K, 1, 2
Maple Syrup Program - Kindergarten, 1st or 2nd.
Students go through two short stations with a naturalist, tasting maple syrup, learning how plants operate, and hearing a Native American sugar story. The naturalist takes them outdoors to tap a tree. The students take turns using the equipment to tap a tree then they collect some sap. They take the sap back to the 'sugar shack' where they see it being cooked into syrup. Everyone finishes the program eating vanilla ice cream with pure maple syrup on it. YUM!
1.5 - 2 hrs $4.50/person
Learn and Discover Animals - Kindergarten, 1st or 2nd
Students will make connections between the structure and function of different parts of an animal using observations made during a hands-on investigation. The animals used are kept here at the nature center and how to respectfully handle and behave around animals will also be discussed during this program.
(max 25 students)
45 mins. $3/person
Things That Don't Belong - Kindergarten
After a discussion of what can be and should be found in nature students go on a short hike to observe items that don’t belong in nature, during the hike students are only allowed to look with their eyes and need to keep observations to themselves. At the end of the hike, we discuss what was observed; what the object was, what color was the object, was the object easy to find, was a certain object difficult to observe, and did we find all objects.
45 mins. $3/ person
Signs Of Fall - Kindergarten
Children learn about the things that we can see outside that let us know that it is fall. This is followed by a short hike to collect some examples of these. The materials collected are then used by the children to make something special that they take home.
45 mins $3/person
Animal Survival - 1st grade
Children will play 2 different games to learn about what animals need in a habitat to survive, and also how to avoid predators. This is an active program that is ideally done outdoors but can be done inside if weather prohibits.
1 hr $3/person
Insects – 1st grade
Students will learn how to identify an insect from other arthropods, where we can find insects, and how they are beneficial to us. The children will than have a chance to collect and compare live insects.
1 hr program $3/person
Pollination program - 2nd grade
Students will participate in an activity that mimics pollination; they will use microscopes to examine a pollinator and pollen; and they will dissect a real flower, matching the parts to a diagram. If time allows, they will play a pollination quiz game.
1 hr program $3/person
Seed Dispersal
Students will explore the different mechanisms that plants use to disperse their seeds. This program involves a short hike, hands on investigation and a game. Program is outdoors but can be done indoors if weather prohibits.
1 hr $3/person
Spiders – 2nd grade
Students will compare the differences of spiders to insects. The children will learn how the spiders are beneficial to us and that most spiders in Wisconsin are harmless. A short hike to look for spiders in different habitats and discover different species then follows.
1 hr program $3/person
Weathering and Erosion – 2nd grade
Students will explore the rock cycle, learn the three types of rocks and how they are made. We will then look at which natural processes can effect and change the rocks. Students have an opportunity to experiment with some of the natural processes to observe the effects on a “rock”. A discussion on how people affect the cycle concludes the program.