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Teacher Resources
Click the links below to navigate this page:
Nature Van Program Resources for Teachers
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Prepare your class for an upcoming Terwilliger Nature Van visit or use these Student Activity Sheets to engage students in the study of the natural world for any curriculum. Each grade-appropriate resource will open as a PDF for easy downloading or printing.
Pre-Nature Van Visit Vocabulary Answer Key for All Activity Sheets
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Birds
Pre-Van Activities
Post-Van Activities
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California Wildlife
Pre-Van Activities
Post Van Activities
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Creeks and Ponds
Pre-Van Activities
Post-Van Activities
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Endangered Wetlands
Pre-Van Activities
Post-Van Activities
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Mammals
Pre-Van Activities
Post-Van Activities
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Oceans
Pre-Van Activities
Post-Van Activities
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Raptors
Pre-Van Activities
Post-Van Activities
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Redwood Forests
Pre-Van Activities
Post-Van Activities
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WildCare Nature Education Program Request Forms
Use these forms to request a WildCare program and WildCare's Education Coordinator will contact you to schedule it. Please note: This form is a request for a reservation not confirmation of a scheduled program. Every effort will be made to accomodate requests.
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Field Trips
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WildCare's Nature Guides take small groups of school children on exploratory outdoor adventures at some of Marin and Sonoma's most beautiful sites.
Miwok Meadows, China Camp
San Rafael
Grades K 6
Fee: $175.00 per class
Thursdays, 9:30am - 12:30pm
Students explore the fascinating and diverse habitats of this historic site to discover the life cycles, adaptations and ecology of wetlands, oak woodlands and grasslands.
Ring Mountain
Corte Madera
Grades 3 6
Fee: $175.00 per class
Tuesdays, 9:30am - 12:30pm
Students investigate ecological interdependency—habitats, geology, energy cycles and food webs—as they visit grassland, freshwater marsh, oak woodlands and a Miwok Indian site.
Muir Woods
Grades K 6
Fee: $175.00 per class
Wednesdays and Fridays
9:30am - 12:30pm
A redwood forest provides children the opportunity to explore a distinct Northern California habitat. They will observe the flight patterns of birds, search for animal tracks, and discover diverse adaptive patterns.
Spring Lake
Santa Rosa
Grades K 6
Fee: $175.00 per class
Wednesdays
9:30am - 12:30pm
This is a multi-sensory introduction to three habitats: oak woodlands, fresh-water marsh and lake shore. From Acorn Woodpeckers to Native American uses of native plants, students witness the wild side of Spring Lake Park and uncover some of Nature's best-kept secrets.
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Nature Van
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WildCare's Nature Van brings the outdoors in! Trained naturalists visit the classroom and provide age-appropriate one-hour programs full of fun and exploration.
The Nature Van pricing structure is as follows:
One presentation $180
Two presentations $205
Three presentations $255
Four presentations $305
In addition, WildCare charges a travel fee of $2/mile one way with a $20 minimum.
California Wildlife
Uncover the diversity of California’s wildlife and the way our native animals have adapted to their habitat as we examine predator-prey relationships, defense strategies and the natural history of mammal, birds, and reptiles that are our wild neighbors.
Mammals
Delve into the world of marsupials, mustelids, felines, canines, and rodents. Discover what makes a mammal a mammal and why humans are included in this amazing group.
Oceans
Young oceanographers meet the diversity of wildlife that inhabits the ocean and learn about the amazing adaptations that ocean animals have to survive in the cold, watery environment.
Birds
Strap on your wings and soar into the world of hummingbirds and eagles. Explore the vast array of bird adaptations, from feathers to beaks to feet.
Creeks and Ponds
Wade into the unique life cycles and adaptations of the insects, amphibians, birds, and mammals that pass through this freshwater world.
Raptors
Swoop and soar with the taloned hunters of the sky. Meet owls, eagles, and hawks and discover the specialized adaptations of these birds of prey.
Endangered Wetlands
Where have all our wetlands gone? Don your detective's hat to scour this vanishing habitat and discover how it acts as a restaurant, hotel, nursery and a filter for so many local creatures (including us).
California’s Rainforests
Enter the moist, cool interior of a California rainforest to explore the many layers of an old growth forest and experience the interdependencies of salmon, redwood trees, banana slugs, and other forest creatures.
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WildCare Center Tours
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Get a nose-to-nose view of native birds, reptiles and mammals in engaging programs tailored to meet the learning needs of any age group at WildCare in San Rafael.
Led by a WildCare naturalist, our Center Tours bring front and center with Wildlife Ambassador presentations and taxidermy animals to touch and explore.
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Directions to Field Trip Sites
Ring Mountain
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Directions to Ring Mountain
- From Highway 101 take the Paradise Drive exit.
