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Field Trips

Two students birdwatching near the river.

 The highly skilled River Authority education team offers free field trips for 3rd grade through 12th grade students in Bexar, Wilson, Karnes, and Goliad Counties. Education programming is aligned with Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).

The River Authority is currently accepting requests for field trips that will take place from September 2023 through December 2023. After reading through and learning more about our programs, please fill out the webform at the bottom of this page to submit your field trip request.

It is our mission to engage, educate, and empower students to make informed decisions about the conservation and protection of the San Antonio River watershed through thought-provoking, hands-on, and inquiry-driven explorations. Nature-based and place-based STEM programming are pillars of our field trips. We serve to augment what educators are teaching in the classroom with real-world examples that are locally relevant to the students. We encourage curiosity, observation, discussion, reflection, and action during field trips.

Reservation Policy
  • So that the River Authority provide equal opportunity for all public school districts throughout Bexar, Wilson, Karnes, and Goliad Counties, one grade level per school and up to 3 schools per district will be considered per year. Additional schools within a district wishing to participate will be placed on a waitlist and will be contacted if field trip dates become available.
  • Homeschool groups and private schools are eligible for one visit per year.
  • All requests are evaluated on a first-come-first-serve basis and accepted at the River Authority's discretion.
  • Field trips must be requested at least one month in advance. For the best selection of dates and staff availability, contact us via the request form below as early as possible.
  • Field trip requests are pending until processed with confirmed dates by River Authority staff.
  • Confirmations and other important field trip details including pre- and post-field trip classroom activities will be sent to the email address provided in the initial request.
Chaperone Requirements
A group of children observe nature next to a river.
  • For the safety of students and staff, River Authority requires that student groups be accompanied at all times by an appropriate number of adult teachers or chaperones. Teachers and chaperones are expected to ensure that students behave appropriately and are engaged in the field trip activities.
  • A chaperone-to-student ratio of 1:10 is required for all field trips. For every ten (10) students, there should be one adult actively monitoring the group.
Late Arrival & Cancellation Policy
  • If your group is running late, the River Authority cannot guarantee that all activities will occur as originally planned.
  • If the weather, park conditions, or unforeseeable circumstances prevent the field trip from proceeding as planned, the River Authority will contact the field trip organizer 24 hours in advance of the field trip.
  • A rescheduled field trip is not guaranteed.
  • If we must cancel a field trip, a River Authority educator will contact the field trip organizer to arrange a visit to your campus on the day(s) reserved for your field trip(s). It is preferable to have a vacant room or space where our educator will set up and present to student groups who rotate through.
Recommendations
  • Please ensure each student has their own lunch that meets their dietary needs. Lunch will be held in the middle of our programming time. Opportunities for snack time are available if the school brings snacks for their students.
  • We recommend that participants bring their own reusable water bottles.
  • School staff is responsible for bringing and administering any items that your students need to stay safe, including sunscreen, insect repellant, and medication (e.g., EpiPens).
  • For educational resources and materials, please visit our Education page.
Kids walk down the steps of Confluence Park.
What are the different field trips that the River Authority offers?

Please see the field trip descriptions below.

*Note: Is your group larger than the maximum number of students indicated below? We may accommodate greater student numbers if students can be divided across multiple days and the number of students on each day remains less than the maximum number listed below.

 

Don't Let Litter Trash Your River!

Maximum number of students per day: 75 students

Grade levels: 3rd-12th grade

This 3-hour field trip focuses on non-point source pollution, how contaminants make their way from the land into our local waterways, and the effects of this pollution on the local ecosystem. In groups of 25 or fewer, students will rotate through activities to investigate nature-based solutions that aim to resolve this problem on a large scale, in addition to exploring everyday activities that we can implement for a cleaner tomorrow – today!

 

River Ecosystem Exploration

Maximum number of students per day: 75 students

Grade levels: 3rd-12th grade

This 3-hour field trip focuses on the ecosystem of the San Antonio River Basin. Students will be divided into groups of 25 or fewer to rotate through activities that are tailored to their grade level. Examples of grade-level appropriate activities include comparing plant and animal adaptations, identifying wildlife, testing water quality, and investigating how we can work with nature to keep our waterways safe, clean, and enjoyable.

 

Flooding, Engineering, and the San Antonio River

Maximum number of students per day: 50 students

Grade levels: 6th-12th grade

This 3.5-hour field trip is designed for smaller, STEM-focused groups and classes in which students will rotate through several hands-on interactive activities. These activities include a teambuilding scenario game aimed at evaluating the factors responsible for flooding in the San Antonio River Watershed as well as using a 3D model to assess the effectiveness of flood prevention infrastructure. Students will also learn how River Authority engineers use STEM to protect people and property from flooding in the San Antonio River Watershed.

We look forward to seeing you at the river!

We are full, but please keep in touch.
I understand this is not a field trip or classroom program request. With this form I am signing up for the River Authority’s education email list to be notified when the River Authority begins accepting program requests again.