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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Sacramento

National Wildlife

Refuge Complex

Environmental

Education Program

Guide

Welcome!

Sacramento NWR Complex
“To administer a

national network of

lands and waters for

the conservation,

management, and

where appropriate,

restoration of the fish,

wildlife, and plant

resources and their

habitats within the

United States for the

benefit of present and

future generations

of Americans”

National Wildlife Refuge System

Mission Statement

The “blue goose” is the symbol of the

National Wildlife Refuge System

 elcome and thank you for your interest

in Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge

Complex’s Environmental Education Program!

This guide is designed to enhance your visit and

ensure a positive field trip experience. By

becoming familiar with available classroom and

field trip activities, you will have the best

opportunity to discover and enjoy the wildlife

and beautiful scenery of the Refuges. We will do

all we can to make your visit a rewarding and

educational experience.

Great Blue Heron

Welcome!

W
What is the Sacramento

NWR Complex?

The Sacramento National Wildlife

Refuge (NWR) Complex is part of

a network of nearly 540 NWRs

managed by the U.S. Fish &

Wildlife Service to protect over 95

million acres of habitat. Created

in 1937, Sacramento NWR is the

headquarters for the Complex of

six refuges: Sacramento NWR,

Delevan NWR, Colusa NWR,

Sutter NWR, Butte Sink NWR, and

Sacramento River NWR (map on

back page).

Why is the Sacramento NWR

Complex Important?

For thousands of years, the

Sacramento Valley has been a major

wintering area for migratory

waterfowl (ducks, geese and swans)

along the Pacific Flyway. California

is the winter destination of more

than 60% of the waterfowl in the

Pacific Flyway.

Unfortunately, the wetlands upon

which these birds depend have been

drastically reduced over the years.

It is estimated that 90 – 95% of the

wetland acres that existed in

California during the late 1800’s

have been lost. Most have been

converted to other land uses, such as

agriculture and urbanization. In view

of this drastic decrease, it has

become imperative that the

Sacramento NWR Complex habitats

are managed in the most intensive

and productive manner possible.

The Refuges also provide habitat

for rare and endangered species

and contain examples of other

disappearing habitats such as

vernal pools and riparian forests.

Located on

Pacific Flyway

Wetland Habitat Lost

to Other Uses

Home for Rare and

Endangered Species

Let the wetlands become your outdoor

classroom as you experience nature

firsthand. Watch a coyote hunting

rodents or shorebirds probing the mud

for snails and worms. Cup your hands

behind your ears and listen to the

beautiful sounds of red–winged

blackbirds. Watch a heron or egret

silently stalk fish, frogs, and

invertebrates. Gently feel the spongy

stem of a bulrush. Observe red–tailed

hawks swoop and circle as they hunt

rodents. Watch and listen to warblers,

woodpeckers, and other songbirds as they

feed and move among cottonwoods and

willows. Search for animal tracks in the

soft mud along waterways and the creek.

Though the ideal time for wildlife viewing

is October through March, you may see a

diversity of wildlife year–round. The

peak time to see migrating waterfowl is

November through January. The auto

tours at Sacramento and Colusa NWRs

meander through a variety of habitats

where large concentrations of waterfowl

may be seen during peak migration.

The American

avocet is one of

the 269 species

of birds that

benefit from the

Sacramento

National

Wildlife Refuge

Complex habitats.

American Avocet

Nature is the

Best Classroom

Peak Time to

View Wildlife

Sacramento NWR Complex
Facilities

• Visitor center with large wildlife exhibit

and interpretive kiosk is open daily October

through March and weekdays only April

through September. Hours are 7:30 am

to 4:00 pm

• Large paved parking lot at the visitor

center accommodates all vehicles

including buses

• Public restrooms, drinking fountain, and

picnic benches located at the visitor center

• Graveled six-mile auto tour and two-mile

self-guided walking trail

• Three-tiered wildlife viewing platform

with spotting scopes and self-contained

restroom nearby

• All public facilities are accessible to

people with disabilities

• Interpretive kiosk

• Parking area and portable restroom

• Graveled three-mile auto tour and

one-mile self-guided walking trail

• Interpretive kiosk

• Graveled parking area with selfcontained restroom accessible to people

with disabilities

• Two-thirds of a mile walking trail

• Two wildlife viewing platforms

Sacramento NWR

(Complex Headquarters)

Colusa NWR

Sacramento River NWR,

Llano Seco Unit

Dunlin

All auto tour routes and trails are open

year-round from sunrise to sunset.

Planning Ahead For Your Visit

The Complex headquarters, visitor center and

the main Environmental Program activities are

located at Sacramento NWR, six miles south

of Willows. Field trips may include, but are not

limited to, guided wetlands walks, scavenger

hunts, hands-on learning in the Discovery

Room, wildlife viewing, auto tour routes and

viewing platforms.

A Discovery Pack with five self-guided activities

and dip nets, field guides, plant mounts, bug

boxes, lenses, and other materials is available

by reservation. Program activities are also

available at Colusa NWR and Sacramento

River NWR, Llano Seco Unit.

To reserve a visit, please fill out a Reservation

Form. Early reservations will help us to

prepare for your visit. Activities vary at each

Refuge. We will do our best to accommodate

your group’s needs. Field trips will occur in

wind and light rain, so please come prepared.

