Join Oak Knoll naturalists for a fun filled 9-month series for the homeschool community. Each class is 2.5 hours in length and meets in small groups, with other students of similar age, all while learning science outside in nature at the Wildlife Sanctuary. Younger groups, ages 4.5-6 & 7-8, get age appropriate monthly themes to explore like; 'What is a Habitat?', 'How do Animals Move?', and 'What is Weather?'. Older groups, ages 9-12, also explore monthly themes but partake in additional conservation projects like collecting data for bud bursts in trees and raising “headstart” turtle hatchlings.
Pre-registration is required for the entire series at a first come first served basis, space is limited. Classes happen mostly outdoors, have indoor access to bathrooms, will adhere to current social distance regulations and mask wearing of all staff and participants based on local requirements. This program is designed to keep students safe with small “pods” sizes of students. Please be prepared for all types of weather and hiking conditions, programs run rain or shine.
Please note that Health History, Emergency, and Release forms are required for all participants to attend, once you register successfully you will receive a link to the forms.
Themes:
September: Introduction to Community Science
Theme 1: What is a wildlife sanctuary?
Theme 2: What is a community science?
October: Data Gathering 101
• Theme 1: Leaves, Trees, and Buds Project
• Theme 2: Field Journaling
November: Making Observations
• Theme 1: Introduction to iNaturalist/Bioindicators
• Theme 2: Bird Walk
December: Animal Movement
• Theme 1: Migration & Hibernation
January: Animal Adaptations
• Theme 1: Animal Classification
• Theme 2: What's for Lunch?
February: Energy Cycles
• Theme 1: Leaves, Trees and Buds Project
• Theme 2: Food Webs
March: Nutrient Cycles
• Theme 1: Water Cycle
• Theme 2: Carbon Cycle
• Theme 3: Nitrogen Cycle
April: Pollution Solutions
• Theme 1: Watershed Model
• Theme 2: Water Filtration
May: Climate Change
• Theme 1: What is Climate Change?
• Theme 2: Climate Cafe
Please note this is a Drop Off program. The Nature Center will not be available for families to wait this year due to covid19 restrictions.