The Baylands Nature Preserve provides a marvelous opportunity to study the estuary at a unique facility built in the Mundy Marsh, right at the shore of the San Francisco Bay.

Teachers and home schoolers can support and augment their curriculum with an exciting naturalist-led field trip through parts of the Baylands Nature Preserve or Foothills Park. Choose from the Nature Center's hands-on programs or request a special unit of study. To help you prepare for your field trip, ask for our natural history packet or consult with a naturalist.

For reservations and information, call 650-329-2506. 

Reservations for field trips should be made at least three weeks in advance.

Programs are offered during the school year Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays, between 9:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

Programs include:

Introduction to the Baylands
A nature walk and slide show introduce the fascinating and hidden world of salt marsh and bay ecosystems.

All age levels.  1 hour. Group maximum: 35, plus 5 adults.

Feel, Look, and Listen
Egret antics and aquatic acrobats delight and educate young children. Activities involve them directly with life in the salt marsh. Come prepared to get a bit muddy!

Preschool and kindergarten. 45 minutes to 1 hour. Group maximum: 20, plus 6 adults.

Salt Marsh Explorations
Our most popular program. This flexible, hands-on program allows students to delve into the inner workings of the salt marsh ecosystem. Select an area of study: microorganisms, plants, birds, or marine life.

In the two-hour program each group is involved in two areas of study.

In the expanded three-hour program each group is actively engaged in three or four areas of study.

2nd grade through high school. 2 or 3 hours. Group maximum: 30, plus 5 adults.

Baylands Birds
Unlock the secrets of bird life in the salt marsh with binoculars, spotting scopes, a slide show, games, and interactive models.

2nd grade through high school. 1 ½ or 2 hours. Group maximum: 30, plus 5 adults.

Discovery Dock (What’s In That Muddy Water?)
A trip of discovery into the watery world of the salt marsh.  Haul up a seine net to marvel up-close at the abundance of marine life and plankton.  Use microscopes to examine in detail the amazing microorganisms found in marsh water and mud.

2nd grade through high school. 2 hours. Group maximum: 30, plus 5 adults.