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Thousands of K-12 students across the Pacific Northwest are becoming Ice Age Floods detectives—investigating ancient catastrophic flooding, conducting hands-on experiments, and sharing geological discoveries with their communities. Some may be inspired to become scientists who will ask new questions and conduct research that will advance our understanding of these ancient megafloods.
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The Ice Age Floods Detectives program is comprised of four phenomena-based ~1-hour lessons, targeted to grade 4 but adaptable for grades 3–8, to be taught in order over a week or more.
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Lesson 1: Modeling Ice Age Floods Erosion. Students create watershed models to visualize how water flows and reshapes the landscape.
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Lesson 2: Investigating Deposition. Students observe how different rocks and landforms are created by deposition, connecting these small-scale experiments to the massive scale of the Ice Age Floods.
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Lesson 3: Creating Kinesthetic Classroom Models. Students use physical movement and simple materials to model incredible scale of Ice Age flooding, weathering and erosion.
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Lesson 4: Exploring the Erosion Energy of Moving Water. Students experiment with water speed and volume to understand its erosive forces and to practice designing scientific experiments.
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Students will explore the scientific processes geologists use to make discoveries, and how the fascinating area of science—like most other disciplines—is dynamic and constantly changing. The lessons help students explore phenomena and investigate how they relate to observable geologic features. Students are gradually introduced to concepts, processes, and theories that will assist them in forming and revising their own explanations and hypotheses about the Ice Age Floods. These adaptable lessons help train students to be good scientists and critical thinkers, with a unifying theme of exploration and investigation.
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When the lesson plans are delivered in sequence, a storyline develops, using the creation of our NW landforms as a compelling framework to help cover core concepts and improve student skills. Numerous studies have identified the need for improved STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) education that connects to students’ lives and communities. Research indicates that grades 4-6 are particularly critical for engaging students and encouraging them to pursue STEAM fields. Those grades are a particular focus of the program, which will help us address the critical need for more scientists and engineers. The curriculum complies with Next Generation Science Standards + Common Core State Standards, and should not compete with other curricular goals for classroom time. This program updates and complements the earlier NPS Investigating Ice Age Floods K-12 curriculum.
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We're bringing this curriculum to educators throughout Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana through regional workshops. Ice Age Floods Institute has also established an IAFI K-12 Education Grant Program to help educators offset attendance costs and classroom implementation expenses. You can also help support the program and play a significant part in inspiring the next generation of scientists:
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Engaging students in Ice Age floods phenomena
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with Ripples that Continue thru Today
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All workshops 9:00 am–4:00 pm (or half day) featuring:
• Engaging classroom and field-based activities, including exciting ways to model Floods phenomena
• Stories of the megafloods that transformed the Northwest 18,000–12,000 years ago at the end of the Last Glacial Period
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Description:
Participants will learn strategies to engage students in real-world geologic mysteries and fascinating Ice Age Floods detective work in this interactive STEAM workshop.
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Rick Reynolds, veteran educator and Founder of Engaging Every Student, will team up with Michelle Grove, Regional Science Coordinator at ESD 101, Pauline Schafer of The REACH Museum, and Ice Age Floods Institute experts to step educators through hands-on activities that engage students with NGSS-aligned science projects.
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Landscapes and human communities across the Northwest have been shaped by these remarkable events through the present day. Every student in the region should experience the incredible science story of the megafloods that transformed our landforms and history!
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Schedule
• 9:00–12:00 | Interactive workshop featuring new Ice Age Floods Discovery curriculum: targeted to grade 4 and adaptable for K–12
• 12-12:30 | Working lunch (provided)
• 12:30-3:30 | Interactive workshop featuring Investigating Ice Age Floods curriculum adaptable for K–12
• 3:00 or 3:30–4:00 | (Optional) Interpretive field study with experts from Ice Age Floods Institute at a nearby Floods sites
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- Up to 7 WA STEM Clock Hours or Oregon PDUs available
- Join us for a whole day, half day, or any part of it
- Open to all formal and non-formal educators and anyone who wants to share the Floods story
Mini-Grants Available from
Ice Age Floods Institute
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- Ice Age Floods Discovery curriculum (morning session): targeted to grade 4 and adaptable for K–12
- Investigating Ice Age Floods curriculum (afternoon session): adaptable for K–12
- Multimedia presentations, maps
and more!
