work and/or portable low elements)
*Other activities may be substituted for the nature walk or teambuilding by request
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Timeframe, Location and Price
TIME: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm. Due to the physical nature of canoeing, trips are only offered October - March of each school year.
PRICE: $1,000 for the first group of up to 25 students, $150 per additional group. To ensure adequate time for canoeing, there is a maximum of 3 groups per trip, each group containing a maximum of 25 students.
LOCATION: Sycamore Island - 39664 Ave 7 1/2, Madera
Registration
To sign up, please use the link below. We allow for a maximum of 3 groups of up to 25 students per group, each trip. If you have more than 3 groups or more than 75 students, you will need to schedule 2 dates.
Madera Unified 6th Grade Program
In the 2025-2026 school year, the San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust and Madera Unified School District are once again partnering to offer a 3-experience program for every 6th-grade classroom. Students will receive an in-class presentation from River Parkway staff or volunteers and then participate in two field trips along the San Joaquin River. During each experience, they will do activities and play games that highlight the river ecosystem and reinforce Next Generation Science Standards.
If you need any assistance with field trip registration, please contact Teresa Magana at 559-248-8480 ext. 215 or tmagana@riverparkway.org.
PROGRAM CURRICULUM AND TEACHER RESOURCES:
Phase 1: In-Class Presentation:
A River Parkway Trust docent will come to your classroom and provide a ~60-minute presentation including games and activities.
Topics to be covered in the presentation:• What is a watershed? (Activity: Crumpled Paper Watershed)• Water cycle review (Activity: The Incredible Journey)
Phase 2: Owl Hollow Field Trip:
Your 6th-grade classrooms will visit Owl Hollow and rotate through 3-4 activities. *Teachers may be responsible for leading 1 activity during the field trip.
Topics and activities to be covered:• Nature Walk• Salmon Lifecycle (Activity: Hooks and Ladders)• Low Ropes Course Teambuilding• Habitat Jenga and Oh Deer *4th activity for schools with 4 classrooms only. Teachers may be responsible for leading Habitat Jenga and Oh Deer*
Classroom preparation materials:• Pre-trip Information Slide Show • Liability Release Form (English) or Liability Release Form (Spanish) -ALL students, teachers, and chaperones that wish to participate in teambuilding on any of the built elements MUST submit a completed Liability Release Form to the lead Field Trip Docent on the day of the trip.
Phase 3: Sycamore Island Field Trip:
To sign up, please click on your preferred date below. You will be notified if your selected date is unavailable. We allow for a maximum of 4 classrooms. If you have more than 4 classrooms you will need to schedule 2 dates.
Topics to be covered:• Aquatic habitats, water quality, and naturalist art (Activities: Creepy Crawly River Critters and Naturalist River Art)• Exploring nature (Activity: Photo Scavenger Hunt)• Outdoor recreation (Activity: Canoeing!) • Team Building Games *4th activity for schools with 4 classrooms only. Teachers may be responsible for leading Team Building Games*
Classroom preparation materials:• Pre-trip Information Slide Show *Please review the slide show with your class prior to the trip-- especially the canoeing basics and videos!*• Canoe Liability Release Form (English) or Canoe Liability Release Form (Spanish) - ALL students, teachers, and chaperones that wish to canoe MUST submit a completed Liability Release Form to the lead Field Trip Docent on the day of the trip.
River Buddies Pre-K/K Field Trips
Activities and Curriculum
River Buddies Field Trips typically include a nature walk, craft activity, song, and story time, and interactive or sensory activity.
Program activities will follow one of 3 themes:• Bug Buddies• Bird Buddies• Pond Pals
Time Frame and Price
TIME: 2-hour docent-led field trip. Field trips usually take place from 9:00 am - 11:00 am, though the timing is flexible.
PRICE: Cost is $15/child with a $150 minimum. There is no charge for chaperones. Maximum of 50 pre-K/K attendees per trip.
All trips must be paid in advance of the field trip date.
All trips must be paid for in advance of the field trip date unless other arrangements are made in advance.
Registration
To book a River Buddies field trip, please contact Anneliese Wagner at awagner@riverparkway.org.
