san jose field trips

The Guadalupe River Park & Gardens is an education destination like no other. A natural oasis located in the heart of downtown San Jose, the Guadalupe River Park & Gardens (GRPG) features 254 acres of park that include the Heritage Rose Garden, the Historic Orchard, a community garden, and 2.6 miles of trail that runs adjacent to the Guadalupe River. The GRPG is a natural outdoor laboratory for science experiments, a creative and dynamic atmosphere for learning, and a perfect destination for field trips!

If you have questions or would like more information, please email  [email protected]

Field trips cost $500 for up to 30 students with a $20 charge for each additional student up to a maximum of 35 students. We cannot accommodate more than 35 students per field trip; we subscribe to Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) best practices including student-led and phenomenon-based learning. Students will be guided to make their own discoveries at their own pace with the park as the center of their inquiry.

Program and transportation scholarships are available to Title 1 schools as well as groups of people with special needs. If you are eligible, please indicate your interest on the Field Trip Request Form.  Please note: Scholarship eligibility requirements have changed for the 2023-24 school year.

All groups must provide at least one engaged, adult chaperone for every 8 students on the trip; the specific chaperone ratio for field trips for people with special needs will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Participants should be divided evenly into three small groups before the field trip; each group will rotate through exciting, hands-on activity stations!

Available Field Trips

Offered on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays ONLY

Garden Field Trip focuses on teaching students about the different facets of nature. It includes guided tours of our Historic Orchard and Heritage Rose Garden, where students can learn about history, agriculture, and ecological relationships. Our activities are designed to meet the Next Generation Science standards and help students understand the complex relationships between plants, pollinators, and the dynamics within the life of an orchard. By the end of our program, students will have a profound understanding of the interconnected systems and adaptations developed by these ecosystems for their survival and prosperity. This knowledge will enrich their learning experience and help them appreciate the beauty and importance of nature.

Offered on Tuesdays ONLY

Physics in Nature invites students to explore fundamental physics concepts through fun and interactive experiences. This series of dynamic activities unfold in our Rotary PlayGarden, where students, depending on their age, will learn about friction, energy, sound, and speed by using our Rotary PlayGarden equipment. The exploration extends with a trail tour that delves into physics concepts within a park environment. Here, students investigate gravity, motion, and adaptations in plants and animals, reinforcing their comprehension through direct observations. Supporting the Next Generation Science Standards, this field trip presents a comprehensive and interconnected approach to physics education, fostering both practical understanding and a heightened appreciation for these fundamental principles across diverse natural settings.

Coming Soon

River Field Trips encourage a deeper understanding of the riparian corridor through the exploration of the Guadalupe River and Trail. Every River Field Trip includes a Nature Walk along the Guadalupe River Trail and grade-specific activities designed to incorporate Next Generation Science Standards. With a focus on animals, students may learn about our feathered friends; the salmon that call the river home; tiny insects hiding on underwater rocks; or the reptiles, amphibians, crustaceans, and mammals that make up our park’s web of life. By learning about their ecological niches, students will better understand the delicate balance of urban nature, along with their role in the system.

A note about river field trips:  In order to protect the delicate ecosystem of the river and to ensure student safety, field trips may not enter the river at certain times of year. All field trips will support similar standards and developmental milestones.

Trail Tour Field Trips serve as a wonderful overview of the Guadalupe River Park. Over the course of ninety minutes, students will travel from one part of the park to another, stopping along the way for investigations and activities designed to pique their interest in urban nature. Centered on the development of perspective-taking, an essential Executive Function skill, our Trail Tour will show students the systems and adaptations of an urban park, hopefully inspiring them towards becoming environmental stewards, engineers, urban planners, and scientists of the future.

