Senior Elementary Homeschool Spring Session

Thursdays | March 12, April 9, and May 14

Our Senior Elementary Homeschool Program is designed for students ages 9-11 to delve deeper into the natural world. Alongside experienced naturalists, students will explore habitats including the shore of Lake Michigan, ponds, prairies, and forests. We offer a variety of interactions with nature such as hikes, field data collection, and live animals.

March 12, 2020 | The History of Maple Sugaring

We celebrate this time of year by discovering the natural history of maple sugaring. Everyone starts indoors for storytelling about how maple sugaring started. Our group will focus on the traditions of maple sugaring, including an ethnobotany hike to the wigwam. Everyone reconvenes in the building for pancakes, pickles, and real maple syrup!

April 9, 2020 | Ponding through the Year: Spring

This program is the final session in our seasonal ponding study. Students will summarize our study of the ecosystem of different ponds found at the Center. We compare and contrast the seasonal dynamics of our wetland plant and animal communities. Students test water and take basic measurements in the field.  We will review the life cycle of insects in the pond.

May 14, 2020 | Herpetology: The Study of Reptiles and Amphibians

Students engage in a hands-on investigation of snakes, turtles, lizards, frogs, and salamanders. We discuss the many adaptations, structural and behavioral, that these creatures possess in order to thrive in their ecosystem. We will discover the habitats they reside in by venturing out in search of these reptiles and amphibians.

A completed student profile, which includes a health history and emergency care plan, is required for each participant prior to registration.

Homeschool sessions are also available for Junior Elementary (6-8 years old) and Secondary (12 – 14 years old) students.