Field Trip Behavior Guidelines
2013 Table of Scheduled Field Trips
Nature Geocaching at McNary National Wildlife Refuge
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Who Are We?
The McNary Environmental Education program is a grassroots labor-of-love effort created in the 1990s by dedicated and caring volunteers interested in connecting children to nature. These volunteers have become the Friends of the Mid-Columbia River Wildlife Refuges and they continue to coordinate, organize, and host an outdoor classroom at the McNary National Wildlife Refuge. Each year, approximately 2,000 students participate in hands-on experiential learning stations, including aquatic insects, shrub-steppe habitat, invertebrates, birds, and more.
Our Mission
Children are spending more time indoors and less time outside connecting with nature. Research suggests that a lack of experiences outside in the natural world may negatively affect children's mental and physical health as well as their emotional and intellectual development. Click here to read more about our education programs and mission.
Field Trip Application Form
Sorry! All slots are filled for 2013.
Field trips at McNary Refuge are hosted by volunteers from Friends of the Mid-Columbia River National Wildlife Refuges, along with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff. These volunteers coordinate, organize, and lead hands-on environmental learning stations. Topics include the wildlife refuge system, aquatic invertebrates, wetland and shrub-steppe habitat, vertebrates, birds, use of binoculars and more.
Volunteer Teacher Sign-up
Volunteer teachers may sign up for specific dates, stations and time-slots on our Volunteer Teacher Sign-up Page.
Click the cell in which you wish to add your name and enter your first and last name. Do NOT change any information that is highlighted in yellow! Do NOT change any other name except your own! When finished, simply close the window. The spreadsheet will automatically save.
Did You Know?
Did you know that the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service manages nearly 150 million acres of wildlife habitat in over 550 refuges? It is the world's premier network of public lands and waters set aside to conserve America's fish, wildlife, and plants. Click here to read some interesting and surprising facts about the plants and animals found in our wildlife refuges.
Nature Geocaching at McNary National Wildlife Refuge
GEOCACHING is a real-world outdoor treasure hunting game. Players try to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, using GPS-enabled devices and then share their experiences online. We've designed a nature-trail version of geocaching, providing a fun way to explore our wildlife refuge. Grab your GPS and head over to the refuge for geocaching!
Click here to learn more: Nature Geocaching at McNary National Wildlife Refuge
Click here to view a photo gallery of animals, birds and plants found on our refuges.
The Definitions Project
Have you ever been stymied by different definitions used by different people for the same word? Confusion is especially common for interpreters, environmental educators, historians, and others working at parks, aquariums, zoos, nature centers, historic sites, and museums.
The Definitions Project grew out of a desire to establish a common vocabulary for a working collaborative of agencies and organizations associated with education and interpretation in nonformal settings.
Click here to open a new window and view The Definitions Project website: www.definitionsproject.com