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Sacramento NWR Complex - Education and Outreach

Updated October 5, 2026

Come Explore and Learn:

Field Trips and more!

Scroll down to find information about Sacramento NWR Complex's Field Trip Programs, Scheduling a Field Trip, Field Trip Guidelines, Outreach Events and Other Resources, or use the menu to the right to jump ahead.

*Update for 2026-27: due to reduced staffing, we are not offering ranger-led field trips at this time. Please read the Self-Guided options, below.

Currently the Visitor Center is open limited hours (see the Visitor Center & Headquarters page for details), and the Auto Tour and Wetland Walk are open 7 days a week.

Field Trip Programs:

The Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge offers free Self-Guided or Ranger-led field trip programs for all ages (K-12, college, adults, clubs, groups, etc.). Field Trips are scheduled from late October through February (when the big flocks of wintering waterfowl are here as our guests).

Self-Guided Field Trips:

If you are looking for a less-formal day of exploration, we offer a Self-Guided educational opportunity with materials listed below, available by reservation. Self-guided field trips can be scheduled anytime of the year based on availability of the resources, but we recommend October through March based on birds and cooler weather. A self-guided field trip can include any of the following:

Binoculars (up to 1 class set)
Field guide bird books (1-2 per field trip, intermediate to advanced tool as they include all birds)
'Ducks at a Distance' booklet (up to 1 class set, duck-focused)
1-page bird guides (up to 1 class set, great introduction to identifying types of birds)
Staff/volunteer led introduction to the refuge (~5 minutes, optional but must be requested with field trip reservation)

Additional suggested resources for your Self-Guided Field Trip can be found below, in the Field Trip Guidelines Section.

Ranger-led Field Trips*:

*Update for 2026-27: due to reduced staffing, we are not offering ranger-led field trips at this time. Please read the Self-Guided options, above.

When we eventually return to full staffing levels, we will have multiple Ranger-Led Field Trips developed based on the age or grade level of those visiting. Programs include materials (loaner binoculars, bird guides, activity books) and lesson plans. Programs can accommodate a maximum of 35 students per rotation, but you can pre-arrange to split a larger group into sub-groups in order to rotate through activities. We recommend a maximum of 70 students per trip and having a 10:1 student-to-adult ratio; at minimum, there should be one adult teacher/chaperone with each group.

Ranger-led Field Trip Structure*:

*Update for 2026-27: due to reduced staffing, we are not offering ranger-led field trips at this time. Please read the Self-Guided options, above.

All of our Ranger-Led Field Trips follow the same structure of 45 minutes minimum for each rotation - this gives staff and volunteers enough time to get through each planned activity. Schedules based on the number of classes attending (estimating ~30 students per class) are provided in the table below, given the basic structure shown next:

Arrival and disembark bus(es) – 10 minutes (9am)
Rotation 1 – 45 minutes (9:15-10)
Break – 15 minutes (10-10:15)
Rotation 2 – 45 minutes (10:15-11)
Additional rotation (staff-dependent), drive the auto tour, lunch, depart refuge - (11 and beyond)

Examples	2 classes: A and B	3 Classes: A, B and C
Schedule	Arrival and disembark bus(es) – 10 minutes (9am) A: Program 1, B: Program 2 – 45 minutes (9:15-10) Break – 15 minutes (10-10:15) B: Program 1, A: Program 2 – 45 minutes (10:15-11) Self-guided: drive auto tour/lunch/depart refuge (11 and beyond)	Arrival and disembark bus(es) – 10 minutes (9am) A: Program 1, B: Program 2, C: Program 3 – 45 minutes (9:15-10) Break – 15 minutes (10-10:15) B: Program 1, C: Program 2, A: Program 3 – 45 minutes (10:15-11) C: Program 1, A: Program 2, B: Program 3 - 45 minutes (11-11:45) Self-guided: drive auto tour/lunch/depart refuge (11:45am and beyond)

Examples

2 classes: A and B

3 Classes: A, B and C

Schedule

Arrival and disembark bus(es) – 10 minutes (9am)

A: Program 1, B: Program 2 – 45 minutes (9:15-10)

