Field Trips and Outreach Opportunities A Teachers Guide to State Parks 2015-2016 destateparks.com A Teachers Guide to Delaware State Parks i id you know that Delaware State Parks are great places for students and teachers to explore nature and history? With 16 parks, five historic sites and many natural areas, Delaware State Parks offer you How to Use This Guide a comprehensive view of our natural and historical heritage. Our mission is to provide responsible stewardship of the lands and resources that we have been entrusted to protect and manage, and to This guide is intended to provide teachers an overview of field trips and outreach options for classrooms offerquality learning experiences for students of all ages. as well as to simplify the registration process. Inside are listings of programs, arranged by park, and the accompanying content standards. Each park page provides you with park information, programs offered We can help you connect what you teach to hands-on natural, historical and cultural experiences; from using and contact information to get started on booking your field trip. For complete descriptions of programs a geologist’s hammer and exploring a streambed for minerals, to conducting water quality tests, helping a Civil offered, please visit destateparks.com/school. War laundress with her daily tasks, or using percussion instruments to explore the rhythms of nature, to name just a few. Each park’s pages list a popular Field Trip and Outreach program, a student favorite and sample of other programs available in the park. This list does not include all programs offered; programs can be customized for Whether in the park or at your school, we have programs that: your group. The Other Programs are arranged alphabetically and are designated with the following icons:

• Provide a hands-on, real-world experience that make difficult concepts both easier to learn and Field Trip – takes place in the park to remember • Offer alternative teaching methods for students with different learning styles Outreach – takes place at your school • Provide a refreshing break from the classroom while continuing to teach to accepted standards • Expose students to career options that they may not even considered • Introduce students to museums, historical structures and natural spaces that may spur development of life-long interests Understanding the Standards • Expand students’ views of the world so they can see the connections between what they’re learning and everyday life Each program offered by Delaware State Parks is aligned to either the Next Generation Science Standards, • Connect outdoor learning experiences to STEM standards Common Core State Standards, Delaware Social Studies Standards, Delaware Visual and Performing Arts • Overcome barriers related to nature deficit disorder Standards, or a combination of the four. Each category of standard has its own format: Delaware State Parks educators can provide memorable academic experiences for your students in grades K through 12 that are fun for them, easy for you, and constructed specifically to build on and • Next Generation Science Standards enhance the lessons you’re already teaching. We offer field trips for groups small and large, as well as • 3-PS2-2 is read as Grade Level-Topic-Standard exciting outreach programs that we can bring directly to your classroom. • Full standards can be found at http://www.nextgenscience.org/search-standards

• Common Core State Standards • ELA.W.3.8 is read as ELA.Domain.Grade.Standard • M.6.RP.A.1 is read as Math.Grade.Domain.Standard • Full Standards can be found at http://www.corestandards.org/read-the-standards/

• Delaware Social Studies Standards • H4.45a is read as Subject Standard (H=History, G=Geography and so on).Grade Range (K-3, 4-5, 6-8, 9-12) • Full Standards can be found at http://www.doe.k12.de.us/domain/66

• Delaware Visual and Performing Arts Standards • VArt-4.4 is read as Subject-Standard • Full standards can be found at http://www.doe.k12.de.us/Page/289

Some programs are aligned to more than one category of standards – For example, ’s Coastal Defenders Field Trip is aligned to both Common Core State Standards and Delaware Social Studies Standards. In cases like this, standards are listed in the following order: Next Generation Science Standards; Common Core State Standards; Delaware Social Studies Standards; Delaware Visual and Performing Arts Standards.

ii A Teachers Guide to Delaware State Parks destateparks.com/school destateparks.com/school How to Use This Guide iii Table of Contents Delaware State Parks Nature and History Programs New Castle County Auburn Heights Preserve ...... 2-3 Bellevue State Park ...... 4-6 Brandywine Creek State Park ...... 8-10 Brandywine Zoo ...... 12-14 State Park ...... 16-17 Fort DuPont State Park Port Penn Interpretive Center ...... 18-20 State Park ...... 22-25 ...... 26-29 Kent County First State Heritage Park ...... 30-33 ...... 34-37 Sussex County Cape Henlopen State Park ...... 38-40 Fort Miles ...... 42-43 Delaware Seashore State Park ...... 44-47 Fenwick Island State Park ...... 48-50 Other DNREC Sites St. Jones Reserve ...... 51 Blackbird Creek Reserve ...... 51 Aquatic Resource Education Center ...... 52 DuPont Nature Center ...... 51 Delaware Children in Nature ...... 15 REECH – How We Teach at the Beach ...... 41 How to Plan a State Park Field Trip ...... 53-57

Special thanks to the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control and the Delaware Department of Education for their help in making this guide possible.

iv A Teachers Guide to Delaware State Parks destateparks.com/school destateparks.com Table of Contents 1 uburn Heights Preserve Popular Outreach: WATER WORKS Grades K – 3 3000 Creek Road, Box 36 45 minutes Yorklyn, DE 19736 Students will learn about the properties of water and how water and steam can be harnessed to make machines operate. Call (302) 239-5687 to register They will learn that materials exist as solids, liquids or gases. Demonstrations will show that heat energy makes things warmer and that heating the water may cause a change in its physical properties. Students will also learn that moving water has energy and how that energy can be transferred to The staff at Auburn Heights offers school programs other objects. that focus on the history of automotive transportation Standards: and steam engines. Students will learn about energy Kindergarten Grade 2 Grade 3 transference, how a steam engine works and how K-ESS3-1 2-PS1.1, 2-PS1-2, 2-PS1-3, 2-PS1- 3-PS2-1, 3-PS2-2, 3-PS2-1, 3-PS2-

people have solved society’s practical problems by 4; ELA.W.2.8 3, 3-PS2-4; ELA.W.3.8, ELA.SL.3.3 New Castle County inventing new technologies. $80 per program

Student Favorite: MACHINERY MANSION TOUR — FIELD TRIP Popular Field Trip: Grades 3 – 5 1 hour HIKE ON HISTORY Tour the first floor of the Auburn Heights mansion. Learn about the mansion’s construction and its amenities Grades 1 – 5 which were very modern in 1897. We will emphasize the furnishings that include simple machines and how 1 hour they work. Students will see a live steam demonstration, with a focus on how water and steam can create Hike the Trolley Trail, part of the Auburn Heights trail power and the phases of matter and how they relate to water and the operation of a mill. Space is limited to system, and discuss transportation and the Yorklyn-area one class at a time (about 25 maximum). industry. Students will learn how a mill race creates power, the different states of water and how a mill’s Standards: production can be affected by weather. We will also learn how people who worked at the mill traveled to nearby towns and compare that to students’ experiences. Grade 3 Standards: 3-PS2-1, 3-PS2-2, 3-PS2-3, 3-PS2- Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 4; ELA.W.3.8, ELA.SL.3.3; H2.K3a, H3.K3a, H4.K3a H2.K3a, H3.K3a, 2-PS1P1, 2-PS1-2, 3-PS2-1, 3-PS2-2, 4-PS3-1, 4-PS3-2, 5-PS1-1, 5-PS1-2, H4.K3a, H4.K3b 2-PS1-3, 2-PS1-4; 3-PS2-1, 3-PS2-3, 4-PS3-3, 4-PS3-4, 5-PS1-3, 5-PS1-4, Grade 4 ELA.W.2.8; 3-PS2-4; 4-ESS3-1; H1.45a, 5-PS2-1, 5-PS3-1; 4-PS3-2, 4-PS3-3, 4-PS3-4, H2.K3a, H3.K3a, ELA.W.3.8, ELA. H2.45b, H4.45a, H1.45a, H2.45b, 4-ESS3-1; H1.45a, H2.45b, H4.45a, H4.K3a, H4.K3b SL.3.3; H2.K3a H4.45b H4.45a, H4.45b H4.45b $3 per student Grade 5 5-PS3-1; H1.45a, H2.45b, H4.45a, H4.45b $4 per student

2 A Teachers Guide to Delaware State Parks destateparks.com/school New Castle County Auburn Heights Preserve 3 Student Favorite: ellevue State Park ORGANISMS ARE EVERYWHERE—FIELD TRIP Grade 1 800 Carr Road 2 hours Students will observe the various life forms at the park. Through an Wilmington, DE 19809 interactive discussion, they will discover what makes something “alive,” Call (302) 761-6963 to register and what plants and animals need to survive. Students will also use dip nets to find and examine the organisms that call Bellevue Pond home. Standards: Grade 1 1-LS3-1, 3-LS1-1, 4-LS1-2 Bellevue State Park’s arboretum offers an outstanding location for tree study, and its gardens, pond and $5 per student meadow provide a natural laboratory where students learn about biology, ecology and the properties of Other School Programs: matter. In addition to science programming, Bellevue

offers ample picnic facilities and playgrounds, making New Castle County this park a great place for school groups to both learn EXPLORING ECOYSYSTEMS and play. Grade K – 3 2 hours Students will compare, learn about and see the park’s ecosystems in action. They will learn about and identify the Popular Field Trip: relationships among producers, consumers and decomposers. Standards: TREES UP CLOSE Kindergarten Kindergarten Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 1 hour K-PS3-1, K-LS1-1, 1-LS3-1 2-ESS1-1 3-LS4-2, 3-LS4-3 Students will take a nature walk around the park to learn, observe, describe and compare trees found throughout K-ESS3-1, K-ESS3-3 Bellevue. They will identify the parts of a tree, what a tree needs to survive and how trees are like them. Students $5 per student will use their senses to describe leaves and bark, and learn facts about some of the trees in the park. Standards: LIFE CYCLE SAFARI Kindergarten Grade K – 3 K-LS1-1, K-ESS2-2, 1-LS3-1, 4-LS1-2, 5-LS1-1 2 hours $4 per student Students will enjoy a multi-sensory exploration into the life cycles of three organisms: butterflies, dragonflies and frogs. We will Popular Outreach: compare their life cycles and students will dip WIGGLY WORMS in the pond and search the meadow for them. Kindergarten Standards: 1 hour Kindergarten Students will participate in hands-on activities to explore worms up close. We bring our “worm bin” to your K-PS3-1, K-LS1-1, K-ESS2-2, K-ESS3-1 classroom to discuss the lives of worms. Students will also discover how worms help us by creating soil. Standards: Grade 1 Kindergarten 1-LS3-1 K-LS1-1, K-ESS2-2, K-ESS3-1 Grade 3 $80 per program 3-LS1-1, 3-LS3-1 $5 per student

