School Programs
COVID-19 Adjustments
Our in person instruction looks a little different during a pandemic. We are limited numbers of participants, we are teaching outside only, and are requiring a day-of waiver and health screening for each participant. Please contact the nature center directly to discuss how we can work with you to create a meaningful environmental education experience during the 2020-2021 school year. Please note: All participants and teaching staff are asked to remain masked during the program.
Springbrook Nature Center programs are a hands-on, entertaining way to learn about the natural world. Our programs are written to enhance what you are currently working on in the classroom, in your scout troop, or at home by providing a quality experiential class.
All classes are 90 minutes long and include both indoor and outdoor components. Choose the option that best fits your needs.
- Single Class: $6 per student, no charge for chaperones
- Half Day: $10 per student, no charge for chaperones
- Includes 2 classes and space to eat lunch on site.
- Full Day: $15 per student, no charge for chaperones
- Includes 3 classes and a space to eat lunch on site.
Scheduling
When calling to book your program, we will need the following information: name, address, phone number, number and age of participants, program topic(s), arrival time, special needs and requests.
Class Topics
Springbrook Nature Center classes are customizable for students from preschool through 8th grade. Our classes fall into three categories: Science and Natural History, Outdoor Skills and Recreation, and Teambuilding.
| Animal Signs |
| Students will use detective skills to find out about the secret lives of animals! Learn to recognize the signs that animals leave behind and what they tell us about the critters that left them. |
| Birds |
| Explore the world around you through the eyes of a bird. Discover bird adaptations, senses, the science of flight, bird identification with binoculars, and more! |
| Forest Ecology |
| Students will learn about parts of a tree, tree ID, forest structure, and how both flora and fauna work together to make an intriguing system. |
| Fungus |
| Check out some of the amazing fungi found in Springbrook’s forest. Unearth the special characteristics of fungi and what makes them different from plants. Discover the important jobs that fungi do for people and for nature. |
| Insects |
| Learn about insect adaptations, ID tricks, and the role of insects in the food chain. We will be collecting live samples as a part of this class. |
| Mammals |
| Do you really know enough about mammals? Students will use games, stories, songs, and scientific study to learn more about this group of our closest animal relatives. |
| Reptiles & Amphibians |
| This class should be called scaley and cool. Recognize the fascinating ways these creatures survive in Minnesota. This class is very hands-on and includes live animals.
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| Wetlands |
| There’s water and there’s land. Put them together, and you have a super cool ecosystem that’s tons of fun to explore. Critters found in the wetland will be seen larger than life on our video projection system. Students have the opportunity to look at wetland functions, animals of the wetland, wetland composition, water quality in the wetland, the possibilities are endless! |
| Orienteering |
| Using a compass is a great way to conquer your fear of getting lost in the wilderness. Learn about navigation and using a compass to explore and find your way off-trail at Springbrook. Discover the fun of competing on an orienteering course. |
| Outdoor Survival |
| Lost in the woods? Don’t stress, survive! In this class, you will learn what is most important in a survival situation. Students will participate in a hands-on simulation which allows them to learn how to set up and start a survival fire, and set up a survival shelter with their group of their survivalist peers. |
| Snowshoeing |
| Snowshoes have been used to make it easier to move around the snow covered woods for thousands of years. Isn't’ it time you learned how to use them? Explore the history, types, and techniques useful for snowshoeing before heading out into the woods to explore what winter has in store.
** This class is weather dependent. A base layer of three inches of snow is required to use the snowshoes.
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| Group Teambuilding |
| Do you need to learn to work better with your team? Using games and group problem-solving exercises, we will help you become a well-oiled machine. Use trust, cooperation, and communication in this game-filled program.
This class is great for ages kindergarten and older.
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