Break – 15 minutes (10-10:15)

B: Program 1, A: Program 2 – 45 minutes (10:15-11)

Self-guided: drive auto tour/lunch/depart refuge (11 and beyond)

Arrival and disembark bus(es) – 10 minutes (9am)

A: Program 1, B: Program 2, C: Program 3 – 45 minutes (9:15-10)

Break – 15 minutes (10-10:15)

B: Program 1, C: Program 2, A: Program 3 – 45 minutes (10:15-11)

C: Program 1, A: Program 2, B: Program 3 - 45 minutes (11-11:45)

Self-guided: drive auto tour/lunch/depart refuge (11:45am and beyond)

Programs for Kindergarten up to Fifth grade ages:

Nature Investigators: there's 1 classroom program (on-site) and 1 walk program, and follows the field trip structure listed above.

Classroom Program (on-site)	Wetland Walk Program
Students learn what a national wildlife refuge is and who calls it home through a short presentation lead by a park ranger or volunteer. They will be introduced to the idea that the refuge is a place for animals to live and thrive, and a place for humans to learn about them. This overview will lead students to the question: "What kinds of animals are at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge?" or for older students (3rd-5th graders): "What kinds of birds are at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge?" Students will be broken out into small groups to share a data sheet, binoculars (if not in use for an outdoor program), and hand lens to spend some time outside doing a guided activity to document what they see to start answering this question.	Students have the opportunity to walk along the trails at the Sacramento NWR and observe plants and animals. They will use binoculars and field guides throughout this rotation, and are encouraged to make observations and ask questions about what they're seeing. With a Park Ranger/Volunteer, there will be several stops along the walk in which students will be provided with some information about the importance of wetlands and the history of wetlands in the Sacramento Valley, as well as prompts to invite students to think about what makes each habitat-type suitable for Depending on staffing available, this may be a Park Ranger/Volunteer-led rotation, or a teacher/chaperone-led rotation (materials, guiding questions and a map will be provided if teacher-led).

Classroom Program (on-site)

Wetland Walk Program

Students learn what a national wildlife refuge is and who calls it home through a short presentation lead by a park ranger or volunteer. They will be introduced to the idea that the refuge is a place for animals to live and thrive, and a place for humans to learn about them. This overview will lead students to the question: "What kinds of animals are at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge?" or for older students (3rd-5th graders): "What kinds of birds are at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge?" Students will be broken out into small groups to share a data sheet, binoculars (if not in use for an outdoor program), and hand lens to spend some time outside doing a guided activity to document what they see to start answering this question.

Students have the opportunity to walk along the trails at the Sacramento NWR and observe plants and animals. They will use binoculars and field guides throughout this rotation, and are encouraged to make observations and ask questions about what they're seeing. With a Park Ranger/Volunteer, there will be several stops along the walk in which students will be provided with some information about the importance of wetlands and the history of wetlands in the Sacramento Valley, as well as prompts to invite students to think about what makes each habitat-type suitable for Depending on staffing available, this may be a Park Ranger/Volunteer-led rotation, or a teacher/chaperone-led rotation (materials, guiding questions and a map will be provided if teacher-led).

Programs for Middle School through High School ages:

There are several programs to choose from for each rotation (see field trip schedule above), which can be distinguished between a classroom (inside) program or an outside program. When selecting your programs, please keep in mind that we only have 2 classroom spaces total that each have a capacity of 1 class/30 students. We cannot run more than 2 classroom activities at the same time.