4 A Teachers Guide to Delaware State Parks destateparks.com/school New Castle County Bellevue State Park 5 MIXTURE MADNESS Grade 2 – 5 1 hour This program was Our scientists will “stir up” your students’ interest by creating some fascinating mixtures and solutions. We’ll also awesome! This was our “break apart” everyday mixtures (like ink) for some surprising results. first visit, but will not Standards: be our last!!! Grade 2 Grade 5 2-PS1-1, 2-PS1-4, 2-ESS2-3 5-PS1-4 Kudos to All! - $80 per program (discounts available for multiple programs) Sandy Meredith, Brandywood Elementary SOLID AND LIQUID SCIENCE Grade 2 – 5 1 hour My favorite part was when we got to Students will discover their inner scientists as they explore the differences in the physical properties of solids and look in the microscopes for the first time

liquids. Experiments include what floats and what sinks, how solids and liquids mix, and the creation of some New Castle County special solids and liquids right before your eyes! ever! - Patrick Standards: Grade 2 Grade 5 2-PS1-1, 2-PS1-4, 2-ESS2-3 5-PS1-3, 5-PS1-4 $80 per program (discounts available for multiple programs)

The Staff were awesome. WACKY WATER SCIENCE Grade 2 – 5 Very knowledgeable and 1 hour friendly. They made the In this engaging demonstration, students will assist our staff with several exciting experiments designed to activity fun and enjoyable explore the world of water. Topics include basic properties of water, chemical testing and “dry ice.” Standards: for all (kids and adults). - Grade 2 Grade 5 West Park School 2-PS1-1, 2-PS1-4, 2-ESS2-3 5-PS1-4 $80 per program (discounts available for multiple programs) This program was a great fit with our classroom curriculum! A great way to see the vocabulary we are teaching used out in the world! - Mrs. Browning

6 A Teachers Guide to Delaware State Parks destateparks.com/school New Castle County 7 randywine Creek Popular Outreach: ANIMALS IN WINTER State Park Kindergarten 41 Adams Dam Road 45 minutes Students will participate in activities and learn about animal adaptations and how they help the animal survive Wilmington, DE the winter. They will define and explore the concepts of migration, hibernation and other adaptations for winter. Call (302) 655-5740 to register Standards: Kindergarten K-LS1-1, K-ESS2-2, K-ESS3-1, K-ESS2-2 K-LS1-1, K-ESS2-2, 1-LS3-1, 4-LS1-2, 5-LS1-1 Brandywine Creek offers unique opportunities for $80 per program school groups to experience ecosystems and riparian habitats, as well as learn about watersheds, weather, wildlife and more. The wide variety of educational Student Favorite: programming even includes canoe experiences for ORIENTEERING – FIELD TRIP (STEM) older students! Inviting picnic areas and space for kids New Castle County to run and play make Brandywine Creek a great field Grades 6 –12 trip destination. 1 ½ to 2 hours Students will learn how to use a compass, read map legends, recognize symbols on a map and relate them to physical features on a landscape to find their way without trail markers. Then, teams will sharpen their map and compass skills by navigating our specially designed compass course. Standards: Middle School High School Popular Field Trip: MS-ESS2-1, MS-ESS2-2, MS-ESS2-3, MS-ESS2-4, HS-ESS2-1, HS-ESS2-1, HS-ESS2-2, HS-ESS2-3, HS- FOREST HEALTH MONITORING AT FLINT WOODS MS-ESS2-5, MS-ESS2-6, MS-PS2-3, MS-PS2-4, ESS2-4, HS-ESS2-5, HS-PS2-4, HS-PS2-5, HS-PS2-6, Grades 5 – 8 MS-PS2-5, MS-PS4-2 HS-PS4-3, HS-PS4-4, HS-PS4-5, HS-ESS1-2; G1.912a 1 ½ to 2 hours $4 per student Students will use measuring techniques and equipment to assess the abiotic and biotic properties of this private-access nature preserve as part of our terrestrial salamander monitoring program at Flint Woods. Your class will learn about and discuss salamander life cycles, food webs and the ecological processes of the surrounding forest. Standards: Middle School MS-ESS3-4, MS-LS1-5, MS-LS2-2, MS-LS2-4 $90 per program

8 A Teachers Guide to Delaware State Parks New Castle County Brandywine Creek State Park 9 Other School Programs: Thank you for teaching us CANOE EXCURSION more about water. Because Grade 7 – 8 4 hours now I know more about water What is the best way to learn about water? From a canoe, of course! Travel down the Brandywine on this like how water has power or guided tour, and stop halfway for a snack and a Watershed program (space is limited). it controls electricity. And Standards: Middle School I never knew that learning MS-ESS3-1, MS-PS1-4, MS-PS3-1, MS-PS3-2, MS-PS3-3, MS-PS3-4, MS-PS3-5, MS-LS2-4, MS-LS2-5, about water would be so fun. - MS-ESS3-2, MS-ESS3-3, MS-ESS3-4 Sydney, Highlands $18 per student Elementary I liked when the king snake slid

ECOSYSTEMS IN ACTION New Castle County into the bushes and the pad Grade 5 2 or 4 hours where you can pick Students will play fun games while learning about food webs, abiotic and biotic factors, and the importance an animal and it tells you facts of biodiversity! Standards: about it. My favorite part was Grade 5 spending time with you! - 5-PS3-1, 5-PS3-1, 5-LS1-1, 5-LS2-1, 5-LS2-1 Aleena $5 or $7 per student

STREAM STUDY Grade 3 1 or 2 hours Prepare to get wet! Students will be heading into a shallow part of the Brandywine Creek to test the local water supply, and learn the importance of the water table! Standards: Grade 3 3-LS4-4, 3-LS2-1, 3-LS4-1 3-LS4-2, 3-LS4-3, 3-LS4-4, 3-ESS3-1 $4 or $5 per student

10 A Teachers Guide to Delaware State Parks destateparks.com/school New Castle County 11 Popular Outreach: randywine Zoo ANIMAL ADAPTATIONS For all grades 1001 North Park Drive 30 – 40 minutes Wilmington, DE 19802 Students will learn about different animal adaptations in this introduction to animal classification. Camouflage, [email protected] fur patterns, and other tools for survival will be discussed in this program. If requested, program can be focused specifically on the following classes of animals: Reptiles, Amphibians, Mammals, Invertebrates (302) 571-7788 ext? Standards: Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Middle School High School

The Brandywine Zoo provides a chance to learn about K-LS1-1 1-LS1-1 3-LS4-3 4-LS1-1, MS-LS1-6, MS- HS-LS1-5, HS-LS1-6, wildlife conservation worldwide and here at home. 4-LS1-2 LS1-7, MS-LS4-6, HS-LS1-7, HS-LS4-2, Students can compare animal anatomy or learn about the MS-LS1-1, MS- HS-LS4-3, HS-LS4-4, challenges of wildlife conservation and efforts to protect LS1-2, MS-LS1-3, HS-LS4-5, HS-LS4-6, endangered habitats around the globe. MS-LS1-8 HS-LS1-1, HS-LS1-2, HS- LS1-3, HS-LS3-1 New Castle County Please note: the fees listed change seasonally. For more Starting at $200 + travel expenses information, please email [email protected]

Student Favorite: Popular Field Trip: ANIMAL BEHAVIOR STEM PROGRAM – FIELD TRIP ZOORGANISMS Grades 4 – 6 For grades K – 3 2 hours 30 – 40 Minutes Using animal observation studies, or ethology, students will develop skills in observation, inquiry, data collection, Students will discover the five things that all animals need to survive, help construct a food chain (complete with live animals), and utilize the zoo as an innovative and creative way to learn other concepts, skills and attitudes. Students statistical analysis and writing. Students will conduct an animal behavior study and practice data collection and will draw comparisons between themselves and animals and will understand the delicate balance of a food web after analysis using an ethogram data table. Maximum participants per program: 35 students completing this program. Standards: Standards: Grade 4 Kindergarten Grade 1 Grade 3 M.4.NF.C.6 K-LS1-1 2-LS2-1 3-LS4-3 Grade 5 Starting at $7– $8 per person M.5.NF.B.3, ELA.RI.5.5 Middle School

M.6.RP.A.1

Starting at $7 – $9 per person

12 A Teachers Guide to Delaware State Parks destateparks.com/school New Castle County Brandywine Zoo 13 Other School Programs:

ANIMAL CAREERS (K–GRADE 6) OR CAPTIVE ANIMAL CARE AND ZOO SCIENCE (GRADE 7–ADULT) 30 minutes Do you want to work with animals when you grow up? Learn about different specialty careers or what we do in zoos to care for our animals day-to-day in this fun program. Standards: Grade 3 Middle School High School 3-LS4-2 MS-LS4-4, MS-LS4-5 HS-LS4-2, HS-LS4-3

