Field Investigations (Field Trips) at The Tacoma Nature Center provide opportunities for learning about wetlands, watersheds, urban wildlife and other areas of nature study. These popular field trip programs are ideally suited for single classes to provide quality, small group experiences. 

Group Size and Fees
A ratio of one adult for every seven students (1:7) is required for field investigations (1:4 for children under 6).

Field Trip Fees

• $7 per student
• Teachers and chaperones are free.
• We are not able to accommodate siblings/extra participants.
• Non-refundable deposit due at time of booking as follows with final payment due on day of trip from the group leader.
  • Non-refundable deposit for groups under 15 students is $70
  • Non-refundable deposit for groups of 16-30 students is $112

Group Sizes

• Minimum
  10 participants
  Groups with under 10 participants are charged $70
• Maximum
  The Tacoma Nature Center – 30 participants
  Titlow Beach, Tacoma – 50 participants

Program Information
All programs have an outdoor component and participants should come dressed for the weather.

• Group leaders may download information packets with activities for the classroom and field journals to copy for the students.
• Programs requested that are not on the menu are subject to approval and are assessed a $50 off-menu fee.
• Increase learning! Each program has a linked classroom investigation (outreach program). Increase your students’ learning by booking both a pre-trip classroom program and a field trip today!
• The Tacoma Nature Center loan policy for educational items is found at the bottom of this webpage.

Booking your field trip
We often become fully booked months in advance for the most desirable times. Contact us early at 253-404-3930 and have several date options available.

• We require a non-refundable deposit to book each program. We accept Visa, Mastercard and American Express. The deposit is applied to the total cost of the field trip. The balance is due the day of the program in one form of payment. Purchase orders are also accepted, and the program is invoiced the day after the program. If you have 15 or less students, you must pay a non-refundable deposit for 10 students ($70). If you have 16 or more students, you must pay a non-refundable deposit for 16 students ($112).

Little Explorers: Furry Friends
Tacoma Nature Center, max. 30
1.5 hours $7.00 per student
Through interactive play, a fun mask to make, and outdoor exploration, children discover what makes a mammal a mammal and how we are mammals too!

Little Explorers: Pond Critters
Tacoma Nature Center, max. 30
1.5 hours $7.00 per student
Take a close-up look at the wet and wild animals that call Snake Lake home with stories, outdoor play, and a visit with a turtle or toad.

Life in a Pond
The Tacoma Nature Center, max. 30
2 hours $7.00 per student
Learn which animals use wetland habitats while exploring with a guide. Students are encouraged to observe and describe the characteristics of these special animals as they study how all parts of the animal help it to survive.

State Common Core Aligned for Grades K-1

Incredible Invertebrates
The Tacoma Nature Center, max. 30
2 hours $7.00 per student
Think like a bug and explore the world of invertebrates through an interactive program. Learn about the life cycles and characteristics of insects. This program is best suited to the warmer seasons when invertebrates are active (September-October and March – May).

State Common Core Aligned for Grades 1-2

Wetland Wonders
The Tacoma Nature Center, max. 30
2 hours $7.00 per student
Visit a wetland habitat to see what lives there and learn about the adaptations the animals have for survival. Then, look closer using microscopes to classify and sort the smallest creatures.

State Common Core Aligned for Grades 3

Forest Fun
The Tacoma Nature Center, max. 30
2 hours $7.00 per student
Explore the many plants and animals that live in a forest habitat and learn how each part depends on others. Investigate how people depend on the forest and take a look at related jobs.

State Common Core Aligned for Grades 4

Water Sleuths (Grades 5-6 only)
The Tacoma Nature Center, max. 30
2 – 2.5 hours $7.00 per student
Discover how systems connect as students investigate a wetland habitat, then search out the links between human activity and watershed quality. Students use technology to gather data on the watershed and draw conclusions about its quality.

State Common Core Aligned for Grades 5

Titlow Beach Exploration
Titlow Beach, max. 46
1.5 hours $7.00 per student
During the low tides of spring, explore the intertidal zone and marine life of the beach in teams utilizing nature study tools and discovery sheets.

State Common Core Aligned for Grades 5

Classroom Investigations and Outreach Programs

We’ll bring our programs to you! Our classroom investigations allow students to get a close-up view of nature in the convenience of the classroom.

Scheduling

• Programs last approximately one hour.
• Preschool groups have more options, see below.
• Programs should be scheduled at least two weeks in advance by calling (253) 404-3930.
• Due to the hands-on nature of the inquiries, we are only able to work with one classroom per time slot.
• Discounted prices are offered for additional inquiries on the same day at the same site.

