• The Point Reyes Beach as viewed from the Point Reyes Headlands

    Point Reyes

    National Seashore California

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  • Operational Changes Took Effect on May 1

    The Lighthouse Visitor Center is now only open Fridays through Mondays. The Kenneth C. Patrick Visitor Center will be closed through late December 2013. More »

  • 2013 Harbor Seal Pupping Season Closures

    From March 1 through June 30, the park implements closures of certain Tomales Bay beaches and Drakes Estero to water-based recreation to protect harbor seals during the pupping season. Please avoid disturbing seals to ensure a successful pupping season. More »

Curriculum Materials

Creating Coastal Stewardship through Science logo

Creating Coastal Stewardship through Science Curriculum Guides

These seven guides were created by teachers for teachers. They provide middle school students with opportunities to observe natural processes at Point Reyes National Seashore to stimulate interest in science and environmental stewardship. Each guide is designed to facilitate hands-on learn experiences using science and the environment. Natural resources such as tule elk, California quail, Pacific gray whales, northern elephant seals, and the San Andreas Fault are highlighted because they are easy to identify and observe. All activities are linked to the California and National Science Standards.

 
Creating Coastal Stewardship through Science Curriculum Guide CD

Free Curriculum CD
These curricula are available on CD-ROM by calling 415-464-5139. In your message, please leave your name, address, and school affiliation.

 

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Print the Guides
Our guides are available to download or print as PDF files (Adobe® Acrobat Reader® is needed to view PDF documents). You may print any of these guides in the "Creating Coastal Stewardship through Science" program by downloading the files below:

 
Ochre sea star

Ochre sea star

Defining Habitats
134 pages 3.4 Mb

 
Tule Elk at Tomales Point

Male Tule Elk

Investigating Tule Elk
170 pages 2.8 MB

 
A Pair of Common Murres

Common Murres

Identifying Resident Birds
144 pages 1.8 MB
 
Coho Salmon swimming upstream to spawn.

Coho salmon

Monitoring Creek Health
117 pages 1.8 MB

 
The San Andreas Fault from space.

The San Andreas Fault

Uncovering the San Andreas Fault
154 pages 1.5 MB

Download images of the wayside panels along the Earthquake Trail.
11 pages 1.2 MB

 
Female Elephant Seal barking.

Female Elephant Seal

Discovering Northern Elephant Seals
158 pages 1.7 MB

 
Humpback whale spouting

Whale spouting

Observing Pacific Gray Whales
170 pages 840 KB
 

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Reserve Free Teaching Materials for Field Trip
Teacher Resource Backpacks accompany each of these guides as well as binoculars, a spotting scope, and clipboards - all of which may be borrowed free of charge from the Bear Valley Visitor Center.

Call 415-464-5139 to reserve materials specific to your field trip.

Questions, comments

If you would like more information about these exciting programs, please contact Mary Beth Shenton at 415-464-5139 or by email.

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Did You Know?

Bull elephant seal with harbor seals

Elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris)are the largest pinniped with males reaching a maximum of about 5,000 lbs.  Harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) are much smaller with both males and females reaching a maximum weight of around 250 lbs. More...