“ My students loved their park experience, exploring and observing their surroundings. It was truly rewarding to see students connect the activities to key concepts we were learning about and investigating in class. Participation in the Garden Field Trip Class allowed students to take on the role of being biologists in a meaningful way. ”

Garden Field Trip Group (Second Grade)

“ The staff interactions were genuine with our students. We liked how there were visuals and headphones in the restrooms. The entire concept of the field trip was great for our students. All staff were professional and truly cared about our students and their program. ”

River Explorers (Special Needs)

“ In every station, my students were always engaged, excited, and asking a lot of questions. Those field trips ignite my students’ inquiry skills and help them extend their knowledge. We appreciate this program and we are looking forward to next year’s trip! ”

River Field Trip Group (Third Grade)

“ We really loved the centered, hands-on learning that our classes experienced. The dissection of flowers to learn the different parts was great. Students were able to take the learning from class and see it in person… each student returned to class with their special project and included it in their learning portfolio. ”

“As this is the technology age, many of my students unfortunately, have not had the chance to visit parks and spend time outdoors. When we were on our nature walk with [the Guadalupe Guide leader], many of my students voiced that they had never seen caterpillars before and many were afraid… So being outdoors and having the chance to explain to them right then and there that the bugs and insects surrounding us were harmless, probably had a “nature job” to do, and were simply part of nature; I believe that this is what they took from our awesome field trip that day. The group leaders were great with my students, questioning them to make them think and solve for themselves.” River Field Trip Group

“The Guadalupe River Park field trip was an extremely engaging, enriching and powerful experience for my students. The instructors were extremely knowledgeable and had great management to engage all my students. My students were able to learn about different trees, nuts, flowers and animals that live in the park. Students used their five senses to learn about their surroundings in a hands-on approach that aligned with all the grade level, common core standards… My students all raved about how they loved being able to learn about new leaves and trees through sense of touch and smell. “ River Field Trip Group (Third Grade)

“My class made two trips to you – one for the Pollination Experience and one for the River Explorer. These were the best field trips my class has ever taken. I’d love to get us back up there again. Because my students are disadvantaged in addition to being disabled, they lack so many experiences that normal children get to explore. I try very hard to teach my students to become nature explorers, observers and lovers. Thanks again!! ” Special Needs Class

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Top Ten San Jose Field Trips

• by Jody Amable on Feb 2, 2011

The entrance to the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum in San Jose

The Tech Museum,San Jose Other children’s museums and kid-oriented attractions had to step up their game when this place moved into its flashy digs on San Carlos in 1998. The Tech Museum was, and still is, the place to indulge your inner geek, by playing with complicated electronic contraptions that looked like the things your parents told you not to mess with, and ogling the awesome IMAX dome. While not all of us grew up to be programmers, we all got a quick thrill riding the earthquake simulator, piloting our own jet pack, or spelling out dirty words with the alphabet-block robot on the 2nd floor.

Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum, San Jose It’s pretty much agreed that the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum is the coolest place you’ll ever be forced to go. The Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum throws you head-first into the world of the Ancient Egyptians, jam-packed with ancient art and pottery, well-preserved mummies, and even a life-size, walk-through model of an Egyptian tomb. Even the most determined class clown, when faced with artifacts that have survived thousands upon thousands of years, had to wonder what the Egyptians were doing right. There’s a good chance the Rosicrucian Museum might have, even for a few hours, made you care about history.

Alum Rock Park, San Jose What’s that smell? Why, it’s the enticing, rotten-egg aroma of sulfur, and there’s a huge concentration of it in the water that flows in the mineral springs at Alum Rock Park . As unpleasantly pungent as Alum Rock Park may be, it’s home to the Youth Science Institute, where students can take in science exhibits and meet a small collection of feathered friends that the Institute studies and cares for.

Emma Prusch Farm Park, San Jose The last thing you’d expect to see under the freeway at Story and King is sprawling green acreage, but there Emma Prusch Farm Park stands, as it has for almost 50 years. Prusch Farm Park has a barn that houses friendly livestock that like to meet and greet with younger kids, making it a popular field trip with preschools, kindergarten classes and day camps. Emma Prusch Farms experiencing a renaissance of sorts these days, gaining new relevance as the curators of Veggielution, a community farm program aiming to create a sustainable stock of vegetables for San Joseans.

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Field Trips

• Know Before You Go

Science Labs

Innovation labs.

• IMAX Films for Field Trips
• Field Trip FAQ

Now Booking for 2023 - 2024 Field Trips!

All the resources you need to plan for a successful field trip to The Tech Interactive. 

Request a Field Trip

Experiences

The Tech Interactive has many options to choose from when it comes to building a custom field trip for your students. With exhibits, programs, and films for all ages, we’re sure to have something for everyone in your group!