Classroom Programs	Outside Programs
Refuge Overview and Skulls - learners gain a good understanding of the mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as well as the mission of the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge by learning about what a refuge is, who it's for, it's importance and relevance to the Pacific Flyway, and what types of roles exist at the Refuge who make all the work behind-the-scenes happen. Based on time available, staff or volunteers can also facilitate a skull activity in which learners are introduced to characteristics of skulls and invited to evaluate a few different ones to determine what kind of animal it may be, if not the actual animal itself.	Migration Game - taking on a bird persona for each round they complete, learners discover the barriers and benefits to migrating long-distance journeys through an engaging game guided by numbered cards, large dice and other hands-on tools. This program can be staff/volunteer lead or teacher/chaperon lead, depending on staff capacity and number of students.
Bird Beaks - learners understand bird beak adaptations through a hands-on activity mimicking different types of bird beaks and different food resources in the classroom, testing out how successful or unsuccessful the beaks are at obtaining food resources. Based on some provided bird examples, they're invited to match an activity bird beak with it's real like equivalent, and learn a little bit about the different species of birds that are here and what food resources exist on the refuge.	Guided Nature Walk - moving around the wetland walk trails outside the Visitor Center, learners are encouraged to take in the wildlife and wetland ponds around them, asking questions and using tools like binoculars and plant/animal/bird identification guides and books to learn who lives here. At several spots throughout the walk, the program leader (staff/volunteer/teacher/chaperone) may pause the group to share some information or history behind this part of the Sacramento Valley, or prompt the group with a question to think about and discuss with a partner. (Accessibility consideration: the majority of field trips stick with the compacted gravel walking trails section for this rotation.)

Classroom Programs

Outside Programs

Refuge Overview and Skulls - learners gain a good understanding of the mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as well as the mission of the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge by learning about what a refuge is, who it's for, it's importance and relevance to the Pacific Flyway, and what types of roles exist at the Refuge who make all the work behind-the-scenes happen. Based on time available, staff or volunteers can also facilitate a skull activity in which learners are introduced to characteristics of skulls and invited to evaluate a few different ones to determine what kind of animal it may be, if not the actual animal itself.

Migration Game - taking on a bird persona for each round they complete, learners discover the barriers and benefits to migrating long-distance journeys through an engaging game guided by numbered cards, large dice and other hands-on tools. This program can be staff/volunteer lead or teacher/chaperon lead, depending on staff capacity and number of students.

Bird Beaks - learners understand bird beak adaptations through a hands-on activity mimicking different types of bird beaks and different food resources in the classroom, testing out how successful or unsuccessful the beaks are at obtaining food resources. Based on some provided bird examples, they're invited to match an activity bird beak with it's real like equivalent, and learn a little bit about the different species of birds that are here and what food resources exist on the refuge.

Guided Nature Walk - moving around the wetland walk trails outside the Visitor Center, learners are encouraged to take in the wildlife and wetland ponds around them, asking questions and using tools like binoculars and plant/animal/bird identification guides and books to learn who lives here. At several spots throughout the walk, the program leader (staff/volunteer/teacher/chaperone) may pause the group to share some information or history behind this part of the Sacramento Valley, or prompt the group with a question to think about and discuss with a partner. (Accessibility consideration: the majority of field trips stick with the compacted gravel walking trails section for this rotation.)

Scheduling a Field Trip:

To schedule a Field Trip*:

Based on the information provided earlier on this page, decide if you would like to schedule a Self-Guided or Ranger-led program.
Submit a Reservation Form (fillable PDF; email to: sacramentovalleyrefuges@fws.gov). We start accepting reservations August 10 for the school year.
1. Field trips can take place Tuesday-Friday.
2. We encourage field trips between late October and March to see the most diversity in migrating birds (read more about Seasons of Wildlife at the Complex), while March and April are great times to focus on wildflowers.
Staff will confirm your field trip date via email, after which you will receive vehicle passes and additional information, when applicable.
Prior to your field trip, please review the Field Trip Guidelines below, as well as any additional information shared with you via staff, to be prepared for your adventure!

*Funding: If you are in need of funding to cover your busing costs (through your school) we may be able to help. Contact the refuge for information at 530-934-2801 or sacramentovalleyrefuges@fws.gov . Sponsored by Friends of the Sacramento NWR and the Refuge Bookstore.

Field Trip Guidelines:

Our education programs are designed to provide fun, interactive, and outside learning. To help prepare your group for their upcoming adventure, please read through the guidelines below.

