TEACHERS' PLACE


Our field trips are memorable for children of all ages. (Photo: B. Wallach)

San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy is your partner in environmental education.
We encourage you to preview the resources and links provided here to help your classes prepare for your upcoming visit.

TEACHERS’ GUIDES
 
Grades 3-5
This packet will assist you in meeting Science Content Standards for California Public Schools, which focus on plant and animal adaptations in physical structure or behavior, and may improve an organism's chance for survival. 
 
The Kumeyaay People of San Elijo Lagoon (PDF)
This packet will assist you in meeting History-Social Science Content Standards for California Public Schools, which focus on local American Indian nations, how the physical environment affected their lives, and their use of natural resources.
 
Rhythms of Wetlands (PDF)
This packet will assist you in meeting Science Content Standards for California Public Schools, which focus on how the physical environment influences the diversity of plants and animals in an ecosystem.
 
Grade 4
What's for Lunch? Food Chains and Food Webs (PDF)
This packet will assist you in meeting Science Content Standards for California Public Schools, which focus on organisms’ need for energy and matter to live and grow, and their dependence on one another and the environment for survival.
 
Grade 5
Water and Wetlands: Our Precious Resources (PDF)
This packet will assist you in meeting Science Content Standards for California Public Schools, which focus on how freshwater is limited, and the origin of water used in local communities. The guide also addresses the important role wetlands play in the Escondido watershed, and encourages students to protect and conserve water resources.
 
SAN ELIJO LAGOON VIDEO RESOURCES


San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy School Programs (13:00)
This video provides an overview of school programs lead by our trained naturalists. We recommend this video for classes preparing for their field trips. Ecology concepts and an overview of the habitats are introduced.
 
 
 
Meet the generation who will help protect natural places. Children tell us what they see, hear, and feel during a field trip, and describe their inspiration for protecting wildlife.
Video courtesy © Mark Lyon
 
We welcome your thought-provoking classroom essays, drawings, and videos reflecting your field trip experiences at San Elijo Ecological Reserve to post for inspiration. To inquire about submitting class work for publication in Kids Corner, please email Tara at tara [at] sanelijo [dot] org.

 

TEACHERS' PLACE LINKS

Sign up for Guided Walks
Calendar

Frequently Asked Questions
Helpful hints on how to plan for class field trips

1. What grades do you accommodate?
All grades are welcome:
Grades Kindergarten through Grade 12.

2. What days are walks offered?
Walks are offered Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (except on holidays noted on the calendar).

3. What time are the walks offered?
Walks are between 9 am and Noon.

4. How long are the walks?
The walks are typically 1.5 hours and are guided by a San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy Docent.

5. How many students can be accommodated?
A maximum of 50; this can be two classes combined.

6. What is the chaperone ratio?
Our chaperone-to-student ratio is 1:10. Educators are asked to recruit one chaperone for every 10 students. If there are more parents who would like to attend the program, we would be happy to arrange a separate docent-led walk for them.

7. Which trail do you suggest?
Each trail provides unique experiences: 
Trail Information and Directions

  • San Elijo Lagoon Nature Center has interactive displays and a few representative small animals, as well as restrooms. Ideal for K-2.
  • Rios Avenue trailhead allows for a longer hike with a greater diversity of plants to see, and a more “wild side” feeling of nature.
  • Santa Carina trail provides great examples of coastal sage scrub and chaparral plant communities. The visible shell remains scattered along the trail provide evidence of Native Americans who used to live there.

8. How should we prepare?
Let us help you plan your exciting field trip to the reserve. We recommend reviewing and sharing with your class:

9. Are there restroom facilities?
There are no restrooms in the reserve. There are restrooms only at San Elijo Lagoon Nature Center.

For class lunches and facilities, we recommend:

  • Fletcher Cove Park
  • Glen Park

Visit Trail Information & Directions.

10. What is the cost of a naturalist-guided walk?
A suggested donation of $50 per group of 25 students.

These programs can be offered free of charge to any school that inquires. Donations strengthen the education program’s docent training and development of new educational materials. If your school is able to make a donation, we thank you for your support of San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy.

CONTACT
Tara Fuad, Education Director
San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy
tara [at] sanelijo [dot] org
(760) 436-3944 x 701


  Ring-necked duck