53,000 square feet of interactive experiences sure to delight and engage innovators of all ages.

Explore Exhibits

60-90 minutes

Hands-on and minds-on facilitated sessions that offer deeper learning experiences to reinforce scientific concepts, help students develop 21st century skills and become the problem solvers of tomorrow. 

See Our Science Labs

Facilitated sessions of certain exhibits that offer a deeper engagement and exploration of the engineering design process and computational thinking.

See Our Innovation Labs

Educational IMAX Films

40-45 minutes

From the microscopic to the cosmic, IMAX films offer thrilling adventures in new worlds! 

BioTinkering Lab

In this evolving workspace, you can try creative biodesign activities, explore genetics with scientists from Stanford, participate in community projects, and experiment with new biotechnology. Use real lab tools to grow objects with living things, analyze DNA, design your own biomaterials and more.

Explore the Lab

The Tech Studio

Everyone’s a maker in this collaborative space! Explore your problem-solving potential with guided experiences in STEAM: science, technology, engineering, arts and math.

See Our Activities

Field Trip Hours 2023-2024

School field trip hours:.

• Tuesday - Friday Sept. 5, 2023 - June 7, 2024, The Tech Interactive will be open to school groups from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; open to the public starting at 10 a.m.

Summer field trip hours:

• Tuesday - Friday June 21, 2023 - July 28, 2023, The Tech Interactive will be open to summer camps, schools, and programs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Beginning Aug. 1, 2023, The Tech will close at 3 p.m. 

We know that COVID-19 has made planning difficult this year, but we also know how important and inspiring a field trip can be for young people! Accordingly, we will be taking field trip reservations as we normally would, but if public health or school district guidelines change between the time of booking and your planned visit, we will work with you to reschedule your trip or refund your payment. You can also explore our Book A STEMbassador  schedule.

Field Trip Pricing 2023-2024

School field trips available Sept. 5, 2023 - June 7, 2024. Summer 2024 field trips available June 11, 2024 - Aug. 2, 2024.

Title I Schools*

Admission:  Fee waived

IMAX educational film:  $6 per student, $6 per chaperone, $6 IMAX Snack Pack**

Admission + IMAX combo:  N/A

Science Lab (60-90 minutes):  Scholarship provided; pre- and post-visit activity. Available Sept. 5, 2023 - June 7, 2024

Innovation Lab ** (45 minutes): No additional charge for school groups; pre-registration strongly recommended.

Non-Title I Schools

Admission: $7 per student

IMAX educational film:  $6 per student, $6 per chaperone, $6 IMAX Snack Pack

Admission + IMAX combo: $11 per student, $6 per chaperone, $6 IMAX Snack Pack

Science Lab (60-90 minutes): $300 per class of 32; minimum of 12 required.   Available Sept. 5, 2023 - June 7, 2024

Summer Camps

Admission: $7 per child

IMAX educational film:  $6 per child, $6 per chaperone, $6 IMAX Snack Pack

Admission + IMAX combo: $11 per child, $6 per chaperone, $6 IMAX Snack Pack

Science Lab (60-90 minutes): N/A

Innovation Lab** (45 minutes): N/A

Important Details

* If 40% or more of the students in your program meet the federal guidelines for free or reduced-price lunch, you are eligible for this discount.

**IMAX Snack Pack must be ordered in advance. Includes popcorn, small water, and a treat.

• Payment is due three (3) weeks after your reservation is confirmed
• Please ensure your student counts are accurate. No refunds will be issued for unused general admission and IMAX tickets. 
• Chaperones within the required adult to child ratio will be provided free admission. Please see our Field Trip Planning page for more information on chaperone requirements. 

Bring your class or group to Luv 2 Play for a fun-filled field trip. We offer a variety of packages that include different levels of fun and food.

• Field trips must be booked with 2 weeks advanced notice. We cannot accommodate last minute or walk-in field trips.
• 12 Kids Minimum
• Socks & Signed Waiver Required
• Unlimited Play

Fun & Food

• Choice of Pizza
• Kid's Drink

Fun & Games

• $5 Game Card

Fun, Food, & Games

To book your field trip submit your request below and our team will be in touch..

Book your corporate team building event today! Learn more

Cooking Field Trips

Book a cooking class field trip in san jose.

