Three students look at a fish through a glass fish viewer.

Field Trips

Join BLM Alaska Campbell Creek Science Center for an in-person field trip!

All Campbell Creek Science Center's place-based field trips give youth hands-on learning experiences with the natural world. Here, students will be immersed in nature, complete with quiet forest and rippling creek! At Campbell Creek Science Center, everyone is a scientist!

To book a program visit:

Recreation.gov

Education Program Options

Grades K-4

Alaska Animals | K-3rd Grade

Seasons offered: All, Length: 3 hours

What animals are found in Alaska? Where do they live? How do they survive? Games, hands-on activities, and natural items immerse learners in the diverse habitats of Alaska animals. Students investigate animal evidence and learn about adaptations that help animals survive.
Science Standards | K-LS1-1, K-ESS2-2, 1-LS1-1, 2-LS4-1, 3-LS4-3

Salmon Stories | K-3rd Grade

Seasons offered: Fall, Spring, Summer, Length: 3 hours

Learn about animal adaptations through one of Alaska’s star species: salmon! In this engaging, hands-on program students role-play the story of the salmon life cycle, investigate fish characteristics and adaptations, and discover how salmon are connected to other living things in their habitat.
Science Standards | K-LS1-1, K-ESS2-2, 1-LS1-1, 2-LS4-1, 3-L

A Seed’s Journey | K-1st Grade

Seasons offered: Fall, Spring, Summer, Length: 3 hours

Grow your understanding of Alaska’s plants! Through activities such as games, skits, seed planting, and a seed collection walk, students learn about the basic parts, needs, and life cycles of plants.
Science Standards | K-LS1-1, K-PS3-1, 1-PS4-1

Sensational Senses | K-1st Grade

Seasons offered: All, Length: 3 hours

Venture into the great outdoors using senses! Explore nature through hands-on activities and games that focus on sight, smell, touch, and hearing. Students use simple tools such as hand lenses, binoculars, and thermometers to amplify their senses and allow them to collect information just like scientists.
Science Standards | K-LS1-1, K-PS3-1, 1-PS4-1

Plant Explorers | 2nd-3rd Grade

Seasons offered: Fall, Spring, Summer, Length: 3 hours

Calling all tree explorers! In this program, students discover the diversity of tree species in Alaska and analyze the important role of trees in ecosystems. They investigate the parts of trees and learn how their life cycles are affected by seasons, climate, and other factors.
Science Standards | 2-LS4-1, 4-LS1-1, 3-LS4-3

Fossil Finders | 2nd-3rd Grade

Seasons offered: Fall, Spring, Summer Length: 3 hours

Take a hike through geologic time to discover the long and interesting history of life on planet earth. Students learn how unique conditions formed the fossils of creatures that lived millions of years ago. They will be able to take home a fossil that they make using clay and molds.
Science Standards | 4-ESS1-1, 4-ESS2-1, 4-ESS2-2

Grades 4-12

Watershed Discoveries | 4th-6th Grade

Seasons offered: Fall, Spring, Summer, Length: 3 or 6 Hours

Grab your boots and go with the flow to experience the dynamic Campbell Creek watershed! In this inquiry-based program, students learn about the connections in watersheds. They analyze how moving water shapes the landscape and investigate nearby riparian habitats. Students conduct chemical and physical water quality tests and identify aquatic macroinvertebrates to evaluate the health of the creek.
Science Standards | 4-ESS2-1, 5-ESS2-1, 4-LS1-1, 5-ESS3-1

Forest Ecosystems | 4th-6th Grade

Seasons offered: Fall, Spring, Summer, Length: 3 or 6 hours

Examine the diversity of habitats in a forest and discuss how factors like competition, interdependence, and succession lead to that diversity. Students will use field science techniques to compare different areas of a forest. Students will also look for animal signs to examine how animals use the forest.
Science Standards | 4-LS1-1, 5-LS2-1, MS-LS1-6

Dynamic Earth: The Rock Cycle Journey | 4th-6th Grade

Seasons offered: Fall, Spring, Summer Length: 3 hours

Discover the forces that drive the rocky cycle while hiking trails around Campbell Creek. In this program, students learn how to look for geologic evidence, signs of erosion, and the importance of minerals in the ecosystem. They also explore how glaciers change the surface of earth using models and hands-on activities.
Science Standards | 5-ESS2-1, MS-ESS2-2, MS-ESS2-1

Snow Science | 4th-6th Grade

Seasons offered: Winter, Length: 3 hours

Students investigate the physical properties of snow by observing crystals, measuring snow temperatures, and conducting experiments. In addition, games and hands-on activities help students discover the winter environment.
Science Standards | 5-ESS2-1, 5-ESS2-2New accordion content

Outdoor Survival Skills | 4th-12th Grade

Seasons offered: All, Length: 3 or 6 Hours

What does it take to survive in the Alaska subarctic environment? How should we prepare to spend time outdoors? What can we do to stay alive when things go wrong? Through hands-on experience with fire starting, shelter building, orienteering, and other skills, students learn techniques to stay warm, healthy, and secure in the outdoors.
Science Standards | 5-ESS3-1

Team Building | 4th-12th Grade

Seasons offered: All, Length: 3 or 6 Hours

What makes a great team? Learn the fundamentals of effective, student led teamwork in the supportive environment of Campbell Creek Science Center. Experiential activities get participants moving, cooperating, communicating, trusting, and problem solving in positive ways.
SEL Standards | 2A, 2C, 3A, 3B, 4A, 4C

Other programs

Preschool Programs: Our educators have experience working with learners of all ages. Shorter program lengths, hands-on nature exploration, and guided play keep young learners engaged. Program themes include dinosaurs, insects, animals, senses, and more. Contact us to set up your preschool program.
Scout, 4-H and After School Programs: Continue the learning experience outside the traditional school day. We offer field trips on afternoons, evenings, and weekends for Scouts, 4-H, and other after school and extracurricular groups. Choose from our standard program options. Contact us to set up your program.
Homeschool Programs: We offer field trips for homeschoolers, mixed-grade groups, and families. Minimum of 10 participants. See program descriptions above for options. Home school groups of 10 or more may sign up for a field trip through Recreation.gov. Also, check out our activity calendar for public program options for individual learners of all ages.

A group of people stand in front of a large rope spiderweb. — We have something for everyone at CCSC! Photo by D., Coble, BLM.

Need to know:

Maximum groups size is 45 students per day
Programs are three-hours or six hours in length (includes time for lunch)
Email CCSC for shorter program options.
Times are flexible and fit ASD activity bus schedules
Costs: $12/ three-hour program
$24/ six-hour program
Programs are fully accessible.
An all-terrain and snow-capable wheelchair is available for participants with mobility impairments.
Notify CCSC in advance of any special needs or requirements for your group.

Scholarships available

If your school is Title I or near Title I (>33% participation in the Free and Reduced-Price Meal Program) and needs a partial program scholarship or full bus scholarship, please visit this Recreation.gov page to register.