Skip to main content
Santa Clara County Parks
Parks logo

In-person 

Exploring our Changing Bay – wetlands and climate change at Alviso Slough

Location: Alviso Marina County Park, San Jose
Grade level(s): 6th and up
Maximum capacity (including teachers and chaperones): 35
Program duration: 1.5 hours (time slots and available days vary due to tides)
Program fee: Free 

Overview

Students will explore the carbon cycle and our changing climate while traveling through the tidal marsh environment of Alviso Slough aboard Santa Clara County’s “floating classroom.” This boat-based field trip supports Next Generation Science Standards and Environmental Literacy Standards.

Request a field trip

This is a four-part program that includes in-class activities and discussions before and after the on-boat experience.
  • Part 1 (In-class, 45-60 mins): One to two weeks before your boat tour, a park interpreter will visit your students in-class to introduce the field trip, establish rapport, and facilitate a discussion that explores what students know and how they feel about the topic of climate change.
  • Part 2 (In-class, c. 60 mins): In-class, prior to students’ park visit, the teacher will facilitate two activities that establish or reinforce baseline knowledge about the carbon cycle.
  • Part 3 (Alviso Marina County Park, 90 mins): Students will explore Alviso’s wetlands aboard our boat and discover how the wetlands help protect our community from sea level rise.
  • Part 4 (In-class): The teacher will facilitate a post-trip discussion and activity to help students process what they learned and explore how it relates to their lives. While park staff will offer activity recommendations, we welcome your and your students’ creativity in responding.

 

Teaching materials

Get ready for your visit

Review our pre-field trip activities with your students before your visit.

Pre-field trip activities

Volunteer hosts

Programs are led by interpretive staff and supported by volunteer visitor hosts. Hosts greet and assist participants. If you're interested in becoming a host, please visit our volunteer host recruitment page to learn more and sign up.