East Bay Regional Parks District: Embrace Life!

Activities » For Educators » Field Trips

East Bay Regional Park District offers unique opportunities to explore the natural and cultural history of the San Francisco Bay Area. Naturalists lead programs at a number of parks throughout Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. General themes are noted in the brochure "Educational Services".

Featured Services

Naturalist-Led Programs

Naturalists provide consulting services to conservation education organizations. Conservation education organizations can contract with naturalists to conduct docent training. For information about our docent training programs, click here.

Naturalists have a wealth of information for teachers who plan to bring their students to the East Bay Regional Parks for field trips. In addition to the programs described in the Educational Services Brochure, Naturalists are available to discuss teachers' objectives for their class and design programs for their specific needs. Teachers will find that environmental education is the perfect theme to make all subjects come alive. For instance, if a teacher wishes to enhance a math program, many activities with trees such as calculating the height, circumference, diameter, and age lend themselves to both math and environmental education. If a teacher were to ask about any subject required by the State of California, s/he would find compatible nature lessons. English-language arts, music, art, science, social studies, history, chemistry, physical education, visual and performing arts provide rich concepts that make up the basis for nature study.

Naturalist programs are very popular and demand often exceeds availability. The staff will accommodate your request as scheduling permits. Requests are filled by lottery/random draw. Naturalist programs are free of charge for Alameda and Contra Costa County residents except for programs at Ardenwood and the Hazel-Atlas Mine Tour at Black Diamond. Please call Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve at (925) 757-2620 and Ardenwood Historic Farm at (510) 796-0199 for fee information (Download Ardenwood's Fit Kid Sandwich flyer here). The hourly fee for residents outside Alameda and Contra Costa Counties is $40 per Naturalist plus the costs of transportation and materials. Back to top

Visitor Center Exhibits

  • Ardenwood Historic Farm: The exhibits feature agricultural practices from the 1870s to the present, demonstrating the transition from horse-powered to horsepower.
  • Black Diamond Mines Greathouse Visitor Center: The center contains displays, photographs, videos, brochures and artifacts depicting the park's coal and sand mining eras. It is open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays beginning the first weekend in March through the last Sunday in November. It is closed on weekdays.
  • Coyote Hills Visitor Center: The exhibits portray the Ohlone way of life, and include a tule reed boat constructed by park staff and volunteers using native American methods. Other exhibits cover the park’s natural history and wildlife.
  • Crab Cove Visitor Center: The Visitor Center features bay creatures in the 800-gallon saltwater aquarium system, use interactive stations for varying age groups to view microscopic animals, build a crab from the inside out, or get a lug worm's view of the mudflats. You'll see amazing depictions of the underwater world of San Francisco Bay. Visit the Crab Cove Visitor Center page for more details.
  • Sunol-Ohlone Regional Wilderness Area: The Sunol Visitor Center is located in the old Geary barn which dates back to 1895. Exhibits inside and outside the barn include a mortar and spear point that were found in Sunol, farm equipment that was used by the Geary pioneers, fossils, rocks and interactive collections, a floor mounted topographic relief of the over 6,000 acres that make up Sunol, a stuffed and mounted cougar, microscopes for viewing aquatic life found in the Alameda Creek, live snakes, frogs, toads and tarantulas in terrariums, and informational panels about the cultural and natural history of Sunol.
  • Tilden Nature Area: The exhibits highlight the story of the Wildcat Watershed. Visit the Tilden Nature Area page for more details.

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Nature Stores

A selection of nature books, note cards, t-shirts, and other items are for sale at Coyote Hills, Crab Cove, Sunol and the Tilden Nature Area. At Ardenwood, groups can pre-order individualized horse-shoes through the Blacksmith. For information call (510) 790-9060 or email scott@ardenwoodforge.com. Back to top

Low Cost Transportation

Low cost transportation is offered to non-profit groups through the Parks Express sponsored by EBRPD, the Regional Parks Foundation, and many generous supporters. Information may be obtained by calling Parks Express at 510-544-2205 or download Parks Express Trip Information and Transportation Request Form (108 kb, PDF, 8.5" x 11, 3 pages).

Note: Transportation and program reservations must be made separately. Reservations for one does not assure reservations for the other.

Public transportation to the parks may also be available. Please visit our Public Transit page for details. Back to top

Reservations

To receive an application, call the visitor center you would most like to visit and ask for an application. One will be mailed to you. Teachers and group leaders must make their own reservations. In this way we can assure that the program is appropriate for the group.

To make program reservations, send an application to the appropriate center no later than the due date. Back to top

Application Deadlines

  • For Summer Programs: Submit an application by 5 p.m. on the 1st of Monday in May.
  • For Fall Programs: Submit an application by 5 p.m. on the 1st of Monday in August.
  • For Spring Programs: Submit an application by 5 p.m. on the 1st of Monday in December.

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Cancellation

Call the visitor center where your program is scheduled immediately if you find it necessary to cancel. Rain will not cancel scheduled programs. We may have to alter your program, but we will be here to meet your group. Back to top

Field Trip Guidelines

You can enhance your upcoming field trip by taking a few moments to go over this checklist. Remember that pre- and post-trip activities are a very important part of the field trip experience, and we can provide you with suggested activities.

  1. Dress Appropriately
    • Shoes: Wear sturdy shoes that can get dirty and wet. No sandals.
    • Clothing: Wear play clothes that can get dirty or wet. Weather is variable. Be sure students have jackets if necessary.
    • Rain Gear: Come prepared for the weather.
    • Name Tags: All students and adult leaders should wear visible name tags. Print legibly and large. Pin-on or stick-on tags are preferred.
  2. Bring Food and Snacks
    • Food is not sold at Black Diamond, Coyote Hills, Crab Cove, Sunol or the Tilden Nature Area. Refrigerators are available for storing some lunch items if necessary (except Black Diamond). If your group has special needs, check with the office. Food may be purchased at Ardenwood only, Saturday and Sunday.
    • Rest rooms, picnic areas, and drinking water are available at all parks.
  3. Arrive at the Scheduled Time: Late arrivals may cause conflicts with other scheduled programs.
  4. Collecting Is Not Permitted: All Parklands are protected. Collecting is not permitted. Help us by making your group aware of this. Our natural resources are limited and fragile. All rocks and animals must be returned to their original position.
  5. Supervision: The Naturalist is a special resource and can do a better job for you if not burdened with discipline. At least one adult leader should be present for every 15 students.

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