Students learning about intertidal life in 2019, Bruce LivingstonBayshore FieldSTEM is a 7th grade outdoor education program that takes place at our 78-acre Bayshore Preserve. The program serves about 300 students from the Shelton School District visiting the preserve to learn about stream and estuary ecology while experiencing local conservation and restoration efforts.
This program is a collaboration with Shelton School District, Pacific Education Institute, and Puget Sound Estuarium. Using Pacific Education Institute’s FieldSTEM model, students get a rich and well-rounded experience that explores real-world connections between conservation and academic topics like science, social studies, math, and language arts. Additionally, outdoor learning experiences at Bayshore Preserve offer opportunities for social-emotional development, cultural studies, and civic action. We are actively exploring ways to implement more inclusive and culturally responsive programs to meet the needs of the diverse students we serve.
Join our team! This program is possible because of our partner Puget Sound Estuarium and a team of volunteers. Training on the outdoor lessons is provided in mid-October and program days happen on weekdays late October and early November. Click here to sign up for an upcoming opportunity. No upcoming opportunities? Fill out the form below to be added to our volunteer list.
Quotable moments – Students
“I liked testing the saltwater because it was fun to figure out how much salt there was in different areas of the salt marsh.”
“I will remind myself of the beauty of this world. It really is a beautiful thing if you think about it.”
“Now I know what plants and animals need to survive so I can take care of the Earth.”
Students learning on the land about the Johns Creek and Oakland Bay ecosystems, Bruce Livingston
Quotable moments – Teachers
“One year, a quiet student who was reluctant to share her ideas in class found her voice outside. During the field experience she felt right at home as camping and nature had always been a huge part of her life. She asked questions to presenters, took serious notes, helped other students who didn’t quite understand what to do and provided great feedback to presenters. Other students commented on how she suddenly stood out as someone who really knew her science. When we returned to the classroom for data analysis from the trip, she led a group discussion and added insight to the observations.” –Michael Burlette, 7th grade science teacher at Oakland Bay Jr High
Quotable moments – Volunteers
Photos by Bruce Livingston
“My favorite moment was watching a class of rowdy 7th graders become absolutely silent and totally engaged with a Red Bellied Sapsucker working over the old apple tree on the vegetation walk. We’ve got to get that sapsucker on the payroll.” –Bill
“I remember the enthusiasm of three or four girls looking through one of the stream life tubs, catching all the tiny mayfly naiads. Most of the students looking through this and other tubs would find at most about 5. They found over 25!” –Bob
“I was so impressed with the quality and generosity of the station leaders who were not only teaching all of us, volunteers and students, about what we were observing, but modeling the relentless, and happy, pursuit of knowledge.” –Judy
In the news
Pacific Education Institute, Outdoor Learning in Shelton: A Surge of Hope
iFIBER ONE News, Shelton students learn outside in ‘living classroom’
FieldSTEM is a registered trademark and program of the Pacific Education Institute www.pacificeducationinstitute.org.