Taste Buds Kitchen is the perfect partner for schools & groups looking to give children an educational and engaging outlet for creativity in the kitchen! Bring your school, scout troop, or camp for a cooking class.

Book Your Field Trip

What to expect.

Make memories with your school, class, scout troop, or youth group with a cooking class! Your students will be involved in every step as they create some of our most popular recipes.

• 1 & 2 hour field trips
• Kitchen Studio reserved just for you
• Friendly Chef instructors
• Delicious menu of your choice (which you’ll be cooking AND eating)
• Taste & learn new things
• Snacks & paper goods
• Recipes packs
• Add-ons available
• Nut-free & allergy-friendly, see FAQ

Available Upgrades

• Cupcake decorating
• Milkshakes & mix-ins
• Take-home aprons

Field Trips Sneak Peek

Menu Options

• Chevron down Ages 3-8
• Whole Wheat Pizza
• Vegetarian & Egg-free
• Gluten-free upgrade available
• Soft Pretzels
• Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce
• Dairy-Free, Egg-Free, Vegan
• Lasagna Cupcakes
• Chocolate Cupcakes
• Buttercream Frosting
• Custom Decorations
• Vanilla Donuts
• Icing & Sprinkles
• Vanilla Cupcakes
• Gingerbread Houses
• Frosting & Candy for Decorating
• Chevron down Ages 9-13
• Vanilla Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting
• Customized flavors and add-ins
• Gluten-Free add-on available
• Handmade Pizza Dough with Custom Topping Ingredients
• Confetti Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting
• Custom Decorating Ingredients
• Lasagna Cupcakes with Handmade Pasta
• Garlic Bread
• Cannoli Rolls
• Handmade Pasta Dough
• Tomato Sauce
• Beef Sliders
• Loaded Cheese Fries
• Extreme Milkshakes
• Chevron down Ages 14-17
• Fresh Fettuccine Pasta
• Roasted Butternut Squash Ravioli
• Spinach Ricotta Ravioli
• Rustic Tomato Sauce
• Handmade Pizza Dough with custom topping ingredients
• Confetti Cupcakes with custom decorating ingredients
• Fresh Eggplant Parmesan
• Wild Mushroom & Truffle Oil Risotto
• Roasted Garlic & Spinach Potato Gnocchi
• Brown Butter Sage Sauce
• Tuscan Kale Salad
• Chocolate Dipped Biscotti
• Custom Mix-ins & Decorations
• Building & Decorating a Gingerbread House with assorted decorating options, served with Hot Chocolate
• Chicken Parmesan
• California & Veggie Sushi Rolls
• Veggie Dumplings with Honey Soy Dipping Sauce

Mix, shake, and stir to create a delicious menu item from scratch and learn basic kitchen skills.

Create a multi-course menu or select a friendly challenge to engage with your friends.

Part kid fun and part adult technique, aspiring chefs get access to our next level menus and instructors.

Happy Reviews

Thousands of happy chefs can’t be wrong! We provide the best kids cooking field trip experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Chevron down What will the children make during the event?

You select the menu and we make it with your guests entirely from scratch. All of our menus are delicious and oh-so-fun for the age of the group. Our most popular menus typically include pizza, pasta, sushi rolls, cupcakes, and donuts but we have many menus to choose from. We’re sure you’ll find the perfect menu for you.

• Chevron down Can you accommodate my allergy or dietary restriction?

All of our menus are nut-free. We do our best to offer a wide variety of menus that cater to different dietary needs and restrictions from vegetarian to gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free and vegan. If you select an allergy-free menu, it is important to note that while the recipes are free of those ingredients, we are not an allergy-free facility for these ingredients. Recipes are cooked at group tables, and for your safety individual adjustments cannot be made. Please contact your local Kitchen if you have any questions.

If an individual participant has an allergy that would prevent them from enjoying what you’ve prepared, they have the option to bring in an individual portion of a nut-free outside food for their enjoyment. For example, a frosted cupcake or room-temp gluten-free pasta dish. The outside food cannot require heat or preparation and TBK will not serve this food to the client.

• Chevron down What should my child wear/bring?

Bring a water bottle labeled with your child’s first and last name. We prefer close-toed shoes and long hair pulled back in our Kitchen. We will have aprons for you to wear, so just bring your smiling face and a willingness to delve into all things tasty!

