School and Group Programs
Programs for the 2024-2025 School Year
All About Owls.
Grades: 3 - 5 (1 Hour) $375
Observe live owls and learn about the physical adaptations that make them successful nocturnal hunters. Dissect owl pellets and be introduced to skeletal anatomy and the owl's diet. Discuss the nature of food chains and the role of owls in the ecosystem.
Locations: Alum Rock, Vasona, and at your school
Observe live owls and learn about the physical adaptations that make them successful nocturnal hunters. Dissect owl pellets and be introduced to skeletal anatomy and the owl's diet. Discuss the nature of food chains and the role of owls in the ecosystem.
Locations: Alum Rock, Vasona, and at your school
To register, please fill out YSI School Registration Information or email programs@ysi-ca.org.
Teacher resource guides can be found below, please select accordingly.
Teacher resource guides can be found below, please select accordingly.
Animals and Their Adaptations. (hands-on with live animals)
Grades: PreK (1/2 Hour) $245 | K-6 (1 Hour) $350
Examine live animals from a variety of taxonomic groups. Learn about diet, habitat, ecological role, structure, and function. Observe and discuss differences among animals.
Locations: Vasona, Alum Rock, and at your school
Examine live animals from a variety of taxonomic groups. Learn about diet, habitat, ecological role, structure, and function. Observe and discuss differences among animals.
Locations: Vasona, Alum Rock, and at your school
To register, please fill out YSI School Registration Information or email programs@ysi-ca.org.
Teacher resource guides can be found below, please select accordingly.
Teacher resource guides can be found below, please select accordingly.
Aquatic Habitat Exploration. (hands-on with live animals & nature walk)
Grades: 1 - 6 (1½ hours) $415
Grab a net and explore a freshwater habitat. Touch and examine the diverse animals that live there and learn how they adapt to their watery environment.
Locations: Alum Rock and Vasona
Grab a net and explore a freshwater habitat. Touch and examine the diverse animals that live there and learn how they adapt to their watery environment.
Locations: Alum Rock and Vasona
To register, please fill out YSI School Registration Information or email programs@ysi-ca.org.
Teacher resource guides can be found below, please select accordingly.
Teacher resource guides can be found below, please select accordingly.
Five Senses Nature Walk. (includes nature walk)
Grades: PreK (1/2 Hour) $245 | K-6 (1 Hour) $315
Explore the outdoors and learn general concepts of ecology, botany, and biology. Learn about local plants and animals by seeing, smelling, hearing, touching, and discussing possible tastes along your way down the trail.
Locations: Vasona, Alum Rock, and Sanborn
Explore the outdoors and learn general concepts of ecology, botany, and biology. Learn about local plants and animals by seeing, smelling, hearing, touching, and discussing possible tastes along your way down the trail.
Locations: Vasona, Alum Rock, and Sanborn
To register, please fill out YSI School Registration Information or email programs@ysi-ca.org.
Teacher resource guides can be found below, please select accordingly.
Teacher resource guides can be found below, please select accordingly.
Insects, Spiders, and Other Arthropods. (hands-on with live animals)
Grades: PreK (1/2 Hour) $245 | K-4 (1 Hour) $345
Learn about arthropod structure, function, and life cycles; emphasis is on insects and differences between arthropod groups.
Locations: Vasona, Alum Rock, and at your school
Learn about arthropod structure, function, and life cycles; emphasis is on insects and differences between arthropod groups.
Locations: Vasona, Alum Rock, and at your school
To register, please fill out YSI School Registration Information or email programs@ysi-ca.org.
Teacher resource guides can be found below, please select accordingly.
Teacher resource guides can be found below, please select accordingly.
Life in a Pond. (hands-on with live animals)
Grades: PreK (1/2 Hour) $245 | K-5 (1 Hour) $345
What's special about animals that live where it's wet and wild? Learn about aquatic adaptations, food chains, and life cycles. Examine YSI's live aquatic animals.
Locations: Vasona, Alum Rock, and at your school
What's special about animals that live where it's wet and wild? Learn about aquatic adaptations, food chains, and life cycles. Examine YSI's live aquatic animals.
Locations: Vasona, Alum Rock, and at your school
To register, please fill out YSI School Registration Information or email programs@ysi-ca.org.
Teacher resource guides can be found below, please select accordingly.
Teacher resource guides can be found below, please select accordingly.
Life of an Ohlone.
Grades: 1 - 6 (1½ hours) $475 | Long (3 Hours) $750
Investigate the Native American relationship with the environment as you pound acorns, learn how they made rope, how children played games, and how they foraged in nature for food and medicine. Long program includes 90-minute nature walk at our beautiful parks!
Locations: Vasona, Alum Rock, Sanborn, and at your school (short program only)
Investigate the Native American relationship with the environment as you pound acorns, learn how they made rope, how children played games, and how they foraged in nature for food and medicine. Long program includes 90-minute nature walk at our beautiful parks!
