The classes, hikes listed below has information regarding each class. The minimum & maximum amount of participants can be negotiated. The grades and ages are just a suggestion that would fit appropriately. Please keep up to date with us, we are constantly adding NEW classes/hikes!

 

Animals In Winter/ Grades K+                                   

December - March/ 2 hours

Min/Max: 10/ 30

Discover ways adaptation help animals to survive.

The program includes an outdoor classroom sittingwith

game & Photo ID, then a hike to find signs ofanimal activity. Journal.

 

*Animal Life/ Grades K+          

Indoor/ Outdoor Anytime

Min/Max: 10/20

This class starts with a discussion about our local animal life. It continues with our “animal box.” Which is full of bones, skulls, furs and other things associated with the animals we discussed. Class ends with a hike through the woods in search of animals & sign. Plaster molds of animals prints can be made if we find any!

 

Winter Woodlands/ Grades 3+

December - March/ 2.0- 3.5 hours

Min/Max: 10/ 30

Game, Explore the woodlands in the wintertime with a hike

that will cover winter tree identification, woodland wildlife,

wildlife and human uses of trees. Longer program includes

a woodland lunch break and a longer hike.

 

Winter Ecology/ Grades 4+

December- March/ 2 hours

Min/Max: 10/ 30

Game, Getting started in the woods puts us in the best

classroom there can be. We'll discuss tree anatomy and

Tree & Plant Identification, combined with an interpretive hike

to explore seasonal changes and life cycles.

 

Habitats & Homes/ Grades K+

April- May/ 2 hours

Min/Max: 10/30

Game, Photo ID of Habitats/ Homes. Followed by a

hike to look for real animal homes in prairie and woodland

habitats, if time permits, ending with making artificial animal homes.

 

Habitat Happenings/ Grades 4+

All Year/ 2 hours

Min/Max: 10/30

Games, Students will discuss what a habitat is and how animals are affected

in changing habitat. We will act out and discuss problems that animals

encounter in their habitats. Followed by a hike through several different

habitats in search of animal sign. 

 

 *Magical Macros!/ Grades K+

April- September/ 2- 4 hours

Min/Max: 10/30

This FUN, DIRTY class starts with Insect anatomy and classification. It is followed with dirty fingernails caused by searching through scoops of detritus and mud looking for aquatic macro-invertebrates, (small, juvenile water insects). We use our scientific findings to determine the Biotic Index of the waterway from where we collected the

samples from. This exciting program can be done at a pond or stream site. It can be instructed to fit appropriate ages.  Dress/ Shoes appropriate.

Combining Pond and Stream experiments will have a longer time.

 

Living by the Old Camp stream/ Grades 3+

April- September/ 2 hours

Min/Max: 10/30

How did the population of a town all survive off a stream meandering through

it? We will examine and use scientific methods to determine how

many people can live off a stream. This will differ stream to stream, according

to size, depth and flow.

 

  

 *Bugs, Bugs, BUGS!/ Grades K+

April- September/ 2 hours

Min/Max: 10/30

Basic insect anatomy followed by an Insect Hunt! We will bring our

collections back to observe and identify them with the help of some

scientific tools then be released back into nature.

 

  

Treemendous TREES/ Grades 4+

April- October/ 2 hours

Min/Max: 10/30

Game, This class starts with exploring the basic anatomy of local trees. They will become aware of the value and life of trees and their importance on Earth. What makes a tree a tree? What makes trees different from one another? How do trees help us and animals? We will discuss how to identify them with the use of a key in a field guide. We will also learn how to measure how tall a tree is using shadows, objects found in nature and other

scientific methods. A hike through the woods to do some hands-on identifying

skills will finish up the class.

  

 

Who planted that?/ Grades K-3

All year long/ 2 hours

Min/Max: 10-30

Game, Have you ever wondered who planted a certain plant or tree in your

backyard, around your pond or in the woods? Explore the world of SEEDS!

Learn how they travel and how the animals & weather help them out!

This is followed by a hike through woodlands, around the pond and through

the grassy prairie to hunt for seeds. 

 

Cemetery Study/ Grades K-3

All year long/ 1-2 hours

Students will have the opportunity to identify and discuss their feelings

about the cemetery, study the history of the area through the cemetery

and/or have the chance to do some gravestone rubbings using chalk.

 

Nature Treasure Hunt/ Grades K+

All year long/ 2 hours

Students will gather to discuss the area, campus and important rules

to follow before they venture out on the grounds with a chaperone to

look for items, sounds and smells on their treasure hunt list. This class

is designed for the students to use all their senses to identify and gather

items to return and discuss our findings. 

 

“Sense”ational Discoveries/ Grades K+

All year long/ 1.5-2 hours

Min/Max: 10-15

Man is a sight-oriented organism. This sense is so highly developed, and

modern man is so far removed from nature, he tends to use this sense

to the exclusion of all others. We welcome students to be presented with

an opportunity to discover, experience and observe their natural

surroundings through all 5 senses. A side objective is to show how one sense can be sharpened by the loss of another. Our “Makes Sense” box is filled with all sorts of hands-on materials found in nature to test our senses God has gave us. Following this is a hike to use our senses to determine different items, smells

tastes found in nature.

 

 

Which Way Do We Go?/  Grades 4+

All year long/ 1.5-2 hours

Min/Max: 10-15

Have you ever been lost or just turned around in the woods? It's not hard to do. Even the greatest explorers get lost in the wild. Don't let this happen to YOU! Students will learn and discuss the parts of the compass, how to read a bearing and complete a simple orienteering course. We will use the standard compass and learn how to determine which way we need to go, using materials found in nature!

  

 

 

Measuring Heights/ Grades 4+

All year long/ 2 hours

Min/Max: 10-30

Have you ever wanted to figure out how tall something is? What objects

might you like to know the height of? Why is it important to know?

Students will calculate the height of an object using five different

methods utilizing ratios, units of measure, right triangles, similar triangles,

and estimation techniques. Students will also determine the length

of their pace. This is important to know in order to estimate the distance

of an object.

 

Backyard Edibles/ Grades 4- adult

April-October/ 2-3.5 hours

Min/Max: 10-15

“A weed is a plant whose virtues have not yet been found.” Join me in

a walk through the many types of landscapes to search for edible plants.

These can be found EVERYWHERE, parks, backyard, parking lots,

woods, water and city sidewalks. Explore and learn the general description and properties of the plants that grow all around us. 66% of ALL plants  are edible! Farmers spend billions of dollars to eradicate “weeds” in their fields. If we could educate and find a way to cultivate these “weeds” to eat, we can save a lot of money!

 

 

 *Wilderness Survival Class/ Grades 4- adult

April-October/ 3- 6 hours

Min/Max: 10-15

Join me in the “wild” to “get lost.” This is a great hands-on class.

We explore many aspects of basic survival skills you can use, whether

your lost or just camping. The skills you will learn can determine life or death

in some situations. We will discuss and demonstrate: Shelter, Fire, Water,

trapping and foraging for food. 

 

 

 *Guided Themed Kayak/ Canoe River/Lake Floats                  

All ages, but minors must be accompanied by an adult.

Min/Max: 2-10 

Join the Naturalist on a relaxing float down river or across a lake. This float can be themed anyway you'd like: trees, wildflowers, edibles, local history. Rapids are very minimal and life jackets will be worn at all times. Requires a waiver of liability to be signed. Great for Beginner boaters! We will supply lunch, all you need is water a boat and a PFD, (personal floatation device)