School Field Trips at Turtle Bay

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More than 14,000 visitors a year experience our school tour programs, from northern California, western Nevada, and southern Oregon, to learn about the Sacramento River region, science, art, history, forestry, and horticulture. You can make the most of your visit by choosing an option that best works for you: a basic self-guided experience, or enrich your visit with an interactive Animal, Garden, or Exploration Class. Groups may also want to consider a stroll on the Sundial Bridge and through the Botanical Gardens.

To book a field trip, start by selecting the blue button below to complete a field trip request form below. Call 530-242-3108 or email fieldtrips@turtlebay.org for more information.

Field Trip Reservations

All field trip reservations must be requested at least two weeks in advance. Classes fill to capacity and there is a daily limit for field trip admissions. If either of your preferred dates and times are available, Turtle Bay staff will follow up to confirm your reservation. If unavailable, a choice of alternative dates and times will be provided. Once your field trip has been booked, you will be emailed a confirmation of your reservation, information to prepare for your field trip, and a chaperone guide. With less than 48 hours’ notice, there is a non-refundable $50 charge for cancellations.

To request a field trip, please complete the form below. All field trip coordinators and teachers must also submit a policy agreement form to fieldtrips@turtlebay.org.

2024-2025 Field Trip Rates

Field Trip Base Pricing (Admission into Turtle Bay Only)

  • Students - $6 per student

  • Chaperones - $6 per person

  • Teachers - Free

  • Turtle Bay Member Chaperones (cannot be used for students) - Free

  • Nectar Cups for Parrot Playhouse (optional) - $2 per person

  • Admission Sticker* - $1 per person

    *required if group does not have identifiers like stickers/shirts/lanyards/wristbands

  • Branch House To-Go Student Lunches* - $5 per lunch

    *must be reserved in advance at booking

Add-On Class Fees

Reservation only. Fees are in addition to field trip rates above.

  • Exploration Class - $1 per student

  • Animal Class - $2 per person (Teachers are free)

  • Garden Class - $1 per student

Check out our 2024-2025 School Field Trip & Resources brochure for more information on add-on class programs, exhibitions, Park favorites, and more!

PDF Downloads

Chaperones

Chaperones are considered parents, volunteers, student teachers, or other school staff that are not teachers or one-on-one aides (nurses, interpreters, etc.). Chaperones are responsible for the safety and behavior of students during the field trip. Only Turtle Bay Member adults named on their membership card are admitted for free. Memberships do not waive student admission or class fees. Member Guest rates do not apply for field trips.

Groups must have:

  • A minimum of 1 adult chaperone per 8 students

  • No more than 1 chaperone per 2 students

    *Additional adults over the maximum allowed will need to pay general admission and check in separately

Payment

One transaction per reservation. Payment for your visit is due upon arrival by cash, check, or card or Turtle Bay will invoice if a purchase order is provided. Chaperones cannot check in separately in order to qualify for the discounted rate, please collect money from chaperones in advance or include them in your payment from the school. There is a non-refundable $50 charge for cancellations within 48 hours of reservation or for no-shows.

Field Trip Add-Ons

Add one of the following class programs to your visit. All classes require a reservation and additional fees may apply. Availability is limited to certain dates and times, and dates do fill up quickly.

Exploration Classes

Turtle Bay Educator-led Exploration Classes offer interactive, informational, and inspirational experiences. These classes provide opportunities to practice, build on, and connect with Next Generation Science and other standards. All classes are 45 - 60 minutes long and your group may stay and enjoy the rest of the Park before or after your class.

September 4, 2024 - April 30, 2025

Wednesdays - Fridays; 9:15 AM - 12:00 PM

No classes on November 27 - 29 & December 25 - January 3

A minimum of 10 students required. Maximum capacity is 30 students per rotation and 3 rotations per day. Additional $1.00 per student. Space for adults to join the class is limited.

  • Ladybugs & butterflies go through BIG changes! Younger students will hear a story and then get a chance to explore activities that showcase everyone's favorite insects. Older students will be learning all about metamorphosis through more animal examples and a fun game!

    March & April dates only.

  • Discover the scientific method and sharpen your observational skills in this exciting and hands-on class. Younger students will investigate the states of matter and conduct experiments to build on their understanding of why matter really matters. Older students will observe and predict the surprising properties of everyday materials.