- From the north, turn left at the stop light getting into the right lane. Continue through the next stop light
- From the south, getting into the right lane, turn right at the stop light.
Everyone:
- Bear right onto San Clemente Drive. At the next stop light the road becomes Paradise Drive. Continue through the next light.
- After Westward Drive on the right, look for the Ring Mountain Preserve sign on the right (approximately 1-1/2 miles from Hwy 101. Park along the road.
- If coming on a long trip, please stop at San Clemente Park for the bathrooms.
Click for a printable PDF of these directions.
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Muir Woods
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| Directions to Muir Woods Field Trip
From San Francisco, Peninsula, or South Bay to Muir Woods
- Take Highway 101 North across the Golden Gate Bridge.
- Exit Highway l/Stinson Beach (there will be a sign for Muir Woods at this exit)
- Drive about .5 miles. At the stoplight, turn left.
- Drive about 2.7 miles. At the top of the hill, turn right towards Muir Woods/Mount Tamalpais.
- Drive about 0.8 miles. At the 4-way intersection, turn left towards Muir Woods (oncoming traffic has the right of way!).
- Continue down the hill about 1.6 miles. The regular Muir Woods parking lot is at the bottom of the hill, on a sharp turn, on your right. Continue left past this lot to the ADDITIONAL PARKING LOT. Meet the Nature Guides just inside this parking lot.
From Berkeley, Oakland, or East Bay to Muir Woods
- Take Interstate 80 East from the Bay Bridge.
- Exit Interstate 580 West for the Richmond/San Rafael Bridge
- Exit Hwy 101 South
- Exit Highway l/Stinson Beach (there will be a sign for Muir Woods at this exit)
- Drive about .5 miles. At the stoplight, turn left.
- Drive about 2.7 miles. At the top of the hill, tum right towards Muir WoodslMount Tamalpais.
- Drive about 0.8 miles. At the 4-way intersection, turn left towards Muir Woods (oncoming traffic has the right of way!).
- Continue down the hill about 1.6 miles. The regular Muir Woods parking lot is at the bottom of the hill, on a sharp turn, on your right. Continue left past this lot to the ADDITIONAL PARKING LOT. Meet the Nature Guides just inside this parking lot.
From San Rafael, Santa Rosa, or North Bay to Muir Woods
- Take Highway 101 South
- Exit Highway l/Stinson Beach (there will be a sign for Muir Woods at this exit)
- Drive about. 5 miles. At the stoplight, turn left.
- Drive about 2.7 miles. At the top of the hill, turn right towards Muir WoodslMount Tamalpais.
- Drive about 0.8 miles. At the 4-way intersection, turn left towards Muir Woods (oncoming traffic has the right ofwayl).
- Continue down the hill about 1.6 miles. The regular Muir Woods parking lot is at the bottom ofthe hill, on a sharp tum, on your right. Continue left past this lot to the ADDITIONAL PARKING LOT. Meet the Nature Guides just inside this parking lot.
Click for a printable PDF of these directions.
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Spring Lake, Santa Rosa
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Important: ALL drivers must enter Spring Lake Park via Hoen/Newanga Entrance, then follow the signs to the Jackrabbit Par Course area.
DO NOT go to the Discovery Center!
From Highway 101, take the Highway 12 Exit. Follow Hwy 12 East to first stop light (Farmer’s Lane).
Continue straight at stop light onto Hoen Ave.
Follow Hoen Ave past Summerfield Rd. Just after you pass Summerfield Rd., turn left onto Newanga Ave.
Follow Newanga as it bends to the right (following the Spring Lake Park signs) and continue ? miles to the Spring Lake County Regional Park entrance kiosk.
Display Parking Permit!
After the entrance kiosk, turn left and follow the winding narrow road 1/2 mile to the boat launch parking lot.
Turn left at the Jackrabbit Par Course sign.
Park on the left near the Jackrabbit Picnic Area and avoid reserved parking spaces near the picnic tables to the right. If the parking on the left is full, use the spaces nearer to the boat ramp.
Meet on the lawn below the restroom area.
Click for a printable PDF of these directions.
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Miwok Meadows, China Camp, San Rafael
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| Directions to Miwok Meadows, China Camp
From the South:
- Take Hwy 101 North;
- Take the North San Pedro Roadexitj .
- See "Everyone" below.
From the North:
- Take Hwy 101 South;
- Exit North San Pedro Road;
- Turn left at the stop sign onto Merrydale;
- Continue to the first stop light, getting into the left turn lane;
- Turn left and proceed under the overpass (you should be on North San Pedro Road);
- See "Everyone" below.
Everyone:
- From the stop light by the Civic Center, go straight and continue about 3 miles on San Pedro Road to the Miwok Meadows sign on your right;
- The gate will be open; please enter and drive to the large parking area by the picnic tables.
Click for a printable PDF of these directions.
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