Fees
$100 for first in-school session
$70 for each additional session*
Programs requested that are not on the menu are subject to approval and are assessed a $50.00 off-menu fee.
*Booked for the same day at the same location

Locations
Programs are available most anywhere in the Puget Sound region, however additional charges apply for any programs booked beyond the normal service radius.

• Any outreach programs located beyond 15 miles round trip from the Tacoma Nature Center are charged a minimum $30 surcharge.
• Charges increase as the distance increases.
• Additionally, any bridge tolls or other transportation related fees are charged to the contract.
• Call for a quote for your location.
• Please note that we are unlikely to accept programs that are further than a 30-40 minute one-way trip due to staffing availability.

These classroom inquiries allow students to get a close-up view of nature in the convenience of the classroom and schoolyard. These interactive programs use nature discovery to teach math and science literacy.

In order to suit the needs of young children, these programs are available with several different time options: 30, 45 or 60 minute options.

Two 30 minute programs qualify for the one-hour fee of $100 provided they are scheduled back-to-back.

• Backyard Birds – What makes a bird a bird? Students learn about unique characteristics of birds and discover which birds visit their schoolyard.
• Colorful Seasons – Students use their senses to explore the current season.

Students learn about the components of habitat and what wildlife needs to survive in this highly interactive program. Also included is a survey of 3 common Washington habitat types.

Not all wildlife lives in the wild. Many species have successfully adapted to humans and urban conditions. Students examine a number of our city dwellers through interactive stations and learn why they are thriving.

There is a great diversity of life in Washington. Join us in a brief survey of some of the more common wildlife species found here. Explore some of the adaptations they have for survival and investigate some of the problems facing wildlife today.

*This program can easily be adapted for older students or adult learners with no additional fee.

Under your leadership and supervision, visit the Tacoma Nature Center with your group for a self-guided tour of the trails and exhibit area. An interpretive trail guide and map are available to download here, and include information about the nature preserve along with a variety of self-guided nature walks. Please keep the following in mind if you are planning a self-guided field trip:

• Please call the Tacoma Nature Center at 253-404-3930 to let us know when you plan on visiting and the size of your group. We will gladly block off bus-parking for you if we know when you plan to visit.
• Please break up large groups and limit your small group size to 20 people per group using the trail and exhibit area.
• There are plenty of places to spread out in the park, so even a large group can use the area effectively. If you plan to eat lunch during your visit, there are picnic tables open to the public you may use. There is no indoor or covered area for you to eat lunch.
• Remind students to dress for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes.
• The Nature Center building is open daily, 10:00am – 2:00pm.
• The only restrooms are inside the building.
• The Nature Center accepts donations but there is no charge for self-guided field trips.
• You can reserve a Creature Feature Presentation as part of your self-guided Field Trip (dates subject to availability).
• Adventure Packs can be checked out for self-guided field trips or for use in other parks with advance reservations.

Self-Guided Field Trip Add-on Program

Enhance your group’s visit to the Tacoma Nature Center with the interactive Creature Feature Presentation by a Tacoma Nature Center educator. During the interactive program, students will observe animal adaptations by visiting with a live animal and investigating biofacts (pelts, bones, antlers, etc.). This add-on program includes a 20-30 minute indoor presentation by one of our educators and use of the space for a full 60 minutes. Additionally, magnifying glasses and scavenger hunt cards for students to use on the trails while your group is on-site are available to borrow.

This program is available for participants 3 years old and up and has a flat fee of $50.00. Maximum group size is one classroom (max 32).

Call 253-404-3930 to schedule a Creature Feature Presentation as part of your self-guided Field Trip experience.

Check out one or more Adventure Packs for your visiting group with an advance reservation.
You can use them on-site at the Tacoma Nature Center and/or at other natural areas and parks.

Filled with tools to aid in nature discoveries, you are sure to have a great time with more focused learning.
Two Adventure Journals are included so that you can make copies for each child, or adapt them to use for your trip.
We can also provide a digital copy before your trip if you want to prepare ahead of time.

Packs can be checked out at no charge for up to 8 days at a time.
Available pick-up times at the Tacoma Nature Center are between 10 & 2 each day.
Credit card number required in case of damaged or lost items.

Arrange for your pack by calling 253-404-3930 or reserve online at www.parkstacoma.gov/natureshop/
First-come, first-served. Limited number of packs available.