K-12th grade education
Discover the Flyway School Programs
Discover the Flyway is an outdoor education program for kindergarten through 12th grade students based on California science and social science standards. Our goal is to offer children a meaningful outdoor experience that will give them an appreciation for the wetlands, agriculture, and wildlife of the Central Valley and contribute to a lifetime of healthy outdoor activities and development of a land stewardship ethic. See the options below to learn how you and your students can Discover the Flyway!
The program is a partnership between the Yolo Basin Foundation and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Since 1997, over 80,000 students from both public and private schools in the Sacramento region have experienced a Discover the Flyway program.
Our K-12th grade education programs
Experience the outdoors with one of our many programs.
Discover the Flyway Field Trips
The all-day Discover the Flyway field trip begins at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Headquarters, where students engage in hands-on, interactive wetland science or social science activities. After lunch, students receive loaner binoculars and bird ID cards, followed by a lesson on using the binoculars. The trip concludes with a visit to the nearby Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area for a time of discovery!
Discover the Flyway Vernal Pool-based Field Trips
The free Discover the Flyway Vernal Pool field trips begin at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Headquarters with morning science activities. After lunch, students caravan to Grasslands Regional Park’s vernal pools for hands-on discovery. The trip is free, thanks to a grant from California State Parks and a partnership with Yolo County.
Discover the Flyway In-class Activities
Discover the Flyway In-class Activities bring the wetlands to you. These activities provide hands-on, inquiry-based science or social studies curriculum for 1st through 5th grade classrooms.
Discover the Flyway Teacher Workshops
Teachers must attend a one time Teacher Workshop before bringing their students on a Discover the Flyway field trip. All educators interested in learning how to teach students about wetlands, wildlife, and human history in the Central Valley are also welcome to attend!
Hands-on outdoor education offer numerous benefits, including:
- Enhanced Engagement: Students are more likely to be engaged and motivated when learning in a dynamic, real-world setting.
- Connection to Nature: Students develop a greater appreciation and understanding of the environment, fostering ecological awareness and responsibility.
- Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving: Outdoor settings encourage inquiry-based learning, allowing students to ask questions, explore, and solve problems in real time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Before making a reservation request for a Discover the Flyway school program, please read the Discover the Flyway Program Terms and Conditions.
Reservations are available online only. First come, first served.
Teachers are required to attend a one-time Teacher Workshop before bringing students to a Discover the Flyway Field Trip. If you have never attended a Teacher Workshop and would like to reserve a date for a field trip, please register now.
Workshop Dates for 2024-25 School Year
For programs that work directly with youth (such as the Discover the Flyway school program), volunteers are required to complete a background check and complete a virtual mandated reporter training.
All volunteers must sign a CDFW volunteer agreement (renewed annually) and YBF volunteer agreement.
Volunteers under the age of 18 must be assigned an adult supervisor and must complete an additional parental permission form. Arrangements for this supervision must be approved by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Transportation funding assistance is available to Title I schools through the Transportation Mini-Grant Program. Contact Heidi Satter, [email protected], for more information.
Make a difference and Volunteer
If you have a passion for conservation, an enthusiasm for sharing this with kindergarten through 12th grade students, and a desire to learn more about local wetlands, then become a docent with Discover the Flyway!