Rocky Reach

River of Power

Teacher Video

A quick video to help you understand what to expect when your class comes to Rocky Reach

You'll learn about the flow of the day, some of the activities your students will do, and how the lunch break will go.

Site Map

Students and teachers will be dropped off at the Upper Parking lot near the center of the map. Groups will be directed to empty labeled parking spots where they will find a Station Leader or Discovery Center volunteer waiting.

Groups headed to the Discovery Center (labeled V.C. - Visitor Center on map) will be led to one of four indoor stations by a volunteer.

There are two outdoor activities, Build-A-Dam and the Salmon Survival game, which will be held in the fields near the drop off parking lot. Staff will help direct you to your specific site (labeled in green and light blue on the map).

Restrooms are located near the Upper and Lower Pavilions where the groups will be eating lunch (labeled in pink on the map).

General Instructions

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Every classroom group will be provided a PUD employee/volunteer guide for the Discovery Center events. You will meet your group guide at your marked parking spot or after lunch. The group guide has been oriented to your group’s schedule, map, and emergency information. The guide’s job is to escort you through the Discovery Center.

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Items to be carried by students and adults:

Each group leader will carry a map, schedule, & a watch or cell phone (not provided) to keep track of time. Please bring your own clipboard if desired.
Everyone should have a light jacket (that can be tied around the waist) as weather is variable at this time of year.
Students should not bring back-packs (exceptions, of course, for a medical need).

All adults are encouraged to model learning. Teachers and chaperones:

Join your students and participate as learners and helpers at stations. Your participation is important to the students’ experiences. (If you must use your cell phone, please do so only between classes and step away from learning area.)
Help students stay focused. Stand near students who need extra attention.
Support our station teachers by helping students to problem-solve.

Try to stay on schedule. NO MATTER WHAT, depart on time

Follow your schedule. You may need to politely cut-off your station teacher so you can leave on time. Starting on time is particularly important after lunch. I will be around to announce a 5 minute until the end of lunch reminder.

Restrooms/Drinking fountains

Facilities are close to our teaching stations. Please allow students to use restrooms and get a drink between presentations.
Students need to check with their group leader before going to the restrooms.

Be mindful of safety at all time.

First aid kits at both upper and lower shelters as well as inside PUD facilities.
Use your cell phone to call for support (see contact numbers above).
Students must have adult or crossing guard to cross any roadways within the Rocky Reach Dam property

Outdoor Activity Descriptions

Build-a-Dam

The mayor of Dark City wants to use the local river to generate power for the citizens of the town, but they need a good hydro dam plan. The mayor has hired a group of 4th graders as engineers, designers, accountants, administrators, and purchasing agents to build a model of the design.

The mayor has four step goals:

Hold water back
Let water through when you want
Be cost effective
Modify the dam to allow Salmon passage

Students will follow the engineering process during building.

Ask Questions
Imagine
Plan-Design
Build
Test
Redesign & Improve

Salmon Survival

Salmon have a difficult journey in life. Starting from humble beginning as eggs, they are susceptible to being eaten or oxygen deprived. If they survive being an egg, they have to swim out to the ocean, find enough food to swim back upstream to their spawning home, dodge predators and fishers, and make it past natural and man-made barriers like hydro dams!

The salmon survival game allows students to play out the salmon lifecycle. As salmon, the students will have to dodge the jump rope turbine, dodge river predators, outswim ocean fishers, and climb the salmon ladder, all before clearing the waterfall to return home.

Indoor Activity Descriptions

Upper Discovery Center

Learn the history of the Rocky Reach hydro dam

Lower Discovery Center

Watch salmon swim up the fish ladder

Forebay and Dam

Cross the Rocky Reach dam and view the generators from the forebay

Stem Center

Learn about energy change with an interactive presentation

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