EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH 2008-2017: LESSONS FROM A DECADE OF SHARING SCIENCE WITH K-12 STUDENTS AND TEACHERS AT THE COYOTE CANYON MAMMOTH SITE, BENTON COUNTY, WASHINGTON

In 1999 Columbian mammoth bones were discovered southwest of Kennewick, WA. In 2008 the current property owner granted permission to conduct scientific studies of the site, stipulating that the studies be shared with schools and the general public. A 501(c)-3 educational nonprofit organization, the Mid-Columbia Basin Old Natural Education Sciences (MCBONES) Research Center Foundation, was established and an Education Committee was organized to conduct the mandated outreach. The committee initially reached out to middle and high school science teachers, but with limited success. After consulting the ‘Next Generation Science Standards’ and Washington State curricula, the committee decided that upper elementary teachers and their students would be more appropriate audiences. In 2013 student participation amounted to one morning session in one summer science camp with 25 elementary students. Beginning in 2014 the first field trip opportunities were offered for middle school classes, resulting in 114 students visiting the site. Two-hundred fifty-four students visited the site in 2015 and this marks the beginning of increased elementary interest, especially from Science Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) schools. By 2016, 799 students participated in field trips or classroom presentations. As of July 2017, 684 elementary students had visited the site for a presentation and tour. With school resuming in the fall, we anticipate significantly surpassing the 2016 participation numbers. Given the trend in K-12 participation, we believe we can serve many more students. We intend to reach out with invitations and suggested supplemental class activities to all elementary schools in southeastern Washington and northeastern Oregon by September of 2017. In spite of chronically tight budgets for school districts, requests for field trips have increased. We anticipate our new outreach plan will result in even greater elementary participation.