School and Group Programs
Programs for the 2024-2025 School Year
All About Owls.
Grades: 3 - 5 (1 Hour)
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
We are no longer accepting school year registrations at this time.
Please check back in late summer for 2025–2026 registration information.
For questions, feel free to email us at programs@ysi-ca.org
Teacher resource guides can be found below, please select accordingly.
Please check back in late summer for 2025–2026 registration information.
For questions, feel free to email us at programs@ysi-ca.org
Teacher resource guides can be found below, please select accordingly.
Animals and Their Adaptations. (hands-on with live animals)
Grades: PreK (1/2 Hour) | K-6 (1 Hour)
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
We are no longer accepting school year registrations at this time.
Please check back in late summer for 2025–2026 registration information.
For questions, feel free to email us at programs@ysi-ca.org
Teacher resource guides can be found below, please select accordingly.
Please check back in late summer for 2025–2026 registration information.
For questions, feel free to email us at programs@ysi-ca.org
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)
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
We are no longer accepting school year registrations at this time.
Please check back in late summer for 2025–2026 registration information.
For questions, feel free to email us at programs@ysi-ca.org
Teacher resource guides can be found below, please select accordingly.
Please check back in late summer for 2025–2026 registration information.
For questions, feel free to email us at programs@ysi-ca.org
Teacher resource guides can be found below, please select accordingly.
Five Senses Nature Walk. (includes nature walk)
Grades: PreK (1/2 Hour) | K-6 (1 Hour)
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
We are no longer accepting school year registrations at this time.
Please check back in late summer for 2025–2026 registration information.
For questions, feel free to email us at programs@ysi-ca.org
Teacher resource guides can be found below, please select accordingly.
Please check back in late summer for 2025–2026 registration information.
For questions, feel free to email us at programs@ysi-ca.org
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) | K-4 (1 Hour)
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
We are no longer accepting school year registrations at this time.
Please check back in late summer for 2025–2026 registration information.
For questions, feel free to email us at programs@ysi-ca.org
Teacher resource guides can be found below, please select accordingly.
Please check back in late summer for 2025–2026 registration information.
For questions, feel free to email us at programs@ysi-ca.org
Teacher resource guides can be found below, please select accordingly.
Life in a Pond. (hands-on with live animals)
Grades: PreK (1/2 Hour) | K-5 (1 Hour)
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
We are no longer accepting school year registrations at this time.
Please check back in late summer for 2025–2026 registration information.
For questions, feel free to email us at programs@ysi-ca.org
Teacher resource guides can be found below, please select accordingly.
Please check back in late summer for 2025–2026 registration information.
For questions, feel free to email us at programs@ysi-ca.org
Teacher resource guides can be found below, please select accordingly.
Life of an Ohlone.
Grades: 1 - 6 (1½ hours) | Long (3 Hours)
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)
We are no longer accepting school year registrations at this time.
Please check back in late summer for 2025–2026 registration information.
For questions, feel free to email us at programs@ysi-ca.org
Teacher resource guides can be found below, please select accordingly.
Please check back in late summer for 2025–2026 registration information.
For questions, feel free to email us at programs@ysi-ca.org
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) | Long (2 Hours)
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)
We are no longer accepting school year registrations at this time.
Please check back in late summer for 2025–2026 registration information.
For questions, feel free to email us at programs@ysi-ca.org
Teacher resource guides can be found below, please select accordingly.
Please check back in late summer for 2025–2026 registration information.
For questions, feel free to email us at programs@ysi-ca.org
Teacher resource guides can be found below, please select accordingly.
Physics of Sight and Sound
Grades: 2 - 5 (1½ hours)
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
We are no longer accepting school year registrations at this time.
Please check back in late summer for 2025–2026 registration information.
For questions, feel free to email us at programs@ysi-ca.org
Teacher resource guides can be found below, please select accordingly.
Please check back in late summer for 2025–2026 registration information.
For questions, feel free to email us at programs@ysi-ca.org
Teacher resource guides can be found below, please select accordingly.
Physics of Sound and Motion
Grades: 1 - 4 (1½ hours)
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
We are no longer accepting school year registrations at this time.
Please check back in late summer for 2025–2026 registration information.
For questions, feel free to email us at programs@ysi-ca.org
Teacher resource guides can be found below, please select accordingly.
Please check back in late summer for 2025–2026 registration information.
For questions, feel free to email us at programs@ysi-ca.org
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.
• Day of the program no shows are charged the full fee.
• All classes are limited to 30 students per program. Additional students will be accepted up to a certain amount, which is left to the discretion of YSI staff.
• An off-site travel fee will apply if YSI is to travel to your location.
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.
• Day of the program no shows are charged the full fee.
• All classes are limited to 30 students per program. Additional students will be accepted up to a certain amount, which is left to the discretion of YSI staff.
• An off-site travel fee will apply if YSI is to travel to your location.
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.
