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. We work in partnership with the Fresno County Office of Education, Madera Unified School District, and Fresno County Parks to provide experiential learning opportunities for grades K-12.  If you are associated with a specific field trip program (Fresno Unified 3rd Grade or Madera Unified 6th Grade) please click the link for your program below.  If you are not affiliated with either of these programs and would like to schedule a field trip please click the General Field Trips (1st-6th grades) link or the River Buddies Pre-K link below.  If you need any assistance with field trip registration, please contact Molly Schnur-Salimbene at 559-248-8480 ext. 104 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

General Field Trips

Fresno Unified 3rd Grade Field Trips

Madera Unified 6th Grade Program

River Buddies Pre-K/K Field Trips

 

RIVER DOCENTS WANTED! MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIFE OF ANOTHER PERSON

OUR FIELD TRIP, NATURE WALK, AND CANOE TEAM DOCENTS AND VOLUNTEERS ARE THE INSPIRING HEART AND SOUL OF OUR ORGANIZATION.

If you enjoy being outdoors, want to stay active and healthy, want to give back, and can volunteer for weekday or weekend programs to raise awareness and enjoyment of the natural world around us, contact Molly Schnur-Salimbene at 559-248-8480 extension 104. Click here for more information. 

General 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.  The River Docent will lead one of the activities - usually the Nature Walk - and the adults that the school brings will lead the other 2 or 3 activities.  All activity materials and supplies will be provided. 

Click here to view the River Field Trips Overview Slideshow for more information on our field trips.

LOCATIONS

Coke Hallowell Center for River Studies (River Center) - 11605 Old Friant Rd, Fresno, CA - Owned 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 1180s Ranch House, Hidden Homes habitat nature walk, demonstration orchard and vineyard, and open spaces.  **The River Center does not currently offer direct river access.**  Click here for a map to the River Center.

Owl Hollow - Located next to the River Center - *New in 2020* Owned and operated by the River Parkway Trust, Owl Hollow is a riverfront property with outdoor amphitheater, picnic shelter, direct river access, and secluded feel.  This location is located next to the River Center, but uses a different access point and requires a short (less than half mile) drive down a flat dirt road. (Available beginning in April 2020). 

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 condition and availability of shared facilities cannot always be guaranteed.

*Please note, 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.  

TIME FRAME

Very flexible and dependent on bus scheduling.  Trips are usually from about 9:30 am to 1pm.  Students bring lunch and eat on site.

PRICE

$190 per classroom 

No charge for adults accompanying the class (2-4 chaperones per class recommended)

Maximum 4 classrooms, minimum 1 classroom per field trip. 

All trips must be paid in advance of the field trip date.  

REGISTRATION 

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. Once you register a River Parkway Trust staff member will contact you with additional information.  

All dates for Spring 2020 are currently booked.  2020-2021 season dates will open later this Spring.

ACTIVITIES AND CURRICULUM

All activities listed below include grade level specific NGSS correlations, pre-trip information, full activity information, and post-trip follow up activities.  Most activities below are easily adapted for any grade level; teachers are welcome to choose activities from outside of their grade level as part of their trip.  If you have questions regarding choosing the activities for your trip, contact our office at (559) 248-8480 ext. 104.

Recommended for All Grades:

1st Grade Activities

2nd Grade Activities

3rd Grade Activities

See below in 'Fresno Unified 3rd Grade Field Trips'

4th Grade Activities

5th Grade Activities

 

Fresno Unified 3rd Grade Field Trips

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The San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust and Fresno Unified School District have partnered to provide engaging outdoor education experiences for 3rd grade classrooms.  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 35-35 minutes on each activity.  The River Docents will lead the majority activities; teachers should be prepared to lead 1 activity.  All activity materials and supplies will be provided.  Additional trip information can be found here.

LOCATIONS

Coke Hallowell Center for River Studies (River Center) - 11605 Old Friant Rd, Fresno, CA - Owned 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 1180s Ranch House, Hidden Homes habitat nature walk, demonstration orchard and vineyard, and open spaces.  The River Center does not currently offer direct river access. Click here for a map to the River Center.

Owl Hollow - Located next to the River Center - *New in 2020* Owned and operated by the River Parkway Trust, Owl Hollow is a riverfront property with outdoor amphitheater, picnic shelter, direct river access, and secluded feel.  This location is located next to the River Center, but uses a different access point and requires a short (less than half mile) drive down a flat dirt road. (Available beginning in April 2020). 

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 condition and availability of shared facilities cannot always be guaranteed.

*Please note, both 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.  

TIME FRAME

Very flexible and dependent on bus scheduling.  Trips are usually from about 9:30 am to 1pm.  Please plan to arrive at your field trip site as closely as possible to 9:30 am. Students bring lunch and eat on site.

PRICE

$190 per classroom 

No charge for adults accompanying the class (2-4 chaperons per classroom recommended)

Maximum 4 classrooms, minimum 1 classroom per trip.

All trips must be paid in advance of the field trip date.  Upon completion of online registration a copy of the invoice will automatically be sent to FUSD for processing.

ACTIVITIES & CURRICULUM

The San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust partners with the FUSD Curriculum & Instruction to provide activities that meet CA NGSS standards.  Click on the name of the activity below for more information, including NGSS correlations, pre-trip information, activity description, and associated post-trip projects. 

FUSD 3rd Grade River Field Trips Slideshow 

REGISTRATION 

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. 

All dates for Spring 2020 are currently booked.  2020-2021 season dates will open later this Spring.

 

Madera Unified 6th Grade Program

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In the 2019-2020 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 recieve 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.

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:

  • What is a watershed? (Activity: Crumpled Paper Watershed)
  • How does water move through the water cycle? (Activity: The Incredible Journey)

Classroom preparation materials (to be used by teacher prior to in-class presentation): 

Phase 2: River Center Field Trip:Your school's 6th grade classrooms will visit the River Center and rotate through 3-4 activities. *Teachers may be responsible for leading 1 activity during the field trip. 

Topics and activities to be covered:

  • River formation (Activity: Stream Science)
  • Seed dispersal (Activity: Seed Survival)
  • Exploring nature & habitat (Activity: Guided Binocular Nature Walk)
  • Limiting resources & carrying capacity (Activity: Habitat Jenga) **4th activity for schools with 4 classrooms only.  Teacher may be responsible for leading Habitat Jenga.**

Classroom preparation materials (to be used by teacher prior to field trip):

 Phase 3: Sycamore Island Field Trip

Topics to be covered:

Classroom preparation materials (to be used by teacher prior to field trip):

 

River Buddies Pre-K Field Trips

Bring your pre-K or Kindergarten class to the River Center for a 2 hour docent-led field trip.  River Buddies Field Trips follow one of 3 themes (Bug Buddies, Bird Buddies, or Pond Pals) and typically include a nature walk, craft activity, song and story time, and interactive or sensory activity.  Field trips usually take place from 9:00 am - 11:00 am, though timing is flexible.  Cost is $8/child with a $80 minimum.  There is no charge for chaperones.  Click here for a program overview.  

Register Now - Click on your preferred date below.

All dates for Spring 2020 are currently booked.  2020-2021 season dates will open later this Spring.

 

For more information regarding the River Parkway Trust's field trip programs, contact Molly Schnur-Salimbene at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (559) 248-8480 ext. 104.