Starting at $7 – 8 per person The Delaware Children in Nature Coalition’s main goal is to ensure kids have the opportunity to get outdoors. We do so by partnering with organizations statewide, including Delaware State Parks. We are thrilled to work with them to deliver this SAVING SPECIES Teacher’s Guide to our educators. As you probably know, there are many variables that All Ages keep unstructured play outdoors and hands-on outdoor learning from being a priority, New Castle County 30 – 40 minutes such as time spent (children average 6.5 hrs. a day) on computers and cellphones. We Around the world, species are at risk! This program focuses on conservation of endangered species and what are hoping that you and your colleagues will help us move past those barriers. YOU can do to help them! Standards: In addition to this Teacher’s Guide, the Coalition provides resources for educators Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 5 Middle School High School and families. Our website, delawarecin.org, is filled with information. Watch for our Teacher Resource page, coming up this fall, where many partner members will offer 1-LS1-2 2-LS2-1, 3-LS1-1, 5-LS2-1 MS-LS1-4, MS-LS1-5, HS-LS1-4, HS-LS2-1, trainings, field trips, schoolyard habitat construction, and other opportunities. Our 2-LS4-1 3-LS4-4, MS-LS3-2, MS-LS2-1, HS-LS2-2, HS-LS2-6, events calendar is packed with events and festivals hosted by our partners across the 3-LS4-1 MS-LS2-2, MS-LS2-4, HS-LS2-7, HS-LS4-1, state. In 2014, Governor Jack Markell signed a proclamation stating that every October MS-LS2-5, MS-LS4-A, HS-LS4-6, HS-LS2-8 is Children in Nature Month. In October and every month we will be promoting child MS-LS4-2, MS-LS4-3, and family friendly events and activities all over Delaware that feature an outdoor MS-LS2-5 component. Starting at $200 + travel expenses Delaware’s State Parks offer incredible natural resources for you, your students and your families. Take advantage of the opportunities offered in this guide. Go even further—get outside whenever you can. Spending time in nature improves health, academic success, and overall happiness.

Let us all work together to connect students with our natural resources. Join us outside!

Cheryl Pittenger Delaware Children in Nature Coordinator

14 A Teachers Guide to Delaware State Parks destateparks.com/school New Castle County Delaware Children in Nature 15 Popular Outreach: HISTORY SLEUTHS ort Delaware State Park Grades 4 – 12 45 minutes 45 Clinton Street An historian brings artifacts and copies of primary and secondary research documents to the classroom, Delaware City, DE 19706 including diaries, journals, letters, military records and photographs. The presentation gives students a hands-on opportunity to learn how historians use the resources to tell the story of the people who lived and Call (302) 834-7941 to register worked at Fort Delaware during the Civil War. Standards: Grade 4 Grade 5 Middle School High School H1.45a, H2.45a, H3.45a H1.45a, H2.45a, H1.68a, H2.68a, H1.912a, H2.912a, School programs at focus on H3.45a H2.68b, H3.68a H2.912b, H3.912a Civil War history and Delaware’s role in the conflict. Students explore the fort, its rooms and its artifacts, $3 per student, plus travel fee of $.51 cents per mile if traveling more than 30 miles round-trip and meet costumed history interpreters who show what it was like to live and work in a 19th-century military Student Favorite:

prison. Your class may work with the laundress, talk New Castle County with a free black apprentice about his life at the fort, A FORT DELAWARE SOLDIER: witness an artillery demonstration and learn how our PRIVATE ALEXANDER HAMILTON – FIELD TRIP historians do primary research. Grades 4 – 8 45 minutes Visitors take a ½-mile boat ride from Delaware City to Meet Private Alexander J. Hamilton, who lived at Fort Delaware Pea Patch Island, where a jitney provides transport from during the Civil War and kept a diary of his experiences there. Students will be able to compare life today with life in 1864, and the island dock to the granite and brick fortress. The cost can start their own diary for the sake of posterity. of the ferry ride is included in the program fees. Standards:

Don’t miss our “Nature Nook” on Pea Patch Island. Participate in a fun scavenger hunt while Grade 4 Grade 5 Middle School learning about the ecology of the island. H1.45a, H3.45a H1.45a, H3.45a H1.68a $7 per student (chaperones/teachers receive student rate)

Popular Field Trip: Other School Programs: LIVING HISTORY AT FORT DELAWARE HUMANS AND PLANET EARTH (STEM) Grades 2 – 12 Grades 6 – 8 70 minutes 45 minutes Classes receive an introduction to life at Fort Delaware in 1864 and learn how we discover the post’s See how human activity impacts the earth’s history through primary sources such as diaries, journals, military records, photos and letters. They then shape and development. Students will discuss embark on an 1864 journey to meet interpreters in character portraying those who lived and worked on the consequences of river dredging and human Pea Patch Island, such as the schoolteacher, a prisoner, the blacksmith, a free black apprentice, a soldier activity on Pea Patch Island, and will consider and a laundress. Standards: ways to protect the natural resources of the area. Standards: Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 54 Grade 5 Middle School Middle School H2.K3a, H3.K3a, H2.K3a, H3.K3a, H1.45a, H2.45a H1.45a, H2.45a H1.68a, H2.68b MS-ESS3-2, MS-ESS3-3, MS-ESS3-4 H4.K3a, H4.K3b H4.K3a, H4.K3b $3 per student, plus travel fee of $.51 $7 per student (chaperones/teachers receive student rate) cents per mile if traveling more than 30 miles round-trip

16 A Teachers Guide to Delaware State Parks destateparks.com/school New Castle County Fort Delaware State Park 17 ums Pond State Park Popular Outreach: ANIMAL ADAPTATIONS 1068 Howell School Road Grades K – 5 Bear, DE 19701 30 – 45 minutes Students will discover why certain animals are suited for the Call (302) 368-6989 to register environment in which they live. They will handle animal pelts, shells and skulls and get the chance to meet some of the live animals that we have at Lums Pond. This program ties into the Delaware Habitats field study. Standards:

Lums Pond State Park surrounds Delaware’s largest Kindergarten Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 freshwater millpond and offers a variety of habitats, K-LS1-1, 1-LS1-1, 1-LS1-2 2-LS4-1 3-LS1-1, 3-LS2-1, 4-LS1-1, 4-LS1-2, 5-LS2-1, 5-ESS3-1 from the pond itself to hardwood forests, meadows K-ESS2-2, 3-LS3-1, 3-LS3-2, 4-ESS2-1 and distinctive “whale wallows,” wetland ecosystems K-ESS3-1, 3-LS4-2, 3-LS4-3, common to the Delmarva Peninsula. Lums Pond’s K-ESS3-3 3-LS4-4

Whale Wallow Nature Center highlights programs $4 per student New Castle County centering on the park’s diverse habitats and its inhabitants, and include dip-netting in the pond and sweep-netting on land. Picnic areas are available Student Favorite: throughout the park, and pavilions can be reserved for INSECT LIFE CYCLE – FIELD TRIP larger groups. Grades K – 5 2 hours Students will discover why certain animals are suited for the environment in which they live. They will handle animal pelts, shells and skulls and get the chance to meet some of the live animals that Popular Field Trip: we have at Lums Pond. This program ties into the Delaware Habitats field study.. Standards: POND STUDY Grades K – 5 Kindergarten Grade 1 1 hour K-LS1-1, 1-LS1-1, 1-LS1-2 Students will investigate the pond and all of its inhabitants through our interactive pond study! They will K-ESS3-1, learn to dip net and identify the abundance of wildlife that can be found in and around the pond. K-ESS3-1 Standards: Grade 2 Grade 3 Kindergarten Grade 1 2-LS2-2, 3-LS1-1, 3-LS2-1, K-LS1-1, K-ESS2-2, 1-LS1-1, 1-LS1-2 2-LS4-1 3-LS3-1, 3-LS3-2, K-ESS3-1, K-ESS3-3 3-LS4-2, 3-LS4-4 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 2-LS4-1 3-LS1-1, 3-LS2-1, 3-LS3-1, 4-LS1-1, 4-LS1-2 5-LS2-1 3-LS3-2, 3-LS4-2, 3-LS4-3, $6 per student 3-LS4-4 Grade 4 Grade 5 4-LS1-1, 4-LS1-2, 4-ESS2-1 5-LS2-1, 5-ESS3-1 $4 per student

18 A Teachers Guide to Delaware State Parks destateparks.com/school New Castle County Lums Pond State Park 19 Other School Programs:

AMPHIBIAN LIFE CYCLE Grades K – 5 Encourage parents to choose Delaware State Parks as part of their child’s 30 – 45 minutes summer to help reduce or prevent summer learning loss. Summer Camps are Students will learn about the stages of metamorphosis that an amphibian goes through to become an adult. They available from June to August at the following state parks: will also meet some live amphibians from Lums Pond. This program ties into the Insect Life Cycle field study. Standards: Kindergarten Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 K-LS1-1, 1-LS1-1, 1-LS1-2 2-LS4-1 3-LS1-1, 3-LS2-1, 4-LS1-1, 4-LS1- 2 5-LS2-1 K-ESS3-1, 1-LS1-1, 1-LS1-2 3-LS3-1, 3-LS3-2, K-ESS3-3 3-LS4-2, 3-LS4-3, Bellevue 3-LS4-4 Brandywine Creek $80 per program plus $,51 per mile traveled Brandywine Zoo Cape Henlopen AQUATIC HABITAT COMPARISON (STEM) New Castle County Grades 9 – 12 Killens Pond 2 – 4 hours Lums Pond Students will conduct biological surveys to test hypotheses that compare pond and vernal pool habitats. They will measure biodiversity and water quality to determine what makes these habitats different and why Trap Pond the differences occur. White Clay Creek Standards: High School HS-LS2-2, HS-LS2-6, HS-LS2-7, HS-LS2-8, HS-LS4-1, HS-LS4-2, HS-LS4-4, HS-LS4-5, HS-LS4-6, HS- ESS2-7, HS-ESS3-1, HS-ESS1-3 Starting at $7 – 8 per person