• Chevron down Will you come to my school?

No, we do not currently visit schools.

• Chevron down What are the payment details for my event?

Event deposits are non-refundable and non-transferrable; if you’d like to change your date and/or time a new deposit is required. Modification to the selected menu, guest headcount, add-ons and favors are acceptable until 5 days prior to your event. After this time, your headcount is a guaranteed attendance and will not be reduced regardless of how many guests attend. The remaining balance will be charged to the card on file 5 days prior to your event. If your event falls on a Tuesday or Wednesday, the card on file will be charged the preceding Friday. Taste Buds Kitchen will not be held responsible for unforeseen circumstances including schedule conflicts, illnesses, last-minute emergencies, and any other circumstance.

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• coco dia de los muertos event
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• the rocky horror picture show
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Theatre Parties and Field Trips for Groups

School groups, church groups, clubs, business parties – a theatre outing is perfect for any reason you can think of to gather.  Best of all, we offer two ways to make your theatre outing work for you:

WOULD YOU LIKE TO RAISE MONEY OR SAVE MONEY FOR YOUR GROUP?

RAISE MONEY When people in your group buy tickets to a production in our series using your custom tracking code, a percentage of the ticket amount will be donated to your organization. The more people who use your code, the higher the percentage we donate to you.  Want to raise even more money for your organization? Commit to selling 75 tickets to a specific performance and not only will you receive a percentage of ticket sales but after the performance, we’ll turn the hat to support your organization and collect donations on the spot from the audience. Previously, groups have easily earned $1,000 per show by using our productions as a fundraiser.

SAVE MONEY When people in your group buy tickets using your custom tracking code, they’ll automatically receive a 10% discount.  Want to save even more money for your group? Commit to bringing a group of at least 15 people to a specific performance and you’ll enjoy 15% off. Bring a group of 25 people to enjoy 20% off (plus 1 free ticket for coordinator). Or book a group of 50 people to enjoy 25% off (plus 2 free tickets for coordinators.) We’ll block off a section of seats in advance for your group to sit together.

Getting Started Is Easy!

1. Decide which production(s) you’d like to attend and when you’d like to join us. Here are the production titles and dates in our series so you have them handy:

2. Decide whether you want to raise money for your group by using the event as a fundraiser OR save money for your group by passing on the savings of discounted tickets.

3. Complete the form on this page to tell us about your group. We’ll follow up to make sure you are all set up to begin promoting the event. We’ll provide you with a tracking code as well as promotional tools to spread the word like website banners, social media assets, and text for e-blasts. 

4. Come to the theater for an amazingly entertaining event with your group!

We’re here for you! Simply complete the form and add your questions and we’ll get back to you asap!

Inquire Here About Groups

• Name of Group
• Contact Name * First Last
• Best Phone Number for us to use
• Raise Money for my group by using an event as a fundraiser
• Save Money for my group by passing the savings on to my members
• School Field Trips on a weekday, daytime
• The MeshugaNutcracker!
• Total # of Anticipated Guests
• Additional Information You'd Like Us To Know

Join Our E-List

Provide your birthdate and we'll send you a birthday gift each year!

Guggenheim Entertainment, Inc. at 3Below Theaters

288 South 2nd Street San Jose, CA

(408) 404-7711

© 2021. All rights reserved.

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Registration opens August 8, 2022 at 8:00 am

Duration:  40 minutes Target Audiences:  Grades 3-5 Student Cap : 35 students Fee:  $110 session Topic(s):  Spanish Colonial Life in California; San Jose/Local History; Late 18th-Century American History Description:  Transport your class to the first Spanish town of Alta California founded in 1777—El Pueblo de San José de Guadalupe. History San José takes students on an excursion of the oldest house in San José, built-in 1778. Students will explore several aspects of Spanish colonial life—cattle-ranching, cooking, and candle-making—to envision how Spanish settlers adapted to their new normal and changed the landscape of the future state of California.

Early to Rise

Duration:  40 minutes Target Audiences:  Grades 2-3 Student Cap : 35 students Fee:  $110 session Topic(s):  American Farming; American Education; Children’s Daily Life Description:  When did a kid’s day begin in the late-1800s? Students have the chance to virtually wash clothes, milk a cow, and practice cursive handwriting during their schoolhouse lesson. History San José guides students through a vivid experience so they can make comparisons between the lives of children 100 years ago and their own lives today.

