Science Resource Center
Science Resource Center
Where Curiosity Meets Discovery
The Science Resource Center supports equitable K-12 science education through hands-on curriculum, outdoor field experiences, and partnerships with local agencies. Every student deserves the chance to explore the natural world—and unlock their unlimited potential through science
Bringing Science to Life
The Science Resource Center equips every student with hands-on learning experiences that spark curiosity and build real-world skills.
The Wenatchee School District Science Resource Center develops, builds, and refurbishes science classroom kits that support teachers across the district. Many of our kits are locally constructed and aligned with Next Generation Science Standards, with a special focus on the natural resources right here in the Wenatchee Valley.
To deepen science learning, we supplement our locally centered curriculum with quality resources from the Smithsonian Institute's Engineering is Elementary program and the online platform Mystery Science. Every classroom activity is designed to be hands-on, project-based, and STEAM-oriented (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math)—because the best way to learn science is to do science.
Request Supplementary Materials
Contact Us:
(509) 663-9106
1001 Circle Street, Wenatchee WA
(Inside the WSD M&O Building)
WSD is committed to providing equitable and engaging science learning experiences for all students
Field Experiences: Learning Beyond the Classroom
For students in grades K-8, the SRC plans and implements field experiences that turn the Wenatchee Valley into an outdoor classroom. We partner with local agencies to engage students in the natural world and help them discover the science happening all around them.
Field experience locations include: Saddle Rock Trail, Dry Gulch, Horan Natural Area, Jacobson Preserve, Confluence Park, Leavenworth Fish Hatchery, Rocky Reach Dam, Columbia Fire Breaks Interpretive Center, and the Wenatchee Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center.
All field experiences are curriculum-embedded to reinforce classroom learning and provide rich, meaningful real-life connections. Students don't just read about ecosystems, watersheds, or agriculture—they explore them firsthand.
Jacobson Preserve
1st graders learn about the needs of plants and animals of the shrub steppe and the ways in which they survive and grow.
Saddle Rock Gateway Trailhead
2nd graders learn how the Earth’s surface changes and the things that cause it to change by looking at our local landforms
Horan Natural Area
Kindergarteners discover freshwater ecosystems at the Horan Natural Area.
Confluence State Park
3rd graders release salmon into the Columbia at Confluence State Park after learning about the salmon life cycle.
Columbia Breaks Fire Interpretive Center
6th grade students learn about forest health, megafires and what is being done to control them.
Saddle Rock
5th graders learn about the food webs of the shrub steppe and how to preserve this environment and hike to the top of Saddle Rock
Rocky Reach Dam Discovery Center
4th grade students tour the Rocky Reach Dam learning about hydropower generation and how energy is transferred to homes for use.
Squilchuck State Park
7th graders learn about avalanche safety and careers in managing snowpack including careers at the DOT and NASA snowpack research.
Become a Field Instructor or Volunteer
Field Instructors and Assistants
- If you are interested in more than one field experience, you will need to click on each field experience to sign up for teaching or assisting at that field experience.
- You will need to be signed up as either a Volunteer (Apply to be a Volunteer) or a WSD Substitute teacher with the Wenatchee School District to teach or assist at the field experiences.
- Each field experience is 3 days long. You do not need to work all 3 days.
- We supply the lesson plans and all materials needed to teach each lesson.
Click on the field experience you are interested in teaching or assisting at below to get more information about that field experience and to sign up.
Questions:
MaKiowa Sutton
(509) 663-9106 or science_resource@wenatcheeschools.org
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Kindergarten Science Field Experience
This is a field experience that takes place at the Horan Natural Area in Confluence State Park (333 Olds Station Rd. Wenatchee) in May. Kindergarteners learn about Freshwater Ecosystems through 2 learning stations at the trailhead and a nature walk through the Horan Natural Area. Instructors can pick between staying at a station all day or leading 2 nature walks into Horan.
Here are brief descriptions of each station:Tree Station: Students use crayons to trace a picture of a cottonwood while the instructor talks about its parts (trunk, roots, & leaves). They also use stickers to identify what cottonwoods need to survive & how they help other living things with their needs.
Human Impact Station: Instructors read a story to students about a baby duck and water pollution. Instructors add ‘pollutants’ to a tub of water containing a rubber duck as they read the story.
