Field Trips

A group of students around a table using educational resources while an adult leader gives instructions.

The WaterShed offers free field trips for groups of 15 or more in our exhibit hall and classroom and our outdoor spaces at the Boise River, ponds and Hyatt Wetlands.

From November to February, we offer outreach lessons at schools in Boise, Eagle and Meridian.

Schedule a Field Trip

Homeschool groups may participate in our homeschool programs or make a reservation for a self-guided exploration of the Outdoor River Campus. A minimum of 15 students of a similar grade level is required to book a lesson or tour.

Two students stand in the river and examine specimens in a collection bag.

Plan Your Visit

Cost: Field trips are free!

Group size: Field trips are available for groups up to 90 students (70 students in winter). The WaterShed requires at least one chaperone for every ten students.

Reservation Window: Reservations are required at least two weeks in advance and can be made six months prior to your visit date. For example, May field trips will open on December 1st. Field trips are in high demand in the spring.

Field trip times: Field trips are booked Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The typical visit is 2 to 4 hours in length. If your field trip spans lunch time, we are happy to add a lunch time into your schedule, and you may eat at the covered picnic tables.

The WaterShed offers free field trips for groups of 15 or more. Explore with us in our exhibit hall, classroom and outdoor spaces. We take groups to explore and learn at the Boise River, our ponds and Hyatt Wetlands.

Exhibit Hall Tour

Explore the hands-on exhibit hall to learn about the Boise River watershed, climate impacts and how we can take action to protect the environment. Students will visit the Innovation Station to participate in the activity featured that month. Tour will be tailored to the age of participants.

 


Location: The WaterShed
Grade level: K–adult
Duration: 60 minutes

Preschool Free Play

Self guided.

Students can play and explore in our River Campus or Nature Play Area. You are also welcome to borrow one of our Pre-K Activity Backpacks; you will find several games and activities for your Pre-K students, as well as some free-play suggestions to have fun while you’re visiting!

Location: The WaterShed
Grade level: Pre-K
Duration: 30–90 minutes

River Campus Exploration

March - October only.

Experience the River Campus: splash in the simulated river and explore nature play stations to learn about our watershed. Backpacks with games and activities are available to borrow during your visit. (free-play/self-guided).

 

Location: The WaterShed
Grade level: K–8
Duration: 30–90 minutes

Get in Touch with Nature

Students will explore what makes a healthy river ecosystem while exploring nature near the Boise River or ponds.

Location: The WaterShed
Grade level: K–2
Duration: 90 minutes

Macroinvertebrate Mayhem

April - September only.

Students will hike ½ mile to the Boise River or ponds and wade in to collect macro-invertebrates (water bugs) to learn about how they may indicate a healthy or polluted river.

 

Location: The WaterShed
Grade level: K–6
Duration: 90 minutes

Water Renewal Facility Tour

Water Renewal Tours will be suspended from December 2025 – December 2026 due to multiple construction projects that impact tour safety. We appreciate your patience while we work to meet Boise's growing water renewal needs.

 

Several educational resources are available on our Online Learning Resources webpage, including a process overview handout, presentation slide deck and video tour.

Riparian Investigators

March - October only.

Explore the importance of riparian areas—those spaces where water, wildlife, and plants come together! Students will collect data around our ponds to determine if it is a healthy habitat. Time permitting, they may participate in a restoration project. (seed spreading, planting, trash pick up, etc.)

 

Location: The WaterShed
Grade level: 3–6
Duration: 90 minutes

Energy Engineers

Students will explore the differences between renewable and non-renewable energy and take a deeper dive into hydropower. Students will break into small groups and participate in a hands-on engineering challenge to design a hydropower turbine. By imagining and constructing creative renewable energy solutions, students begin to envision a more sustainable energy future.

 

Location: The WaterShed
Grade level: 4–6
Duration: 90 minutes

Burning Questions: Exploring Changing Wildfire in Idaho

In this hands-on lesson, students investigate how wildfire behaves in three different Idaho ecosystems—and how those patterns are shifting due to climate change. Working in small groups, they explore photos and plant materials, build a model of their ecosystem, and simulate how fire spreads.

Location: The WaterShed
Grade level: 4–12
Duration: 90 minutes

Watershed Investigators: Exploring the Water Cycle

There’s no such thing as new water, and the water on Earth is constantly recycled! Through games, models, and discussion, students will explore where water is on our planet and the journey a drop of water might take.

Location: The WaterShed
Grade level: K–2
Duration: 60 minutes

Explore Your Watershed

Using maps and models, students will learn what a watershed is and about the Boise River Watershed. Students will explore how we use and impact our water in Idaho.

Location: The WaterShed
Grade level: 4–5
Duration: 60 minutes

Snow Science

Students learn the importance of snow in our watershed and investigate snow on a molecular level.