DELAWARE HABITATS Grades K – 5 1.5 hours Students will learn what makes an aquatic pond habitat and a terrestrial forest habitat unique. They will Information will be posted predict what wild life will be found based on the available resources and the adaptations needed to survive at on the Delaware State Parks each location. This program ties into the Animal Adaptations outreach program. website after January 1. Visit Standards: destateparks.com/summercamp Kindergarten Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 for information and registration. K-LS1-1, 1-LS1-1, 1-LS1-2 2-LS2-2, 3-LS1-1, 3-LS2-1, 4-LS1-1 5-LS1-1, 5-LS2-1 In many cases, scholarship funding K-ESS3-1 2-LS4-1 3-LS3-1, 3-LS3-2, is available. Most locations offer 3-LS4-2, 3-LS4-3, before and after care. 3-LS4-4 Starting at $200 + travel expenses

20 A Teachers Guide to Delaware State Parks destateparks.com/school New Castle County destateparks.com/summercamp 21 Popular Outreach: OWL ADAPTATIONS, PELLETS AND BONES hite Clay Creek Grades 3 – 5 45 minutes State Park Students will learn how owls’ adaptations help them 425 Wedgewood Road survive in Delaware. Then, using large mammal bones as models, we will dissect sterilized owl pellets in Newark, DE 19711 search of similar tiny bones in the owls’ prey. Program Call (302) 368-6560 to register uses owl taxidermy, owl wings, talons, mammal skulls, bones, dissecting tools and ID charts. School provides owl pellets. Additional fee charged if we supply pellets. This program is available from December through White Clay Creek State Park offers an outstanding March. Relates to Human Body Unit. selection of programs for all ages covering geology, Standards: biodiversity, water quality, ecosystems and more. The site Grade 3 Grade 5 is unparalleled for hands-on geology and riparian zone 3-PS2-1, 3-PS2-2, 3-PS2-1, 3-PS2-3, 3-PS2-4, 3-LS1-1, 5-PS2-1 studies. The staff will lead your students through a variety 3-LS4-2, 3-LS4-3 H4.68a of exciting field activities, from finding and identifying rocks and minerals in streambeds to dip-netting for $4 per student aquatic and riparian organisms. Our experienced educators are also available for outreach programs that Student Favorite: bring the outdoors to your classroom. EXTENDED GEOLOGY – FIELD TRIP Grades 4 – 5 3 ½ hours Students will become junior geologists by exploring different mineral properties. Equipped with geology hammers, they will use the information they learn to sort rocks on a gravel bar along the White Clay Creek. This expanded program incorporates additional stations on earth materials and how water shapes Popular Field Trip Experience: the land. Because of the extended time, this program can accommodate up to 100 students. Bus must WHITE CLAY SAND & SOIL remain at the park for the duration of the program and is used to transport children within the park. Grades 2 – 4 Time includes a ½-hour lunch break. A two-hour Geology program is also available. 3 ½ hours (includes ½ hour break for lunch) Standards: Get those hands dirty in this one-of-a-kind program at White Clay Creek. Students will explore and Grade 4 compare the sandy beach and riparian forest along the creek as we investigate the properties of soil (sand, clay and humus) to determine their effects on plant and animal life. 4-ESS2-1, 4-ESS2-1, 4-ESS3-1 Standards: Grade 5 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 5-ESS2-1, 5-ESS2-2 2-ESS1-1, 2-ESS2-1, 2-ESS2-2, 3-LS4-4, 3-LS4-4 4-ESS1-1, 4-ESS2-1, 4-ESS2-2 $6 per student 2-LS4-1-LS2- $6 per student

22 A Teachers Guide to Delaware State Parks destateparks.com/school New Castle County White Clay Creek State Park 23 Other Programs:

LIFE, LAND AND WATER SENSING WILDLIFE Grades 4 – 6 PreK – K 3 ½ hours 30 – 40 minutes Students will observe the different functions of living things and will see examples of water’s power to shape the Students will have a wild time learning about the five senses and using related sensory organs to explore how landscape, learn about the water cycle and test water quality. This program can accommodate up to 100 students. wildlife senses help them survive. Using hand lenses and senses students will sort and compare the nature items. Standards: Using hand lenses, students will venture outside for a hike along the creek to sort and compare the nature items they find. These programs are available November through April. Grade 4 Grade 5 Middle School Standards: 4-ESS2-1, 4-ESS3-2, 4-LS1-1 5-ESS2-2, 5-ESS2-1, 5-PS3-1, MS-ESS2-1, MS-ESS2-2, MS- Grade 1 5-LS1-1, 5-LS2-1 ESS2-4, MS-ESS2-5, MS-ESS2-6, 1-LS1-1 MS-ESS3-2, MS-ESS3-3, MS- ESS3-4, MS-LS1-1, MS-LS1-2, $80 per 1-hour program (max # 25 students) MS-LS1-3, MS-LS1-4, MS-LS1-5, 2 programs back-to-back $140 MS-LS3-2, MS-LS1-6, MS-LS1-7, 3 programs back-to-back $190 MS-LS2-3, MS-LS2-4, MS-LS2-5,

MS-LS3-1, MS-LS3-2, MS-LS4-4, New Castle County MS-LS4-5, MS-LS4-6 WATERSHED & STREAM DYNAMICS (STEM) $6 per student Grades 4 – 8 2 hours Learn about the larger concept of watersheds and how things done at home have an effect on other places. Then LIVING THINGS OF THE CREEK, FOREST AND FIELD travel to a beautiful spot along the White Clay Creek to see stream dynamics in action. Available in mid-May. Grades 1 – 2 Standards: 3 hours Grade 4 Grade 5 Middle School Discover the rich diversity of life along the forest and in the creek as we explore the life cycles and basic needs of 4-ESS2-1, 4-ESS3-2 5-ESS2-1, 5-ESS2-2, MS-ESS2-1, MS-ESS2-2, MS- organisms. Students will observe plants and animals, use dip nets and participate in an interactive hike. ESS2-4, MS-ESS2-5, MS-ESS2-6, Standards: MS-ESS3-2, MS-ESS3-3, MS- Grade 1 Grade 2 ESS3-4, MS-LS2-4, MS-LS2-5 1-LS1-1, 1-LS1-2 2-ESS2-2, 2-ESS2-3, 2-LS2-1, 2-LS4-1 $4 per student $4 per student

MYSTERY MINERALS Grades 4 – 5 30 – 40 minutes Rocks are made up of minerals that can be sorted by their properties. Students will become junior geologists when they explore different mineral properties. In stations around your classroom, your students can test samples for properties such as luster, magnetism, and streak to identify their mystery mineral. Available November through April. Standards: Grade 4 Grade 5 4-ESS2-1, 4-ESS2-2 5-ESS2-1, 5-ESS2-2 $80 per 1-hour program (max # 25 students) 2 programs back-to-back $140 3 programs back-to-back $190

24 A Teachers Guide to Delaware State Parks destateparks.com/school New Castle County White Clay Creek State Park 25 Popular Outreach: ilmington State Parks ENERGY IS EVERYWHERE (STEM) 1021 West 18th Street Grades 1 – 4 40 minutes Wilmington, DE 19802 Students will discover how different forms of energy are used in our everyday lives. Additionally, for the 4th Call (302) 577-7020 to register grade, electric circuitry used in alternative energy is demonstrated. Standards: Grade 1 Grade 4 1-PS4-2, 1-PS4-3, 1-PS4-1, 1-PS4-4 4-PS3-1, 4-PS3-2, 4-PS3-3, 4-PS3-4, 4-PS4-1, 4-PS4-3 Programs at Wilmington State Parks are as varied as $80 per program the park itself and take place at different sites within the park system. Using locations as diverse as Baynard Student Favorite: Stadium, the quarry at Alapocas Run and the banks of Brandywine Creek, our programs are sure to energize ANIMALS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD – OUTREACH Grades K – 1

your students as they learn about waterpower and New Castle County energy, city wildlife, plate tectonics, conservation, or a 30 minutes wealth of other exciting topics. Students will review the parts of a tree, learn how it grows from a seed to mature tree and discover what living things need to survive. Standards: Kindergarten Grade 1 K-LS1-1 1-LS1-1, 1-LS1-2 Popular Field Trip: $80 per program WATER’S POWER TO CHANGE (STEM) Grades 3 – 5 1.5 hours Students will connect energy and geology concepts to the topography of the Brandywine Creek in addition to After school experiences available to support at-risk students. exploring the creek’s pivotal role in Wilmington’s transition from an agricultural to industrial city. Visit destateparks.com/school Standard: Grade 3 3-LS4-4; H4.K3.a, H4.K3b, G2.K3a, G3.K3a Grade 4 4-PS3-1, 4-PS3-2, 4-PS3-3, 4-PS3-4, 4-ESS3-1, 4-ESS3-2; H4.45a, H4.45b, G2.45a, G3.45a Grade 5 5-LS2-1, 5-ESS2-2; H4.45a, H4.45b, G2.45a, G3.45a $4.50 per student

26 A Teachers Guide to Delaware State Parks destateparks.com/school New Castle County Wilmington State Park 27 Other Programs:

EARTH’S DYNAMIC SYSTEMS (STEM) STADIUM SCIENCE Grades 6 – 9 Grades 5 – 6 2 hours 1.5 hours At the Alapocas Run State Park quarry, students will examine the properties of rocks and minerals, the Using Baynard Stadium within Wilmington State Parks as their laboratory, students will explore how forces responsible for changing the Earth’s crust and use GPS units to connect the park’s geology to its forces apply to sports and affect the motion of the objects around them. history. Standards: Standards: Grade 5 Grade 4 Middle School High School 3-5-ETS1-1, 3-5-ETS1-2, 3-5-ETS1-3, 5-PS2-1 MS-PS2-1, MS-PS2-2, MS-PS2-3, MS-PS2-4, MS- MS-ESS1-4, MS-ESS2-3, MS-ESS2-1, MS-ESS2-2, H4.912a PS2-5, MS-PS1-4, MS-PS1-6, MS-PS3-1, MS-PS3-2, MS-ESS2-3, MS-ESS2-4, MS-ESS2-5, MS-ESS2-6, MS-PS3-3, MS-PS3-4, MS-PS3-5, MS-LS2-5, MS- MS-ESS3-1, MS-ESS3-2, MS-ESS3-3, MS-ESS3-4; ETS1-2, MS-ETS1-3, MS-ETS1-4, MS-ETS1-1 H4.68a, H4.68b $4.50 per student $5 per student New Castle County THE POWER OF WATER (STEM) EARTH’S TECHNOLOGY NOW AND THEN (STEM) Grades 3 – 4 Grades 6 – 9 30 – 45 minutes 40 minutes Using the scientific method, students will examine water as a source of power and explore the effect of flow and Students will examine past and present mapping technologies and have the opportunity to apply a current pressure on water. mapping technology to a parkland management planning need. Standards: Standards: Grade 3 Grade 4 Middle School High School 3-PS2-1, 3-PS2-2, 3-PS2-3, 3-PS2-4 4-PS3-1, 4-PS3-2, 4-PS3-3, 4-PS3-4, 4-PS4-1 MS-ESS1-4, MS-ESS3-2, MS-ESS3-3, MS-ESS3-4 HS-ESS1-4, HS-ESS3-2, HS-ESS3-3, HS-ESS3-4 $80 per program $80 per program

WILDLIFE IN THE CITY FORCES IN MOTION (STEM) Grades K – 1 Grades 4 – 6 1 hour 40 minutes Students will learn the difference between living and non-living things, discover what all living things need to Through experiments using Kinex® cars, students will observe how gravity and friction affect the motion of survive and how wildlife changes to survive in a city. objects. Standards: Standards: Grade 4 Middle School Kindergarten Grade 1 4-PS3-1, 4-PS3-2, 4-PS3-3, 4-PS3-4, 4-PS4-3 MS-PS2-1, MS-PS2-2, MS-PS2-3, MS-PS2-4, 4-ESS3-2, K-LS1-1 1-LS1-1, 1-LS1-2 MS-PS2-5, MS-PS1-4, MS-PS3-1, MS-PS3-2, MS- $4 per student PS3-3, MS-PS3-4, MS-PS3-5, MS-PS1-6, MS-LS2-5, MS-ETS1-2, MS-ETS1-3, MS-ETS1-4, MS-ETS1-1, MS-ETS1-4 $80 per program

28 A Teachers Guide to Delaware State Parks destateparks.com/school New Castle County Wilmington State Parks 29 LEGISLATIVE HALL Grades 4 – 12 irst State Heritage Park Standards: Welcome Center and Galleries Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 2-LS4-1, 3-LS4-2, 4-ESS2-1, 5-LS2-1 2-ESS2-1, 3-LS4-3, 4-ESS2-2, 121 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. North 2-ESS2-2 3-LS4-4 4-ESS3-2, Dover, DE 19901 4-ESS3-1, Call (302) 739-9194 to register 4-LS1-1 No fee

Students will get an education in Delaware history OLD STATE HOUSE MUSEUM Grades PreK – 12 and civics at First State Heritage Park as they visit the Standards: buildings and sites where our laws and history are made. Costumed interpreters bring our state’s history Grade 14 Grade 35 to life, teaching a wide range of subjects, from how H2.45b, C1.45b H2.45b, C1.45b laws are made to the 18th century’s “discussions of the No fee day.” Our free programs are offered daily and provide a full day of activities for classroom audiences. JOHN BELL HOUSE Grades PreK – 12 Kent County Standards: Kindergarten Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Middle High Popular Field Trip: School School TOURS OF THE FIRST STATE HERITAGE PARK H2.K3a H2.K3a H2.K3a H2.K3a H2.45b H2.45b H2.68b, H4.912a There are several different locations within First State Heritage Park for tours. We can create a customized H4.68a itinerary for you and your group based on your age group and the amount of time you have to spend with No fee us. You can participate in one program, or stay all day! No fee for school programs JOHNSON VICTROLA MUSEUM Grades PreK – 12 DELAWARE PUBLIC ARCHIVES Standards: Grades 1–12 Grade 4 Grade 5 Standards: H2.45b H2.45b Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 No fee H2.K3a, H3.K3a H2.K3a, H3.K3a H2.K3a, H3.K3a Grade 4 Grade 5 Middle School BIGGS MUSEUM OF H2.45a, H4.45a H2.45a, H4.45a H2.68B AMERICAN ART Grades PreK – 12 No fee Standards: All Grades VArt-4.1, VArt-4.4 No fee

30 A Teachers Guide to Delaware State Parks destateparks.com/school Kent County First State Heritage Park 31 Student Favorite:

LEGISLATIVE HALL – FIELD TRIP SLAVERY AND FREEDOM WALKING TOUR Grades 3 – 12 Grades 6 – 12 30 – 45 minutes 45 minutes Every student should know where the laws are made for themselves and their state. This guided tour of Learn about Delaware’s complicated position as a border state during the Civil War. Hear about famous Legislative Hall emphasizes the building as Delaware’s capitol, but also Dover as Delaware’s capital city. African-American Richard Allen and his connections to the Golden Fleece Tavern. Students will learn about the legislative process, procedure and powers as they apply in Delaware. During Standards: the tour, the program will stress the involvement of citizens both young and old, emphasizing how they are Middle School High School able to affect change. Standards: H4.68a H4.912a Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Middle School High School No fee C1.K3a, C1.K3b C1.45a, C1.45b C1.45a, C1.45b C1.68a, C1.68b C1.912a No fee STORIES OF THE GREEN WALKING TOUR Grades 6 – 12 45 minutes Guided walks through the historic district reveal the people and events that left their mark on Dover’s Other School Programs: history. Standards: DOVER’S HEROES OF THE REVOLUTION Middle School High School WALKING TOUR Kent County H4.68a H4.912a Grades 6 – 12 45 minutes No fee Tories, Whigs, militia and insurrection – Dover was a hotbed of revolutionary and loyalist activity during the struggle for American Independence. Visit the final resting places of early WOMEN OF THE GREEN WALKING TOUR military heroes. Grades 6 – 12 Standards: 45 minutes Learn about the lives and contributions of the women who were innkeepers, political leaders and social Middle School High School figures. The tour will take place around The Green in Dover. H4.68a H4.912a Standards: No fee Middle School High School H4.68a H4.912a GROWING UP IN THE 18TH CENTURY No fee Grades K – 6 30 minutes Students will learn about when colonial times occurred; they will also learn about the available technology and cultural mindset. Students will be given several objects and be asked to use their reasoning skills to decide what the object would have been used for in the 18th century. Standards: Kindergarten Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Middle School H2.K3a H2.K3a H2.K3a H2.K3a H2.45b H2.45b H2.68b, No fee

32 A Teachers Guide to Delaware State Parks destateparks.com/school Kent County First State Heritage Park 33 illens Pond State Park Popular Outreach: REPTILES RULE 5025 Killens Pond Road Grades 1 – 4 Felton, DE 19943 45 minutes This live reptile program brings turtles, snakes, and lizards into the classroom for students to experience hands- Call (302) 284-4299 to register on! Reptile adaptations to survive in certain habitats will be demonstrated and discussed. We will learn what physical characteristics make reptiles similar to each other, and what characteristics create the different orders. Standards: Grade 1 Grade 3 Grade 4 Programs at Killens Pond State Park center on 1-LS1-1 3-LS4-3 4-LS1-1 Delaware’s reptiles and amphibians and often include $80 per program dip-netting or live animal demonstrations. Classes take place in the Nature Center’s lab, on the covered deck or outdoor auditorium overlooking the forest and Student Favorite: mill pond, and along the edges of the pond itself. The MY LIFE AT THE POND – FIELD TRIP Nature Center also includes an outstanding interactive Grades K – 1 herpetology exhibit that features Delaware’s collection 2.5 hours of native reptiles and amphibians. Organisms abound in the habitat of a pond. Come learn what a habitat needs to be a home, and what creatures call Killens Pond their home. Students will use dip-nets and hands to capture pond organisms Kent County for closer observation. With the help of a naturalist, the animals will be identified, discussed, and released. Shoes and clothing that can get wet and muddy are suggested for this activity. Students will meet Killens Pond’s live reptiles and amphibians in an up-close and personal activity. We will explore their habitat needs Popular Field Trip: and what makes a reptile’s needs different from an amphibian’s. Additionally, we will hike the Pondside Trail searching for the animals that make their homes along the pond’s edge. AMPHIBIAN OR CANARY? Standards: For grades 6 – 12 3 hours Grade 1 Students will explore the changing world of amphibians by taking a kayak trip, acquiring a biotic sample of 1-LS1-1, 1-LS1-2 pond life which indicates the health of the pond, and meeting the Killens Pond’s live amphibian collection. Based on our findings, we will discuss the aquatic health of the Killens Pond ecosystem. We will also discuss $6 per student how amphibians (and other aquatic organisms) are “canary species” for aquatic health and learn about amphibians first hand with our live specimens. The impact of pollution on an ecosystem is huge, but there are things we can do to help and we will discuss how individual students can make a difference in the big picture. Standards: Middle School High School MS-LS2-5, MS-LS4-4, MS- HS-LS2-7, HS-LS4L2, HS- LS4-5, MS-LS4-6, MS-ESS3-3, LS4-3, HS-LS4-4, HS-LS4-5, MS-ESS3-4, MS-ESS3-5 HS-LS4-6, HS-ESS3-3, HS- ESS3-4, HS-ESSE-5, HS- ESS3-6 $10 per student

