by Mrs. Thomas, Third Grade Class Teacher at Ryan STEAM Academy in Alum Rock (2026)

From left: 1) A ‘Salty’s Home’ puppet show led by students after completing the field trip featuring mouse finger puppets they made at the Refuge; 2) A student sitting next to Erika during a food web activity; 3) Students checking out the watershed model to learn about urban runoff pollution; 4) Students peering through binoculars to look for wildlife in the marsh. Photos: Deepa Thomas

Our students had an exciting and memorable day exploring the beautiful New Chicago Marsh at Don Edwards San Francsico Bay National Wildlife Refuge! From the moment we arrived, our students were filled with curiosity and excitement as they discovered the unique plants, animals, and ecosystems that make the marsh such a special place.

A special thank-you goes to Interpreters Erika and Sirena, who provided an amazing and engaging science lesson for our students. Their enthusiasm, knowledge, and passion for the environment made the experience truly meaningful. Through hands-on activities, students learned about pollution, ecosystems, food webs, and the impact humans can have on the environment.

The hands-on activities gave our students an opportunity to connect what they have learned in the classroom to the world around them. They were excited to participate, ask questions, make observations, and learn more about the importance of protecting our natural habitats.

Another memorable part of our visit was hearing stories about “Salty,” the marshland mouse. Through the stories and puppet-show experience, students learned about human impact on marshland habitats and how environmental changes can affect animals and contribute to species becoming endangered or extinct. The students enjoyed this creative experience while learning an important lesson about conservation and protecting wildlife.

While the Refuge is truly an amazing place for students to learn, we were saddened to see that the Environmental Education Center is not currently open. This beautiful resource has so much potential to provide meaningful educational experiences for children and families in our community.

We would love to see the Education Center reopened, maintained, and made accessible to more students. With its natural beauty, hands-on learning opportunities, and wonderful park rangers like Erika and Sirena, the Refuge could serve as an incredible outdoor classroom for thousands of children.

Our visit reminded us that learning does not always have to happen inside a classroom. Sometimes, the best classroom is right outside our door—where students can explore, ask questions, make connections, and develop a deeper appreciation for the world around them.

We hope that the Refuge continues to receive the support it deserves and that the Education Center can once again welcome many more children. Our students deserve the opportunity to experience, learn from, and help protect this beautiful place for generations to come.

A heartfelt thank-you to Erika and Sirena for making our students’ visit educational, engaging, and unforgettable! Their work helped our students see that science is not just something we learn about—it is something we can experience, explore, and protect.