Field Trips
2026/2027 school year: Registration for the 2026/2027 school year is now open. Because of the overwhelming response to our field trips, registration is moving to a lottery system. Teachers will have 10 days to register for a chance to book a field trip date. Only one registration per class. Lottery selections will be made by Aug. 31, and teachers will be notified of the results soon after.
Our parks are your classroom! Get your students outdoors learning about the natural world around them. A wide range of field trips are available at various locations throughout the county. These hands-on, inquiry-based programs reinforce critical Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards.
Please note some of the field trip topics and park locations have changed this year.
Field trip descriptions
Habitat and Home
Spring Lake Regional Park
September – December
K – Third grades
Connect with the native plants and animals that make their homes around Spring Lake. Activities explore the components of healthy habitats and life cycles with a focus on survival and reproduction. Students will participate in science investigations at the Environmental Discovery Center and take a nature hike through oak woodlands. Depending on the grade level, lessons emphasize insects and decomposition, seed dispersal of plants and adaptations of wildlife such as birds.
Rockin' and Recycling
Foothill Regional Park or Spring Lake Regional Park (Jackrabbit)
October – May
Second – Fourth grades
Explore dynamic landscapes to uncover different ways the earth has changed over short and long periods of time. An interactive hike takes students on a journey through the rock cycle, revealing the forces and patterns of rock formations and making observations on what is found in their local park. Students will also appreciate the importance of renewable resources and recycling products manufactured from minerals and rocks.
Cultural Walk
Tolay lake Regional Park
October – December
Fourth – Sixth grades
Offer your classroom a unique learning experience of our region's rich cultural heritage through the perspective of Native Americans in California. Designed for fourth-sixth grades, students will explore past, present and future relationships at Tolay Lake where the Coast Miwok tribe has an incredibly detailed knowledge of natural resources and has passed this knowledge down through generations. Students will directly interact with historians, storytellers and plant stewards through participation in presentations, hands-on activities and educational walks through the park.
Climate Change Agents
Taylor Mountain Regional Park
September – December
Fifth – Eighth grades
Integrate the topics of climate change, health and resilience at this iconic park. Students will learn the science behind Earth’s changing climate, the relationship between human activities and the environment, and ways in which community action reduces impacts locally and globally. While hiking through meadows, woodlands, and urban vistas, students are inspired to be agents of positive change in Sonoma County. Please note: This program includes a pre-visit to your classroom on a preceding Wednesday for Parks staff to introduce concepts.
Only Rain Down the Drain
Spring Lake Regional Park
February - May
K – Third grades
Transform your classroom into drops of rain, take a trip down the storm drain and learn how water flows through creeks, towns, parks and oceans. Students will participate in science investigations at the Environmental Discovery Center and make observations while hiking around Spring Lake. Depending on the grade level, lessons dive into the water cycle, sources and impacts of water pollution, and ways humans can help protect our watersheds.
What's the Buzz?
Sonoma Valley Regional Park
February - May
First – Second grades
Discover the emergence of spring through a hike buzzing with life. Observe seasonal changes while learning about the wildflowers and pollinators that live in an oak woodland ecosystem. Students will explore the relationship between plants and insects as well as the vital role pollinators play in food production.
Regeneration after Fire
Foothill Regional Park
February – May
Fifth – Eighth grades
Discover how fire shapes Sonoma County landscapes in a three-hour program at Foothill Regional Park. Explore the interconnectedness of plants and animals with fire and their survival adaptations. Through hands-on activities and guided hiking, students will observe the Kincade Fire’s role in regenerating ecosystem health. Gain a deeper appreciation for nature's resilience and dynamic processes through this educational experience. Please note: This program includes a pre-visit to your classroom on a preceding Wednesday for Parks staff to introduce concepts.
Tidepool Adventure
Pinnacle Gulch Regional Park
March – May
Fifth – Eighth grades
Experience the magic of the tidal ecosystem. Through a moderately strenuous hike to the beach and hands-on exploration, students learn how species are interconnected in complex ecosystems. Practice making observations and finding evidence around the adaptations of coastal inhabitants to changing tides and extreme conditions. Please note – only one classroom (up to 30 students) will be scheduled each day. Available low-tide dates can be found on the registration form.
Registration - new lottery system launching 2026/2027
Registration for the 2026/2027 school year is now open.
Because of the overwhelming response to our field trips, registration is moving to a lottery system. Teachers will have 10 days to register for a chance to book a field trip date. Only one registration per class.
Lottery selections will be made by Aug. 31, and teachers will be notified of the results soon after.
Cost
Field trip cost is $7 per student from Sonoma County schools and $9 for students from out-of-county schools.
Scholarships
Scholarships are available on a first-come, first-served basis for Sonoma County schools that have 50% or more students who are considered socio-economically disadvantaged. A limited number of bus stipends are also available to schools. Classes receiving scholarships are responsible for a $25 registration fee per class. If approved, scholarships are paid by the Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation. Funding is available for each classroom to receive one scholarship per year.
Cancellations
Cancellations must be made one month prior to field trips. Classes that cancel less than a month prior to a field trip are still responsible for the payment of invoices. Extreme rain events or poor air quality cancels.
For more information
Contact ParkPrograms@sonomacounty.gov if you have any questions about our Field Trips, or to be placed on the teachers newsletter mailing list.
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