School Groups

Our goal at the Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory is to provide quality, educational science programs, which support and enhance those offered by our local and regional schools and meet Oregon state benchmarks. Currently we offer many classes which meet Benchmarks 1, 2, and 3. Some of these classes can be presented within our local schools, others must be taught on location at the Nature Center or Observatory. In addition to benchmark classes, we also offer a variety of daytime and evening field trips.

Reservations

Reservations are available months ahead of time but should be made no later than 2 weeks prior to the date of your intended visit. If available, the date(s) of your visit will be reserved upon receipt of either a 50% deposit, a purchase order number, or credit card information. Contact us for more information or to make your reservation.

Location of Classes

Classes are offered onsite at the Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory, or offsite at a location designated by you. Please refer to the program descriptions for location availability.

Fees for Educational Programs

All Science Classes except Rocket Science 101 cost $120.00**, which includes a maximum of 35 students per program plus 5 adult chaperones. Refer to Rocket Science 101 program description for fees and class size.  Scholarships may be available.

**All prices for classes include travel within a 30 mile radius of Sunriver. Travel outside of the area will be billed at 40.5¢/mile plus travel time.

Refunds and cancellations

Cancellations made 48 hours or more in advance of your visit will earn a full refund. If a class is canceled due to weather, you will have the option to reschedule or receive a full refund.

Astronomy Classes

Current Space Exploration

Students will explore past, current and future space exploration projects. The topics change depending on what’s going on right now and what your interests are.
 
Grade level: 3rd - 8th
Time: 2 - 2 ½ hours
Location: Onsite or offsite

Class covers parts of:
BENCHMARKS FOR EARTH IN SPACE
CURRICULUM GOAL FOR THE UNIVERSE
CURRICULUM GOAL FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Earth’s Place in the Solar System

Our Earth plays a very interesting role in our solar system. The class will focus on Earth’s relationship with the Sun and nearby planets. Students will learn about the Earth, the Moon, Venus, Mars, and their behavior in space. Students will look at our planet and other planets to evaluate day and yearly cycles, in addition to seasons relative to our Sun. The class will use models and globes to help students gain a better understanding about our solar system and other solar systems!
 
Grade level: 3rd - 8th
Time: 2 - 2 ½ hours
Location: Onsite or offsite

Class covers parts of:
BENCHMARKS FOR EARTH IN SPACE
CURRICULUM GOAL FOR THE UNIVERSE
CURRICULUM GOAL FOR UNIFYING CONCEPTS AND PROCESSES

Rocket Science 101

This class will construct and use model rockets to explore Newton’s laws of gravity and the use of force. Students have fun while learning firsthand how the laws of gravity work. Students will keep the rockets they construct and launch.

Grade level: 3rd - 8th  Minimum: 15 students
Time: 2 ½ hours  Maximum: 35 students
Fee: $12.00/student 
Location: Onsite or offsite Note: Teacher assistance required.

Class covers parts of:
BENCHMARKS FOR PHYSICAL SCIENCE - FORCE
CURRICULUM GOAL FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
BENCHMARKS FOR SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY

Solar Observation

The sun is the closest star that we can see! By understanding how our sun functions and changes, we can apply the information to other stars that we see at night (even though it is only star light!). Students will view the sun through a special solar telescope adapted with a special filter.

Grade level: 3rd - 8th
Time: 2 - 2 ½ hours
Location: Onsite or offsite

Class covers parts of:
BENCHMARKS FOR EARTH IN SPACE
CURRICULUM GOAL FOR UNIFYING CONCEPTS AND PROCESSES
ADDITIONAL BENCHMARKS FOR GRADES 6-8

Stars and Planets

This class will use the most current information and slides available to examine and discuss the solar system and deep space objects. 

Grade level: 3rd - 8th
Time: 2 - 2 ½ hours
Location: Onsite or offsite

Class covers parts of:
BENCHMARKS FOR EARTH IN SPACE
CURRICULUM GOAL FOR THE UNIVERSE
CURRICULUM GOAL FOR UNIFYING CONCEPTS AND PROCESSES

Life Science Classes

Amphibians

This class will focus on amphibians including their place in the environment, life cycles, survival strategies, physical characteristics, and declining populations locally and worldwide. Students will use hands-on science investigation to complete their study of amphibians.

Grade level: 5th - 7th
Time: 3 hours
Location: Onsite or offsite

Class covers parts of:
BENCHMARKS FOR LIFE SCIENCE - ORGANISMS
BENCHMARKS FOR LIFE SCIENCE - HEREDITY
BENCHMARKS FOR LIFE SCIENCE – DIVERSITY/INTERDEPENDANCE
CURRICULUM GOALS FOR UNIFYING CONCEPTS AND PROCESSES

Animal Tracks and Signs

Animals are secretive and some are nocturnal. The observation of tracks and signs is a tool for studying wildlife. This class will focus on the structure, function, and physical characteristics of animal feet and tracks. Students will make casts of tracks, fine tune their observation skills, and complete creative writing assignments.

