Grades: K-5; adaptable for MS and HS
Duration: Field Trip duration is ~3 hours and includes: 60-minute lesson, 30-minute lunch break, 30-minute guided nature walk, and approximately 30 minutes of unstructured time for snacking, restroom visits, and chaperone/teacher led exploration of the nature center
Availability: Field Trip duration is ~3 hours and includes: 60-minute lesson, 30-minute lunch break, 30-minute guided nature walk, and approximately 30 minutes of unstructured time for snacking, restroom visits, and chaperone/teacher led exploration of the nature center
NGSS Connection: Practice: Analyzing and Interpreting Data; D.C.I: Life Science: LS1: Molecule to Organism; Crosscutting Concepts: Structure and Function
Location : SNCO Campus
Pricing: $250 per class (~35 students)

Description:

The Animal Adaptations program focuses on basic needs of animals. Physical characteristics of different animal groups, and adaptations that aid each animal in survival. Students will learn about birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians in a hands-on lesson filled with biofacts, photos, and live animal ambassadors.

This field trip addresses the following concepts:

• Relationship between physical traits and survival strategies
• Relationship between habitat and food web structure
• Relationship between body part structure and functions
• Observation and categorization of animals based on appearance and behavior
• Human impacts on habitat and organism survival
• Ecosystem preservation and best practices for nature stewardship

Next Generation Science Standards Alignment: Grades 1-2

• Practice: Analyzing and Interpreting Data
• C.I.: Life Science: LS1: Molecule to Organism
• Crosscutting Concept: Structure and Function

Details and Logistics
• Program duration: 3 hours total: 60-minute lesson, 30-minute lunch break, 30-minute guided nature walk, and approximately 30 minutes of unstructured time for snacking, restroom visits, and chaperone/teacher led exploration of the nature center
• Program capacity: 2 classes of up to 35 students/class per field trip day
• Chaperone requirement: One chaperone is required for every five students.
• This program has indoor and outdoor components. Groups should wear sturdy footwear such as boots or sneakers and extra layers. Please bring lunches/snacks and refillable water bottles. Please encourage students to leave valuables and electronics at home. All tools and materials for program activities are provided.
• This program includes admission to the nature center for students and chaperones. Please limit visits inside the building to no more than 35 students at once. Visits to the observatory are not included in your field trip and require an additional fee. If you are interested in adding on an observatory visit or program, please contact us.
• Programs follow a schedule designed to maximize the student experience. Upon your arrival, hard copies of the program schedule will be distributed to teachers and chaperones.
• Please check the weather for Sunriver, OR, 97707 in the days leading up to your visit. We will be outside for the majority of the program regardless of weather.

COVID-19 Update

All SNCO staff are fully vaccinated and following all Bend-La Pine School District guidelines for on-site visitors. This program can take place fully outdoors if requested.

Grades: PreK-12
Duration: Approximately 45 minutes
Availability: Approximately 45 minutes
NGSS Connection: Customized based on your needs
Location : Your School
Pricing: $200 per visit. Additional 45min presentations during the same visit are $50 each. Additional mileage fees will be applied to school visits outside of a 25-mile radius of Sunriver.

Description:

Schedule a special naturalist visit to your classroom! We will work with you to customize a program to complement your life science lessons with an educational, engaging, and most of all, memorable experience. The naturalist visit may include hands-on activities, games, experiments, or live animal appearances based on your goals.

COVID-19 Update

All SNCO staff are fully vaccinated and following all Bend-La Pine School District guidelines for on-site visitors. If the at-your-school naturalist visit is not possible, virtual alternatives can be made available.

