Day Trips into Nature
Learning in a classroom setting about natural wonders like giant sequoia trees as big as a skyscraper, colorful and diverse ocean tidepools, snow-capped mountaintops or raging waterfalls is inspirational for young minds as they imagine the sensory realities of their great big world around them. But the inspiration and learning curve experienced when they get to encircle a giant sequoia and hold its tiny seed, count the anemones in their own reflection, make their own snowball and feel the mist of a waterfall on their face is almost immeasurable.
Fresno Pacific University’s Wilderness Studies Program offers INSPIRE to regional K-8 schools looking to bring learning to life through outdoor experiences directly tied to state standards and character development. These one to three-day field trips venture into the diverse natural settings of Central California such as our mountains, tide pools, foothills and rivers. FPU Wilderness faculty and staff work with educators to customize a memorable outdoor learning experience that fulfills CA State Standards, accomplishes school-site learning outcomes, grows unity within a class, develops character and confidence in each individual and inspires everyone!
Who:
We prefer taking a maximum of one classroom at a time (30 or less people) on day trips into various natural spaces because this allows for more direct contact to the setting for each student, it lessens the human impact on that setting and it allows us to maintain our ideal teacher-to-student ratio of 1:6 to maximize learning and community principles.
We believe teachers, administrators and parents play vital roles in the learning process, and we encourage all of these entities to join in the experience.
For overnight trips, we require one chaperone/school-site educator for every six students. We also require at least 12 students and no more than 24 students in order to schedule an overnight trip.
When:
Day trips are best suited for weekdays when natural spaces are free of crowds. Trips can also take place during any time of the school year, although seasonal weather may dictate ideal times and locations. We are also fortunate to live in a centrally located place that allows for four to six learning hours in one day. Overnight backpacking or camping trips are generally reserved for middle school classes. These are 2-night, 3-day trips and are offered during the week.
Where:
We have four national parks within 2.5 hours of Fresno (Yosemite, Kings Canyon, Sequoia, Pinnacles) and we love them all. The Sierra Nevada Mountains are one of the finest year-round classrooms imaginable, and this is where we prefer to INSPIRE. But on the way there and much closer to home are our rivers (San Joaquin and Kings) and extraordinary foothills full of geology, cultural history, environmental science/ecology and plant and animal studies. We want to go where you are INSPIRED to go!
Depending on school site limitations regarding time and transportation, we maximize as much time as we have to work with! The outer distance for day trips is a 3-hour one-way drive to the Central Coast or Monterey area. If we must complete the trip within the standard school day, we do not recommend this trip since learning time is greatly limited. River and foothill days are often within a one-hour drive, and all national park's locations are 2.5 or less hours' drive, one-way.
We also work with each school site to build in pre- and post-trip classroom visits to facilitate the layered learning process.
Program Options:
We like to work with school site leaders on the where and the what—where are you INSPIRED to go, and what are we going to focus on learning. These two factors will dictate the kind of itinerary and curriculum that can be built. Some natural settings facilitate certain state standards better than others, so this must be factored in. But at the end of the day, FPU Wilderness Studies Program is creative and nimble—we want to inspire young learners through experiential learning, and we can build an itinerary to suit your needs and desired outcomes.
Cost:
Cost varies depending on the selected trip and the various services we provide or the school site provides. We always provide all curriculum materials, staffing, snacks and drinks, and all logistical pre-planning and trip leading.
Options: Typically, FPU does not provide transportation for the students and school site participants. Likewise, it may be more cost-effective for some schools to provide the student meals. Yet, depending on your needs and budget, FPU can provide both transportation and food.
The general flat rate per participant on a day trip is $65.
The general flat rate per participant on overnight trips is $110 per day which includes all food.
CA State Standards we are able to teach during our INSPIRE trips:
- 1st Grade: LS3-1
- 2nd Grade: ESS1-1; ESS2-1; ESS2.B and C; LS2-2; LS4-1; PS1-1 and 2
- 3rd Grade: LS1-1; LS3-2; LS4-4
- 4th Grade: ESS1-1; ESS2-1; ESS3-1; LS1-1
- 5th Grade: ESS2-2; LS1-1; LS2-1
- 6-8 Grades(MS): ESS1-4; ESS2-1, 2, and 4; ESS3-1, 3, and 5; LS2-1, 2, 3, 4, and 5
Contact
Email: ray.winter@fresno.edu
Phone: 559-453-2260
