“Outdoor learning and environmental education have been shown to improve academic performance across subject areas and increase overall interest in learning among students.”
Curriculum Details for Educators:
Field Trips
Our 20 acres are a living laboratory where students investigate and explore forests, fields, fossils, and farm while appreciation and understanding of the natural world is fostered. Groups can choose half-day or full-day programs. Programs also include Native American story telling, educational games, quiet time with the earth, and a song with John Devine, a traditional musician!
Environmental Education School Programs
Explore the natural world with hands-on investigations & activities that support 21st Century Science Objectives
Life Cycles
Butterflies and moths, frog and toads, dandelions and sunflowers go round and round. After exploring life cycles, students will create a cycle chart to take home.
Food Webs & Energy Flow
Students will participate in a variety of activities creating food chains and food webs and explore the forest and field identifying plants and animals that weave a web of life.
Amazing Adaptations
Discover how unique characteristics of plants and animals help them survive, how the environment influences the physical characteristics of species, and that all species have a niche.
Succession!
Working in groups, students will participate in guided hikes while observing, recording and projecting habitat changes occurring in a meadow and a forest.
Seeds to Trees to Soil
Trees are vital to our environment, absorbing carbon dioxide, cooling the earth, and providing important animal habitat. Students focus on the forest ecosystem and the life cycle of trees. Students will work in groups as they record information gathered.
Ecosystem Explorers
Explore field, forest and farm ecosystems to discover the complex interactions and interrelationships between living and non-living components of these three diverse habitats. Students will records their findings.
Diversity!
Students will compare the diversity of soil, plant and animal life in fields, forests and farm, and learn how scientists measure biodiversity. Activities will demonstrate the importance of maintaining biodiversity for ecosystem sustainability.
Storybook Stroll & Serendipity
Imagination and hands-on experience. We read a story and walk through forest and field comparing species in their environments. We watch for splendid nature surprises and search for clues on what all living things need.
Incredible Insects
Get up close with the most diverse group of animals on the planet! Students walk through forests and fields and participate in activities to learn about physical features, adaptations and behaviors of insects.
Fossils
Learn how to identify fossils found on the farm and explore the geological history of the land. Investigate a hundred foot geological time line and record events over 4.6 billion years!
Sensory Wandering
Students explore forest, field, and gardens, while engaged in guided sensory activities. Students will also investigate nature up close with hand lenses and microscopes.
Soil: Digging Deep!
Students will participate in hands-on activities that explore characteristics of sand, silt, clay, and loam and the nutrient cycle. Students will work in groups on an experiment, Soil Splash
Program Cost:
Half day 9:30-11:30 – choose one program
Full day 9:30-1:30 – choose two programs
Students bring their lunch & water
Fees:
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Half day $5 per student; $75 minimum
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Full day is $8 per student; $150 minimum
One adult free per group of ten students and $3 for each additional adult.
Wet sneakers and muddy clothes are prerequisites for understanding the water cycle.
David Sobel
