Elementary School Field Trip Information
Required Forms • Fees • Classroom Presentation • Field Trip Logistics • Important Information
Welcome! Your school is scheduled to visit the Fairfield Osborn Preserve for an environmental education field trip. Please read the following information thoroughly to be prepared for your visit.
Required Forms
All visitors - adults and children - must have a signed SSU liability waiver to participate in this program. Visitors without a signed waiver will not be allowed on the preserve. Waivers from other schools will not be accepted. Signed permission slips and waivers must be brought with you to the Preserve on the day of your field trip.
- Waiver for Adults - For teachers, aides, chaperones, etc.
- Waiver for Minors (Parental Permission Slip) - Please ask parents/guardians to keep the upper section of the form for their records and return the bottom section to you.
Fees
We charge a $3 fee per student participant. Teachers and chaperones are not charged. Two options for payment are available:
- Credit card via the on-line SSU Ticket Office - select Osborn Elementary School Tours. You will be asked to create an on-line account. Please ignore any information about tickets. Preserve visits do not require tickets.
- Make check out to SSU Center for Environmental Inquiry. Mail check to: Attn: Suzanne DeCoursey, Center for Environmental inquiry, Sonoma State University, 1801 East Cotati Avenue, Rohnert Park, CA 94928-3609.
Pre-field Classroom Presentation
A Preserve volunteer will contact you to schedule a classroom presentation for the week prior to your field trip. These presentations are approximately one hour in length and prepare students and teachers for the field trip. Presenters require a surface on which to project slides. Presentations are scheduled for each class individually.
Field Trip Logistics
Field Trip Groups
Before arriving at the Preserve, provide all students with name tags showing their first name and the name of their field group.
Chaperones
Assign one adult chaperone per field group, and give them a copy of the
Parent chaperones should be assigned to a different field group than their own children, if possible. Chaperones must be able to hike comfortably over uneven terrain for several hours, and refrain from bringing additional children.Traveling to the Preserve
If you are traveling to the Fairfield Osborn Preserve in private vehicles, please carpool. The parking lot is small and must also accommodate the vehicles of researchers, university students, and other visitors. Give a copy of the Written Directions to Osborn to each driver.
Weather
Fairfield Osborn Preserve field trips take place regardless of weather unless extreme conditions make travel to the Preserve unsafe. Please ensure that your students are dressed appropriately for the conditions.
Cancellations
If you must cancel your trip, please give as much advanced notice as possible.
Thank You Notes
Preserve volunteers greatly enjoy receiving mail from students. If time permits, please encourage your students to write a note or draw a picture for their naturalist. Please mail them to:
Center for Environmental Inquiry
Fairfield Osborn Preserve
6543 Lichau Rd.
Penngrove, CA 94951
Important Information
- Please arrive at 9:45 am.
- Encourage your students to behave appropriately upon arrival at the Preserve.
- There are no garbage cans at the Preserve. Visitors are expected to “pack it in, pack it out.”
- All participants are expected to stay with and obey the directions of the Preserve staff member(s) in charge.
- Removing natural or cultural resources from the Preserve is prohibited.
- We ask that participants leave gum, candy, and soft drinks at home. Smoking is not permitted anywhere on the Preserve.
- Please call the Preserve office at 795-5069 if you have any questions.
Thank you for choosing to participate in the Osborn Environmental Education Program. We are looking forward to your visit!