34 A Teachers Guide to Delaware State Parks destateparks.com/school Kent County Killens Pond State Park 35 Other School Programs:

DELAWARE’S HERPS KENT COUNTY WATERSHEDS Grade 4 Grades 3 – 4 3 hours 3 hours What is the difference between a reptile and an amphibian (herps)? How do they communicate with each other? Students will dip-net at the pond to identify aquatic life that indicate the health of the pond. Students will take How many herps are there? Come find out the answers and meet the Killens Pond live reptile and amphibian water samples and test for pH, nitrates and temperature to determine pond health. Students will use the Enviro- collection! This three-part program will focus on the different adaptations of herps, how they communicate with scape model to learn about point source and non-point source pollution. each other, and the huge biodiversity of the reptile and amphibian world and why these amazing animals are Standards: disappearing in Delaware. Grade 3 Grade 4 Standards: 3-LS4-4 4-ESS3-1 Grade 4 $6 per student 4-LS1-1 $6 per student RED MAPLE POND – WATER POLLUTION – ECOSYSTEMS Grades 3 – 4 FOOD CHAINS AND WEBS – ECOSYSTEMS 45 minutes Grade 5 Students will create a model watershed and learn how humans impact the environment through point source 45 minutes and non-point source pollution. Students will learn about natural food pyramids, chains and webs and will role-play animals in this fast and Standards:

interactive food web activity. Grade 3 Grade 4 Kent County Standards: 3-LS4-4 4-ESS3-2 Grade 5 $80 per program 5-PS3-1, 5-LS2-1 $80 per program TREE-MENDOUS TREES – TREES Kindergarten INSECTS ABOUND 45 minutes Grade 3 Students will examine growth rings of tree slices and learn tree anatomy, seed types and dispersal of 3 hours Delaware tree species. Students will identify major features and adaptations of insects. Students will discuss insect life cycles and Standards: explore different habitats while capturing insects and examining them up close. Kindergarten Standards: K-LS1-1, K-ESS2-2, K-ESS3-1 Grade 3 $80 per program 3-LS2-1, 3-LS4-3 $6 per student WRIGGLING WORMS AND DECOMPOSITION – ORGANISMS Grade 1 45 minutes Students will learn about worm anatomy and behaviors, life cycles of worms and how worms assist in decomposition and soil development. Standards: Grade 1 1-LS1-1, 1-LS1-2 $80 per program

36 A Teachers Guide to Delaware State Parks destateparks.com/school Kent Couny Killens Pond State Park 37 Popular Outreach: ape Henlopen CRABBY CRUSTACEANS Kindergarten – Grade 1 State Park 1 hour Using props and live animals, students 15099 Cape Henlopen Drive observe, compare and identify differences in structures and functions between horseshoe Lewes, DE 19958 crabs and true crabs. Students investigate Call (302) 645-6852 to register the interaction between different “crabs” and their environments and explore the importance of both “crabs” in the Delaware Bay ecosystem. Standards: The beach is your classroom at Cape Henlopen! Programs teach students about our coastal habitats. Kindergarten Make the most of the field trip experience with an K-LS1-1, K-ESS3-1 in-depth, multi-day schedule and overnight group Grade 1 accommodations. The Seaside Nature Center’s large 1-LS1-1, 1-LS3-1, salt-water aquariums and touch tank gives students an

up-close and personal view of the animals that live just $80 per program Sussex County offshore. Student Favorite: PINELANDS HIKE – FIELD TRIP Popular Field Trip Experience: Grades K – 2 RESIDENTIAL ECOSYSTEM EDUCATION AT 1 hour CAPE HENLOPEN (REECH) (STEM) Students will compare maritime forest to the beach using their senses and powers of investigation to study the soil and the environment, discovering how plants and animals survive in this habitat. Students scour the beach to Grades 7 – 8 2 days, 1 night see how beach animals survive in their habitat. Standards: During this two day, one-night program students will explore our coastal ecosystem, its many habitats and its organisms. Kindergarten K-LS1-1, K-ESS2-2 Funding is available for qualified schools. More details on page 41. $4Grade per student; 1 $55 minimum Can’t commit to two full days? Schedule one of the following programs focused on a coastal habitat. Each 1-LS1-1 two-hour program meets many of the same standards as REECH. Grade 2 Standards: 2-LS4-1 , 2-ESS2-2 Middle School MS-LS2-1, MS-LS2-4, MS-LS2-2 $4 per student; $55 minimum $65 per student (two teachers attend free)

MARINE ECOLOGY: During this inquiry driven program, students measure water quality parameters and collect live organism to get a snap shot of the health of the Delaware Bay.

COASTAL WETLANDS ECOLOGY: Students compare fresh and salt water wetlands through hands- on investigations while learning the importance of these ecosystems to Delaware’s watersheds.

38 A Teachers Guide to Delaware State Parks destateparks.com/school Sussex County Cape Henlopen State Park 39 Other School Programs: REECH – How We Teach at the Beach! BEACH DETECTIVES Grades K – 2 Residential Ecosystem Education at Cape 1 hour Henlopen (REECH) is a two-day, one-night Make the most of your Cape Henlopen field trip by participating in a Beach Detectives program along with program for students in grades 7 and 8 at Cape your Pinelands Hike. Students study the living and non-living nature of the beach community and examine the Henlopen State Park. Students will enjoy hands- on investigations of Cape Henlopen’s coastal diversity of seashore life and their adaptations to the environment. ecosystem; courses are designed to meet state Standards: standards. Kindergarten Grade 1 Grade 2 Cape Henlopen State Park’s 5,000+ acres makes K-LS1-1, K-ESS2-2 1-LS1-1 2-LS4-1 , 2-ESS2-2 it the perfect place to explore diverse habitats. $4 per student; $55 minimum Students will take an in-depth, project-based learning approach to assess the health and function of the Cape Henlopen ecosystem, with programs that include marine ecology of Delaware Bay, nocturnal ecology of the dune habitats, and SEASHORE SAFARI exploration of maritime forest and coastal ecosystems. Kindergarten – Grade 1 1 hour Indoor programs take place at the Cape Henlopen’s

Schedule a Seashore Safari field trip to the park to complement your Crabby Crustacean outreach program. Seaside Nature Center’s auditorium, and can Sussex County During Seashore Safari, students will discover how many different plants and animals survive in their accommodate up to 60 participants; however, most of Delaware Bay habitat by comparing live animals collected in a seine net. the time, students are out in the park, exploring the Standards: environment. Kindergarten Grade 1 Students and teachers stay in dorm-style housing, K-LS1-1, K-ESS3-1 1-LS1-1, 1-LS3-1 with separate bathhouse facilities (toilets and $4 per student; $55 minimum showers). A mess hall is located within the youth camp boundaries. Participants provide their own bedding, towels and toiletries. The REECH facilities are accessible and a beach wheel chair is available to provide some access for most of the field programs. Meals are catered and served buffet style.

To find out whether your school is qualified for funding through the Jim O’Neill Scholarship or the Thatcher Education Fund, or for more information on REECH, visit destateparks.com/ school/REECH.

Show your students how fun learning can be…try REECH at the beach!

40 A Teachers Guide to Delaware State Parks destateparks.com/school Sussex County REECH Program 41 Popular Outreach: PIRATES, PISTOLS & PLUNDER ort Miles Grades 4 – 8 1 hour at Cape Henlopen State Park As a critical port town in the 17th and 18th century, Lewes became a place of sanctuary and treachery for famous pirates. Students will geographically explore the area surrounding Lewes to understand the 15099 Cape Henlopen Drive draw for pirates and learn what shipboard life was like for those pirates. Lewes, DE 19958 Standards: Call (302) 645-6852 to register Grade 4 Grade 5 Middle School H1.45a, H2.45b, H3.45a, H4.45a, H1.45a, H2.45b, H3.45a, H4.45a, ELA.RH.68.9; H1.68a, H2.68b, G1.45a, G2.45a, G3.45a, G4.45a G1.45a, G2.45a, G3.45a, G4.45a H3.68a, H4.68a, G4.68a $80 per program Students will get an up-close experience at Fort Miles Historical Area as they visit Battery 519, the Cantonment Area and even a Fire Control Tower. Student Favorite: At Fort Miles, students will step back in history to GEOCACHING THE CAPE: HISTORY’S TREASURES – FIELD TRIP the days of World War II and learn what it was like Grades 6 – 8 to be stationed here, guarding the eastern seaboard 1 hour

