ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES PROGRAM

Transcription

1 FERNWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES PROGRAM FOR SCHOOL AND YOUTH GROUPS w w w.fe r n w o o d b o t a n i c a l. o r g

2 ABOUT FERNWOOD Fernwood is a nature preserve, botanical garden, and continuing education institution founded in 1964 to maintain a unique place of beauty while providing a learning center for everyone to enjoy. Classes in Fernwood s Environmental Studies Program are designed to provide an exciting and positive introduction to natural wonders. All programs are based on a science curriculum that incorporates both basic state guidelines and hands-on activities at age-appropriate levels. Most importantly, Fernwood s naturalist staff strives to make every Fernwood experience fun and positive for each student. OUR MISSION Fernwood s mission is to enrich people s lives by awakening and deepening their appreciation of nature and the possibilities of harmony between people, plants, gardens, and wildlife. FERNWOOD S PUBLIC HOURS May 1 October 31 Tuesday Saturday, 10:00am 6:00pm Sunday, noon 6:00pm November 1 April 30 Tuesday Saturday, 10:00am 5:00pm Sunday, noon 5:00pm Fernwood is closed on Monday. Naturalist-instructed groups may arrive earlier than 10:00am by reservation. CONTACTING FERNWOOD Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve Range Line Road Niles, MI info@fernwoodbotanical.org 1

3 PLANNING YOUR VISIT FEES Fernwood s Environmental Studies Programs are available to all youth groups with a minimum number of 10 children or a minimum fee of $35. Payment by check, cash, or credit card will be expected on the date of your visit. If you cannot afford these fees, please contact the naturalist staff at Fernwood for further options. WEATHER All naturalist-instructed programs are held regardless of the weather unless the group decides to cancel (programs will be modified or substituted with an indoor lesson). Please have the children dress appropriately for the weather and trail-walking (sturdy footwear, raincoats, jacket/ sweatshirt, mittens/hat/scarf in winter). Due to limited openings, most programs cannot be rescheduled. PICNICS Groups may bring sack lunches and eat on any lawn area. There are no picnic tables available. We are a carry-in, carry-out facility, so you must remove your own trash (please remember to bring bags from home). Indoor facilities for lunch are not available unless they are reserved in advance for an additional fee. DISCOVERY GARDENS Open May October, Fernwood s Railway Garden features bridges, tunnels, water features, and four model trains chugging along. Adjacent to the Railway Garden is Fernwood s Nature Adventure Garden. Explore the twists and turns of the arborvitae labyrinth, run over grassy moguls, balance on tree cookies, dig in the sand pit, and hide in the hobbit houses. PATRICK DOUGHERTY SCULPTURE Constructed to help Fernwood celebrate 50 years, this larger-than-life and interactive sculpture is created entirely out of twigs and other natural materials. Walk around, in, and through it is truly amazing! CLARK GALLERY Year-round exhibitions in Fernwood s Clark Gallery highlight the natural world through art of various media and styles. FERN CONSERVATORY Tropical ferns and other plants demonstrate adaptations to various habitats. The Conservatory is a wonderful addition to any visit, but its small size means it is best suited to adult-led tours of 10 students or fewer at a time. ACCESSIBILITY In general, Fernwood s nature trails are not wheelchair accessible. With advance notice, every effort will be made to schedule a volunteer to provide a guided tour of the gardens along a paved path. Please contact a naturalist at least two weeks prior to your scheduled visit to make such arrangements. Accessible bathrooms are available in the Visitors Center. For more information about Fernwood, please visit 2

4 ON-SITE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES PROGRAMS Led by Fernwood naturalists and volunteer educators, these programs run 1½ to 2 hours and are tailored to the season. Programs are recommended for the listed grades, but most can be adapted for other levels. Available September November and April May. Fees $3.50 per student; teachers and adults free (donations accepted). PreK/K/1st Grade AWAKEN TO NATURE Through their senses, children explore the natural world: see heart-shaped leaves, smell skunk cabbage, listen to chickadees and woodpeckers, touch cool spring water, and taste some wild edibles. Concepts: five senses, nature appreciation K 2nd Grade INSECTS Insects are everywhere and are fascinating creatures. Learn the basic characteristics of insects, the different stages of their life cycle, and search the trails for the different groups of insects living at Fernwood. Concepts: classification, invertebrate, coldblooded, metamorphosis K 2nd Grade PLANTS Plants are all around us, but what makes them special? Using interactive posters, students explore the structure of a plant and the process of photosynthesis, then act out pollination of flowers by honeybees. Concepts: differences between plants and animals, plant structure, photosynthesis, pollination, seed dispersal K 2nd Grade WILD ABOUT WILDLIFE Find out what makes mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects, spiders, and fish unique creatures. Explore the trails to discover these animals in their natural settings. Concepts: classification, life cycles, warm-blooded/ cold-blooded 2nd and 3rd Grade HABITATS Learn what all plants and animals need to stay alive. Visit forests, streams, the St. Joseph River, and the pond in search of animals, plants, and their habitat clues. Concepts: habitat, adaptation, tree identification 3rd Grade WEATHER Clouds, rain, snow, wind, storms weather is around us every day. While walking the trails, use tools to gather weather data and make a forecast for the day. We ll also look for Fernwood s wild animals and see how they respond to the weather. Concepts: elements of weather, seasonal weather patterns, water cycle. 3