Prior To Your Visit:

Topic	Information
Review the confirmation materials you've received	Share the provided guidelines with other teachers and/or chaperones so they are familiar with the expectations for the day. Share the provided location map with all drivers. Unfortunately, sometimes Map Apps send our visitors to an incorrect location.
Let students and chaperones know how to be prepared: clothing, backpacks, and what to leave at home	Wear layers. Fall and winter (field trip season) can be all over the place in terms of temperature, wind, and precipitation. We strongly recommend wearing long pants and closed-toed shoes - there can be sticks, stickers, mosquitoes and wasps, plus the weather is a factor. Please bring your own water for each attendee. The Visitor Center only has a single jug to provide water, and there is no water available on the auto tour or outside the Visitor Center. Please bring large garbage bags to pack out your trash - the refuge doesn't have trash receptacles big enough to hold visitor trash as well as multiple school groups worth of trash each week. Leave games and music devices at home - cameras and cell phones are okay. Depending on your schedule and what's appropriate for your group members, backpacks can be left on the bus or in vehicles while in the Visitor Center to keep safe/distraction-free. The Refuge is not responsible for any personal items.
Group Organization	Based on your conversations with staff to schedule and confirm your trip, have your class(es) divided into the appropriate number of groups to accommodate the number of activity rotations you have requested.
Arrival and Passes	Staff will be waiting for your group in the Visitor Parking lot outside of the Visitor Center (bus parking is available). Scheduled groups will receive free refuge passes with your field trip confirmation. Place the passes on the dashboard of the participating vehicles. Staff will either welcome the group on the bus, next to the bus, or in the bench area. If your schedule shows that your are having lunch outside the Visitor Center then bring all lunches with you when you get off the bus. If your schedule shows you are having lunch at the platform, lunches can stay on the bus.
Materials	Depending on your program and schedule, the Refuge provides loaner binoculars and bird guides. To keep the binoculars damage-free and your group safe, we encourage the following: Place the binocular strap around your neck so there is never the risk of the binoculars falling to the ground. Stand still while looking through binoculars - don't walk and look at the same time. Do not look at the sun through binoculars - the lenses magnify everything, including sunlight, so looking at the sun can lead to eye damage. Please have adult chaperones and group leaders assist students with binocular width adjustments (staff will show you how) so each group member can see out of both lenses. Take good care of binoculars and bird guides so that we can continue to share with the next groups who visit!
Weather and Rescheduling	Visiting in the rain can be challenging. Birds tend to disperse across the valley, so viewing opportunities are diminished. If wet weather is forecasted for your trip, we can work with you to reschedule your trip, based on availability. Contact us as soon possible to reschedule.
Auto Tour and Viewing Platforms	The Sacramento NWR Auto Tour is six miles and can take about 1.5 - 2 hours, especially if you are eating lunch at the platform. The speed limit is 15 mph. Visitors must stay within their vehicles and only get out at designated Park-and-Stretch areas. Treat the auto tour like a road. Use vehicle pull-outs to allow other vehicles to pass. Everyone should wear a seatbelt and keep their hands, heads, bodies inside the vehicle, and doors closed. As with any road, it is prohibited to drive with anyone hanging out of a window or sunroof, sitting in a truck bed or on top of a vehicle, or with open doors. The road edges of the Auto Tour road become soft during wet weather. Keep your vehicle in the middle of the road so you don't get stuck and use pull-outs to allow vehicles to pass.
Respect for Staff	For students to get the most out of the programs, our staff and volunteers need to have the opportunity to present and lead the activities within each rotation. We ask that teachers and chaperones help students stay focused and listen to the educator’s instructions. Your involvement with class management is greatly appreciated and to maintain a positive learning experience for everyone. Student nametags (clear and large enough to read) can help staff personalize the trip.
Respect for the Refuge	At National Wildlife Refuges, wildlife comes first. Refuges provide habitat for wildlife and we can respect wildlife and habitats through the following ways: Pack it in, pack it out. Plan to bring a trash bag with you to collect any trash created by your group and dispose of it when you get back to school (the refuge has limited trash cans). Thank you for helping check to make sure no food gets left behind if you eat lunch at the refuge. Leave things where you find them. Leave rocks, feathers, sticks, etc. on the ground (collecting trash or litter is the exception). Save some paper! We recommend not having every student take brochures. Share this link to our online maps and brochures with chaperones and other teachers. Stay in designated visitor areas. While at the refuge, please keep your group together. Staying on trails and not walking in the road by the parking lot keeps everyone safe. While on the Auto Tour, stay in your bus/vehicles unless at a designated Park-and-Stretch area (more info below). Please have chaperones accompany students to the restrooms. Use quiet voices. We know it's really exciting to be out of school on a field trip, and this is a wild place and you never know what you will see! Loud voices can startle wildlife, which disrupts their ability to rest, eat, make homes, and more. The quieter we are, the more likely we are to see wildlife and observe what they're doing on the refuge.

