Elkus Ranch sees over 7,000 students from the greater San Francisco Bay Area each year as a field trip destination. The Environmental Education Field Trips at Elkus Ranch provide hands-on opportunities to learn about the production of food and fiber, the inter-relationships of plants and animals in their natural habitats, and the importance of environmental stewardship. 

While brushing a goat, meeting a chicken, or exploring our bone and fossil collections in our historic barn, students learn about adaptations, predator/prey relationships and food chains.

In the garden, students learn about the functions of roots, stems, and leaves and get to plant their own seedling to take home with them.

While visiting the garden, students are able to taste different parts of seasonal plants, identify pollinators, and learn about seed dispersal and composting.

Students are able to meet our flock of sheep and learn how wool is spun into yarn. Explanations of natural dyeing, carding, and spinning wool encourages students to consider where their clothing comes from.

 

The Ranch field trip tours run from 10:00am to 1:00pm, for kinder through 12th grades and from 9:30am to 11:30am for preschoolers unless otherwise arranged.

Up to three classes can participate in a field trip at the same time. Classes can arrive as early as 9am for students to have bio-breaks and start their snack before their program begins.

Students will have time before the tour to eat their snack and a lunch break after the tour before their 1pm departure.

More information can be found on our Programs page. To make a reservation please contact our Ranch Coordinator | (650) 712-3151 or elkusranch@ucanr.edu

coming soon...To make a Field Trip reservation for any grade preschool through grade 12, please fill out this form to start the process.

Cancellation Policy

At Elkus Ranch we believe that there is no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing. We do not cancel programs for weather related issues unless there is a safety concern.

If you decide to cancel a field trip scheduled with us, please do so as early as possible. We are usually fully booked during field trip season (September-November and February-June). If you cancel, please tell us at least two weeks in advance so we can schedule another class waiting for a spot. 

If you need to cancel, please call our office at (650) 712-3151 to leave a message or email us at elkusranch@ucanr.edu