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IAFI Grants Empowering Teachers to Share the
Ice Age Floods Story with Students
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Mini-grants of up to $500 now available for K-12 educators
Open Application Period
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The Ice Age Floods Institute is proud and excited to announce a groundbreaking initiative to bring one of Earth's most dramatic geological stories into classrooms across the Pacific Northwest. Our new K-12 Education Grant Program provides targeted funding to help teachers and students explore, understand, and share the remarkable Ice Age Floods narrative with their communities.
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The Challenge We're Addressing
The Ice Age Floods story may seem straightforward to those who've studied it, but explaining these catastrophic events to newcomers can be surprisingly complex. Teachers need effective guidance and quality materials to bring this geological phenomenon to life in their classrooms. Students who become fascinated by the floods can inspire others. IAFI recognizes that reaching K-12 students is one of the most effective ways to educate young people, and through them to share this incredible story with their families and communities.
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Our Solution: Mini-Grants up to $500 That Make a Difference
These carefully designed mini-grants help defray the costs of materials, field experiences, and project development for classroom instruction throughout Idaho, Montana, Washington, and Oregon. By providing this crucial support, we're creating a ripple effect of interest and knowledge that extends from students to their families and friends.
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How Grants Can Be Used
We've designed this program with flexibility in mind, understanding that teachers and students have diverse needs and creative approaches to sharing the Ice Age Floods story. These grants are meant to support classroom activities including curriculum materials, educational supplies, guest speaker fees, and field trip expenses to Ice Age Floods sites throughout the Pacific Northwest.
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The Power of Student Engagement
When students develop genuine interest and excitement about the Ice Age Floods, they become natural ambassadors for the story. They share their enthusiasm with family members over dinner, explain geological concepts to friends, and carry this knowledge forward throughout their lives. This program doesn't just fund classroom teachers—it creates a generation of informed advocates for geological education, research and preservation.
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What Makes This Program Special
Our grant program initially focuses on 4th grade educators in support of the IAFI 4th Grade Curriculum Project. This strategic approach allows us to build a strong foundation before expanding to all K-12 teachers and students in future years.
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It's For Educators
Teachers can apply for funding to enhance their Ice Age Floods curriculum through:
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- Classroom materials and educational resources
- Field trip expenses to visit actual flood-carved landscapes
- Hands-on demonstrations and interactive activities
- Professional development opportunities
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- December 2025 - Application details and forms posted to IAFI.org website
- January 2026 - Application window opens, applications accepted on an ongoing basis
- Grant awards will be approved and announced within 2 months of application and 90% of a grant will be awarded
- 12 Months - Period for using awarded grant funds and sharing a final report with IAFI, then the final 10% of of the grant will be awarded
Simple Application Process
We've designed our process to be straightforward and educator-friendly. Applications are accepted year-round starting January 2026, with a two-month review period. Once approved, recipients have one year to complete their projects, followed by a six-month window to share their results with the IAFI community. Educators can use the online application below to get started.
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$5,000 Annual IAFI Program Funding Commitment and Growth
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- The program is initially funded by the Ice Age Floods Institute and our 11 local chapters with a $5,000 annual commitment to support multiple projects each year.
- We're committed to growing this program through donations from IAFI members, businesses, educational grants, and other philanthropic sources. We anticipate significant interest from current members and believe that a successful grant program will help attract new supporters to IAFI's mission.
- Your support can directly impact the next generation of geological enthusiasts. Whether you're an individual member, a local business, or an organization committed to education, your contribution helps ensure that more students and teachers can access the resources they need to share the Ice Age Floods story effectively. Donate fee-free through our Zeffy Fundraiser or IAFI Gorge Chapter's PayPal Giving Fund connection
Join Us in Making History Come Alive
This Scholar Support Grant Program represents more than just funding—it's an investment in geological literacy, scientific curiosity, and the preservation of our region's remarkable natural heritage. By supporting teachers and students as they explore the Ice Age Floods, we're ensuring that this incredible story continues to inspire wonder and understanding for generations to come.
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Get Involved
Whether you're an educator ready to apply, a potential donor, or simply curious to learn more, we invite you to be part of this exciting initiative.
An IAFI team is completing the details, application information and donation links that are available on IAFI.org.
