Oakley, CA — Take a hayride tour and learn how Ironhouse Sanitary District turns dirty water into sustainable, clean recycled water ready for reuse.
Get up close and personal with the amazing bats that fly through the sky at dusk. Just for fun toddlers to 12 years old can participate in an Easter Egg Hunt and make fun crafts. There will also be a chance to see the big trucks Ironhouse uses to keep our sewers clean and learn how to help conserve water. It’s all happening at this year’s Oakley Science Week at Ironhouse Sanitary District on Saturday, March 30.
This year, Oakley Science Week takes place from March 30 to April 5th. Ironhouse Sanitary District will kick off the week-long fun-filled science activities on the first Saturday. The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Hayrides are back again this year
Always a favorite among visitors, the District will be providing four hayride tours of the Water Recycling Facility beginning at 10:15 a.m. The tour travels throughout the seven-building facility while one of ISD’s trained professional staff members gives a narrated tour and answers questions from the audience.
Young science enthusiasts will have a chance to learn how ISD cleans dirty water without any chemicals using the award-winning, high-tech-driven biological process, microfiltration, and ultraviolet light to make clean, sustainable recycled water that can be re-used to water plants, crops, trees, and more.
After the hayride, stop by and visit with Ironhouse’s Collections staff. Visitors will have a chance to look at some of the District’s big trucks and equipment to ensure the underground pipes and pumps stay free of debris and keep the environment in Oakley, Bethel Island, and the Delta safe and healthy.
Easter Egg Hunt
Ironhouse’s staff has decided to organize an Easter Egg hunt for fun and to prepare for the holiday. The hunt relay will begin at 11 a.m. There will be a separate course for toddlers, where they can enjoy picking up a few eggs. Meanwhile, the 5 to 12-year-olds will relay across the field to gather as many eggs as they can. Each egg will contain a surprise and a raffle ticket. The ticket will give each child a chance to win a basket filled with treats and other surprises.
Learn about California’s Bat
This year, Ironhouse has invited NorCal Bats to come out and show off some of their favorite creatures. Bats generally fly over the San Joaquin River in Oakley in the early evening, looking for insects that fly over the water. They may even be in your backyard in high trees. Learn all about why we should love bats for all they do to help us.
NorCalBats is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of bats throughout Northern California. In addition, they are committed to public education regarding the environmental benefits of bats, and dispelling fears and myths that lead to the death of roosts and colonies. Located in the Sacramento Valley, trained volunteers care for injured and orphaned bats throughout the valley and surrounding foothills. For more information, see their website at norcalbats.org.
Crafts, exhibits, and more
There is always lots to do for everyone at the Oakley Science Week program at Ironhouse Sanitary District. Each year the ISD puts together a fun craft themed around the exhibits at the program. This activity is fun for all ages. The City of Oakley also provides activities at their table. Diablo Water District will be on hand with water-saving tips and more.
The event will be held at the Ironhouse Sanitary District, 450 Walnut Meadows Drive in Oakley. Those coming in off Oakley’s Main Street will want to turn onto Districts Way, across from Rose Avenue, follow the road under the train tracks to the stop sign, and make a left.
Oakley Science Week
- March 30 – Bats, Water Bears & Hayrides at Ironhouse Sanitary District
- March 31 – Easter
- April 1 – Monarchs and Pollinators with Contra Costa Resource Conservation District
- April 2 – Mammals of Big Break at Big Break Visitor Center
- April 3 – Awesome Air Pressure with the Science Wizard
- April 4 – Solar System Day at the Oakley Recreation Lab
- April 5 – Lift off! With Freedom High School Academies
- April 6 – Life Along Marsh Creek Mural with Friends of Marsh Creek Watershed
For more information on other Oakley Science Week programs or to register for an Oakley Science Week event, see the City’s Website at www.oakleyinfo.com. Or the Recreation page: Click here
For more details on Ironhouse Sanitary District, see www.ironhousesanitarydistrict.com.
More upcoming events across Contra Costa County, visit our events calendar