from possible German attack. Using hand-held GPS units, students will discover the hidden treasures of Cape Henlopen, including Sussex County relics from World War II, Delaware Breakwater Quarantine Station and geologic features of the area. Standards: Grade 4 Grade 5 Middle School ELA.SL.4.1, ELA.SL.4.2, ELA. ELA.SL.5.1, ELA.SL.5.2, ELA.SL.5.3; ELA.RH.68.7, ELA.SL.6.1, ELA. SL.4.3; H1.45a, H2.45b, H4.45a, H1.45a, H2.45b, H4.45a, G1.45a, SL.6.2, ELA.SL.6.3, ELA.SL.7.1, Popular Field Trip: G1.45a, G2.45a, G3.45a, G4.45a G2.45a, G3.45a, G4.45a ELA.SL.7.2, ELA.SL.7.3, ELA.SL.8.1, FORT MILES – COASTAL DEFENDERS ELA.SL.8.2, ELA.SL.8.3; H1.68a, Grades 4 – 12 H2.68b, G2.68a 1 hour $ 4 per student or $55 minimum The Delaware Bay was a strategic location during World War II. Students will discover how Fort Miles protected it by touring the barracks, gun park and underground bunker known as Battery 519. Standards: TOWERS AND GUNNERS Grade 4 Grade 5 Middle School High School Grades 6 – 8 1 hour ELA.SL.4.1, ELA. ELA.SL.5.1, ELA. ELA.SL.6.1, ELA.SL.6.2, ELA. ELA.SL.910.1, ELA.SL.910.2, SL.4.2, ELA.SL.4.3, SL.5.2, ELA.SL.5.3, SL.6.3, ELA.SL.6.4, ELA. ELA.SL.910.3, ELA.SL.910.4, Firing the large guns at Fort Miles during WWII required precise observations, ELA.SL.4.4, ELA. ELA.SL.5.4, ELA. SL.6.5, ELA.SL.6.6, ELA. ELA.SL.910.5, ELA.SL.910.6, calculations, and teamwork. Students SL.4.5, ELA.SL.4.6; SL.5.5, ELA.SL.5.6; SL.7.1, ELA.SL.7.2, ELA. ELA.SL.1112.1, ELA. will use observations and geometric/ H1.45a, H2.45a, H1.45a, H2.45a, SL.7.3, ELA.SL.7.4, ELA. SL.1112.2, ELA.SL.1112.3, mathematical calculations to determine a H3.45a, H4.45a, H3.45a, H4.45a, SL.7.5, ELA.SL.7.6, ELA. ELA.SL.1112.4, ELA. “firing solution.” H4.45b, G1.45a, H4.45b, G1.45a, SL.8.1, ELA.SL.8.2, ELA. SL.1112.5, ELA.SL.1112.6, Standards: G2.45a, G3.45a G2.45a, G3.45a SL.8.3, ELA.SL.8.4, ELA. ELA.RH.1112.9; H2.912b, SL.8.5, ELA.SL.8.6; H1.68a, H3.912a, H4.912a, H4.912b, Middle School H2.68b, H3.68a, G2.68a, G2.912a, C1.912a ELA.RH.68.3, ELA.RH.68.4, ELA.RH.68.5, C1.68a, C3.68b ELA.RST.68.3, ELS.RST.68.4, M.7.G, M.8.G; $4 per student or $55 minimum H1.68a, H2.68b, G1.68a, G2.68a, C1.68a, C3.68b $4 per student or $55 minimum

42 A Teachers Guide to Delaware State Parks destateparks.com/school Sussex County Fort Miles 43 Popular Outreach: elaware Seashore SQUID DISSECTION: FROM PEN TO INK! (STEM) Grades 2 – 8 State Park 1 hour Study one of the most specialized invertebrates of the sea! A park naturalist will guide participants in a 39415 Inlet Road dissection, and at the end of the program, students will cook up our study specimens and enjoy them as calamari! Can also be scheduled as a field trip. Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 Standards: Call (302) 227-6991 to register Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Middle School 2-PS1-1, 2-PS1-3, 2-LS4-1 3-LS1-1, 3-LS2-1, 3-LS4-2, MS-LS1-3, MS-LS4-4, 2-LS4-1 3-LS4-3 3-LS4-4 MS-LS4-5, MS-LS4-6 Tidal estuaries and marine habitats are the focus of Delaware Seashore State Park’s environmental $6 per student education programs, while the U.S. Life-Saving Service, the precursor to today’s modern Coast Guard, takes center stage in our history programs. Students Student Favorite: can test water quality aboard a pontoon boat in the MARSH WALK – FIELD TRIP Inland Bays, or learn about the wildlife of the marine Grades 2–12 Sussex County ecosystem in habitats as diverse as their inhabitants. 45 minutes Learn about the importance of wetlands in Delaware’s Inland Bays as you make your way through the muddy waters of a salt marsh. Students will learn how to identify marsh grasses and their various adaptations to living in such a harsh, salty environment. With some luck, the group may get to see Osprey, herons, horseshoe crabs or Popular Field Trip: even a diamondback terrapin along the way. Standards: SEINING THE BAY Grades 1 – 4 1 hour Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 (only available during May and June) 2-LS4-1, 2-ESS2-1, 3-LS4-2, 3-LS4-3, 4-ESS2-1, 4-ESS2-2, 5-LS2-1 Pull a 30-foot net through the shallow waters of Rehoboth Bay. Gather the critters and plants and get an up-close 2-ESS2-2 3-LS4-4 4-ESS3-2, 4-ESS3-1, view of the creatures that call the bay home. Learn about their habitats and special adaptations before releasing 4-LS1-1 them back into the bay. Standards: Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Middle School 1-LS3-1 2-LS4-1 3-LS1-1, 3-LS2-1, 3-LS4-2, 3-LS4-3 3-LS4-4 MS-ESS2-1, MS-ESS2-2, MS-ESS2-3, Grade 4 MS-ESS3-4, MS-LS1-1, MS-LS1-2, MS- LS1-3, MS-LS1-4, MS-LS1-5, MS-LS3-2, 4-LS1-1 MS-LS2-1, MS-LS2-2, MS-ESS3-3, MS- $4 per student ESS3-4 High School HS-LS2-3, HS-LS4-4, HS-ESS2-1, HS-ESS2-2, HS-ESS2-3, HS-ESS2-4, HS-LS1-1, HS-LS1-2, HS-LS1-3, HS- LS3-1, HS-LS4-2, HS-LS4-3, HS-LS4-4, HS-LS4-5, HS-LS4-6 $4 per student

44 A Teachers Guide to Delaware State Parks destateparks.com/school Sussex County Delaware Seashore State Park 45 Other School Programs:

BUILD AND FLY A KITE (STEM) LIFE OF A SURFMAN Grades K – 6 Grades 3 – 5 45 minutes 1 hour Have fun while learning about modern uses of wind energy, updrafts and the physics behind flight. Each Learn about the day-to-day life of a surfman while touring the Indian River Life-Saving Station, one of the student will make their own kite to take home. Can also be brought to your site. oldest buildings along the coast! Standards: Standards: Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Middle School Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 3-PS2-1, 3-PS2-2 4-PS3-2, 4-PS3-3, 4-PS3- 5-ESS3-1 MS-ESS2-5, MS-ESS2-6, H3.K3a H2.45b, H4.45a, H4.45b H2.45b, H4.45a, H4.45b 4, 4-ESS3-1 MS-ESS3-4, MS-ESS3-3 $4 per student $6 per student

COASTAL PREDATORS SHIPWRECKS & BURIED TREASURE (STEM) Grades K – 3 Grades 3 – 5 45 minutes 1 hour Students will learn about food webs within a coastal ecosystem, the difference between predators and prey, Students will learn about Delaware’s maritime history and will venture outside with GPS units and and how to identify predators. geocaching skills to locate “buried treasures” on the beach. Standards: Standards: Sussex County Kindergarten Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 K-LS1-1, K-ESS3-1 2-LS2-1, 2-LS4-1 3-LS4-2, 3-LS4-3, 3-LS4-2, 3-LS4- H2.K3a, H3.K3a, H4.K3a, G1.K3a H4.45a, H4.45b, E3.45a H4.45a, H4.45b, E3.45a 3, 3-LS4-4 $5 per student $4 per student

JELLY, JELLY, JELLYFISH Grades K – 1 40 minutes What makes jellyfish unique and why are they ecologically important? See and touch real critters of the bay, including the jellyfish – the non-stinging species of course! Standards: Kindergarten Grade 1 About Delaware Seashore State Park K-LS1-1, K-ESS3-1 1-LS1-1 One of Delaware’s most popular destinations, $4 per student Delaware Seashore State Park borders the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and Rehoboth and Indian River Bays to the west. Its six miles of pristine shoreline provide top-notch recreation, from surf fishing and beach combing to kayaking the back bays. The park is also home to the Indian River Life-Saving Station, originally built in 1876 and now meticulously restored to its 1905 appearance. Operating as a museum with costumed interpreters illustrating its past, the station also includes one of the area’s most interesting gift shops.

46 A Teachers Guide to Delaware State Parks destateparks.com/school Sussex County Delaware Seashore State Park 47 Popular Outreach: rap Pond State Park NIGHT HUNTERS Grades 3 – 6 33587 Baldcypress Lane 45 minutes Laurel, DE 19956 Ever wonder how owls hunt in the dark? It takes a lot more than having good low-light vision. Just about every feature of the owl is perfected Call (302) 875-5163 to register to their nighttime niche. Our traveling naturalist will bring a taxidermy owl and presentation materials that your students can see, handle and hear while learning many of the unique adaptations of our night hunters. For a small additional materials fee, we can also have your students dissect an owl pellet, where they will learn about the owl’s diet first hand. Trap Pond State Park, situated within the Chesapeake Standards: Watershed, features the northernmost natural stand of baldcypress trees in the United States. It’s also home Grade 3 Grade 5 Middle School to the new Baldcypress Nature Center, which houses 3-LS4-2, 3-LS4-3 5-LS2-1 MS-LS2-3, MS-LS4-4, MS- interactive exhibits about the history of the park and LS4-5, MS-LS4-6 the importance of Delaware’s watersheds. Programs at $4 per student Trap Pond focus on watershed habitats, ornithology