Additional Self-Guided activities to download and bring with you:

New content to enhance your visitor experience at the Complex!
Age Range/Grade Level	Downloadable content
All Ages	Wetland Walk Field Journal for All Ages (New for Fall 2024!)
All Ages	Visitor Center and interpretive panels (see our Visitor Center page for current hours)

OLDER PROGRAM MATERIALS AND RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO ANYONE!
Age Range/Grade Level	Downloadable Content
Grade 2	What is a refuge? worksheet
Grade 2	What should I bring? worksheet
Grade 2	What wildlife lives on the refuge? worksheet
Grade 2	Post visit postcard
Grade 4	Writing a story - write about your experience visiting Sacramento NWR
Grade 4	Put this paragraph in order (about Wetlands), answer sheet
Grade 4	Put this paragraph in order (about Waterfowl), answer sheet
Grade 4	Post-visit postcard worksheet
All Ages	Wildlife Checklist Brochure (for the entire complex!)
All Ages	Wetland Walk (see Wetland Walk Brochure, Wetland Walk Map)
All Ages	Auto Tours and viewing platforms (see Auto Tours, Trails & Bicycling)

Outreach Events:

On-Refuge Events

Stay-tuned for future on-Refuge events.

Community Events

Attend these annual community events and stop by our booth to say hi:

Snow Goose Festival in Chico, typically at the end of January.
California Duck Days at Yolo Bypass with Yolo Basin Foundation, typically a Saturday in mid- to late-April.
Return of the Salmon Festival at Coleman National Fish Hatchery in Anderson, mid-October.

Invite us to your event!

Email us at sacramentovalleyrefuges@fws.gov

Other Resources:

Sacramento NWRC Junior Wildlife Ranger Booklet

Our Junior Wildlife Ranger Booklet is available online and at the Visitor Center. Complete the booklet and earn a badge. Suggested ages are 5-12, but anyone can become a Junior Wildlife Ranger! If you choose to work on it remotely or the visitor center is closed, contact us at sacramentovalleyrefuges@fws.gov to get your badge mailed to you.

Junior Wildlife Ranger - Neighborhood Badge Program

Looking for a free hands-on activity to do with the kids in your life outside this summer? The first-ever neighborhood badge program awards youth 7 and up a badge for learning about environmental science and wildlife conservation. Complete all of their activities to earn all your badges! When you're done, scan the QR code to claim your digital badge. Learn More

California Junior Duck Stamp Program

Learn about the Junior Duck Stamp Program, which is open for students in K-12th grade. Learn about ducks, geese, and swans and draw what you have learned to win prizes. Learn more

Free Virtual Programs

Check out some of our past programs on Facebook:

Science at Home: Seed Dispersal Science Project
Owl Pellet Dissection (recorded dissection)
Program on Eggs
Hummingbirds of the Refuge
Fun with Feathers
All About Monarchs

Other Websites and Organizations

Cornell Lab of Ornithology Bird Sleuth K-12 Lesson Plans - this website link takes you to resources and links for monthly lessons.

California Waterfowl - offers programs for schools in Sacramento and Yolo Counties.

California Regional Environmental Education Communities (CREEC)
CREEC is an educational project whose mission is to develop a communication network which provides educators with access to high quality environmental education resources to enhance the environmental literacy of California students.

Point Blue
Point Blue Conservation Science is a non-profit organization with a mission to conserve birds and the environment using science to understand and find solutions to problems threatening wildlife populations and ecosystems.

Owl Pellets - Here are some organizations that might offer pellets to learn about their diets: Pellets Inc. and Acorn Naturalists.

Explore more: