June and July field trips are completely full. Call us for free play opportunities.
About Our Field Trips
The WaterShed offers free field trips for groups of 15 or more in our exhibit hall and classroom and our outdoor spaces at the Boise River, ponds and Hyatt Wetlands.
From November to February, we offer outreach lessons at schools in Boise, Eagle and Meridian.
Home schools may participate in home school days or make a reservation for a self-guided exploration of the Outdoor River Campus. A minimum of 15 students of a similar grade level is required to book a lesson or tour.
Cost: Free; Bussing reimbursement is available for the 2025 - 2026 school year. Apply
Group size: Field trips are available for groups up to 90 students per visit. The WaterShed requires at least one chaperone for every ten students.
Reservation Window: Reservations are required at least two weeks in advance and can be held up to a year ahead of time. Field trips are in high demand in the spring.
Field trip times: Field trips are booked Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. The typical visit is 1 to 3 hours in length. If your field trip spans lunch time, we are happy to add a lunch time into your schedule and you may eat at the covered picnic tables.
Accessibility: View our accessibility page to learn more about our visual, audio, physical and sensory accommodations for guests with disabilities. Students who are neurodivergent or sensory sensitive can view the WaterShed Social Story to prepare for their field trip visit.
Steps to schedule a field trip with us:
- Choose a field trip (up to 3) from the options below that matches the grade level of your group, and take note of the location (The WaterShed; Your Place = outreach to your school).
- Click request a field trip to be taken to our online request form.
- Pick your field trip options on the form, along with information about your class and preferred dates/times and any additional information about your group.
- Submit the form, and we will reach out to you shortly.
You’ll hear from WaterShed staff within a few days. Field trips can be customized to meet your needs. We look forward to your visit – thank you for your interest!
Field Trip Information
Exhibit Hall Tour
Explore the hands-on exhibit hall to learn about the Boise River watershed, climate impacts and how we can take action to protect the environment. Students will visit the Innovation Station to participate in the activity featured that month. Tour will be tailored to the age of participants.
Location: The WaterShed
Grade level: K-Adult
Duration: 60 minutes
Preschool Free Play
Self guided. Students can play and explore in our River Campus or Nature Play Area. You are also welcome to borrow one of our Pre-K Activity Backpacks; you will find several games and activities for your Pre-K students, as well as some free-play suggestions to have fun while you’re visiting!
Location: The WaterShed
Grade level: Pre-K
Duration: 30-90 minutes
River Campus Exploration
March - October only. Experience the River Campus: splash in the simulated river and explore nature play stations to learn about our watershed. Backpacks with games and activities are available to borrow during your visit. (free-play/self-guided).
Location: The WaterShed
Grade level: K-8
Duration: 30-90 minutes
Get in Touch with Nature
Students will explore what makes a healthy river ecosystem while exploring nature near the Boise River or ponds.
Location: The WaterShed
Grade level: K-2
Duration: 90 minutes
Macroinvertebrate Mayhem
March–October only. Students will hike 1/2 mile to the Boise River or ponds and wade in to collect macro-invertebrates (water bugs) to learn about how they may indicate a healthy or polluted river.
Location: The WaterShed
Grade level: K-6
Duration: 90 minutes
Watershed Investigators
Students will participate in hands-on activities to understand where water is located on earth, how water can be found in three forms and what a watershed is.
Location: The WaterShed or Your Place
Grade level: 2-3
Duration: 60 minutes
Riparian Investigators
March–October only. Explore the importance of riparian areas—those spaces where water, wildlife, and plants come together! Students will collect data around our ponds to determine if it is a healthy habitat. Time permitting, they may participate in a restoration project. (seed spreading, planting, trash pick up, etc.)
Location: The WaterShed
Grade level: 3-6
Duration: 90 minutes
Energy Engineers
Learn about different types of energy and explore the differences between renewable and non-renewable energy. Students will break into small groups and go through a hands-on engineering challenge to design a device powered by wind, water, or solar energy. By imagining and constructing creative renewable energy solutions, students begin to envision a more sustainable and exciting energy future.
Location: The WaterShed
Grade level: 4-6
Duration: 90 minutes
Explore Your Watershed
Students will make a watershed map and explore stormwater pollution.
Location: The WaterShed or Your Place
Grade level: 4-5
Duration: 60 minutes
Water Renewal Facility Tour
Learn about the fascinating process of water renewal and how it helps protect water quality.
Location: The WaterShed
Grade level: 5-12, College/Adult
Duration: 60-90 minutes
Snow Science
Students learn the importance of snow in our watershed and investigate snow on a molecular level.
Location: The WaterShed or Your Place
Grade level: 5-6
Duration: 60 minutes
The Climate Change Connection
Exploring climate change through a systems approach, students will learn about the greenhouse gas effect, local impacts and solutions.
Location: The WaterShed or Your Place
Grade level: 6-8
Climate Stories
Students will explore what we can learn from stories, how we can listen to each other, and how to tell their own climate story.
Location: The WaterShed or Your Place
Grade level: 7-8, 9-12, College/Adult
Duration: 60 minutes
The H2O Below
Get to know groundwater and its important role in our water supply.
Location: The WaterShed or Your Place
Grade level: 7-8
Duration: 45-60 minutes
Geothermal: The Heat Beneath Your Feet
Students will demonstrate where hot water comes from and how Idaho uses geothermal heat as a sustainable energy source.
Location: The WaterShed or Your Place
Grade level: 7-8
Duration: 45-60 minutes
Water Quality Field Experience
March - October only. Students will assess the water quality of the Boise River or ponds to better understand how natural and human impacts affect water and the aquatic ecosystem.
Location: The WaterShed or Your Place
Grade level: 7-12
Duration: 90 minutes
Idaho's Fire Story
Explore the past and current trends of fire in two of our ecosystems: Sagebrush Steppe and Ponderosa Pine forests. Students will learn how climate, vegetation, and ignition sources shape the fires we see in Idaho and make "fire boards" to model how fire moves through landscapes.
Location: The WaterShed
Grade level: 6-12, College/Adult
Duration: 90 minutes
Past Lessons
As our mission has changed, we have updated our lesson offerings. Looking for a particular lesson you no longer see? Check the link below.