History Detectives

Duration:  40 minutes Target Audiences:  Grades 4-8 Student Cap : 35 students Fee:  $110 session Topics:  Image/Object Analysis; Primary Sources; Childhood in the American West Description:  History San José guides students as they do “the work” of history by actively inspecting primary sources from History San José’s Collection Center. Students will conduct important research and investigate the mystery behind a 19th-century painting of a boy. Students will formulate questions, identify historical materials, evaluate the data, and report their findings. Through this inquiry-based exercise, they will hone important critical thinking skills and learn that solving the mysteries of the past requires certain procedures and tons of imagination.

Immigration

Duration:  40 minutes Target Audiences:  Grades 4,5, & 8 Student Cap : 35 students Fee:  $110 session Topic(s):  Immigration; Ethnic History/Studies Description:  How does immigration policy and cultural identity shape a person’s life in San Jose? This innovative field trip has students step into another person’s shoes. Students discover the challenges and triumphs of REAL people and compare the immigrants’ experiences, past and present.

Grant funding available for this program through the Chinese Historical and Cultural Project. Apply here.

One-Room Schoolhouse

Duration:  30 minutes Target Audiences:  Grade 1 Student Cap : 35 students Fee:  $110 session Topic(s):  American Education; Children’s Daily Life Description:  Transport your class to the Santa Ana Schoolhouse—a one-room schoolhouse built in 1872 for students in San Benito County. History San José offers students the opportunity to engage in interactive activities that mimic the real lived experiences of San Jose schoolchildren in the 1890s. Students will compare schools of the 1890s to school life now and in the process get to recognize that some aspects of people, places, and things change over time while others stay the same.

Westward Ho!

Duration:  40 minutes Target Audiences:  Grades 3-5 & 8 Student Cap : 35 students Fee:  $110 session Topic(s):  Westward Expansion; Overland Trails; Manifest Destiny Description:  During the mid-1800s, many American settlers moved West in covered wagons. History San José offers students the opportunity to travel as part of an American caravan from Independence, MO to Sacramento, CA. Students will visually analyze photographs and paintings to determine the environmental dynamics settlers faced across the terrain and inspect artifacts settlers carried over the course of their 1,700-mile journey West. By the end of the presentation, students will understand the motivating factors that led people to trek overland and recognize the challenges American settlers faced when traveling westward to California.

Valley of Heart’s Delight

Duration:  40 minutes Target Audiences:  Grades 3-5 & 8 Student Cap : 35 students Fee:  $110 session Topic(s):  American Farming; Labor History; Second Industrial Revolution Description:  During the second industrial revolution, the Santa Clara Valley earned the moniker Valley of Heart’s Delight as the center of the fruit industry. The region’s landscape was filled with orchards and fruit canneries. History San José will teach students about the orchards and how food is grown, packaged, and shipped. Through interactive activities, students will learn how farmers and canneries used the latest technology and innovations to improve mass food production and create some of the most well recognized canned fruit brands in the 21st century—Del Monte and Sunsweet.

Victorian Days

Duration : 40 minutes Target Audiences : Grades 3-4 Student Cap : 35 students Fee : $110 session Topic(s) : Victorian Culture; Local History Description : What was family life in San Jose like after American statehood? Students step back in time to learn about family and community life in San Jose over 150 years ago. Inside the exquisite old home, students attend Isabella’s birthday party and explore the Victorian lifestyles of both domestic servants and Fallon family members, solving puzzles and playing parlor games.

Virtual field trips are $110 per session. There is a 35 student cap for each session to ensure quality programming.

Confirmations will be sent out within 4 weeks of online registration. The offer letter includes the reserved program date, program description, and deposit due date.

Cancellation and Rescheduling: Once confirmed, if you are unable to keep the date you reserved, please email us at [email protected] as soon as possible to reschedule. Should you choose to cancel your school program, note that your deposit is non-refundable.

Questions? Education Department staff members are happy to answer any questions you may have. Call 408.918.1040 or email [email protected].