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Help Us Grow This Program
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IAFI and our 11 chapters are committing $5,000 annually to launch this effort,
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With member support, we can reach even more students, classrooms, and communities. Your donations will directly fund real-world education — one classroom, one science fair, one budding geologist at a time.
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Let’s make history come alive — together.
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Applications and donation links will be available at IAFI.org by December 2025.
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Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail News
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An Ice Age Floods Animation Developed Through Science, Partnership, and Interpretation
Imagine explaining a geological event so massive it reshaped the entire Pacific Northwest—not once, but dozens of times—across landscapes spanning four states. Now there's a powerful new tool to help tell this remarkable story.
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The Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail has just released a groundbreaking animation that brings these ancient cataclysms to life. Available now through the National Park Service and the Ice Age Floods Institute, this public-domain resource represents years of collaborative effort between scientists, educators, and park partners.
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Why Animation Was Essential
The Missoula Floods weren't a single disaster—they occurred dozens of times during the last ice age as ice dams repeatedly formed and failed. Each flood carved the Channeled Scablands, transported house-sized boulders, and deposited thick sediment layers across the region.
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The challenge?
Physical evidence is scattered across vast distances, and static maps can't capture the movement, scale, and repetition that defined these events. Visitors see individual features—coulees, erratics, deposits—without understanding how they connect to a continental-scale story unfolding over thousands of years.
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Animation bridges this gap by showing how ice dams failed, how floodwaters surged across landscapes, and how repeated flooding shaped what we see today.
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A Collaborative Achievement
Scientists specializing in glacial dynamics, flood hydraulics, and geomorphology worked alongside interpreters and media specialists through multiple reviews, balancing scientific accuracy with public accessibility. The result is a flexible, modular tool designed for visitor centers, classrooms, ranger programs, and online learning.
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Because it's in the public domain, partners can freely adapt segments for their specific needs—whether illustrating basalt erosion or the cumulative effects of repeated flooding.
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Why This Matters
The Missoula Floods represent one of North America's most dramatic geological events, yet they've remained difficult to comprehend. This animation finally provides a shared visual framework that makes the story accessible while honoring the complex science behind it—offering an unprecedented window into the forces that carved the Pacific Northwest.
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Explore - Things to See and Do
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The east bank of the Columbia River near Malaga, Washington, is home to one of the largest and most visually striking landslides in the Pacific Northwest: the Malaga Slide. Covering an estimated 45 square miles, this massive slope failure poured weakened basalt and sediment into the Columbia River valley at the close of the last Ice Age. Today, it remains easily visible from State Route 28, making it an accessible outdoor classroom for geology enthusiasts and tour participants.
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The geologic story of the Malaga Slide is a tale of both slow preparation and sudden catastrophe. Layers of basalt from the Columbia River Basalt Group were fractured and weathered over millions of years. Interspersed with weaker sedimentary layers, these formations became prone to failure. Add in groundwater saturation, the erosive power of repeated Ice Age Floods, and over-steepened valley walls, and the stage was set for a massive collapse.
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Scientists believe the main phase of the Malaga Slide occurred approximately 15,000–13,000 years ago, during the final stages of the Missoula Floods. While the collapse itself was sudden, the landslide likely continued to adjust and move over time, creating the hummocky terrain and displaced boulders still visible today.
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One of the most intriguing aspects of the Malaga Slide is its interaction with the Columbia River. Some geologists have hypothesized that the massive slide may have temporarily blocked or partially dammed the river. This could have caused short-term ponding upstream, potentially extending back toward Peshastin. Evidence of this interaction remains visible today as enormous boulders and slide debris in the river channel.
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Travelers heading south from Wenatchee on State Route 28 are treated to a dramatic view of the slide, with scarred slopes and scattered boulders lining the west side of the river. This visibility makes the Malaga Slide an outstanding site for guided geology tours offered by the Wenatchee Valley Erratics Chapter of the Ice Age Floods Institute. Participants learn about Ice Age Flood processes, landslide mechanics, and the long-term evolution of the Columbia River valley.
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The Bowl and Pitcher is a rock formation along the Spokane River and one of the most scenic sites in the area, with basalt cliffs rising 500 feet above the river and large blocks of basalt in the river causing large rapids. The “Bowl” is a circular depression in the river and the “Pitcher” is a large detached block of highly fractured basalt.
