Themes
Reptiles Vs. Amphibians
Who’s slimy? Who’s scaly? Who hatches from eggs? We’ll answer these questions and more as we dig deep into the world of these cold-blooded critters. Your students will have a chance to get up close and personal with some of the nature center’s coolest creatures!
Feathers & Fur
Birds and mammals: This dynamic duo may look different on the outside, but they share many common characteristics! We’ll not only celebrate the similarities, we’ll also discover the differences that make these two groups unique, inside and out. There will be games and quizzes to test your knowledge, so put those thinking caps on! In addition, students will handle and examine a wide variety of specimens and animal artifacts.
Insect Intrigue
Under the ground, up in the air, and everywhere in between, you’ll find insects! These tiny creatures have a big impact on our world, and can survive in some of the most extreme conditions. Students will delve into their mysterious world, learning about their life cycles, habitats, and characteristics, and get a chance to observe and even touch some of our resident insects!
Wonderful Wetlands (available Spring, Summer, Fall)
This class takes place primarily outdoors and takes your students deep into our park to explore Glade Creek. An outdoor classroom will be the scene for a lesson on the aquatic life that occurs in the freshwater of Frederick County, and a portion of the class time the students will get into the creek and go critter collecting! We’ll spend time observing and identifying the organisms caught before returning the creatures to the creek. Students should wear older clothes, water shoes or boots, and be prepared to get wet and dirty (and have fun)!
Woodland Indian Culture
Bring natural history to life for your students with our Woodland Indians class! Students will gain knowledge on how the native peoples in our area lived, including what they ate, what they wore, and even what they did for fun! Students will examine and handle dozens of artifacts, play native american instruments, try on native american clothing, and even play native american games!
Tricky Tracks
Do your students love a good mystery? Are they hooked on treasure hunts? Crazy about animals? We have a class for that! In our Tricky Tracks class, students will learn what’s neat about feet! We’ll uncover the mystery of who makes what track, who walks in what way, and who might be hiding outside in the park (and inside the nature center). Students will adventure through the park looking for track treasures, all the while working as a team to listen carefully, look for signs, and learn about native animals along the way !