When you’re a kid, nothing is more exciting than school field trip days. And if you were a kid in Thurston County, odds are the convoy of school buses dropped you outside the LOTT Clean Water Alliance’s WET Science Center in downtown Olympia.
LOTT partners with schools and groups for hands-on learning year-round. But their informative tours and group visits aren’t just for public school students, there are many different ways you can visit LOTT.
LOTT Offers Hands-On Science Education for Visitors and Groups of All Ages
Siri Nelson, LOTT’s education program manager, says they typically host more than 120 field trips and interact with nearly 3,000 students annually. “The LOTT in LOTT Clean Water Alliance stands for Lacey, Olympia, Tumwater and Thurston County,” she explains. “We have great partnerships with the schools within our service area of Thurston County, and that is mostly who we host. Over the years, we’ve also hosted school groups from Lewis, Grays Harbor, and Pierce counties, groups from across the state, and sometimes international groups. We also host homeschoolers and school break camps. It can really vary who reaches out to us.”
Nelson explains that their field trips are for ages 10 and up, so the majority of groups are grades five through eight. The curriculum was designed to align with regional middle school science classes and is updated every year. Topics focus on the science of wastewater treatment and resource recovery and highlight work that resonates with the community. Staff also modifies programming to match LOTT’s current projects.
LOTT welcomes high school and college classes. Materials at these older levels are tailored to each group and its point of focus, including careers in the field.
Wastewater Treatment Tours are Poop-Free and Never a Waste of Time
“Occasionally, folks are unsure about wastewater tours, because of the subject matter,” admits Nelson. “And by that, we mean some people think it is all about poop. In reality, wastewater treatment is a real science and engineering marvel. And, Budd Inlet Treatment Plant has some of the most advanced technology for wastewater treatment in the region. One of the main points of feedback we receive from tour participants is that the tour is way more interesting and awesome than they expected. And, it is way less gross than they expected!”
LOTT’s award-winning field trip and tour program is a fascinating look at what happens to water behind the scenes after you flush your toilet, wash the dishes or take a shower. And in a town synonymous with the motto “It’s the Water,” it’s important to keep our rivers, streams, harbors and groundwater ecologically healthy for generations to come.
Experiencing Science in Action Makes Learning Fun for Students Across the Pacific Northwest
Tours for visiting students are led by LOTT’s team of educators, explains Nelson. “Field trips include a presentation, safety talk and then a tour of the Budd Inlet Treatment Plant. The tour follows the path of water where it comes into the plant, through the treatment steps and then out as clean water. Tours are for older kids and adults, and the level of information changes depending on the group.”
They recently added an American Sign Language (ASL) tour “as part of our efforts to make wastewater tours available for everyone in our community,” says Nelson. They hope to offer ASL tours annually and are working with local interpreters to make them a success. The first ASL tour coincides with Harvest Fest and takes place at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 10.
To schedule a visit for your group of 10+ people – both in age as well as number of attendees – simply fill out the Group Visit Form, email info@WETScienceCenter.org or call 360.664.2333. Requesting a field trip a few weeks in advance is encouraged. Staff recommends groups smaller than ten attend a regularly scheduled public tour, which take place on at least four Saturdays throughout the year. Details on public tours and other activities can be found on LOTT’s events calendar. Remember that all tour attendees must wear closed toe and closed heel shoes.
Whether you stop by as a group or when passing through downtown Olympia, a visit to LOTT, the WET Science Center and nearby East Bay Public Plaza is always worthwhile. Water is life and its journey is endlessly fascinating.
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