December K-12 Field Trips

Geoff Benn • January 20, 2026

Plainfield Elementary kindergarteners after their 12/2 field trip at Woodland Regional Park Preserve


In December, we wrapped up our busiest Fall K-12 field trip season in recent memory, serving a total of 19 classes and 487 students! All of the trips included a bird walk with binoculars and activities from one of Tuleyome’s seven educational Trails (Adaptations, Ecosystems, Evolution, Land, Sun, Water, and Weather).



Plainfield Elementary Kindergarteners in a shelter they constructed as part of the Sun Trail


We got the month started on December 2nd with a field trip at Woodland Regional Park Preserve (the Preserve) for two classes of Kindergarteners from Plainfield Elementary School in Woodland. The students completed the Sun Trail, which included experimenting with the impacts of sun and shade on objects, doing a nature walk with binoculars, and building sun shelters. The students particularly enjoyed shelter building and watching the white-tailed kites hunting the hills of the park.



A 4th grader tries out an ear modification on the Adaptations Trail


Our second trip of the month took place on the 5th and was for a class of 4th graders from Plainfield Elementary in Woodland. The students completed the Adaptations Trail, which included a nature walk with binoculars and series of activities related to sensory adaptations, particularly hearing. Students practiced listening quietly to the environment, tried out different ear shapes, and played a “predators and prey” game that used their sense of hearing and also demonstrated the impact of noise pollution on wildlife.



2nd graders practice using binoculars as part of the Social Emotional Learning Trail


Our final trip of the month took place on the 17th, with two classes of second graders from Birch Lane Elementary in Davis visiting the Preserve to complete the Social Emotional Learning Trail with Tuleyome. As part of the program, we discussed ways that time in nature can help us regulate our emotions, we practiced nature mindfulness, communication, and seeing the environment from the perspectives of different animals. At the end of the trip, the students got to select locations for Tuleyome game cameras at the Preserve – they were so excited to see the footage that they asked their teacher to do a calendar reminder for after the holiday break!


If you’re a teacher or youth group leader and are interested in bringing your kids out for a field trip with Tuleyome, you can learn more about the program here. Once you’re ready to book a trip, you can submit an interest form on the website or reach out to Geoff at gbenn@tuleyome.org.

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Beavers, otters, and more – new Conaway Ranch game camera footage!

By Geoff Benn • June 4, 2026
A beaver at Conaway Ranch We’ve got new footage from our game cameras at Conaway Ranch! This camera site was chosen by 4 th graders from Dingle Elementary during a recent field trip to Conaway. The camera is near the otter slide we’ve previously filmed, but is a few feet away from the entrance to the slide, allowing us to film the animals as they approach. We saw beaver, otter, a fox, a raccoon, and more! Click here to watch the video . Tuleyome works with Conaway Preservation Group to offer educational programs at Conaway Ranch, including programs for K-12 groups and the general public. If you have any questions about the game camera footage or our programs at Conaway, please reach out to Education Associate Geoff Benn at gbenn@tuleyome.org.

Policy Corner: It’s Time to Fight for Our Public Lands

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Monumental Questions - Another Monumental Vegetable?

By Kristie Ehrhardt • June 4, 2026
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