Bridging the Watershed
Help your students discover science in national and state parks across Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC with Alice Ferguson Foundation’s Bridging the Watershed program.
Designed for: 6th – 12th grade
Time: 3-5 hours during the school day.
Cost: Free to Participating Teachers
Thanks to our partnership with the National Park Service and generous support from our donors, we are able to bring Bridging the Watershed field trips free to our participating teachers.
You must have successfully completed at least one summer teacher/ranger institute or a workshop in one or more of the Bridging the Watershed curriculum modules to request a field study through this program. Check out our Teacher & Ranger Professional Development page for upcoming opportunities and workshops.
Hard Bargain Farm
Students coming to our historic Hard Bargain Farm environmental education campus (located in Accokeek, MD) get to discover science and explore the world around them through robust and engaging activities and lessons.
Designed for: K – 12th grade
Time: One to four days during the school week.
Program Options
A Day in Nature
Located along the Potomac River, students will get hands-on and minds-on in an outdoor, natural environment. Students will explore scientific and academic concepts through experiential learning. Students are immersed in nature to experience and explore the marsh, forest and river ecosystems.
Look out over the Potomac River to gain a historical and current understanding of how people impact the watershed. Explore our historic farm and meet our friendly barn animals to understand their role in our lives and environment.
Take action by participating in a riverside litter cleanup and learn more about what we can all do to protect nature.
Field Studies curriculum is adjusted for students Pre-K to 12.
Students may eat lunch at the farm. The day typically runs from 10 AM to 2 PM.
* Note: Times and activities may vary according to weather conditions, bus schedules, or special needs of the class participants and farm staff.
Extended Day Program
Your students get to stay until 7pm! Program is similar to the day program but adds in dinner, a hayride and s’mores around the campfire!
An Overnight Adventure
Stay the night in our cabins at Hard Bargain Farm!
The overnight program is designed for students grades 4 through 12 and consists of two to four days of age-appropriate activities. Students arrive at 10:00 AM on day 1 and depart at 12:00 PM on the last day of the adventure.
Days 1 to 3 of the program focus on habitats, ecosystems, watersheds, human impact on the environment, and what we can all do to help. Curriculum can be adjusted for the age and interests of the group. Of course, this includes meeting our farm animals! Other activities can include service learning, kayaking, orienteering, team building games, and more. Then enjoy a wagon ride to the Potomac River, dinner, and a campfire with s’mores under the stars (weather permitting). Other evening activities may include a night hike or games exploring the dark with one of our talented educators.
The last day of the program begins in the barnyard for cow milking. We may learn about antique tools or build teamwork skills on our challenge course. Students can head to the garden to learn about our roots in the soil and where our food comes from, discover the importance of native plants and our pollinator friends, and explore their connection to the environment and the Potomac River through an interactive story. Lunch is served before departure.
The Alice Ferguson Foundation can support your Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience through a field trip or overnight at Hard Bargain Farm.
Questions? Email us at education@fergusonfoundation.org and we’ll be happy to help!