Learning Adventures Field Trips by Barbara Wilson

2013-2014

LEARNING ADVENTURES FIELD TRIPS AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS

Protecting Southwest Florida’s unique natural environment and quality of life ... now and forever.

www.conservancy.org Funding for “Learning Adventures” provided in part by generous grants from:

AT YOUR SCHOOL OR LEARNING CENTER

Pre-K thru 12 Outreach Programs

HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES AND LABS AVAILABLE FOR GROUPS OF UP TO 2 CLASSES

Conservancy of Southwest Florida environmental education experts can come to your school or other location to teach about southwest Florida’s unique natural treasures. Our STEM-based (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) programs are individualized to provide ageappropriate activities and meet Next Generation Sunshine State Standards. Each program features a hands-on science experience or lab exercise.

SEE OUR OUTREACH PROGRAM OPTIONS. UP TO THREE CLASSES CAN PARTICIPATE IN ONE PROGRAM!

Hands-on activities are not guaranteed for groups of three classes .

BUY 5

PROGRAMS

GET THE 6TH

FREE

$129 $199 $99

for any one Pre-K- Grade 1 program at your location* for any one Grade 2-12 program at your location* for any additional presentation of the same program scheduled on the same day (add up to two more programs per day.)

Outreach and Field Trip Program Combos

AT OUR NATURE CENTER FIELD TRIP PROGRAMS ARE INDIVIDUALIZED TO PROVIDE AGEAPPROPRIATE ACTIVITIES AND MEET FLORIDA NEXT GENERATION SUNSHINE STATE STANDARDS.

K thru 12 Fieldtrip Programs

K-12 Field Trip programs at the newly renovated Conservancy Nature Center last up to three hours and include new options! Programs include encounters with over 100 native animals and new exhibits in the Dalton Discovery Center. The Ferguson Leaning Lab features the latest technology to engage your students in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) activities! The von Arx Wildlife Hospital window provides a peek at some of our patients. Our narrated electric boat programs on the Gordon River are a highlight of each trip—perhaps you’ll spot a manatee or two! Please see our Field Trips program options.

UP TO THREE CLASSES CAN BE SCHEDULED PER DAY. Hands-on activities are not guaranteed for groups of three classes .

$99

per class (up to 20 people including chaperones)

Special School Field Trip price for up to 20 guests: ONLY $79 when booked with an outreach program.

Save money with our complete and comprehensive programs! Let us come to your class to introduce your students to the program topic with an outreach program. Then bring your class to our Nature Center for a fully immersive experience, certain to bring smiles and increase content-retention! * Includes overall $20 discount per class, on the above price structure. Register online at www.conservancy.org/outreach

OUTREACH

The Puppet Show Pre-K thru Grade 1

PROGRAM OPTIONS “THE NATURAL ADVENTURES OF ALLIGATOR, TURTLE, RACCOON, AND OWL” Alligator, Turtle, Raccoon and Owl are the stars of this series of educational programs. Join them for the full series of shows and discover the secrets of what wildlife eat, how they find food, water and shelter, why they are important to our environment and how we can protect them.

THE NATURAL CAFÉ

The café chef greets Alligator, Turtle, Raccoon, and Owl at this special diner. Do all wild animals eat the same things? Have fun learning what wild animals eat and how it may compare with our own diets in this special café full of fun and learning. Features a live animal.

Pre-K thru Grade 1 Outreach Programs WONDERS OF REPTILES

Southwest Florida is home to many different reptiles, from skillful lizards, spiny alligators, sleek turtles and smooth snakes. Learn how reptiles are different from us, why so many other animals depend on them and how you can help protect our wonderful reptiles. Features live reptiles.

WILD ABC’S

“A” is for Alligator and this program is spelled with a big “E” for Educational Excitement. Review the alphabet using the names of Florida’s wild creatures, and meet some of the Florida animals used in our wild alphabet. Features a live animal

CARING FOR CRITTERS

This hospital isn’t for people! Alligator, Turtle, Raccoon, and Owl face many dangers out in the wild and become patients at this “Wildlife Hospital.” Learn about wildlife injuries, how these animals are cared for and what you can do to help.

WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE

Water is essential for life. Follow the escapades of Alligator, Turtle, Raccoon, and Owl on their quest for water to learn why south¬west Florida’s water habitats are important. These animals explain what water means to them and why they need your help to pre¬serve their watery homes.

WHERE’S WILDLIFE?

Join Conservancy naturalists as they follow Alligator, Turtle, Raccoon, and Owl to discover where they live. What do their homes look like? Why are their homes so special? Find the answers to all these questions and why we should protect where they live.

S T E M

STEM OUTREACH

I N S T I T U T E

Science • Technology • Engineering • Math

PREDATOR AND PREY

Florida is home to many large predators. Learn about food webs, and how each species holds an important role in an ecosystem. Learn about the Conservancy’s research on endangered species such as the Florida Panther. Have fun exploring where these animals live, what they need to survive, and what you can do to help them.

NAILS AND SCALES

CSI: CRITTER SCENE INVESTIGATION

Become an animal investigator as you track some mysterious animals in this hands-on program to discover the identity of the suspects—one clue at a time. Using inquiryuncover clues left behind several southwest Florida species in their unique habitats and determine what we need to do to protect them.

NIGHT OWLS

Florida’s owl species have spectacular adaptations for nighttime living. Learn how they compare to their daytime counterparts and discover why they have such a “wild” nightlife. Features a live owl and an OPTIONAL owl pellet dissection; Additional lab fee of $10 per class applies.

Uncover hidden adaptations found in Florida’s reptiles, and their place in our environment. Learn what the Conservancy has discovered through our field conservation and biological work on sea turtles, alligators and more.

THE LIFE AQUATIC

Students discover the water cycle and southwest Florida’s different wet ecosystems. Learn about how underground aquifers are connected with atmospheric thunderstorms and how we are part of this system. In this interactive program, students will create a coastal watershed habitat, and identify human-impacts.

BIRD IS THE WORD

Learn avian adaptations for survival, and meet some of southwest Florida’s diverse birdlife. Discover what is being done to protect these amazing birds and how you can help.

ALIEN INVADERS

Southwest Florida is under attack! Find out about non-native plants, insects, mammals, reptiles, fish, amphibians and birds that now call Florida home – and the havoc they reap with their native Florida neighbors.

WILDLIFE TALES

Habitat loss, traffic and domestic pet attacks all threaten our native wildlife. Learn how human interactions place our wildlife in jeopardy and why rehabilitation at the von Arx Wildlife Hospital is important to their release. Roleplay how these events occur, what can be done to prevent the damage and instructions on wildlife care.

Adapted for Grades 2-12 Each program features a live animal.

MARVELOUS MOLLUSKS

Mollusks are some of the ocean’s most strange and interesting creatures. Learn about the importance of mollusks and the work being done to protect them. Features live mollusks. Squid dissection included for grades 4-12, with additional lab fee of $10 per class.

FIELD TRIPS GUIDED NATURE CENTER EXPERIENCE

(Adapted to GRADES K-12) Guided Nature Center Experiences include a visit to the Dalton Discovery Center, an Electric boat ride narrated program, visit to the Wildlife Hospital Window, a picnic lunch on your own, plus add one of the following options: • Squid Dissection program at Stem Institute Ferguson Learning Labs (grades 4+) • Reptile program with live reptile • Outdoor program including preserve walk

AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS (Adapted to GRADES 4-12)

Get ready for a wet and wild adventure! Become a scientist; explore our filter marsh and learn how it works as a living machine. You will measure water quality using electronic scientific probe-ware and collect native and exotic species in this unique ecosystem, then return to the STEM lab to study them. This immersive program is a great way to learn about the science behind our aquatic and marine ecosystems.

BE A BIOLOGIST

(GRADES 4-12) Become an endangered species scientist at our 21 acre Nature Center and Labs. Use telemetry technology to track panthers in our hardwood hammock habitat and explore a gopher tortoise preserve. Collect samples to study at our STEM Institute Laboratory in this hands-on research experience and learn what can be done to protect endangered species.

How to REGISTER: Register online at www.conservancy.org/outreach or www.conservancy.org/fieldtrips Send an email with your request to cheryll@conservancy.org