5 4th Grade POND LIFE Study Fernwood s pond and its ecology by digging in! Students may catch dragonfly nymphs, crayfish, water boatmen, and tadpoles. Dress to get wet and muddy! Concepts: types and values of wetlands, life cycles, adaptation, classification, food chain September, October, April, and May only 4th Grade MICHIANA S NATIVE AMERICANS Long before students came to Fernwood, the Potawatomi Indians wandered the grounds as they hunted game and travelled to Chief Moccasin s village across the river. Step back in time to explore the traditional lives of Potawatomies and learn how they used the environment around them to survive. Concepts: Michiana history, cultural traditions, medicinal and food uses of native plants and animals 5th Grade ANIMAL CLASSIFICATION AND ADAPTATIONS All animals have adaptations to help them survive in their habitats. Learn how animals are classified into different groups, then use skins and skulls to discover what adaptations they have for hunting and eating their food, protection from danger, and attracting a mate. Concepts: classification, adaptation, predator/ prey, camouflage 6th Grade TALLGRASS PRAIRIE Visit Fernwood s reconstruction of the tallgrass prairie that dominated central North America for thousands of years. Plant and animal adaptations, succession, and related American history topics are emphasized. Concepts: ecosystem/biome, adaptation, benefits of fire, seed production and dispersal September only 6th Grade FOREST PLOT STUDY Use the scientific method, dichotomous keys, and observation skills to study wet and dry forest plots. Students cooperate to identify soil types, animal signs, and other features unique to their plots. Concepts: scientific method, data analysis, tree identification, interactions. 6th Grade RELATIONSHIPS IN NATURE Nature is a complex system, with diverse relationships between the biotic and abiotic factors found in the environment. After a review of food chains, parasitism, mutualism, commensalism, symbiotic, and other relationships, take a walk on the trails to look for samples of these interactions. We ll also visit different habitats to see how succession occurs in nature. Concepts: biotic and abiotic factors, food chains, parasitism, mutualism, commensalism, symbiotic succession, and competition 4

6 IN-SCHOOL TRAVELLING NATURALIST PROGRAMS Available January March, with limited availability during the rest of the school year. Programs are recommended for the listed grades, but most can be adapted for other levels. Programs last one hour. Fees $50 1 class/program $70 2 classes/programs $90 3 classes/programs $110 4 classes/programs $120 5 classes/programs $130 6 classes/programs Add 54.5 cents per mile above 20 miles round-trip from Fernwood. Kindergarten/1st Grade WILDLIFE ENCOUNTER Touch mammal furs, bird wings, and reptile scales to explore these unique animal groups found in Michiana. Concepts: classification, animal natural history Kindergarten NATURE BY STORIES Gather around to hear a story! Fernwood s naturalist brings a selection of nature books and touchy-feely items to explore the nature around us. Concepts: listening skills, animal natural history K 2nd Grade INSECTS Six legs doesn t mean creepy-crawly! Enter the world of insects: body structure, adaptations, life cycles, and benefits to people. Students make a craft to illustrate metamorphosis. Concepts: body structure, life cycles, classification 2nd Grade MICHIANA MAMMALS They have fur, are warm-blooded, and drink milk as babies they re mammals! Meet some mammal study skins and learn how special Michiana mammals are. Concepts: classification, habitat, adaptation, carnivore/herbivore/omnivore, spelling skills K 3rd Grade PLANTS Without plants, animals and people could not survive on this planet. Explore the world of plants: perform a photosynthesis play, put names to a flower poster, hear the story of insect-eating plants, and find out how important plants are to daily life. Concepts: plant structure, seed production and dispersal, human uses of plants 3rd Grade GEOLOGY We ll rock your world as you learn the difference between minerals, rocks, and fossils. Explore what people use minerals for, how rocks are classified and can change over time, and see some fossils of ancient life. Don t forget about an edible rock snack! Concepts: classification, formation, earth history, human use. An additional $3 per class materials fee is required for this program. Two areas can be covered in an hour. Please plan an extra ½ hour for time to cover all three components. 5

