We offer four different types of field trips. Aligned with the STEM Education and Climate Literacy Acts, our curriculum is led by trained docents who guide students through our preserves. Our core field trip topics also include information about wildlife and wildlife corridors, ecology, Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Indigenous culture and history, and stewardship. When you request your field trip you will be required to select which curriculum you’d like us to cover: 

• Native Plants: During a native plants field trip, students learn about native plant species and biodiversity. We teach the types of adaptations that allow plants to survive and thrive in our Mediterranean climate and the ecosystems they belong to. We also educate students on native plant uses by the first people to inhabit this area, the Tongva, who lived in balance with their environment and continue to be stewards of this land.
• Geology: Our geology curriculum teaches plate tectonics, rock types, watersheds, and storm water runoff. AFC Preserves lend physical features to reference when teaching the concepts of what defines a watershed or drainage basin. Seeing firsthand the connection between drainage basins from the mountains to the sea, students are able to make a tactile connection between ideas learned in the classroom and outside world applications.
• Avifauna: Our avifauna curriculum offers students an engaging introduction to bird identification through physical characteristics, the evolutionary history of birds, and the interconnected relationships between birds, plants, and humans. Students tour the preserve with binoculars and are led in mindfulness exercises, practicing being quiet observers in the natural world. Bird activity is best early—our recommended start time for this trip is 9:00 AM.
• Service Activities: Students can actively participate in habitat restoration by removing invasive species, repairing trails, and maintaining our preserves. Through these hands-on activities, they learn about the critical role native plants play in ecosystems and the threats posed by invasive species, fostering a deeper connection to land stewardship. Service activity dates are reserved for high school students and can be up to 2 hours long. For all other grade levels, shorter service activities between 15-30 minutes can be added to the end of a field trip upon request.
  
  

Take a look at program learning outcomes and applicable Next Generation Science Standards here. Curriculums can be tailored to align with your classroom’s specific learning objectives—just let us know in advance!