Grades: 1-5; adaptable for MS & HS
Duration: Field Trip duration is ~3 hours and includes: 60-minute lesson, 30-minute lunch break, 30-minute guided nature walk, and approximately 30 minutes of unstructured time for snacking, restroom visits, and chaperone/teacher led exploration of the nature center
Availability: Field Trip duration is ~3 hours and includes: 60-minute lesson, 30-minute lunch break, 30-minute guided nature walk, and approximately 30 minutes of unstructured time for snacking, restroom visits, and chaperone/teacher led exploration of the nature center
NGSS Connection: Practice: Analyzing and Interpreting Data; D.C.I: Life Science: LS1: Molecule to Organism; Crosscutting Concepts: Structure and Function
Location : SNCO Campus
Pricing: $250 per class (~35 students)

Description:

The Birds of Prey Nature Immersion Field Trip is a field trip focused on animal adaptations, survival strategies, and habitat. This program utilizes live birds of prey (i.e., raptors such as hawks, owls, eagles) as the study organism. Students will engage in an interactive classroom session, a visit with some of the nature center’s live avian ambassadors, and a guided nature walk exploring avian habitats. This program includes an opportunity for students to apply their knowledge to real-life ecosystem observations during the nature walk and visits with avian ambassadors.

This field trip addresses the following concepts:

• Relationship between physical traits and survival strategies
• Relationship between habitat and food web structure
• Relationship between body part structure and functions
• Observation and categorization of animals based on appearance and behavior
• Human impacts on habitat and organism survival
• Ecosystem preservation and best practices for nature stewardship

Next Generation Science Standards Alignment: Grades 1-2

• Practice: Analyzing and Interpreting Data
• C.I.: Life Science: LS1: Molecule to Organism
• Crosscutting Concept: Structure and Function

Details and Logistics
• Program duration: 3 hours total: 60-minute lesson, 30-minute lunch break, 30-minute guided nature walk, and approximately 30 minutes of unstructured time for snacking, restroom visits, and chaperone/teacher led exploration of the nature center
• Program capacity: 2 classes of up to 35 students/class per field trip day
• Chaperone requirement: One chaperone is required for every five students.
• This program has indoor and outdoor components. Groups should wear sturdy footwear such as boots or sneakers and extra layers. Please bring lunches/snacks and refillable water bottles. Please encourage students to leave valuables and electronics at home. All tools and materials for program activities are provided.
• This program includes admission to the nature center for students and chaperones. Please limit visits inside the building to no more than 35 students at once. Visits to the observatory are not included in your field trip and require an additional fee. If you are interested in adding on an observatory visit or program, please contact us.
• Programs follow a schedule designed to maximize the student experience. Upon your arrival, hard copies of the program schedule will be distributed to teachers and chaperones.
• Please check the weather for Sunriver, OR, 97707 in the days leading up to your visit. We will be outside for the majority of the program regardless of weather.

COVID-19 Update

All SNCO staff are fully vaccinated and following all Bend-La Pine School District guidelines for on-site visitors. This program can take place fully outdoors if requested.

Grades: K-12
Duration: 1-2 hours
Availability: 1-2 hours
NGSS Connection:
Location : SNCO Campus
Pricing: Please email programs@snco.org with your group size for pricing information

Description:

Explore the night sky at the Observatory! Program includes two hours of astronomer-guided night sky viewing. Activities includes telescope viewing, constellation tour, telescope discussion, and more

Please email programs@snco.org with preferred dates to schedule a program.

 

Grades: 3-12
Duration: Field Trips duration is ~3 hours and includes: 60-minute interactive lesson, 30-minute lunch break, 60-minute Observatory time including solar viewing and meteorite discussions, and approximately 30 minutes of unstructured time for snacking, restroom visits, and chaperone/teacher led exploration of the site.
Availability: Field Trips duration is ~3 hours and includes: 60-minute interactive lesson, 30-minute lunch break, 60-minute Observatory time including solar viewing and meteorite discussions, and approximately 30 minutes of unstructured time for snacking, restroom visits, and chaperone/teacher led exploration of the site.
NGSS Connection: 1-ESS1-1, 5-ESS1-1, MS-ESS1-2, HS-ESS1-3
Location : SNCO Campus
Pricing: $250/program; maximum of 35 students. Includes nature center and observatory admission.

