Teacher resources

If you are bringing your class to Padilla Bay or studying about estuaries, watersheds, coastal issues or the Salish Sea, we have resources for you. We want to help you teach about something we're passionate about, and to make sure your students get the most out of their trip to our reserve.

We offer a variety of teacher workshops, and provide clock hour credit for many of our public programs. Our curriculum is free and downloadable, and we can point you to our favorite online resources.

Here you can learn about workshops, download our estuary curriculum and check out our favorite online resources.

I want to...

School Programs

We offer programs for all grade levels. This includes programs for pre-Kindergarten to grade 12 and home school groups. Learn more about bringing your class to Padilla Bay.

Upcoming Workshops

June 19, 2018 — Preschoolers in the Great Outdoors
July 9-11, 2018 — Teachers on the Estuary

Curriculum - The Estuary Guide

We offer downloadable teacher guides at three grade levels: K-3 (Level 1), 4-8 (Level 2), and high school (Level 3). They are intended to complement a visit to Padilla Bay but are also adaptable to other locations, especially the Pacific Northwest. Download here:

Great online resources for teaching about estuaries

Puget Sound Encyclopedia
Estuary Education - created by NOAA's Estuarine Reserve Division
Lost and (Puget) Sound - Video about kids learning about storm water pollution with curriculum for grades 3 to 9
The Bridge - Resources supported by the National Sea Grant Office and the National Marine Educators Association (NMEA)
Shoreline Aerial Photos - Find your watershed
The Rosario Beach Marine Laboratory - Species list for the Salish Sea
King County - Photos of organisms
Sound Water Stewards - EZ identification guide
For Sea - Teaching Science by studying the Marine Environment
Waterlife - Internet games developed by NOAA

Teacher clock hour credits

Padilla Bay Reserve is a Washington State Clock Hours provider. Our workshops and public programs longer than three hours might qualify for clock hours. Call to inquire at 360-428-1558

Teacher email list

Join the teacher email list to be notified about teacher workshops and other events of interest to teachers. We typically offer two to three workshops a year on a variety of topics.

Two preschool children explore rocks and seaweed on the beach

Teacher Workshops

Preschoolers in the Great Outdoors: Exploring Nature with Young Children, June 19, 2018
Offer your students experiences in the natural world that cultivate a sense of place, foster development of the whole child, and build ecological awareness. Teachers will receive the book, Growing Up Wild. Click for information and registration.

teachers dig samples of beach bottom soils during low tide

Teachers on the Estuary for grade 3-8 teachers. July 9-11, 2018.
Using the Ocean Sciences Curriculum Sequences as a framework, this workshop includes field investigations in mudflat and eelgrass meadow, explorations of local online data, in-depth study of NGSS Practices of Science. Click for information and registration

Contact information

Susan Wood
Education Coordinator
susan.wood@ecy.wa.gov
360-428-1066