7 NEW! 4th Grade MICHIGAN S NATURAL RESOURCES Michigan is a varied and unique state, located in the Great Lakes Region. Discover the natural resources present in Michigan, how they influenced the settlement of the state, the consequences of utilizing those resources, and how they are being protected today. Concepts: regions of the U.S., distribution of natural resources in Michigan, settlement patterns, human impact on the environment 4th Grade PREDATORS, MASTER HUNTERS To be a predator requires both useful adaptations and great skill. Find out what it takes to be a predator, whether it is a mammal, bird, insect, or spider. Then play a game focusing on coyotes to explore their daily life and survival challenges. Concepts: predator/prey, food chain, adaptations, balance of nature, math skills 5th Grade FOOD CHAINS Plants, herbivores, carnivores, and decomposers form key links throughout the natural world. Learn how energy flows through these links and build a food web to see the inter-connectedness of all living things. Concepts: food chain, producer/ consumer, impact of DDT, photosynthesis 6th Grade DEVELOPING AN ENVIRONMENTAL ETHIC With all the threats facing the environment, it is important that people today develop an understanding about and a sense of stewardship towards the natural world. Listen to readings from pioneering conservationists, discuss reasons to care for the earth, and learn the importance of respecting our home planet. Concepts: conservation, stewardship, biodiversity, thinking and discussion skills All Grades ASK AN EXPERT Kids are naturally curious about nature, and there is so much to discover about animals and plants. Whether you have a specific topic that your students would like to learn more about or questions that they would like to have answered, Fernwood s naturalist can help! Students can also learn about careers working as a naturalist. Photo by D. Walenga We are in the process of updating our programs to meet current state standards. Download the state education standards correlation handout for our programs on the education page at We do our best to match our lessons to your curriculum needs! 6

8 ADDITIONAL TOPICS These on- and off-site sessions are available by request. Still don t see what you want? Talk to a naturalist about designing a program for your needs! SPRING WILDFLOWERS Explore the carpet of wildflowers along the trails, learning flower structure, folklore, and human uses of plants. April and May only BIRDS Feathers, beaks, feet, eggs, nests, migration enter the world of birds! During winter, consider a bird survey at the Nature Center feeders. THE SCOOP ON POOP It might be stinky and gross, but there is much to be learned from studying scat, or animal poop. Learn the observations you can make about scat and then take a quiz to match up the poop to the animal that made it. 3rd Grade and up REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS These slimy and scaly critters are fascinating! Find out how different these two groups are and hit the trails in search of snakes, turtles, frogs, and toads. September, October, April, and May only SEEDS How are seeds formed and what unique ways do they use to disperse to new areas? Come out in the fall to search for droppers, poppers, fliers, floaters, and many more! September and October only SKULLS What can you observe on a skull? An animal s diet, size, age, and even if it is male or female! Use your reasoning skills to identify the skulls of more than 15 Michiana critters. 7 WHAT DOES AN OWL HAVE FOR DINNER? Owl pellets contain the answer! Students learn about food chains and anatomy as they dissect an owl pellet. An additional fee of $3 per pellet (per student or per pair of students) is required for this program. Please allow three weeks advance notice so pellets can be ordered. 3rd Grade and up THE MAGIC OF BUTTERFLIES On colorful wings, butterflies flit through the gardens and woodlands of Fernwood. Enter the world of butterflies, and learn about their characteristics, habits, and life cycle magic. Concepts: classification, metamorphosis, requirements for life. September, early October, late April, and May offer the best opportunities for butterfly observation. K 2nd Grades A VISIT FROM THE GARBAGE GURU Reduce, reuse, recycle learn about the three Rs and why it is important for them to be a part of every household. Then try a game to see if you can outwit the Garbage Guru! 2nd Grade and up ANIMAL LIFE CYCLES Explore the different ways animals carry out their life cycles: Who hatches from eggs? How do animals attract a mate? What about family life? And how long do different species live? Take a journey through the story of wild lives! 2nd Grade and up

