Senior Elementary

The Senior Elementary Homeschool Program is designed for students ages 10-11 or in grades 4-5 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.

2018/19 Curriculum

Fall

September 13 | Amazing Insects and Their Relatives

80% of animals on Earth are insects and their relatives. Learn about their adaptations, how they survive in their habitats, and their contributions to the Earth’s ecology.

October 11 | Land, Wind & Water: Interactions That Form Our Landscape

Learn about how our landscape was created years ago by weathering, erosion, and glacial deposition while searching for chemical and physical evidence of Wisconsin’s past.

November 8 | American Indian Song & Dance

Learn about Native culture from Ron Preston, San Carlos Apache and Headman Dancer at Gathering of Nations, then explore how indigenous peoples have survived by utilizing native plants and animals of the area.

Winter

*Winter programming is weather dependent and monthly subjects may vary according to weather*

December 13 | Owls: Predators of the Sky

Learn about the skills and adaptations that make owls such incredible predators. Observe live owls up close – then participate in pellet dissection.

January 10 | Wolf and Deer: An Adventure in Interdependence

Through simulation and hands-on discovery, students will begin to understand the interconnected nature of predator-prey relationships and sustainability.

February 14 | Lake Michigan’s Winter Shoreline

Hike the winter shoreline and explore the exquisite formations created by a combination of precipitation and natural forces.

Spring

March 14 | American Indian Maple Sugaring

Explore the lore and life of maple sugaring along the shores of “The Great Waters” while taking an ethnobotany hike ending with a sweet treat.

April 11 | Hawk or Falcon

Explore the adaptations and differences between hawks and falcons, then hike to Lake Michigan for a migratory bird count.

May 9 | Remove/Replant/Restore

Students will learn about native habitat, the impact invasive species have on an ecosystem, and participate in their own invasive species removal or planting project (project depends on the weather and current projects).

Pricing

We offer a discounted rate for year-long participation. A family membership is included in the non-member year-long participation rate.

Fall (September – November)
Member: $45 | Non – Member: $65

Winter (December – February)
Member: $45 | Non – Member: $65

Spring (March – May)
Member: $45 | Non – Member: $65

Full Year (September – May)
Member: $120 | Non – Member: $180