CCC encourages the use of Conservancy property for educational field trips, science projects, community service projects, and other customized curriculum. Please let us know if you are interested in using CCC lands for educational purposes.
CCC Trail Guides host Community Walks on a variety of topics from wildflowers to butterflies, and birds to geology. Walks are family friendly.
Volunteer “Trail Guides” are trained on the botany, wildlife, and geology of Conservancy lands. As part of the Education Program, Trail Guides host events (on and off our trails) including Earth Day, Fall Colors, and a Winter Lecture Series. Trail Guides lead community walks at Snow Mountain Ranch and Cowiche Canyon and teach visitors about the rich diversity of wildlife that inhabit CCC lands, the unique geology and history, and the incredible web of life that connects us all.
Trail Talks is Cowiche Canyon Conservancy’s outdoor field trip program for school-age children. This program combines nature walks with interactive learning stations. Focused on the interconnectivity of life in the shrub-steppe, our field trips are designed to nurture an appreciation for the natural world while using lessons about natural phenomena to support the core science ideas and concepts of national science standards. All field trips include a lesson on the Web of Life. Groups are able to pick from a variety of learning stations and nature walks including:
Scheduling
To schedule your visit or learn more about Trail Talks, email eco@cowichecanyon.org or call (509) 248-5065.
To request a field trip for your school, please download and fill out a Field Trip Request Form and return the form by emailing it to eco@cowichecanyon.org
Transportation Assistance
To help all schools and students access field trips, we are thrilled to to announce that we have available Transportation Grants. To apply, download the application here and return it to office@cowichecanyon.org.
If you have any questions or concerns, please email eco@cowichecanyon.org or call (509) 248-5065.
Planning Your Visit
To request a field trip for your school, please download and fill out a Field Trip Request Form and return the form by emailing it to eco@cowichecanyon.org.
Ideally, every student will have the following:
Each winter, CCC partners with Yakima Valley College to offer a Winter Talk Series which includes monthly talks on a variety of topics related to life in the shrub-steppe.
Tuesday, March 7, 2023 – “In Search of Meadowlarks: How Farming Practices Can Support Birdlife” with John Marzluff, University of Washington Professor of Wildlife Science.
Tuesday, February 28, 2023 – “The River’s Liver: Exploring the Hidden World of the Hyporheic Zone” with Vanessa Garayburu-Caruso, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Earth Scientist
Tuesday, March 1, 2022 – “Better Living with Fire: Building Community and Landscape Resilience to Wildfire” with Ryan Anderson, Kara Karboski, and Reese Lolley
Tuesday, February 8, 2022 – “Who’s Afraid of the … Light: A Natural History of Darkness” by Zachary Schierl
Tuesday, January 18, 2022 – “The Odd Life of an Underground Owl” by Courtney Conway
Tuesday, March 9, 2021 – “Lichens: Hubs of Life and Creators of Worlds” by Jessica Allen
Tuesday, February 9, 2021 – “Mountain Lions: Physiology, Ecology, and Safety” by Michelle Blake
Tuesday, January 12, 2021 – “A Natural History of Mount Tahoma” by Jeff Antonelis-Lapp, Evergreen College
CCC hosts an annual Earth Day event in Cowiche Canyon with talks and demonstrations on birds, life in the creek, butterflies, geology, and other related topics. Native plants and spring flowers are labeled along the trail. This is a self-guided hike along the trail through Cowiche Canyon with educational stations along the way. Trail guides are on hand to help guide participants to the stations.
Experience the gorgeous colors of fall in the Yakima Valley with Cowiche Canyon Conservancy’s annual Fall Colors Walks. Fall Colors Walks take place the 3rd Saturday in October starting at 10 am at Snow Mountain Ranch. CCC’s volunteer Trail Guides offer family friendly walks and hikes of varying lengths. There is no charge to participate. Trails at Snow Mountain Ranch have been developed from old farm and game trails and are not paved. Walkers should come prepared with layers of clothing for variable weather, sunscreen, sturdy shoes, water and a camera.