Locations: Vasona, Alum Rock, Sanborn, and at your school (short program only)
To register, please fill out YSI School Registration Information or email programs@ysi-ca.org.
Teacher resource guides can be found below, please select accordingly.
Teacher resource guides can be found below, please select accordingly.
Teacher resource guides for long programs can be found below, please select accordingly.
Moving, Exploding Earth.
Grades: 2 - 6 (90 Minutes) $445 | Long (2 Hours) $545
Explore Earth's layers, plate tectonics, and the rock cycle. Together we will learn about the three types of rocks; Igneous, Sedimentary, and Metamorphic. We will examine and identify rocks and minerals together.
Locations: Vasona, Alum Rock, Sanborn, and at your school (short program only)
Explore Earth's layers, plate tectonics, and the rock cycle. Together we will learn about the three types of rocks; Igneous, Sedimentary, and Metamorphic. We will examine and identify rocks and minerals together.
Locations: Vasona, Alum Rock, Sanborn, and at your school (short program only)
To register, please fill out YSI School Registration Information or email programs@ysi-ca.org.
Teacher resource guides can be found below, please select accordingly.
Teacher resource guides can be found below, please select accordingly.
Physics of Sight and Sound
Grades: 2 - 5 (1½ hours) $415
Learn about the structure of the eye and the tricks of the brain. Take a look at how light works through hands-on investigations and experiments for the whole class. Learn about sound waves through a series of lively, hands-on activities. Investigate sound as it travels through different states of matter.
Locations: Alum Rock, Sanborn, Vasona, and at your school
Learn about the structure of the eye and the tricks of the brain. Take a look at how light works through hands-on investigations and experiments for the whole class. Learn about sound waves through a series of lively, hands-on activities. Investigate sound as it travels through different states of matter.
Locations: Alum Rock, Sanborn, Vasona, and at your school
To register, please fill out YSI School Registration Information or email programs@ysi-ca.org.
Teacher resource guides can be found below, please select accordingly.
Teacher resource guides can be found below, please select accordingly.
Physics of Sound and Motion
Grades: 1 - 4 (1½ hours) $415
Learn about the motion of objects through a series of lively, hands-on activities. Investigate sound as it travels through different states of matter. Learn about the physics behind motion; deepen your understanding as you design and test paper airplanes and stomp rockets.
Locations: Alum Rock, Sanborn, Vasona, and at your school
Learn about the motion of objects through a series of lively, hands-on activities. Investigate sound as it travels through different states of matter. Learn about the physics behind motion; deepen your understanding as you design and test paper airplanes and stomp rockets.
Locations: Alum Rock, Sanborn, Vasona, and at your school
To register, please fill out YSI School Registration Information or email programs@ysi-ca.org.
Teacher resource guides can be found below, please select accordingly.
Teacher resource guides can be found below, please select accordingly.
YSI's in-person programs are available for grades Pre-K through 6th grade. Each grade level has NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards) content and teacher resources. Below is a summary of our current program offerings:
The following conditions apply:
• All teachers/chaperones are required to keep any children home who present with COVID-19 symptoms.
• Payment is due 30 days in advance of your program date.
• There is a $35 fee for any changes once a booking is confirmed.
• There is a $20 fee per 30-minute break between programs after the first initial 15-minute break YSI requires between programs.
• There is a $175 fee applied to reservations canceled within 45 days of the program's date, per program.
• Day of the program no shows are charged the full fee.
• Prices listed as of 2024-2025school year. Fees and program content are subject to change.
• All classes are limited to 30 students per program. An additional fee of $20.00 per student will be added for classes with more than 30 students. Additional students will be accepted up to a certain amount, which is left to the discretion of YSI staff.
• An off-site travel fee of $175.00 will apply if YSI is to travel to your location.
• Virtual programs upon request.
Scholarships may be available for Title I eligible schools (40%+) on a first-come, first-served basis. Transportation funds also available for select school districts. Please inquire.
Questions? Please email us at programs@ysi-ca.org or call (408) 356-4945 ext. 12.
The following conditions apply:
• All teachers/chaperones are required to keep any children home who present with COVID-19 symptoms.
• Payment is due 30 days in advance of your program date.
• There is a $35 fee for any changes once a booking is confirmed.
• There is a $20 fee per 30-minute break between programs after the first initial 15-minute break YSI requires between programs.
• There is a $175 fee applied to reservations canceled within 45 days of the program's date, per program.
• Day of the program no shows are charged the full fee.
• Prices listed as of 2024-2025school year. Fees and program content are subject to change.
• All classes are limited to 30 students per program. An additional fee of $20.00 per student will be added for classes with more than 30 students. Additional students will be accepted up to a certain amount, which is left to the discretion of YSI staff.
• An off-site travel fee of $175.00 will apply if YSI is to travel to your location.
• Virtual programs upon request.
Scholarships may be available for Title I eligible schools (40%+) on a first-come, first-served basis. Transportation funds also available for select school districts. Please inquire.
Questions? Please email us at programs@ysi-ca.org or call (408) 356-4945 ext. 12.
