EDUCATIONAL TRIP TO STUDYING VOLCANOES

EXPLORING GEOLOGY IN THE NW

[TRIP LENGTH: 6 DAYS]

Itinerary can be customized to fit within your time frame or budgetary needs 

This is a school science trip where your group will spend time studying volcanoes. The Pacific Northwest part of the United States is a vast and amazing Rocky Mountain paradise.  It provides the perfect backdrop for your school group to study plate tectonics, geology and volcanoes. Students are moved by the sheer enormity of the towering mountains, dense forests, and uncountable kilometers of crenulated coastline. It is also part of the Pacific Ring of Fire and thus is home to many active or semi-active volcanoes.  Young science students will learn about plate tectonics, geology and volcanology while exploring Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens and other American volcanoes.

Trip Itinerary

Day 1 • Head to Seattle

Head to Seattle. The history of Seattle as a city is only about 130 years long, but in that time it’s become the cultural and economic center of the Pacific Northwest.  Here you will have a trip orientation with your Appleseed guide.

Day 2 • Explore Mount Rainier National Park

At 14,411 feet, Rainier is the highest mountain in the 48 contiguous states and is one of many active volcanoes on this Pacific subduction zone. Mount Rainier is crowned by the largest, single-peak glacier system outside of Alaska. Your group will study Alpine and Sub-Alpine forests, glaciers and learn about volcanic geology while hiking many of its trails. Spectacular views include 34 waterfalls and 62 lakes! And that’s just counting those inside the park boundaries.

Day 3 • Whitewater Rafting and Volunteer at the Cascade Salmon Fishery Center

Rafting this class III River is a sweet and intense ride and is a perfect trip to start your day. The steep-walled canyons create an adrenaline-filled ride with some of the most amazing scenery in all of the US. Following lunch, your group will volunteer to help restore Coho and Chinook salmon populations to local rivers, creeks, and tributaries. This involves helping local rangers with netting, feeding, and stocking salmon fingerlings. In the late afternoon you will explore what is known as America’s Bavaria in the town of Leavenworth.

Day 4 – 5 • Mount Saint Helen’s National Park

Over the next two days your school students  will join the Mount Saint Helen’s Institute for a geology and science educational program that studies this amazing volcano.  Here you will study the crater, famous geologic sites and learn about the impact the explosion of 1980 had on the flora and fauna.

Day 6 • Explore Mount Hood

Mt Hood volcano has had at least 4 major eruptive periods during the past 15,000 years. The last three occurred within the past 1800 years from vents high on the SW flank and produced deposits that were distributed primarily to the south and west along the Sandy and Zigzag rivers. The group will traverse some of these flows and learn about the growth of this volcano.

Day 7 • Head Home

After this amazing journey your group will head home.

• Add a Day and Explore the Olympic National Forest or go Sea Kayaking in Puget Sound

• Itinerary subject to change due to circumstances beyond our control including availability with vendors, weather conditions and flight schedules.

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HIGHLIGHTS

WHAT’S INCLUDED

Tour guide who will share their knowledge and insights on the wildlife, landscapes and local culture
Comfortable and safe accommodations
Breakfasts and dinners
T-shirt and luggage tag

Note: Trip price does not include airfare, airline-imposed baggage fees, or fees for any required passport or visa.