Since 1994, the US Fish and Wildlife Service has hosted field trips throughout the school year for students at local elementary and intermediate schools.   Formally known as Discovery Environmental Education Program (DEEP), the program presently serves:

• Approximately 2600 fourth-  and seventh-grade students from the Brazosport Independent School District (BISD).   BISD operates K-12 schools for the cities of Clute, Freeport, Jones Creek, Lake Jackson, Oyster Creek, Quintana, Richwood, and Surfside Beach, Texas.
  
  
• Approximately 150 fourth-grade students from the Angleton Independent School District (AISD).   AISD operates K-12 schools in the city of Angleton, Texas.

Bryan Adams

By providing students with hands-on experience at the refuge, these field trips augment the schools' science curriculum in the area of natural ecological systems.   Most DEEP field trips are scheduled at the Brazoria NWR, although some are scheduled at San Bernard NWR or at Hudson Woods.   These investigations are led by volunteers; the entire project is administered by Bryan Adams, the Environmental Education Ranger at BNWR.

During the 2004-05 school year, 26 day-long field trips were conducted.

The DEEP program is based at the Big Slough Discovery Complex, located at Brazoria NWR.   This complex includes the Big Slough Discovery Center, an Information Pavilion, and the Discovery Pavilion.   The Pavilion, located on the banks of Big Slough, offers an excellent view of local wildlife.

The Discovery Center contains a classroom, offices, and an exhibit area.

Friends volunteer Ed Barrios prepares the "Microworld" teaching station.

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A TYPICAL DAY

A typical DEEP day (usually a Tuesday) begins with the arrival of two busloads of students from one school, accompanied by their science teachers and a few parents.

The students are divided into eight groups, each accompanied by at least one teacher.   During the day, each of the eight groups visits one of eight teaching stations.   A volunteer at each teaching station focuses on one particular topic.   Typical topics include:

Reptiles Water Cycle and Water Quality Estuaries A bus tour to observe wildlife Coastal Prairie and Wetlands Birds: How they Fly Freshwater Pond Life Microworld: Life under a microscope

The Microworld teaching station is located in the Discovery Center; other stations are located at various venues around the refuge.