Grade level: 5th - 8th
Time: 3 hours
Location: Onsite only

Class covers parts of:
BENCHMARKS FOR LIFE SCIENCE - ORGANISMS
BENCHMARKS FOR SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY
ENGLISH - WRITING
MATHEMATICS - UNITS AND TOOLS
MATHEMATICS – INDIRECT MEASUREMENT

Owls and Owl Pellets

In this study of owls, students will learn more about these hunters and their unique characteristics, which contribute to their success.
 
Grade level: 5th - 8th 
Time: 2 ½ hours
Location: Onsite or offsite

Class covers parts of:
BENCHMARKS FOR LIFE SCIENCE – DIVERSITY/INTERDEPENDANCE
CURRICULUM GOALS FOR UNIFYING CONCEPTS AND PROCESSES
BENCHMARKS FOR SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY

Plant Communities

The plant communities of our Botanical Garden provide a great outdoor laboratory. These communities illustrate the effects of the Cascade Mountains and the amount of moisture on the nativeplants.
 
Grade level: 6th - 8th
Time: 2 - 2 ½ hours
Location: Onsite only

Class covers parts of:
BENCHMARKS FOR LIFE SCIENCE - ORGANISMS
BENCHMARKS FOR LIFE SCIENCE – DIVERSITY/INTERDEPENDANCE
BENCHMARKS FOR THE DYMANIC EARTH
BENCHMARKS FOR SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY

Pond Study

Students will use hands-on science investigations and sampling techniques to learn more about a pond ecosystem and its plants, animals, physical features, and their interactions.

Grade level: Kindergarten - 8th
Time: 2 - 2 ½ hours
Location: Onsite only
Available: May 1 - October 31

Class covers parts of:
BENCHMARKS FOR LIFE SCIENCE – ORGANISMS
BENCHMARKS FOR LIFE SCIENCE - HEREDITY
BENCHMARKS FOR LIFE SCIENCE – DIVERSITY/INTERDEPENDANCE
BENCHMARKS FOR SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY

Reptiles

Reptiles are unique members of the animal kingdom. This class will focus on the reptiles’ place in the environment, their life cycles, survival strategies, and the physical characteristics of snakes and lizards of Central Oregon. Hands-on activities and models will help illustrate various aspects of a reptile’s life, such as the use of tuning forks to demonstrate vibrations picked up by a snake’s jaw.

Grade level: 3rd - 5th
Time: 2 - 2 ½ hours
Location: Onsite only

Class covers parts of:
BENCHMARKS FOR LIFE SCIENCE – ORGANISMS
BENCHMARKS FOR LIFE SCIENCE – DIVERSITY/INTERDEPENDANCE
BENCHMARKS FOR SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY

Skull Classification

This hands-on study focuses on the comparison of features such as teeth, jaws and nasal cavities.

Grade level: 6th - 8th
Time: 2 - 2 ½ hours
Location: Onsite or offsite

Class covers parts of:
BENCHMARKS FOR LIFE SCIENCE – ORGANISMS
BENCHMARKS FOR LIFE SCIENCE – DIVERSITY/INTERDEPENDANCE
BENCHMARKS FOR SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY

Field Trips

Bring your class to the Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory for an educational field trip.

Evening Astronomy Field Trips

Daytime Field Trip 1

Students embark on a tour of the museum, trail and observatory. This is a tour led by you, the teacher and/or teaching assistant(s). Observatory personnel will provide a brief presentation about the sun and operate the telescopes. We will provide a question/answer booklet for the teacher instruction and a question booklet for the students which will encourage students to explore their surroundings to discover answers. Naturalists will be available to answer questions. 
Time: 1 - 1 ½ hours depending on class size.
Basic Fee: $3.00 per student. One adult chaperone will be admitted free of charge for every five students.
Maximum number of students: 70 
Minimum fee: $105.00 for up to 35 students.

Daytime Field Trip 2

Students embark on a tour of the museum, trail and observatory but use a question and answer booklet or handouts developed and provided by the teacher. Sunriver Nature Center and Observatory staff will be available to answer questions.
Time: 1 – 1 ½ hours depending on class size.
Basic Fee: $2.50 per student. One adult chaperone will be admitted free of charge for every five students.
Maximum number of students: 70 
Minimum fee: $87.50 for up to 35 students.

Daytime Field Trip Options

Enhance field trip #1 or #2 with any of these popular options. Depending on the size of your class these options can extend the field trip time an additional ½ hour to 1 hour.

Up to two presentations by a staff naturalist

Choose a talk about Birds of Prey, Reptiles, Amphibians, and/or Telescopes. Cost: add 50¢ per student to the basic fee; or for less than 35 students a minimum fee with field trip #1 is $122.50 and field trip #2 is $105.00.

Guided nature trail walk led by one of our naturalists