Audubon in the Classroom

In keeping with our goal of helping children create lasting relationships with the natural world, we provide numerous opportunities for teachers to learn how to incorporate environ­mental education into their classroom and extra-curricular activities. Whether teachers attend one of our workshops, have their classes participate in bird counts or create nature-based poetry and art, they are helping create a generation that truly cares about and connects with nature.

Classroom Resources

Audubon in the Classroom

Designed to prepare students for a visit to the Center, or continue exploration back at school following a visit. Encourages in-depth nature exploration.

Schoolyard Birding

As they observe birds in nature, students practice the scientific method, learn about natural history, use math, art, and writing skills, develop their powers of observation, and contribute real data to science. Participate in weekly or monthly bird counts or the annual Great Backyard Bird Count.

Poetry & Art in Nature

Spend some time outdoors with your class and create art (written, 3-dimensional, using recycled materials or on paper) to share with the community. Each month we will feature a class’s artwork and poetry at our Center.

Extra-Curricular Resources

(both during school & beyond)

Green Team

Students learn to green their school through waste reduction, reusing, recycling, composting and other environmentally friendly activities. Start a Green Team at your school today.

Adopt a Workday

We have regular monthly restoration workdays at our Center and at Blackie’s Pasture. We welcome school groups, after school programs, or science and nature clubs to participate in our restoration efforts by adopting a workday.

Beach clean-ups

Join us for California Coastal Cleanup Day or choose your own day to be stewards of our Sanctuary. Turn it into a teaching lesson on reducing, reusing, recycling, rethinking and decomposition. Call us to schedule you a class clean-up day.

Watershed Sleuths

Science classes investigate local watersheds and learn about land use, water quality, plants and animals, and native vs. non-native species to gain an understanding of how all these factors relate to the overall health of the San Francisco Bay. This program is best paired with a field trip to our Center and an Audubon in the Classroom program to introduce students to the concept of a watershed, maps, and scientific tools.

Audubon Youth Corp/Junior Naturalists (6th grade or higher)

Students learn about the environment, restore natural areas, give back to the community through research, restoration and garden projects that benefit local schools, our Center, and the broader community. Junior Naturalists also lead environmental education activities. Earn community service hours, get involved with local conservation and have a great time!

Research & Restoration Projects for Middle and High School Classes

Students actively participate in restoration and research projects conducted in San Francisco Bay and on our Sanctuary. Projects are limited and vary by season. Previous projects include monitoring invasive colonial tunicates, in partnership with the Smithsonian Research Institute, using settling plates in the Bay.