  • Uncover the stories that trees can tell us through their lifetimes and explore how important these organisms are in our world. Students will investigate the structures and functions of trees and discover the secrets hidden in tree rings.

  • Grab a pencil and paper and practice your observation skills. This class introduces the basics of scientific nature sketching with a lesson and a practice with Turtle Bay’s extensive bio fact collection. Nature sketching is a fun way to combine science and art!

  • Discover how Sir Isaac Newton’s Three Laws of Motion work in a fun and exciting demonstration! These three laws help us understand so many things around us. They explain why we can ride bikes, how planes fly, and even how we can play sports!

  • Students will conduct a simulated bio-assessment of a stream by sampling aquatic macroinvertebrates. By learning the process by which macroinvertebrates are assessed, results are recorded and pollution tolerance indexes are determined.

  • Did you know that Turtle Bay sits on what was once Wintu territory? Sit in the replica Wintu bark house and discover how the Wintu used natural materials for shelter, food, and tools and learn how they continue to use these materials for baskets, regalia, and more, today.

  • Design, build, test, and redesign! Students will get a glimpse at the design thinking process and apply their knowledge as they work in small teams to make a solar shield model for the James Webb Space Telescope.

  • Students will become active participants in the rock cycle as they explore the different processes and forces behind each step. This class includes examples of rocks and sediments for students to analyze and identify.

Animal Classes

These popular Animal Classes are available in-person and virtually! Virtual classes are live web programs for students to view in the classroom or at home. Each class is interactive, contains live animals, and is tailored to fit the State Content Standards for each grade listed. All classes are one hour long (40 min & 15 min Q&A) and your group may stay and enjoy the rest of the Park before or after your class.

October 11, 2024 - February 14, 2025

Fridays at 10:00 AM

A minimum of 10 students required. Maximum capacity is 90 people (students and adults) per rotation and 2 rotations per day. Additional $2.00 per person. Teachers must be present for the duration on the Animal Class.

  • Nocturnal animals have unique adaptations to survive life in the dark. Whether an owl, snake or porcupine, these animals each have their own advanced senses that allow them to navigate their unique habitats.

  • New this year!

    Forests cover only 30% of Earth's land area but are home to more animals than any other ecosystem. Surviving life in the forest requires a variety of different strategies and adaptations.

  • There are an infinite number of ways that animals move through their environments.  Explore the diverse mechanisms for flying, running, jumping, swimming and even slithering, along with how the environment around them influences how different animals move.

  • How do animals survive in the harsh and dangerous wild? How do they protect themselves, stay warm and get enough food?  Learn how animals use their senses and unique traits in their diverse ecosystems.

Classes in the Gardens

Explore the plants, trees, and other features of our Botanical Gardens with one of our horticulture specialists. Each class is tailored to support the State Content Standards for the grades listed. All classes are one hour long and your group may stay and enjoy the rest of the Park before or after your class.

September 4, 2024 - October 31, 2024 & February 5, 2025 - April 30, 2025

Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10:00 AM

Maximum capacity is 30 students per rotation and 2 rotations per day. Additional $1.00 per student.

  • Photosynthesis is the astonishing plant process that creates the fuel powering all life (and more) on earth. Plants are the foundation of the food chain, and whether you’re an herbivore, carnivore, or omnivore, you are eating plants (or something that ate plants). With photosynthesis plants can create their own food as they release life-sustaining oxygen in the process! We will look at various plant species growing in both the sun and low light to see how those conditions effect photosynthesis.

  • Plant adaptations help plants grow in various climates. These genetic traits show up in leaf texture, seed dispersal methods and more. Find out what helps our local native plants thrive in our dry-summer climate by comparing those adaptations with plants from around the world as we walk through the gardens.

  • From seed to decomposition, plants provide food, oxygen, habitat for animals and insects, wood for our homes, fiber for our clothes, many medicines for illnesses and then break down and return to enrich the soil for more generations of plants and for soil microbiota.

  • Pollination is the symbiotic dance between plants and pollinators, providing future generations of plants and food sources for their pollinators. Find out what attracts pollinators and how plants make seeds once pollen has been delivered to flowers.

Presented by
Tri Counties Bank

Education media support provided by
North State Parent Magazine