Yaquina Head welcomes self-guided groups to tour Yaquina Head year-round. Whether you are a school, home-school, camp, or an interested family, we offer a number of activities and resources to help educators and students learn about and explore the park. In addition to comprehensive curriculum for grades K-3, 4-5th, 6-8th, and high school, groups may choose to from the lesson plans described below, or bring their own activities. Unlike the spring registration procedures, classes may schedule general visits at any time. Please email the Education Program Coordinator or call 541-574-3122 to discuss and book your field trip. Please note: advanced reservations are required for larger groups requesting a fee waiver. more>>
Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area is home to some of Oregon’s most accessible and ecologically diverse tide pools. It has provided an "outdoor classroom" for visiting school groups for generations. In 2003, BLM rangers began offering ranger-led educational programs to visiting grade school groups. The intertidal science program includes ranger-led school programs for grades 3 through 8, as well as self-guided programs for groups of all ages.
Ranger-led programs offer teachers and students the opportunity to participate a hands-on, hearts, exploration of the intertidal area, using standards linked to state curriculum. We strive to keep the ranger/student ratios low and the engagement level high. By participating in the programs we hope that students will acquire a deeper understanding and appreciation of Oregon’s natural and cultural heritage while learning about resources protection and personal stewardship. more>>
Although the springtime (April - mid-June) is dedicated to ranger-led tide pool programs, supervised teacher-led tide pool programs are welcomed at other times of the year. Please think of your visit as a "Field Experience" rather than a "Field Trip," and come prepared with appropriate, supervised activities for students while exploring the tide pools and other areas of the park. We ask that students are actively engaged in appropriate activities that will encourage learning and stewardship while protecting the resources at Yaquina Head. We have found that allowing students to explore the park without an assignment or activities is often ineffective and compromises both the resources and the students' learning experience.
We offer a number of useful resources to help plan a tide pool field trip program whether it be at Yaquina Head, or at another tide pool site. This includes various grade-based scavenger hunts, a student guide, and inquiry questions for adults to help stimulate student exploration and discussion. Outlines of each of our ranger-led programs also describe step-by-step instructions that may be utilized at most tide pool sites. Don't forget to check out the pre-and post-visit classroom activities! more>>
For more information contact:
Education Program Coordinator
541-574-3211 • blm_or_YH_education@blm.gov