Join us this fall for two-hour in person hands on learning stations and guided hikes that align with Howard County Public School System Curriculum. Programs are for ages 6-16 and cover topics including habitats, soils, trees, stream health and more! After school, daytime and weekend sessions are available for groups of 10 or less, with a minimum of 5, at $15 per student. All students must bring a science notebook and a pencil. Elementary trips are Mondays 4:15-6:00 and Thursdays 10:30-12:15, middle school Wednesdays 9 -11 and high school 4:00-5:15 , advance registration required. Explore program details below.

  Elementary School Programs – availability calendar

Student Field Experiences

Two-hour small group, outdoor, hands on learning stations and guided hikes that align with Howard County Public School System Curriculum. Elementary trips are Mondays 4:15-6:00, Thursdays 10:30-12:15 and Saturdays 10:00 – 12:00. 

REGISTRATION AND AVAILABILITY 

Topics:

Animal Habitats: Explore our meadows, forests, and streams to track the native animals that live in each habitat. 

Soil Science: Students will get their hands dirty as they learn techniques used by soil scientists to discover soil texture, cohesiveness, and composition.

Biodiversity Exploration: Investigate forests and meadows, evaluate plant and animal relationships and use technology to document species found. 

*These programs are not a series program. The multiple dates offered are to give various options for attendance. Minimum 5 students, $15 per student.

Nature Explorers Club
Weekly, two-hour outdoor program celebrating all the wonders of nature.  Monthly themes include autumn observations, animal behaviors and welcoming winter.  
  • For ages 4 – 6
  • Group size 10 or less
  • Exploration focused hikes, crafts and activities
Wednesdays, 9:30-11:30 am Or 1-3 pm.  Register monthly for four sessions ($80).

REGISTRATION AND AVAILABILITY

School's Out / Science In
Need a place to bring your children when school is closed? Bring them for our School’s Out Nature Program, 9:00 – 3:00, held most Wednesdays and on other select days when schools are closed to students. Programs include academics, educational games, activities, and crafts emphasizing all the wonders of the natural world. 

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  Middle School Programs – availability calendar 

Student Field Experiences

Two-hour small group, outdoor, hands on learning stations and guided hikes that align with Howard County Public School System Curriculum. Middle School trips are Wednesdays 9 -11. Minimum 5 students, $15 per student. Advance registration required. 

REGISTRATION AND AVAILABILITY 

Topics: 

Woodland Exploration: Uncover superhero trees and their amazing, and often overlooked, super powers. Learn to identify keystone tree species, collect data, and visit our Champion White Oak!

Hike the Watershed: Hike along the watershed to learn about the Davis Branch stream and its design to increase biodiversity. Learn how to investigate water chemistry and collect and identify macroinvertebrates, important bioindicators of stream health. Students will need to wear water shoes, rain boots, or old gym shoes. 

Serendipity Hikes for Teens

Join us Wednesday mornings at 10 am for educational hikes of our 232 acres on a variety of topics. Small groups limited to 10, $10 per student, Grades 6-12. 

REGISTER HERE

  High School Programs – availability calendar 

Serendipity Hikes for Teens

 Join us Wednesday mornings at 10 am for educational hikes of our 232 acres on a variety of topics. Small groups limited to 10, $10 per student, Grades 6-12. 

REGISTER HERE

Watershed Report Card

Join us in our 7th year of the Watershed Report Card Program. 9th grade Student Scientists are invited to collect and identify biological stream data at a stream close to their home school. All of the data will be analyzed and compared to data collected over the few years. Student Scientists will report out their findings at the Watershed Summit in April 2021. There is one stream date for each high school. Please see your lead watershed teacher if you would like to be considered for a scholarship for this field experience

REGISTRATION AND AVAILABILITY

Climate Change Institute

The goal of this program is to establish, educate, and empower Howard County Student Climate Ambassadors in creating awareness and understanding of global climate change. They will identify and initiate actions in their communities that lessen the adverse effects of climate change on human health, biodiversity, and the economy.  More details can be found here. 10th grade students are invited to apply to the 1st Climate Change Institute by September 20th