School Tours and Programs
Two Hour Tours
Led by trained nature guides, Eagal Lake Nature Academy offers walking tours and interactive activity stations that help educate students about the San Joaquin. Tours and programs convey the importance of native plants, cultures of indigenous people and natural history of California. Designed to engage students through hands-on activities, tours and programs align with the history-social science content standards for California public schools. School tours and programs are conducted from September through the beginning of June.
Tours and programs fill quickly. Payment must be made in advance. We accept MasterCard, Visa or checks made payable to Eagal Lakes Resort. Sorry, we no longer accept purchase orders.
A maximum of 50 students can be accommodated per start time, per trail, for the one-hour tour or a two-hour program. Rotations are possible (50 per start time, per trail ) when accommodating 100-200 students from one school.
We require one adult to accompany each group of 10 students. We ask that adults do not bring toddlers or infants to guided school tours or programs. School tours and programs are conducted outdoors and involve walking on uneven pathways. Advise students and adults to dress appropriately.
“Take home” activities are available (prices vary $.50- $2.50) with either program. “Take Homes” are projects created while they explore (this will add time to your field trip). Example, sediment sticks are created by each student during their trail walk. They have a tube provided by our staff. In that tube they will add items such as dirt, rocks, wood, clay, and chalk gravel, then add water. This gives them SEDIMENT…. And they can see how water changes it as it moves. Take home activities must be scheduled in advance so we can have the supplies available the day of your field trip.
We also have other Trail programs with limited stations. Contact Anne if you have a different activity in mind for your students.
Please notify the coordinator for students with special needs.
For more information, please call (209) 640-4252 or email anne@eagallakes.com
An Hour of Guided Exploration +
Walking tours led by nature guides
Cost: ________ per person/per hour (teachers free). Minimum 10 paid participants. If students are staying for lunch and fun time the average field trip is 2 hours per group of 50. “Take home” activity is additional fee and time.
Free bus parking.
A Sensational Walk
Students use their fingers, noses, eyes and ears to observe their environment and the sensory properties of plants.
Many of us rely heavily on the sense of sight to explore our surroundings. Nature guides will lead students through the Trails and encourage them to use their senses to gather information about the environment. Sight, smell, hearing and touch all come into play as children are introduced to native plants along the paths.
(K-4, special needs, seniors)
A Sense of California
Explore the diversity of California’s geography, habitats and native plants.
Our Trails showcase California’s unique plants and their distinctive habitats. It is a dynamic place, constantly changing with the cool and heat of the day, the cycles of flowering plants, the migration of birds, and the infinite transformations in nature that come with the predictable cycle of seasons. This introductory tour of the Eagal Lake Trails is adaptable for students of various ages and caters specifically to their quest for knowledge about California’s natural heritage.
(K – 12 and adults)
Two-hour Trail programs
Walking tours led by nature guides with activity stations
Two-hour Trail programs include, but are not limited to “Tracking, who goes there?”, “A Bird's Life," “Native Partners" and "Web of Life." For more programs which include hands-on activity stations see our program list.
Cost: _________ per person/per hour (teachers free). Minimum 20 paid participants. If staying for lunch, shopping and fun the average field trip is 3 hours long. “Take home” activities are additional fee’s and time.
Free Bus parking.
Tracking, who goes there?
Throughout the trails you will find many footprints in the sand, but who do they belong to? Students will investigate and decide which wild animal roams at night in that specific area.
(k-12)
A Bird’s Life: Adaptation and Survival Strategies of Birds
This program helps students examine the unique physical structures (feathers, bones, beaks, feet) and behaviors (flying, nesting, feeding) that enable birds to survive in diverse habitats. A walk through the Trails offers views of numerous native and migratory bird species
Third grade: Addresses life science content standards for third grade.
Native Partners: California Plants and California Indians
California Indians have had a complex understanding of their environment that was historically critical to their survival. Today, Native Indians living in California continue to practice traditions and customs handed down through many generations. Participating in activities that demonstrate how California Indians selected, gathered, prepared and used a variety of native plants for food, tools, medicine and basketry, students can learn valuable lessons about living with the land.
Third and fourth grades: This program augments social studies curriculum on California Indians for fourth grade.
Web of Life: The Study of Ecological Relationships and Diversity of Life
Many species of plants and animals living throughout the trails are involved in complex ecological relationships. Students will investigate relationships between specialized creatures that inhabit various ecosystems. Hands-on activities include a pond water pollution experiment and owl pellet dissection.
Fourth through sixth grades: This program focuses on food webs, energy flow and interdependence among living organisms.
The Nature Academy school programs are designed to encourage exploration and fun in learning. Each program is modeled after specific aspects of California proficiency standards. Our staff members are trained and dedicated professionals with a long-term commitment to environmental education and conduct all programs.
What a great way to take your classroom teachings in science and history to the great outdoors.docx