9 100 YEARS WITHOUT THE PASSENGER PIGEON Learn about the world of endangered species and extinction as we talk about the demise of the passenger pigeon, what causes a plant or animal to disappear from the earth, and how we can stop the forever loss of any other species. Plus, get a chance to see a preserved passenger pigeon specimen! 3rd 6th Grades FERNWOOD FANTASYLAND Mr. Lynch wants to turn part of Fernwood into an amusement park, but is that the best thing for the plants and animals? All local residents (human and critter alike) get to discuss this issue in a lively roleplaying debate. 4th Grade and up THOSE WHO DARED: MICHIANA PIONEERS Travel back in time to the early 1800s when pioneers were first coming to Michiana. What was the environment like then? How did pioneers get here and start a new life? Participate in a role-playing game that tests your pioneer survival smarts. 4th Grade and up INVASIVE ALIENS ARE HERE! Alien plants and animals are invading Michiana, changing habitats, and out-competing our native species. Learn what makes these invasives so successful and how people are combating their encroachment into our local environments. To include hands-on removal of invasives at Fernwood, schedule a visit in September, October, April, or May. Only one class per program please. 4th 6th Grade GENERAL NATURE WALK Any time of the year is good for an educational walk along the trails. Depending on the season, wildflowers, trees, animal tracks, and wildlife are covered as we see what nature has in store for the day! TAKE A TRIP TO MUD LAKE BOG! Located just west of Buchanan, Mud Lake Bog is a unique ecosystem that is rare to Michiana. Explore this remnant from the glaciers, discovering floating mosses, carnivorous plants, cranberries the rubies of the bog, and coniferous trees that lose their needles in the fall. 2nd Grade and up An additional $10 fee covers mileage to meet you at the Bog. Due to trail limitations, no more than 35 people please. September and October only GARDEN EXPLORATION Take a guided walk through Fernwood s gardens, learning about plant structure, habitat, adaptation, human uses of plants, and folklore. Stops may include the Herb Garden, Butterfly/Hummingbird Gardens, Railway Garden, water gardens, and the Fern Conservatory. The tour can be tailored to meet your curriculum. Recommended for 2nd grade and up, one class per visit, $3.50 per student, with the program lasting one to one and one-half hours. Please schedule your garden tour with Steve Bornell, Head of Horticulture and Grounds. September, October, April, and May only SCOUT AND YOUTH GROUPS Talk to the naturalist about badge workshops and general programs that will meet your specific needs. Cost is $5 per youth, depending on the program.

10 SELF-GUIDED VISITS Teachers and school groups may come to Fernwood for self-guided visits. Trails in the nature preserve take you through wet and dry forests, along flowing streams, past the Big Pond, and to the St. Joseph River. The paved garden trail is wheelchair accessible and passes along beautiful flowers, grasses, ponds, garden sculptures, and the Railway Garden. Students may visit the Nature Center, which contains a great bird-watching area, Michiana wildlife exhibits, and interactive environmental learning opportunities. Please note, however, that groups may briefly visit the Nature Center only if it is not in use for Fernwood programs. Please call ahead to find out if the Nature Center will be in use during your visit. For a small fee, the Meeting House or Chase Classroom may be reserved to provide an indoor classroom. An open-air teaching platform located in the woods west of the Pond and a covered pavilion in the gardens may be reserved free of charge. Teachers are strongly encouraged to attend a free site-use training session before the group visits Fernwood. Please call the naturalists at to schedule a training session. Fernwood is a private botanical museum and nature preserve with necessary and important rules required to protect its grounds. Teachers and schools will be held responsible for damages and infractions during visits, so please become fully informed about Fernwood regulations before visiting. Rules are provided upon registration. 9 FERNWOOD S GENERAL ADMISSION FEES Adult $9 Senior (65+) $7 Children (5 17) $4 Children (4 and under) Free Members Free All fees are subject to change. A 20% discount off regular admission fees is offered when groups of 20 or more make a reservation at least two weeks in advance and pay in a lump sum. Upon arrival at Fernwood, please include with your payment a written count of the number of adults, seniors, children, members, and free children in your group.

11 MAKING RESERVATIONS RESERVE A NATURALIST-INSTRUCTED PROGRAM (PAGES 3 8) Reservations will be taken for the school year beginning Wednesday, August 1, at 10:00am. Availability is on a first-come, first-served basis. To register for a naturalist-instructed program: 1. Select a program 2. Have the following information ready: preferred date and an alternative number of students grade level school name, address, and phone number teacher s name 3. Call Fernwood at and ask for Head Naturalist, Wendy Jones. A confirmation letter with more details about your visit will be sent out after booking your program. MAKE A RESERVATION FOR A SELF-GUIDED VISIT (PAGE 9) Reservations for self-guided visits are available throughout the year. To register for a self-guided visit: 1. Have the following information ready: preferred date and an alternative (must be during Fernwood public hours) number of students (60 maximum with 1 adult per 10 students required) grade level school name, address, and phone number teacher s name 2. Call Fernwood at

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