Description:

The sun is the closest star that we can see, and the only star in our solar system.  By observing and understanding how the sun functions and changes, we can apply that information to the stars we see at night.  While we are only seeing star light at night, we can generalize that that star is behaving similarly to our own.  Students will view the sun through a telescope equipped with special filters to make viewing safe.

Learning goals:

• Describe Earth’s position in the solar system and its movement.
• Recognize the rotation of the Earth on its access making a full rotation every 24 hours, creating our day night cycle.
• Explain the relationship between the cycle of seasons and the tilt of the Earth on its axis.
• Recognize that the sun’s gravitational pull holds the Earth and other planets in their orbits, just as their gravitation does with their own moons.
• Describe star life cycles and categorization of stars in our universe.

Grades: K-12
Duration: 45min
Availability: 45min
NGSS Connection: 1-ESS1-1, 5-ESS1-1, MS-ESS1-2, HS-ESS1-3
Location : Your School
Pricing: $200 for the first 45min presentation, $50 for each additional presentation. Additional mileage fees will be applied to school visits outside of a 25-mile radius of Sunriver.

Description:

Schedule an astronomer visit to your classroom! We will work with you to customize a program to complement your Earth and Space science lessons with an educational, engaging, and most of all, memorable experience. The astronomer visit may include hands-on activities, games, experiments, or telescope viewing based on your goals.

Grades: K-12
Duration: 30-minute lessons
Availability: 30-minute lessons
NGSS Connection: Varies based on grade level
Location : SNCO Campus, Your School
Pricing: $250 for the first session (lesson), $50 for each additional session (lesson)

Description:

Using our state-of-the-art inflatable planetarium, we are able to bring the night sky and much more to students across grade levels.  Programs are customizable and can focus on grade specific lessons, or a general overview of constellations and planets. Specific lesson topics can include, and are not limited to: star life cycles, moon phases, seasonal changes in constellations, planets of our solar system, dwarf planets, moons, Mars geology, and more.

Planetarium programs require an open indoor space with a power source. Programs are typically held in gymnasiums or other large rooms with a high ceiling.

Two different domes are available for offsite travel to schools. The small dome can be used in a classroom-size setting with up to 20 students at a time. The large dome can accommodate up to 35 students per visit. For planetarium programs at SNCO only the small dome is available at this time.

Dimensions: Our small dome is 10 feet high and 17 feet in diameter. Our large dome is 12 feet high and 20 feet in diameter.

Learning goals:

We have designed our lessons to meet the science standards across grade levels so the goals will vary based on the age group and the lesson chosen.  For more information, please contact programs@snco.org or call at 458-292-9995 with the age group and topic interests.

Grades: 6-12
Duration: Field Trips duration is ~3 hours and includes: 60-minute interactive lesson, 30-minute lunch break, 60-minute Observatory time including solar viewing and meteorite discussions, and approximately 30 minutes of unstructured time for snacking, restroom visits, and chaperone/teacher led exploration of the site.
Availability: Field Trips duration is ~3 hours and includes: 60-minute interactive lesson, 30-minute lunch break, 60-minute Observatory time including solar viewing and meteorite discussions, and approximately 30 minutes of unstructured time for snacking, restroom visits, and chaperone/teacher led exploration of the site.
NGSS Connection: MS-ETS1-2, MS-ESS1-2, HS-ETS1-3, HS-EST1-4, HS-ESS1-3
Location : SNCO Campus
Pricing: $250/program; maximum of 35 students. Includes nature center and observatory admission.

Description:

This class is an opportunity for students to learn about past, present and future space exploration projects.  Discussing how our ever-changing knowledge of space in evolving daily.  What the goals for exploration are going forward.  What the most recent discoveries have been. Learning how past exploration has led to current goals such as the exploration of Mars.  And how our improving knowledge us the solar system and beyond is driving future missions into space.

