Book a fun and educational field trip! Lessons and tours are conducted on-site and virtually. Our on-site lessons take place at the education center, Water Renewal Facility, and the Boise River. Home schools may make a reservation for a self-guided visit or we offer home school programs on select days.
Cost: Free; Bus transportation reimbursement is available for the 2022-2023 school year.
Group size: Field trips are available for groups of 10 to 60 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 – Friday from 8:00 am – 4:30 pm. 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.
Steps to schedule a field trip with us:
- Choose your grade level below and review the field trip menu.
- Click on the lesson or tour that you would like to learn more about. (BWS = The WaterShed; Your Place = outreach to your school; Virtual = virtual lesson) By clicking the lesson or tour title, you’ll be taken to the Boise Environmental Education web page to read a full description and to request it.
- Click on the Request button located at the bottom of the lesson or tour description. Note: multiple lessons and tours can be requested in one visit. Most lessons and tours are one hour in length.
- Submit the form with information about your group size and grade, preferred dates/times and any other details you’d like to share about your group.
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!
Lessons
Pre-K
Preschool Free Play – Self guided. Students can play and explore in our River Campus, Nature Play Area or Exhibit Hall. 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!
Kindergarten & Grade 1
Exhibit Hall Tour - Tailored to every grade level, students will become knowledgeable about the Boise River watershed, watershed pollution, and explore exhibits in the interactive exhibit hall. BWS
Get in Touch with Nature - Students will explore and investigate living and non-living things while learning about local wildlife in the riparian zone at the Boise River. BWS
River Campus Tour – 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). BWS
Macroinvertebrate Mayhem – April - September only. Students will hike to the Boise River and wade in to collect macro-invertebrates (water bugs) to learn about how they may indicate a healthy or polluted river. BWS
Grade 2
Exhibit Hall Tour – Tailored to every grade level, students will become knowledgeable about the Boise River watershed, watershed pollution, and explore exhibits in the interactive exhibit hall. BWS
Get in Touch with Nature – Students will explore and investigate living and non-living things while learning about local wildlife in the riparian zone at the Boise River. BWS
River Campus Tour – March - October only. Come and experience the River Campus, splash in the simulated Boise River and explore nature play stations to learn about our watershed. BWS
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. BWS/Your Place/Virtual
Macroinvertebrate Mayhem – April - September only. Students will hike to the Boise River and wade in to collect macro-invertebrates (water bugs) to learn about how they may indicate a healthy or polluted river. BWS
Grade 3
Exhibit Hall Tour – Tailored to every grade level, students will become knowledgeable about the Boise River watershed, watershed pollution, and explore exhibits in the interactive exhibit hall. BWS
River Campus Tour – March - October only. Come and experience the River Campus, splash in the simulated Boise River and explore nature play stations to learn about our watershed. BWS
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. BWS/Your Place/Virtual
Macroinvertebrate Mayhem – April - September only. Students will hike to the Boise River and wade in to collect macro-invertebrates (water bugs) to learn about how they may indicate a healthy or polluted river. BWS
Weather Science – Students will understand what creates weather and make some observations of our local weather. BWS/Your Place/Virtual
Grade 4
Exhibit Hall Tour – Tailored to every grade level, students will become knowledgeable about the Boise River watershed, watershed pollution, and explore exhibits in the interactive exhibit hall. BWS
Explore Your Watershed – Students will make a watershed map and explore stormwater pollution. BWS/Your Place/Virtual
River Campus Tour – March - October only. Come and experience the River Campus, splash in the simulated Boise River and explore nature play stations to learn about our watershed. BWS
Water Conservation: Every Drop Counts – Students will understand the importance of water conservation and take away simple ways to save water around their homes. BWS/Your Place/Virtual
Macroinvertebrate Mayhem – April - September only. Students will hike to the Boise River and wade in to collect macro-invertebrates (water bugs) to learn about how they may indicate a healthy or polluted river. BWS