Planning Your Visit

Green-winged Teal

Field Trip

Activities

Discovery Pack

Reservations
Resource Materials

To assist you in your pre– and post–visit classroom

activities, a collection of resource materials is

available by reservation. Due to a high demand,

all items listed on the following pages must be

returned within seven working days of receiving

them. To request any of these items, please fill out

the “Materials For Classroom Activities ” section

of the Reservation Form.

The Federal Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and

Design Program is an integrated art and science

curriculum developed to teach environmental

science and habitat conservation.

Available online: www.calwaterfowl.org

or http://duckstamps.fws.gov

Kindergarten - 12th grade

Provided by the California Central Valley Habitat

Joint Venture, this collection of activities,

background information and games will create an

awareness of waterfowl and a sense of value for

birds and their habitats.

Available online: www.calwaterfowl.org

Kindergarten - 12th grade

This background information will help you become

familiar with the five Discovery Pack activities

before you come to the Refuge.

The slides portray common birds and mammals

of the Refuges, which are depicted in the coloring

book. A color key is provided. (20 slides)

Kindergarten - 2nd grade

Mourning Doves

Habitat Fun Pack

Discovery Pack

Information

Coloring Book

and/ or Slides

Federal Junior Duck

Stamp Program

Resource Videos

Wildlife plays the starring role on a stage of

stunning habitats in this captivating story of

America’s National Wildlife Refuge System.

11 minutes, Kindergarten and up

This documentary of the California Tule Elk’s near

demise and remarkable recovery program has an

accompanying instructional guide.

26 minutes, 4th grade and up

From downy goslings to regal adults, enjoy the

story of Canada geese.

20 minutes, Kindergarten and up

This fast paced video, with gorgeous wildlife photography,

depicts the need for habitat protection and how the U.S.

Fish & Wildlife Service meets this need.

4 minutes, 4th grade and up

Discover the quirky secrets of one of the marsh’s

most common birds.

30 minutes, Kindergarten and up

Beautiful wildlife photography gives your class an

overview of the Endangered Species Act and why

endangered species are worth saving.

25 minutes, 4th grade and up

Join Bill Nye the Science Guy for a fast paced,

wacky, and entertaining video which introduces

wetlands and their value.

7 minutes, 4th grade and up

Explore the efforts that are underway throughout

the Pacific Northwest to restore salmon and

steelhead populations.

22 minutes, 4th grade and up

An instructional video about wildlife needs and their

habitat. The video and instructor’s guide are divided

into four 15–20 minute parts.

70 minutes total, 3rd grade and up

Dramatic wildlife photography depicts wildlife

management in America from a historical perspective.

A teacher’s guide accompanies the video.

28 minutes, 4th grade and up

Resources

America’s National

Wildlife Refuge

System

California’s

Tule Elk

The Canada

Goose Story

Conserving

America’s

Heritage

Coots,Coots

Everywhere

Endangered

 Species Act/

Endangered

Fabulous

Wetlands

Fish in the

Web of Life

A Home for Pearl

In Celebration of

America’s Wildlife
Resource Animal Mounts

Resource Videos (continued)

An amazing stamp is helping to turn the tide in the battle to

preserve the remaining wetlands - The Migratory Bird

Hunting and Conservation Stamp - better known as The

Duck Stamp.

10 minutes, Kindergarten and up

Explore California’s unique habitats, discover reasons for

habitat decline, and learn the importance of biodiversity.

This video can also be used with the Curriculum Guide to

California’s Vanishing Flora.

18 minutes, 4th grade and up

Take a “jet field trip” to discover different types of

wetlands and the wildlife which live in them.

20 minutes, Kindergarten and up

Learn about the remarkable plants and animals which

depend on wetlands for life.

20 minutes, Kindergarten and up

Concerned teenagers and professional biologists use good

science and common sense to restore biodiversity.

55 minutes, 6th grade and up

Curriculum-centered electronic field trips investigating the

natural wonders of the world highlighting National Wildlife

Refuge Week and Refuges. Several topics with educator’s

guides available.

20 minutes, 3rd grade and up

Other videos available upon request.

Arrangements must be made to pick up and return mounts.

Mounts may be borrowed for no longer than one week.

Availability of mounts is subject to demand.

• Northern Pintail

• American Wigeon

• Northern Shoveler

• Snow Goose

• Ross’ Goose

• Muskrat

• Black–tailed Jackrabbit

Ducks

Geese

Mammals

America’s Most

Amazing Stamp

Rare and

Endangered Plants

of California

Wetland Homes

Wetlands –

We Need Them

Wild About Life!

Wild Things

• Mallard

• Bufflehead • Cackling Canada Goose

• White–fronted Goose

Preparing For Your Visit

• It is your responsibility to provide

ample discipline and assist the tour

guide. A 1:10 student to adult ratio

is recommended for a smooth visit.

• The viewing platforms at the

Sacramento NWR and Sacramento

River NWR, Llano Seco Unit are

approximately 20 feet high. For your

safety, we ask that you not climb up

on the railings or stand on benches.

• Wildlife are frightened away by loud

sounds – talk quietly, walk softly and

gently close vehicle doors.

• Weather varies daily – please come

prepared for all conditions.

Field Trip Check List

• Lunch, snacks, water

• Trash bags (three or four,

depending on group size)

• Binoculars

• Layers of clothes, old tennis shoes

• Any videos or mounts that need to

be returned

We look forward to seeing you!

Belted Kingfisher

Artwork © Jennifer Isola

Check List
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