Learning goals:

• Understanding the impacts of advanced technology on space exploration
• Recognizing that a relationship exists between science, technology and our understanding of the solar system.
• Understand that research is driven by discovery, i.e., with new discovery comes new search criteria

 

Program Details and Logistics

• Program duration: 60-minute interactive lesson, 30-minute lunch break, 60-minute Observatory time including solar viewing and meteorite discussions, and approximately 30 minutes of unstructured time for snacking, restroom visits, and chaperone/teacher led exploration of the site.
• Program capacity: 2 groups of up to 35 students/group per field trip day
• Chaperone requirement: One chaperone is required for every five students.
• This program has indoor and outdoor components. Groups should wear sturdy footwear such as boots or sneakers and extra layers. Please bring lunches/snacks and refillable water bottles. Please encourage students to leave valuables and electronics at home. All tools and materials for program activities are provided.
• This program includes admission to the nature center and observatory for students and chaperones. Please limit visits inside the building to no more than 35 students at once.
• Programs follow a schedule designed to maximize the student experience. Upon your arrival, hard copies of the program schedule will be distributed to teachers and chaperones.
• Please check the weather for Sunriver, OR, 97707 in the days leading up to your visit. We will be outside for segments of the program regardless of weather.

 

COVID-19 Update

All SNCO staff are fully vaccinated and following all Bend-La Pine School District guidelines for on-site visitors. This program can take place fully outdoors if requested.

Grades: 3-12
Duration: Field Trips duration is ~3 hours and includes: 60-minute interactive lesson, 30-minute lunch break, 60-minute Observatory time including solar viewing and meteorite discussions, and approximately 30 minutes of unstructured time for snacking, restroom visits, and chaperone/teacher led exploration of the site.
Availability: Field Trips duration is ~3 hours and includes: 60-minute interactive lesson, 30-minute lunch break, 60-minute Observatory time including solar viewing and meteorite discussions, and approximately 30 minutes of unstructured time for snacking, restroom visits, and chaperone/teacher led exploration of the site.
NGSS Connection: ESS1-1, MS-ESS1-1, MS-ESS1-2, MS-ESS1-3, HS-ESS1-3, HS-ESS1-6
Location : SNCO Campus
Pricing: $250/program; maximum of 35 students. Includes nature center and observatory admission.

Description:

Our Earth has an interesting role in our solar system. We will focus on the relationships Earth has with the Sun and nearby planets. Students will learn about the behaviors of the Earth, the Moon, Venus and Mars in space. Students will also look at our planet and others to evaluate day and year cycles, as well as seasons relative to our Sun.

Learning goals:

• Recognize that Earth rotates on its axis, in a 24-hour pattern creating common cycles such as day-night cycle, seasons, and moon phases.
• Understand the Earth’s gravitational effect with other objects in space depends on their relative masses and distances between each other.
• Understand that the Sun’s gravitational pull holds the planets in their orbits, just as the planets keep their moons in their orbits.

Grades: K-12
Duration: Nature Discovery Kits are delivered to your school and picked up during the scheduled naturalist visit two weeks later. The naturalist visit lasts approximately 45 minutes.
Availability: Nature Discovery Kits are delivered to your school and picked up during the scheduled naturalist visit two weeks later. The naturalist visit lasts approximately 45 minutes.
NGSS Connection: Varies with kit theme
Location : Your School
Pricing: $200 for a 2-week kit rental and one naturalist visit. Additional 45min presentations during the same visit are $50 each. Kit rentals without a naturalist visit are $50. Additional mileage fees will be applied to school visits outside of a 25-mile radius of Sunriver.

Description:

Engage your students all week long in your classroom with a nature discovery kit filled with educational and fun nature-themed activities and a visit from a naturalist! Each kit contains a teacher’s activity guide, touchable biofacts, books, and other hands-on educational materials for your students. Activities are led by you at your class’s leisure over the course of two weeks. To wrap up the memorable activities, a naturalist will visit your class with a lesson and activities related to your kit.

Click on the links below to see the contents of each kit:
Scales, Tails & Claws | Animal Adaptations | Buzz about Bees | Splash! Life in a Pond | Sky High Predators

COVID-19 Update

All SNCO staff are fully vaccinated and following all Bend-La Pine School District guidelines for on-site visitors. If the at-your-school naturalist visit is not possible, virtual alternatives can be made available.