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The geology of Spokane’s Bowl and Picher features dramatic basalt cliffs carved out of the flows from the Columbia River Basalt Group (CRBG), which reached this area 16 million years ago. There are river and flood deposits of sand and gravel, with granitic boulders forming terraces on the east side of the river, and huge blocks of basalt, causing the Dragon Tooth rapids, downriver from the Bowl and Pitcher. How did those rocks get there?
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The Spokane and Columbia rivers occupy a long, mostly bedrock canyon near the northeastern boundary of the Columbia Plateau. Glacial Lake Columbia, which formed behind the Okanogan ice lobe, occupied all of the Spokane River and a portion of the Columbia drainage basin during the last Ice Age. Then the glacial Lake Missoula outburst floods first surged over the Columbia Basin beginning around 17,000 years ago, ripping away the CRBG and other bedrock from Bayview, Idaho, to the Pacific Ocean.
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These floods also deposited a thick sequence of flood gravel in the valley. As Lake Columbia water level dropped, the Spokane River began to remove the sand and gravel fill. Subsequent floods continued to remove the flood deposits, leaving the basalt benches on the west side of the river and the terraces on the east side.
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Riverside State Park is located northwest of Spokane and consists of over 9000 acres along the Spokane and Little Spokane Rivers. The park is the second largest state park and has many recreational activities including, camping, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding and boating (Discover Pass required).
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There are two view points for the Bowl and Pitcher. The first is from a small parking lot off the entrance road from Aubry White Parkway that provides an elevated view of the site. The main parking area is down along the river with a picnic area and a network of trails. From the parking lot you can follow the wheelchair accessible path across the suspension bridge over the Spokane River. From the bridge you can enjoy a view of the features that give the site its name. The original bridge was built in 1942 by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The existing bridge, based on the same plans, opened in 1998. On the west side of the river, you can access a network of trails along the river or climb up along the bluffs above the river.
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Science in the News
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To feed our members' interest in life-long learning, we share information about the Floods and other science topics. Use our online form to submit an article or question that others might appreciate.
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The Giant's Causeway is a rock formation that is so otherworldly that it seems like it was made by supernatural beings. But these incredible hexagonal columns of rock aren't the result of giant masons. They formed through a quirk of volcanic activity that shows that hexagons really are the bestagons!
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Cooling lava naturally creates hexagonal cracks to evenly relieve stress When lava cools and turns into rock, it contracts and builds up tension, particularly when held in place by the surrounding landscape. Just as drying mud cracks, initial cracks in the rock are random, but quickly organize into a hexagonal pattern, which scientists consider the most space-efficient shape.
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Editor's Note: the presentation talks about lava cooling from the top down, but it also cools upward from the bottom where it flowed onto a cooler land surface. In our area we typically see columns underlying a more chaotically fractured "entablature". It is generally thought that because the entablature section is exposed to the air and precipitation, that results in rapid cooling that produces chaotic fracturing. The columnar section which is cooling upward from the base, would experience a much slower and more even rate of cooling, allowing it to better organize into an optimal, space-efficient "bestagonal" shape.
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Are rocks alive?
Hmm. You might be visualizing a small stone or large boulder just sitting there…doing nothing. If life has to originate from a cell, then a no vote seems reasonable. Let’s give the Mineral Kingdom a few minutes to speak on behalf of its constituents: “Our rocky friends react to temperature, expand and contract; they can absorb moisture, and they can transform their makeup entirely, like petrified wood changing into stone.
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1. Taxonomy - In the 19th . century, rocks and minerals were first classified based on their chemical make-up. As with animals and plants, new members are added yearly to the mineral kingdom’s nearly 10,000 species.
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2. Movement - Rocks sure move around, from riding glacier waves, to being catapulted for miles out of fiery volcanoes to being gently tumbled downstream by…streams, and through time, broken down into sandy beaches. Or, if you’re pumice, you can simply float downstream at your leisure.
Any pebble has placed many travel stickers on its luggage finding itself in many lands during its long life.
Stalagmites and stalactites check off another life form requisite by respectively growing up and down in caves with the help of slowly dripping water.
Rock serves us well in concrete, road building materials, sculptures, and stone homes, all making us Salt of the Earth.
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3. Reproduction and Growth - Kidney stones are minerals and salts formed in urine. They form and grow in the bladder and kidneys. The imbalance of too many minerals in the urine and not enough liquid causes the minerals to reproduce and grow.