Grade 5
Exhibit Hall Tour – Tailored to every grade level, students will become knowledgeable about the Boise River watershed, watershed pollution, and explore exhibits in the interactive exhibit hall. BWS
Explore Your Watershed – Students will make a watershed map and explore stormwater pollution. BWS/Your Place/Virtual
River Campus Tour – March-October only. Come and experience the River Campus, splash in the simulated Boise River and explore nature play stations to learn about our watershed. BWS
Snow Science – Students learn the importance of snow in our watershed and investigate snow on a molecular level. Your Place
Water Conservation: Every Drop Counts – Students will understand the importance of water conservation and take away simple ways to save water around their homes. BWS/Your Place/Virtual
Macroinvertebrate Mayhem – April - September only. Students will assess the water quality of the Boise River or near-by ponds by wading into the water to collect and identify macroinvertebrates. They will also complete a habitat assessment and use the information to better understand how natural and human impacts affect water and the aquatic ecosystem. BWS/Your Place
Water Renewal Facility Tour – Learn about the fascinating process of water renewal and how it helps protect water quality. BWS/Virtual
Grade 6
Exhibit Hall Tour – Tailored to every grade level, students will become knowledgeable about the Boise River watershed, watershed pollution, and explore exhibits in the interactive exhibit hall. BWS
River Campus Tour – March-October only. Come and experience the River Campus, splash in the simulated Boise River and explore nature play stations to learn about our watershed. BWS
Snow Science – Students learn the importance of snow in our watershed and investigate snow on a molecular level. Your Place
The Climate Change Connection – Exploring climate change through a systems approach, students will learn about the greenhouse gas effect, local impacts and solutions. BWS/Your Place
Water Conservation: Every Drop Counts – Students will understand the importance of water conservation and take away simple ways to save water around their homes. BWS/Your Place/Virtual
Macroinvertebrate Mayhem – April - September only. Students will assess the water quality of the Boise River or near-by ponds by wading into the water to collect and identify macroinvertebrates. They will also complete a habitat assessment and use the information to better understand how natural and human impacts affect water and the aquatic ecosystem. BWS/Your Place
Water Renewal Facility Tour – Learn about the fascinating process of water renewal and how it helps protect water quality. BWS/Virtual
Grade 7 - 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. BWS/Your Place
Exhibit Hall Tour – Tailored to every grade level, students will become knowledgeable about the Boise River watershed, watershed pollution, and explore exhibits in the interactive exhibit hall. BWS
Geothermal: The Heat Beneath Your Feet – Students will demonstrate where hot water comes from and why it rises to the surface in the form of geysers and hot springs. BWS/Your Place
River Campus Tour – March - October only. Come and experience the River Campus, splash in the simulated Boise River and explore nature play stations to learn about our watershed. BWS
The Climate Change Connection – Exploring climate change through a systems approach, students will learn about the greenhouse gas effect, local impacts and solutions. BWS/Your Place
The H2O Below – Get to know groundwater and its important role in our water supply. Your Place
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. BWS/Your Place
Water Renewal Facility Tour – Learn about the fascinating process of water renewal and how it helps protect water quality. BWS/Virtual
Grade 9 - 12
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. BWS/Your Place
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. BWS/Your Place
Water Renewal Facility Tour – Learn about the fascinating process of water renewal and how it helps protect water quality. BWS/Virtual
College/Adult
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. BWS/Your Place
Exhibit Hall Tour – Tailored to every grade level, students will become knowledgeable about the Boise River watershed, watershed pollution, and explore exhibits in the interactive exhibit hall. BWS
River Campus Tour – March-October only. Come and experience the River Campus, splash in the simulated Boise River and explore nature play stations to learn about our watershed. BWS
Water Renewal Facility Tour – Learn about the fascinating process of water renewal and how it helps protect water quality. BWS/Virtual
Water Resources – Students will be introduced to our local water resources in the Boise River watershed. BWS/Your Place
