Nature Education

Emeryville Children & Nature Curriculum Handouts - a series of progressively scaled activity sheets for introducing nature exploration to young children

Create-with-Nature Resources:

San Francisco Guide: Create-with-Nature Play - how to make your own nature play program 

San Francisco Guide: Natural Loose Parts  - how to put together your own create-with-nature kit

Zach Pine: Socially Engaged Environmental Artist - a local create-with-nature expert 

East Bay Regional Parks District (EBRPD) Resources

EBRPD Mobile Education - travels to schools and community organizations in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties to provide hands-on learning opportunities

EBRPD Parks Express Transportation Program - reduced fee transportation to EBRPD parks for qualifying schools and other organizations

EBRPD Kids Healthy Outdoors Challenge - a unique opportunity connecting third graders to the outdoors and recreational opportunities, promoting health and well-being, physical activity and life-long parks

Oakland Public Library Outdoor Resources

California State Library Park Pass - check out one of these passes to visit any and multiple state park for free, for up to 21 days

California State Library Backpack - check out a backpack for exploring parks! Backpack includes binoculars, nature guides, a compass, and a local parks map

Outdoor Activities - more Oakland Public Library outdoor resources

UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley Resources:

Youth Tours - docent led tours for field trips, fee typically required, but they consider requests for free or reduced-rate admission

In-School Programs - presentations provided by garden docents either in the classroom or on online

Curriculum - garden related curriculum: Math in the Garden, and Botany on a Plate

Educators - educator training and professional development linked to school gardens as outdoor science and mathematics labs

Oakland Zoo Resources

Zoo at Home - online resources and educational activities that bring the Zoo to your home

Zoo Mobile -  comes to the classroom to use small animals and animal artifacts to teach grade-appropriate topics

Oakland Zoo Educational Programs - fun-filled activities and programs, year-round, for families, children, youth and teens, and community and groups

California State Parks Resources

Adventure Pass - available to all fourth graders and offers free entry to 54 state parks, including Samuel P. Taylor and Benicia Capitol State Historic Park.

Golden Bear Pass - valid for the calendar year and provides free vehicle day-use access to many parks for CalWORKs recipients, SSI recipients, Tribal TANF recipients and low income individuals 62 years or older 

State Parks PORTS Program - recorded, live virtual, and in-person events, run by Jennifer Langer 

Junior Rangers Program -  CA State Parks exploration program for children between 7 -12 years old

National Park Service (NPS) Resources

NPS: Every Kid Outdoors Program - available to all fourth graders and offers free entry to  federal parks, lands and waters, includes activity guides for educators

NPS: Junior Ranger Program - junior ranger activities available at parks and online

East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) Resources
EBMUD Education Resources - field trips, activity books and more