What's Happening: School Programs at the Nature Center

For more information or to register for a school program, contact Phoebe Atkinson at (216) 321-5935 x224 or atkinson@shakerlakes.org. Standard field trip fee of $3.50 an hour per student with a minimum $35 charge applies.

Available Programs:
Preschool through Grade 1
Grades 2 and 3
Grades 4, 5 and 6

Preschool through Grade 1:
Early Childhood Programs are designed for toddler-aged children through Kindergarten. A typical program is one to two hours long, which may include feel boxes, stories and art projects. It can be at the Center or brought to your school. Call (216) 321-5935 x 241 for additional information. One adult chaperone is required for every five students for toddler through kindergarten programs. For first grade and up, one teacher and two adult chaperones are required per class.

Programs for Any Season: Animal Habitats; Using Our Senses
Programs for Spring: Bird Nests and Eggs; Signs of Spring; Spring Wildflowers; Butterflies and Other Insects
Programs for Summer: Frogs and Salamanders; Turtles; Squirrels; Snails
Programs for Fall: Geese; Seeds; Fall Trees; Worms and Decomposition
Programs for Winter: Wintertime; Animal Tracks; Evergreens; Winter Birds; Owls

Puzzles of Life (Kindergarten and Grade 1): Explore two habitats to learn how they differ and what makes them unique.
Time: One hour

Seasonal Surprises: Explore the changing environment during whatever season you visit.
Time: One hour

Sensational Nature: Learn how to use your five senses while exploring the outdoors.
Time: One hour

Grades 2 and 3:
One teacher and two adult chaperones are required per class.

Amazing Arthropods: Discover the joint-legged animals that are found throughout our three habitats. Focus on needs of living things, habitats and respect for living things.
Time: 1 ½ hours

Extinction is Forever: Learn needs of living things, the leading causes of extinction and how things change over time due to carrying capacity.
Time: Two hours

Hang Outs/Hide Outs: Explore the marsh, field and forest to discover what each habitat provides for the plants and animals that live there and how they are interrelated. Learn respect for the habitats and inhabitants.
Time: Two hours

Wild About Weather: Learn how the weather affects all living things. Discover tools used in identifying weather patterns and how to be prepared for changes.
Time: 1 ½ hours

Grades 4, 5 and 6:
One teacher and two adult chaperones are required per class.

Animal Classification: Learn how animals adapt to better suit their needs in an environment. Practice using a dichotomous key to identify skulls.
Time: 4 ½ hours (one school day)

Bird Lifecycles and Adaptations: Learn how birds are uniquely adapted to suit their biome. Discover their lifecycle, habitat selection, nesting and feeding practices.
Time: Two hours

Doan Brook Geology: Learn to identify landforms, sedimentary and igneous rocks. Discuss glaciers and their effects on our landscape along with a two-mile hike through the Doan Brook Gorge.
Time: 4 ½ hours or 2 hours for either indoor or outdoor portion.

Historical Cultures: Learn about Native American and Shaker cultures that were once in this area. This program covers medicinal, trade/bartering and social practices.
Time: 4 ½ hours or 2 hours for either Native American or Shaker cultural lesson.

Keys for Classifying: Practice using dichotomous keys to identify trees and mammal skulls.
Time: Two hours

Intro to Orienteering: Learn the basics of using a compass and topography maps with time to practice these skills.
Time: Two hours

Water Quality: Discover the water cycle and watersheds. Use a biotic index to assess the quality of the Doan Brook by identifying macroinvertebrates that are living there.
Time: Two hours

Watershed: Build skills in identifying the importance of the Doan Brook watershed. Activities cover the water cycle, geology, natural/human history, macroinvertebrates, biotic index and current watershed issues.
Time: Three 4 ½ hour sessions (one session per season)

For more information about school programs, contact Education Director Mary Rouse Martin at (216) 321-5935 x241 or martin@shakerlakes.org.