Five Rivers Field Trips Special Smithsonian Exhibit The Smithsonian s Museum on Mainstreet Water/ Ways Exhibition dives into water - an environmentally, culturally and historically essential component of life on our planet. Inside this packet is planning information for your Water/Ways tour. Please fill out the last page and return to Shonda.Borden@DCNR.Alabama.gov or fax to 251-625-0874. This will confirm your field trip date and enable 5 Rivers Educators to make an itinerary for day.
General 5 Rivers Information Special Smithsonian Exhibit: Water/Ways TEACHERS AND CHAPERONES A member of 5 Rivers Educational Staff will accompany each group of students. Please have at least one teacher and/or one chaperone per group. This teacher/chaperone will be responsible for the good conduct and behavior of their students, and must stay with and be engaged with the group at all times. COST There is no admission fee for a guided tour of the exhibits and trails. The only cost is if you are arranging a boat tour, in which prices vary depending on length of tour and number of students. Delta Safaris is a private corporation onsite that provides these tours. All boat scheduling should be discussed directly with Delta Safaris after a land tour has been booked. They can be reached at 251-259-8531. ARRIVAL TIME AND LENGTH OF TOUR Plan to arrive no earlier than 9am. Tour length depends on several factors, including the number of students, tour modules chosen, boat tours, gift shop and lunch plans. In general, allow at least 15 minutes upon arrival for group arrangement, and at minimum 30 minutes per module. 5 Rivers Staff will work with you to arrange an itinerary for the day. LUNCH There are outdoor picnic tables and picnic pavilions located in close proximity to the facility. In the event of inclement weather, 5 Rivers Educators will work with the field trip planner to discuss what options are available. CYPRESS WELCOME CENTER AND GIFT SHOP Prices range from $1 and higher in the Cypress Gift Shop. Time can be arranged at the end of your field trip for shopping if this is something your students would be interested in. BUS PARKING Buses are encouraged to use the circle in front of the Delta Hall to offload students. After students have disembarked, buses may park in the main parking lot in front of the buildings. Please have your students divided into designated groups prior to arrival so that after offloading they are easily organized. RESCHEDULING YOUR STUDENT FIELD TRIP The Smithsonian Water/Ways Exhibit is on display at 5 Rivers for a limited time of only 6 weeks. Many classes will have to be turned away because reservations are maximized. If you need to cancel, please do so as soon as possible so that other students will have the opportunity to see this exhibit. With such a limited time, rescheduling will be difficult.
Special Smithsonian Exhibit: Water/Ways November 18, 2017 January 6, 2018 Tour Information The Water/Ways exhibit is optimal for middle school students and older. The Water/Ways exhibit will be one part of your tour, with each portion complimenting the curriculum. The guided tour will consist of: 1. Tensaw Theater A discussion of Alabama s high biodiversity due to moderate climate, a wide variety of habitats, and the abundance of water. 2. Water/Ways A beautiful display about the relationship that humans have with water. This interactive exhibit explores the importance of water from not only an environmental eye, but also socially, culturally, historically and economically. 3. Long Leaf Room - An exercise on water conservation will invite students in small groups of to think about what community leaders must consider in regard to how residents, and business owners use water. 4. Apalachee Exhibit Hall 4000 sq ft museum dedicated to history, flora, fauna and culture of the Mobile- Tensaw Delta. Stresses concepts of water quality, wetlands, conservation and land stewardship with interactive exhibits, artwork, live animals and taxidermy. 5. Delta Hall Docks - Students will work in groups to collect water samples using hand-held plankton tows. Comparisons will be made in microorganisms between different habitats, vegetated vs non-vegetated. 6. Little Bateau Learning Center Hands-on, interactive discovery for all ages. Live animals, taxidermy, and exhibits. Here students will learn how many different types of microorganisms are in a drop of water. OPTIONAL: 7. The Osprey pontoon boat (charges apply, separate registration) The Osprey can seat up to 42 individuals, and take groups out from 30min-2hr tours. Prices vary based on student number and length of tour. Tickets must be arranged in advance and are subject to availability. It is best to first verify the ground tour date is available (251-625-0814) and then verify the water tour is available for that date (251-259-8531). 8. Cypress Welcome Center and Gift Shop - The gift shop has nature-themed items from locally made artists, t-shirts, books, and interesting and unique gifts.
Special Smithsonian Exhibit: Water/Ways November 18, 2017 January 6, 2018 Preparing Students and Chaperones for Water/Ways We hope that your students not only enjoy the Water/Ways exhibit, but also learn from it. Here are a few things that will help the day go smoothly: 1. A 5 Rivers Educator will have worked with you to make an itinerary for the day prior to your visit. This can be shared with each teacher and chaperone that will accompany you, so every supervising adult knows what to expect during the field trip. 2. Please have your students already divided into groups. Your itinerary will be customized for the number of groups expected. 3. Your chaperones will be invaluable help, especially in the hands-on activities such as collecting and analyzing water samples. Please encourage chaperones to be a participant in the field trip, to work with the Educators in directing students, and to please silence their cell phones. 4. Time flies when you re having fun, and your schedule may not permit time to watch a movie here at 5 Rivers. No worries, as our favorite movies are available and streaming free online. You can watch a movie in the classroom prior to or after your visit: Coastal Paradise: Ecology, 28 min Video https://www.bing.com/videos/search? q=discovering+alabama+coastal+pardise+ecology+full+video&view=detail&mid=f2853965821da2d393ab F2853965821DA2D393AB&FORM=VIRE Teacher s Guide https://discoveringalabama.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/coastal-paradise-tg- 12_23_14.pdf The Underwater Forest, 28 min http://www.thisisalabama.org/underwaterforest/ Delta Revisit, #56, 26 min https://itunes.apple.com/itunes-u/discovering-alabama-videos/id383699006# Alabama Rivers, #28, 26 min Video https://itunes.apple.com/itunes-u/discovering-alabama-videos/id383699006 Teacher s Guide https://discoveringalabama.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/alabama_rivers.pdf America s Amazon http://www.americasamazon.com/ (Click on the Education Tab at the top for full screen viewing, teacher s guides and lesson plans. 5. We all live in a watershed. Do your students know which one they reside in? Mobile Bay National Estuary Program has an interactive website to discover what your watershed address is: http://www.mobilebaynep.com/the_watersheds
Five Rivers Field Trips Special Smithsonian Exhibit Date of Scheduled Tour School Name Teacher s Name Student Grade # of chaperones Contact Information: (cell) (office) (email) How many students will be visiting? Arrival Time Departure Time Will you be bringing lunches to eat at 5 Rivers? Typical Student Lunch Time Visiting Gift Shop? Will you be taking an ecotour aboard the pontoon boat? What times and how many groups? Confirmation number (given to you by Delta Safaris) (Reservations for boat must be made with Delta Safaris directly at 259-8531.) Teacher Signature Date