± K-8 Wetland Field Study Programs

Explore wetland swamp, bog, marsh, pond, slough and forest habitats with a half field-based and half lab-based field trip from September to June. Use scientific equipment to examine wetland life including looking at macroinvertebrates with our video microscope. Programs require one adult participant for each group of fifteen K-8th grade students. Adults are free of charge. All programs address the revised Washington State K-12 Science Standards.

Habitat Wonderers -- Grades: K-2 -- Length: 3 hours with break for lunch
Ever wonder what makes up a habitat? Search the wetlands for wildlife and compare them to the organisms in a forest habitat. Become an animal and figure out what adaptations you need to survive in your habitat. In the lab, examine aquatic life in pond samples with a variety of magnifying tools. This program is compatible with the Insect and Tree FOSS kits and the Organisms STC Kit.

Soil Adventurers -- Grades: K-2 -- Length: 3 hours with break for lunch
Roll up those sleeves - it's time to explore soils! During the wetland hike, examine the characteristics of different soils using soil probes and your senses as you look for signs that new soil is being made. In our lab, use magnifying lenses to identify the soil recyclers that live in wetland soils and discover why soils are an important resource. This program was developed to enrich the Soils STC kit, but can be taken without the kit.

Wetland Naturalists -- Grades: 3-5 -- Length: 4 hours with break for lunch
Experience the secrets of the wetland and make the earth move under your feet. As a naturalist, observe the soil, plants and animals as you hike through the wetland. Along the way you will encounter the challenges of a migrating bird and discover the importance of wetlands. In the lab, collect pond samples and use microscopes and other scientific tools to examine aquatic macroinvertebrates.

Ecosystem Explorers -- Grades: 4-5 -- Length: 4 hours with break for lunch
Come explore the Mercer Slough as you identify the parts of the wetland ecosystem and discover their interactions. Learn how a community of organisms is connected in a complex food web. Look for animal signs and use microscopes to identify aquatic macroinvertebrates as part of a comparative field study of the trophic levels in the wetland and pond ecosystems. This program complements the STC Ecosystem kit.

Wetland Ecologists -- Grades: 6-8 -- Length: 5 hours with break for lunch
Become a wetland ecologist as you learn to delineate wetland habitats, identify plants using a dichotomous key, and compare soils using a soil probe. In the lab, collect pond samples and identify aquatic macroinvertebrates to determine their pollution tolerance levels. Compare biological and chemical tests as you assess pond water for pH and dissolved oxygen. This program is great with the FOSS Diversity of Life and Chemistry kits.

Call (206) 443-2925 to register.

± Preschool Field Study Programs

Bring your preschool class for a one-of-a-kind field trip to the Mercer Slough Nature Park. Students will build a sense of wonder for the natural world as you explore the park to learn about plants and animals. One adult participant must accompany each group of five preschoolers. Adults are free of charge.

Preschool Prowl -- Ages: 3-5 -- Length: 1.5 hours
Join us for a sensory adventure through the wetlands! September-October and April-June you will hike the boardwalk trail out to Mercer Slough channel from the Mercer Slough Blueberry Farm (2380 Bellevue Way SE). November-March join us at the Bellefields Trailhead (1905 118th AVE SE ) for a hike down through the forest to the wetland. Spot wildlife, get up close and personal with Spy Scopes, test your senses during “dozen touches” and hunt for colors of the rainbow.

Preschool Seekers -- Ages: 3-5 -- Length: 2.5 hours with break for lunch or snack
Discover what kinds of creatures live around the wetland as you descend from a forest to the Mercer Slough pond. Use nets and special tools to meet the baby insects and other creatures that start their lives under the waters of our pond. Act out the travels of wetland creatures and the life cycle of a dragonfly. Spend half your time on the trail near our Education Center and the other half investigating water samples in the lab. The Preschool Seekers program occurs at the Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center at 1625 118th Avenue SE.

For more information or to register, please call (206) 443-2925.

± NEW! PreK-8 Van Outreach Classroom Lessons

New for 2013-2014:
Bring the Mercer Slough to your school, community center or other venue and discover the wonders of nature. Pacific Science Center’s environmental science educators will engage your PreK–8th grade students in hands-on investigations involving aquatic macroinvertebrates, animal skulls, native plants, chemistry and much, much more. Our 45-minute lessons offer a unique experiential complement to your science curricula while building specific knowledge and enthusiasm for nature and ecology.

• Program Length: 45 minutes per lesson.
• Program Dates: September through April.
• Capacity: 32 students per lesson.
• Counties Served: King. Inquire for locations outside King County.
• Fees: $400 for 3 classroom lessons, $110 for additional lessons on the same day with the same Pacific Science Center staff. A round-trip mileage fee of $0.56 per mile/per day will be calculated from Mercer Slough in Bellevue.

Choose from the following lessons:
Environmental Science with Mercer Slough – Lesson Descriptions 

For additional van outreach science lessons, assemblies and exhibits please see our Science on Wheels program.

For more information or to register, please call (206) 443-2925.