Nature Hike Leaders: Nature hike leaders lead a class on a one hour interpretive nature walk through the Horan Natural Area where they introduce students to the freshwater ecosystem in Horan. The nature walk is about 1/2 mile long and partly on a paved trail and partly on a gravel trail. Each class visits 2 mini stations while on the nature walk- 1 about eagles and 1 about beavers*.
*Nature hike leaders may need to teach the beaver station. This is a 10-15 minute lesson where instructors use 2 watershed models & animal props to teach fun facts about beavers.
Eagle Mini Stations: This is a 10-15 minute mini lesson where instructors use life size props to teach students fun facts about bald eagles & what they need to survive (water, air, nutrients from food and shelter).
During the field experience week, instructors and station assistants are needed from 8:15 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Wednesday through Friday (see specific times and dates on the Sign Up form). They also need to attend a training session on Tuesday from 3:30-5 p.m. at the Horan Natural Area parking area.
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1st Grade Science Field Experience
This field experience takes place at the Jacobson Preserve (1811 Skyline Drive, Wenatchee) in April. First graders learn about the needs of plants and animals of the shrub steppe and the ways in which they survive and grow by visiting 3 learning stations. Instructors teach the same station up to 4 times a day.
Here are brief descriptions of each station:Plant Station: Students learn about plant parts & adaptations through a simple watercolor painting activity (no art skills needed!)
Insect Station: Students learn about insect parts & adaptations through a short insect hunt activity & story.
Animal Station: Students learn about animal parts & adaptations through an interactive story that includes looking at pelts, feathers & skulls.
During the field experience week, instructors and station assistants are needed from 9:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday (see specific times and dates on the Sign Up form). They also need to attend a staff training on Monday from 3:30-5 p.m. at the Wenatchee Racquet and Athletic Club parking area (same address as Jacobson Preserve).
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2nd Grade:
This field experience takes place at the Saddle Rock Gateway Trailhead (1155 Circle St. Wenatchee) & on adjacent land owned by Appleatchee Riders in early October. Second graders learn how the Earth’s surface changes and the things that cause it to change by looking at our local landforms.
Instructors will lead one of three learning stations, and all instructors will assist in supervising classes in their Engineering Design challenge at the end of the day. The learning stations include:
- A hands-on soil erosion lesson at one station near the trailhead,
- A simple landscape diagram lesson at a station at the top of the Wenatchee Dome (no drawing skills needed!), The hike up to the Dome is about ⅔ mile round trip on a sandy/gravelly trail that can be steep for the last 200 feet.
- An Erosion Demonstration station around the trailhead that students will visit while touring an erosion walk with their classroom teacher.
During the field experience week, instructors and station assistants are needed from 8:15 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday (see specific times and dates on the Sign Up Form). They also need to attend a staff training on Monday from 3:30-5 p.m. at the Saddle Rock Gateway Trailhead parking area.
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5th Grade:
This field experience takes place at the Saddle Rock Gateway Trailhead (1155 Circle St. Wenatchee) in April. Fifth graders learn about the food webs of the shrub steppe and how to preserve this environment through a Web of Life lesson and a hike up to the top of Saddle Rock with their class. Assistants can either help at the Web of Life stations or be a Hike Monitor.
Here is a brief description of each position needed:Web of Life Station: Students play an interactive game, modeling the food web.
Hike Monitor: Hike Monitors accompany a group of classes to & from the top of Saddle Rock (about a 2.5 mile round-trip). This person will provide communications back down to WSD staff, ensure that everyone stays on the trail & in areas marked for our classes to use, makes sure all garbage is carried out, & helps teachers monitor their time at the top so they stay on schedule.
During the field experience week, instructors and station assistants are needed from 8:15 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday (see specific times and dates on the Sign Up Form). They also need to attend a staff training on Monday from 3:30-5 p.m. at the Saddle Rock Gateway Trailhead parking area.
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6th Grade:
This field experience takes place over a 2 week period at the Columbia Breaks Fire Interpretive Center (US-97 Alt, Entiat, WA) in October. Sixth graders learn about forest health, megafires and what is being done to control them. Students attend several stations, visit a fire lookout, and design their own experiment about forest health and fire.
During the field experience weeks, instructors are needed to teach a 30-minute Ecology lesson (5 times a day) from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday (see specific times and dates on the Sign Up Form). They also need to attend a staff training on the first Monday from 3:30-5:00 p.m. at the Columbia Breaks Fire Interpretive Center.