 

Location: The WaterShed
Grade level: 5–6
Duration: 60 minutes

The Climate Change Connection

Exploring climate change through a systems approach, students will learn about the greenhouse gas effect, local impacts and solutions.

 

Location: The WaterShed
Grade level: 6–8
Duration: 60 minutes

Climate Stories

Students will explore what we can learn from stories, how we can listen to each other, and how to tell their own climate story.

 

Location: The WaterShed
Grade level: 7–12, College/Adult
Duration: 60 minutes

The H2O Below

Get to know groundwater and its important role in our water supply.

 

 

Location: The WaterShed
Grade level: 7–8
Duration: 45–60 minutes

Geothermal: The Heat Beneath Your Feet

Students will demonstrate where hot water comes from and how Idaho uses geothermal heat as a sustainable energy source.

 

 

Location: The WaterShed
Grade level: 7–8
Duration: 45–60 minutes

Water Quality Field Experience

March - October only.

Students will assess the water quality of the Boise River or ponds to better understand how natural and human impacts affect water and the aquatic ecosystem. We'll test for temperature, pH, turbidity, DO, plus investigate macroinvertebrates.

Location: The WaterShed
Grade level: 7–12, College/Adult
Duration: 90 minutes

Past Lessons

As our mission has changed, we have updated our lesson offerings. Looking for a particular lesson you no longer see? Check the link below.



 

 

Read More

Our education staff brings The WaterShed to you! We have several options for demonstrations and activities that can be done on-site at The WaterShed or in your classroom or group meeting location throughout Boise, Eagle and Meridian.

Watershed Investigators: Exploring the Water Cycle

There’s no such thing as new water, and the water on Earth is constantly recycled! Through games, models, and discussion, students will explore where water is on our planet and the journey a drop of water might take.

Grade level: K–2
Duration: 60 minutes

Explore Your Watershed

Using maps and models, students will learn what a watershed is and about the Boise River Watershed. Students will explore how we use and impact our water in Idaho.

Grade level: 3–5
Duration: 60 minutes

Snow Science

Students learn the importance of snow in our watershed and investigate snow on a molecular level.

Grade level: 5–6
Duration: 60 minutes

The Climate Change Connection

Exploring climate change through a systems approach, students will learn about the greenhouse gas effect, local impacts and solutions.

Grade level: 6–8
Duration: 60 minutes

The H2O Below

Get to know groundwater and its important role in our water supply.

 

Grade level: 7–8
Duration: 45–60 minutes

Geothermal: The Heat Beneath Your Feet

Students will demonstrate where hot water comes from and how Idaho uses geothermal heat as a sustainable energy source.

Grade level: 7–8
Duration: 45-60 minutes

Water Quality Field Experience

March – October only.

Students will assess the water quality of the Boise River or ponds to better understand how natural and human impacts affect water and the aquatic ecosystem. We'll test for temperature, pH, turbidity, DO, plus investigate macroinvertebrates.

Grade level: 7–12, College/Adult
Duration: 90 minutes

A group of students and adult leaders wade in the Boise River collecting and observing samples.

We have options for groups to come visit us at The WaterShed, or we can give demonstrations and lessons at your site!

Field trips can be customized to meet your needs. We look forward to your visit — thank you for your interest!

Choose up to 3 options from the lists below that match the grade level of your group, then use our form or call us at (208) 608-7300 to schedule your field trip.

Field Trip Request

View our accessibility page to learn more about our visual, audio, physical and sensory accommodations for guests with disabilities.

Students who are neurodivergent or sensory sensitive can view the WaterShed Social Story to prepare for their field trip visit.

The WaterShed is pleased to announce a busing reimbursement program for the 2026-27 school year. This reimbursement program is designed to enable K-12 public school students to visit the WaterShed.

This year’s program is funded through the Department of Environmental Quality Sourcewater Protection grant.

Please review the busing reimbursement guidelines below.

  • These funds may only be used to help defray the cost of the busing service.
  • All public schools within the Boise River Watershed boundaries are eligible. (This includes all of Ada and Canyon Counties and select parts of Boise and Elmore counties).
  • Organizations such as day cares, afterschool programs, church groups, scouting groups, etc. are not eligible.
  • Kindergarten through 12th grade classes are eligible, up to 1 class or approximately 30 students maximum.
  • Only one reimbursement will be awarded per school.
  • Reimbursements will cease when the grant funding is depleted.
  • Reimbursement for awarded funds will be made when the School Busing Reimbursement Form and the post-visit electronic survey are submitted.
  • Reimbursements will be awarded on a first come, first served basis. Call early to schedule your visit!

Busing Reimbursement Request

Plan your visit today!

Field Trip request form