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A wildlife biologist/naturalist reflecting on lithologic 'life', Bill Weiler, January 2026
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“All creatures, objects, places, and elements have a spirit.” Patrick Saltonstall, Sugpiag (Aleut)
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4. Cooperation - Practically all living things rise out of soil, which is a mixture of organic and inorganic magic. Plants need both. Animals need minerals too. Salty seas cover a major chunk of our planet providing a swimming pool habitat to countless known and still to be known species
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5. Awe Inspiring - Rocks are the basis for our most beloved national, natural treasures, from the timeless Grand Canyon, to Yosemite’s granite walls, towering Mt. Rainier, the sandstone Arches, and the Grand Tetons, among many others. We are moved to witness sunrise and sunset light beaming red, and filtered white on mountain peaks. We climb boulders; we summit mighty bare rock and snow-covered mountains for the view, for the peace, perhaps for the love, too.
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6. The Fine Line - Everything that is living on our precious planet originated with and within the rocky world, making it a challenge to separate the line between non-life and existence. We are made of stars. We are made of star spirit.
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Recognizing IAFI Volunteers
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Volunteers are a mainstay of the IAFI organization, both in our leadership and our chapter members who help keep things working on the local level. We want to recognize some of those volunteers who give selflessly of themselves for the good of our entire organization and for the public in general.
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Doug Huber has been an active member of the Puget Lobe Chapter of IAFI almost since its inception in 2007.
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For the past ten years, Doug has been the unseen hero of our chapter meetings, where he has ensured that the computer, audio, and projection systems were maintained and working as they should at the start of our meetings.
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In addition, Doug has served as our webmaster, updating the chapter webpage so that our members and members of other chapters alike had access to information on our field trips, meetings, and special events.
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Hats off to you, Doug, for your tireless efforts to help our chapter stay strong!
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The IAFI Store's Winter Inventory Reduction Sale is extended – and it's your chance to dive deep and share the story of these spectacular events.
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We're making room for exciting new items, which means steep discounts of 10% to over 40% on a selection of Ice Age Floods merchandise. Whether you're shopping for the Floods enthusiast in your life, a curious student, or treating yourself to something extraordinary, now's the perfect time to explore the fascinating world of the cataclysmic floods that carved the Pacific Northwest.
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What Makes This Sale Special?
From educational materials that bring ancient catastrophes to life, to unique gifts that celebrate the power of water and ice, our collection offers something for every curious mind. These aren't just presents – they're gateways to understanding the massive forces that shaped our landscape thousands of years ago.
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As an added gift for you, every order comes with a free IAFI window decal – your badge of honor showing you're passionate about the incredible science behind the Ice Age Floods story. It's more than just merchandise; it's a conversation starter about one of the world's most dramatic chapters.
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Limited time only. Shop now while inventory lasts and discover why the Ice Age Floods continue to captivate scientists and nature lovers alike.
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Ready to explore? Visit the IAFI Store today and make this Christmas a journey into the catastrophic world of the Ice Age Floods.
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New Illustrated Kids Book About The Floods!
A perfect book for reading aloud to children, "Big Water Is Coming!" introduces young readers to the Ice Age megafloods that shaped the Pacific Northwest. Using vivid illustrations and accessible language, the book turns complex geology into a story children can understand and remember.
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Told through the eyes of creatures who would have lived it, powered by gravity and pulled by the sea – this is a journey of courage, survival and discovery. An exciting, page turning introduction to the Ice Age Floods that unlocks one of Earth’s greatest geologic events.
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The book has been peer reviewed by noted geologists including Richard Waitt, Bruce Bjornstad, George Last and Lloyd DeKay, as well as other Floods experts The illustrated story is just right for young science lovers and budding geologists of all ages!
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“Big Water is Coming!” was conceived and written by Peter B. Lewis, author, storyteller and lifelong learner. Peter has enjoyed discovering the Ice Age Floods story and interviewing the experts for more than 20 years. He’s delighted to publish this work about this amazing story. He can be reached at Peter@AUDISEE.com.
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Ice Age Floods Institute (IAFI) is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, non-profit educational organization (EIN 91-1658221), founded in 1995 and recognized as an official authority on the Ice Age Floods, providing accurate, scientific-based advice to members and the public. We were instrumental in 2009 Federal legislation authorizing National Park Service designation of the
Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail (IAFNGT).
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