Thanks to the generosity of the Hugh Stuart Center Charitable Trust, Title I Schools can apply for a grant that will cover the program fees. Please indicate on your registration form that you are in a Title I school and would like to be considered for the grant.

Prepare for Your Virtual Visit

To help you prepare, History San José developed two important documents:  The Preparation Checklist , which answers questions you may have about the booking process &  The Invoice Template , which is an example of a History San José invoice.

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CNPS Conference

Field Trips

CONFERENCE FIELD TRIPS

Experience amazing plants, places and people on field trips throughout the greater san jose area.

Pre-conference field trips will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday, October 18 and 19. Participants are encouraged to carpool as transportation is not provided. Participants will need to bring their own lunch. All trips cost $55 and will depart from and return to the DoubleTree by Hilton in San Jose. Please read below for details about each field trip, including physical requirements and what to bring. 

Registration for the conference is required to participate in the pre-conference field trips. Sign-up by October 1, 2022 – spaces are limited and field trips may fill quickly, so be sure to register early!

San Bruno Mountain: Endemic Manzanitas

Tuesday, October 18, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Field Trip Location: San Bruno Mountain, northern San Mateo County

Instructors: Doug Allshouse and David Nelson

Registration Fees: $50 early registration/$60 regular registration

San Bruno Mountain is the site of the nation’s first habitat conservation plan (HCP), and is a 4 square mile federally-monitored nature reserve with endemic manzanitas. We will hike the Dairy Ravine trail, exploring the northeastern side of the main ridge. We will start at the middle parking lot, wind our way up a rough trail to Kamchatka Point, where there are two endemic and one rare manzanitas and a newly-described huckleberry. We will walk down Radio Road to examine the unique geology that gives rise to the unique flora of SBM. This hike has moderate difficulty, 900 feet elevation change, and 0.9 miles in length over uneven ground. The leaders of this trip, Doug Allshouse and David Nelson, are co-authors of the book “San Bruno Mountain: A Guide to the Flora and Fauna.”

Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve

Tuesday, October 18, 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Field Trip Location: Woodside, CA

Instructor: Vivian Neou and Diane Renshaw

Take a tour of the Oakmead Herbarium at the Leslie Shao-ming Sun Field Station and hike through the diverse habitats around Searsville Lake. Our hike will take you through mountain mahogany chaparral, live oak woodland, and willow riparian forest habitats. We will return to the Field Station for lunch.

Edgewood County Park and Natural Preserve, and Edgewood Farm

Field Trip Location: Redwood City, CA

Instructors: Stu Weiss and Christal Niederer (Creekside Science)

Join Dr. Stuart Weiss and Christal Niederer from Creekside Science at Edgewood County Park and Preserve. Dr. Weiss began his career working with the threatened Bay checkerspot butterfly, and has spearheaded research understanding and restoring their serpentine grassland habitat. See rare plants, learn about novel restoration techniques, and take in the beautiful habitats of this special place.

Portola Redwoods State Park

Tuesday, October 18, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Field Trip Location: La Honda, CA

Instructor: Amy Patten (CNPS)

Portola Redwoods State Park is home to scenic old growth redwoods and the rare Dudley’s lousewort, Pedicularis dudleyi . Learn about the redwood forest plant community and research on Dudley’s lousewort and other rare and endemic plants in the area. We’ll enjoy an easy hike under the shade of the dense forest canopy, which will be up to 3 miles on developed trails in the park. Please bring sturdy shoes, water, and a packed lunch.

Mount Umunhum

Wednesday, October 19, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Field Trip Location: San Jose, CA

Instructor: Amanda Mills (Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District)

Mount Umunhum is one of the highest peaks in the Santa Cruz Mountains that offers 360 degree views. The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District opened the mountain to the public in 2017.  The area is rich in biodiversity and where numerous special status and locally rare plant species are known to occur. Learn about Mount Umunhum’s natural and cultural history, unique flora and fauna, the Mount Umunhum Summit Restoration Project planning and implementation, and the ongoing vegetation restoration work occurring at the summit. The Mount Umunhum summit has a variety of vistas, ADA accessible pathways, interpretive displays and two weather shelters. 

