Junior Elementary
Our Junior Elementary Homeschool Program is an introductory experience for children ages 6-8. With the guidance of experienced naturalists, we begin to work in groups to discover nature at the Center. Students form connections with the creatures and habitats that make-up Southeastern Wisconsin.
2019/20 Curriculum
Fall
September 12, 2019 | Ponding: The Big Picture
Students focus on larger animals easily found in our ponds and conduct animal surveys for reptiles, amphibians, mammals, birds, and the smaller creatures they eat. Learners also get an up-close encounter with one of the Center’s education animals native to our ponds!
October 10, 2019 | Great Lake Michigan
Students start by getting a big look of our very own Great Lake, on top of our 60-foot tower. We then travel to the lake on a trail created by a glacier, where children discover the “gifts of the glacier” (ravines, rock formations, et cetera)!
November 14, 2019 | Fall Migration
Temperatures are changing and creatures are starting to move to their winter homes. We will learn about all the different kinds of animals that migrate, including a special visit with our resident raptors!
Winter
*Winter programming is weather dependent and monthly subjects may vary according to weather*
December 12, 2019 | The Big Sleep
Do bears really hibernate? How about groundhogs? Learners will participate in several activities that will teach them the differences between true hibernation and dormancy. They will also get a chance to meet one of Schlitz Audubon’s Nature Ambassadors.
January 9, 2020 | Warm Blooded on Cold Days
How do some mammals make it through our cold winters? Learn how creatures use fur, habitat, and food to make it during the coldest parts of the year. Learners will also meet our resident Southern Flying Squirrel!
February 13, 2020 | Activity Under the Snow
The snow can act like a giant blanket! Through experiments and observation, we discover how small animals adapt to thrive during winter. Learners will try to protect their very own “jello baby” from the elements during this class.
Spring
March 12, 2020 | Maple Sugar Time
Homeschoolers will participate in our popular Maple Sugar Time program. We learn how to identify a maple tree, including the different species of maple, and visit a sugar farmer at the evaporator. Then we end the program with a sweet treat!
April 9, 2020 | Muddy Buddies
Spring thaw and thunderstorms bring lots of mud! Learn about soil, including the different types, and all of the cool microscopic things living under our feet. We’ll meet one of our Nature Ambassadors that depend on the soil.
May 14, 2020 | Spring Flowers and Pollinators
What’s the buzz about pollination? We will focus on how pollinators and flowers depend on one another. With games and field experience, learners will find some common Wisconsin flowers and their pollinator pals!
Registration & Pricing
Registration for the 2019/20 school year will open on Tuesday, July 16.
A completed student profile, which includes a health history and emergency care plan, is required for each participant prior to registration. Since we are transitioning to online forms, one must be submitted for each child regardless of prior year participation.
We offer a discounted rate for year-long participation.
Fall (September – November)
Member: $55 | Non-Member: $75
Winter (December – February)
Member: $55 | Non-Member: $75
Spring (March – May)
Member: $55 | Non-Member: $75
Full Year (September – May)
Member: $145 | Non-Member: $205