Coyote Ceanothus ( Ceanothus ferrisiae ) Population Creation Site on Coyote Ridge: Assisted Colonization of an Endangered Chaparral Shrub

Wednesday, October 19, 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Field Trip Location: Coyote Ridge, Morgan Hill, southern Santa Clara County

Instructor: Janell Hillman (Santa Clara Valley Water District), Diana Benner (The Watershed Nursery), and Ted Swiecki (Phytosphere Research)

The Coyote Ceanothus mitigation project was initiated in 2011 to compensate for impacts from the planned Anderson Dam Seismic Retrofit Project. The population creation site located on Coyote Ridge was first planted in 2014 with annual planting since then. We will tour the mitigation site, see planting areas in gray pine woodland, serpentine chaparral, serpentine grassland and Ca sagebrush scrub, and discuss successes and challenges associated with managed relocation of a federally endangered chaparral shrub restricted to serpentine soil. Topics include selection of a suitable introduction site to create a functional plant community, ecological considerations, regulatory requirements, planting methods, site maintenance, and sanitation practices to prevent plant pathogen introduction. We will also see several other endangered plant species and natural communities, and if we’re lucky, the tarantulas will be out! A beautiful view of the Diablo Range foothills, Mt. Hamilton, and Lick Observatory is pretty much guaranteed.

Regional Parks Botanic Garden at Tilden

Field Trip Location: Berkeley, CA

Instructor: Bart O’Brien (Regional Parks Botanic Garden)

Join East Bay Regional Parks Botanic Garden director Bart O’Brien for a botanical tour through the state of California within the garden’s 10 acres at Tilden Regional Park in the Berkeley Hills. This fall walk will highlight some of the fall colors, fruits and berries that native flora provide for the local fauna. We will also see newly added areas at the botanic garden. If you haven’t visited lately, the new crevice garden (featuring exciting alpine plants of the high Sierra in 116.25 tons of schist and slate) is a must see. 

At the Regional Parks Botanic Garden, mid-October is often a good time for fall color on Acer circinatum, Acer macrophyllum, Vitis ‘Roger’s Red’, Cornus (nuttallii, glabrata, sericea, sessilis), Fraxinus velutina, and many species of Salix. Showy fall fruits can normally be found on snowberries, madrones, and toyons. Depending on the year, the very first flowering manzanitas (refugioensis) and currants (Ribes malvaceum) often start in October. Late summer bloomers, particularly some of the wild buckwheats (Eriogonum cinereum and others), and some members of the Asteraceae are at their best – unless there are significant early rains (which doesn’t seem likely).

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Field Trips

A field trip, per the Academic Affairs Division Field Trip Policy [pdf] , is an off-campus group learning activity, linked to a scheduled university course, led by a faculty or staff member who supervises the group. This definition  does not include  off-campus learning activities such as internships, service learning, or extracurricular assignments for students to visit specified sites where a student acts independently of a group excursion. (Internships and service learning are covered by different policies.)

Field trips are part of the university curriculum and must be described in sufficient detail on any course syllabus in which a field trip is held. Field trips should be clearly linked to the student learning outcomes of the course in which they occur and should be assessed for effectiveness in helping students meet those learning outcomes in accordance with the department's assessment plan. Faculty members should identify all required or voluntary field trips in the course syllabus and provide detailed information about date, time, location, means of transportation and any fees for which a participant is responsible. Faculty must consider ADA implications of field trips, and offer reasonable accommodations or an alternative assignment or activity for those who cannot participate in the field trip.

Field trips (along with internships, service learning, study abroad and other potentially hazardous activities) require a dedicated level of attention to safety and risk procedures, depending on the nature of the activity. The Academic Affairs Division has a responsibility to insure that the university curriculum conforms to applicable state, local, and campus policies , including safety and risk management policies. In the context of our responsibility to promote the academic development of our students, SJSU faculty and staff are responsible for ensuring a safe instructional environment for all SJSU students. Faculty and staff have a duty to warn participants of any known hazards at a field trip site. They must exercise reasonable/ordinary care to protect and supervise students while they are participating in a field trip. They must be reasonably prepared to respond to emergencies while on a field trip, as they are on campus.

Faculty members are responsible for having students fill out the  Student Travel Informed Consent Form  found on the Finance Field Trip website .

Departments must maintain copies of the Student Travel Informed Consent Form for a minimum of one year .