and biology, and may include hikes on land or an Sussex County exploration of the baldcypress swamp by pontoon Student Favorite: boat. There are shaded picnic areas near the pond, and THE POWER OF WATER – FIELD TRIP (STEM) cabins are available to rent for overnight field trips. Grades 3 – 5 1 hour Discover the earth-moving power of water as we explore good old H2O. Students will learn about the amazing properties of water while performing hands-on tasks. Popular Field Trip: Standards: WATERS OF THE CHESAPEAKE For grades 3 – 6 Grade 3 2.5 hours 3-PS2-1, 3-PS2-2, 3-PS2-3, 3-PS2- Students will explore the unique habitat of the Baldcypress Swamp aboard our pontoon boat. They will follow 4; M.3.MD.5 an imaginary water drop from Trap Pond as it makes its way to the Chesapeake Bay. The program also includes Grade 4 exercises in outlining watersheds and a brief introduction to water quality testing that will show the importance of 4-PS3-1, 4-PS3-2, 4-PS3-3; water management and pollution control. Standards: M.4.MD.3 Grade 5 Grade 3 Grade 4 5-PS1-1, 5-PS1-2, 5-PS1-3, 5-PS2- 3-LS4-4; G1.K3a, G2.K3, 4-ESS2-1; G1.45a, G2.45a, 1; M.5.MD.1, M.5.MD.3, M.5.MD.4, H1.K3a H1.45a M.5.MD.5 Grade 5 Middle School $6 per student 5-ESS2-1, 5-ESS2-2; G1.45a, MS-LS2-4, MS-LS2-5, G2.45a, H1.45a MS-ESS2-1, MS-ESS2-2, MS-ESS2-4, MS-ESS2-5, MS-ESS2-6, MS-ESS2-2, MS-ESS3-1, MS-ESS3-3, MS-ESS3-4; G1.68a, G2.68a, H1.68a $12 per student

48 A Tea destateparks.com/school Sussex County Trap Pond State Park 49 Other School Programs: Other DNREC Sites: EXPLORING A SOUTHERN SWAMP PONTOON TOUR Grades K – 6 1 hour Delaware National Estuarian Hop aboard our pontoon boat to discover the Baldcypress Swamp. Both people and animals have made their Research Reserve (DNERR) homes here due to the unique habitat. Standards: t. Jones Reserve Kindergarten Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Middle School 818 Kitts Hummock Road K-ESS3-1, G1.K3a, 2-LS2-1, 3-LS4-3, 4-ESS3-1; 5-LS2-1; MS-LS2-1, MS- K-ESS3-3; G2.K3, 2-LS4-1; 3-LS4-4; G1.45a, G1.45a, LS2-2, MS-LS2-3, Dover, DE 19901 G1.K3a, G2.K3, H1.K3a G1.K3a, G1.K3a, G2.45a, G2.45a, MS-LS4-6, (302) 739-6377 H1.K3a G2.K3, G2.K3, H1.45a H1.45a MS-LS2-5, H1.K3a H1.K3a MS-ESS3-1, The St. Jones Center for Estuarine Studies is open to the public MS-ESS3-3, MS- Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., and is closed on official state ESS3-4; G1.68a, holidays. The center offers hands-on interactive activities and exhibits. G2.68a, H1.68a The surrounding hiking trails and restoration demonstration areas $4 per student are open to the public daily from dawn to dusk. The center offers a

variety of programs and volunteer opportunities for the community, Sussex County teachers, students, and families. It also supports ongoing research and FRESHWATER SEINING OR DIPNETTING monitoring, field studies, citizen monitoring programs, and training Grades K – 2 opportunities for coastal decision makers. Entrance to the center and 2 – 4 hours trail usage are free of charge (please take note of posted signs during Examine some of Trap Pond’s underwater life during this fun program. Students and chaperones may get a little hunting seasons which may result in closure of some areas). muddy as they learn about lifecycles and the environment. Standards: Kindergarten Grade 1 Grade 2 1-LS1-1, 1-LS1-2 2-LS2-1 $4 per student lackbird Creek Reserve USING MAP AND COMPASS 801 Blackbird Landing Road Grades 6 – 10 Townsend, DE 19734 1 hour Countless generations have used maps to help understand the land around them. Reading and using maps can be (302) 378-5734 fun as we investigate Trap Pond. Standards: The Blackbird Creek Reserve is located upstream from Delaware Route 9 at Taylors Bridge in Townsend, DE. The reserve boasts Middle School High School several miles of trails through uplands and along the marsh, a canoe/ MS-ESS3-3, MS-ESS3-4; M.7.G.1; H3.68a, G1.68a, HS-ESS3-3, HS-ESS3-4; H3.912a, G1.912a, G1.912b, kayak launch, restoration demonstration areas as well as programs G2.68a G2.912a and volunteer opportunities for the community, teachers, students, and families. The reserve also supports ongoing research and $4 per student monitoring, field studies, citizen monitoring programs, and training opportunities for coastal decision makers. It is open to the public from dawn until dusk daily and free of charge (please take note of posted signs during hunting seasons which may result in closure of some areas).

50 A Teachers Guide to Delaware State Parks destateparks.com/school dnrec.delaware.gov/coastal Other DNREC Sites 51 Delaware Division of How to Plan a State Park Field Trip Fish and Wildlife This guide will help you negotiate the registration process and pre-trip preparation needed to make your trip a success. If at any time during your field trip experience you have questions or requests, talk to the park interpreter. Interpreters want the best experience for your group and will do all they can to ensure your class’ success. quatic Resource PREPARE YOUR STUDENTS Education Center The best way to ensure that your students will get the most out of your class’ field trip is to prepare everyone involved so they are comfortable with what might be a new experience. For some students, this may be their first trip into the outdoors. Set your students up for success by visiting the park’s website. Here are some suggestions for how best to (AREC) prepare for your special day.

4876 Hay Point Landing Road Clothing: Smyrna, DE 19977 When your class visits a Delaware State Park, you will spend a large portion of the day outside. Students and chaperones should dress for the weather and be prepared to get dirty. They should wear flat, closed-toe shoes (like (302) 653-2882 sneakers), regardless of the weather. If the weather report calls for rain or snow, everyone should come prepared for wet and muddy feet. If your program takes place on or near a body of water, your students might get muddy feet Located on the scenic Delaware Bay marshlands in the even on the sunniest day. Woodland Beach Wildlife Area east of Smyrna, AREC offers wetland education materials, salt marsh ecology field trips, Pre-Visit Activities: school outreach programs on a variety of topics, youth fishing There are several ways to prepare your students for the content that they will be learning during their program. One programs, schoolyard habitat workshops, the Adopt-a-Wetland way is to check out the park’s outreach programs to complement your field trip and perhaps qualify for a discount on Program, and other aquatic education programs. both programs. In any case, talking to your students about what they will be doing will enhance their experience and help them grasp what they will be learning.

CONTACT DELAWARE STATE PARKS TO REGISTER FOR A PROGRAM

Setting up a field trip is a big job. We know your time is limited, so Delaware State Parks has made it as easy as uPont Nature Center possible for you to secure your date and prepare your students. The best place to start planning for your field trip is the Delaware State Parks website at destateparks.com/school, where you will find a complete list of program descriptions, park information, policies and contact information, Slaughter Beach plus a copy of this Teachers Guide for you to reference. 2992 Lighthouse Road Choose a Date Milford, DE 19963 When choosing your dates, think about what time of year you would like to make your visit. Most teachers like (302) 422-1329 to plan field trips in the spring, between mid-April and mid-June. The weather in the spring can make for a great field trip, but can sometimes conflict with testing and other activities. The fall can also be a popular time to book Visitors can learn about horseshoe crabs, migratory shorebirds, trips as the weather begins to change. Plan early to make sure you get the dates you want for your group. waterfowl and the Delaware Estuary. Interior exhibits include the history of Slaughter Beach and the famed Mispillion Consider booking your field trip in the late fall, winter or early spring. If your program is not specific to the Lighthouse, and educational information on horseshoe crabs, weather or the season, you may have more flexibility than in more popular months. shorebirds, waterfowl and plant life of the Salt Marsh. The DuPont Nature Center is open April 1 through September 30. If you are planning to visit during the peak field trip months, you might consider an afternoon start time for your programs. Most schools visit in the morning because bus schedules dictate their window of opportunity. If you have some flexibility in your day, or if you are registering for an overnight program at a park that offers them, an

afternoon start time will ensure more available program dates.

52 A Teachers Guide to Delaware State Parks dnrec.delaware.gov/coastal destateparks.com How to Plan a State Park Field Trip 53 Your school or district offices are often aware of these programs and they are advertised to teachers Field Trip Checklist through professional organizations and publications. While applying for grants can sometimes seem daunting, most foundations try to make the process easy, and there may be experienced grant writers What you will need before you call the park that you plan to visit: in your school’s administration who can help you. Delaware State Parks has a grant writer on staff who • Several possible dates may be able to help you with your funding request and may know of resources that can cover your • Time frame the group can be at the park transportation costs. • Programs or subjects of interest • Potential numbers of students and parents District Funds for Contracted Programs: • Special needs or requirements from the group Some school districts make agreements with specific parks to provide the funds for all students to participate in a program. They will pay for the programs through direct funds from the district and will coordinate the schedules What you will need to do before your visit: and buses for all of the classes from a school or group of schools to go to the program. These opportunities are • Gather final attendance numbers contracted between the district and the park many months in advance and are often funded through a reoccurring • Arrange for funding and payment foundation or grant source. Check to see if your district has a history of these programs, and if your class can • Recruit and prepare chaperones participate. If not, talk to your administrators about working with Delaware State Parks to start such a program for • Send letter to parents with permission slips future years. In many cases, district-wide programs can be contracted for lower program rates. • Schedule buses • Complete the school bus exemption form at destateparks.com/downloads/ PTA/PTO: busform Many school parent organizations have a field trip fund for their teachers. Check with your PTA or PTO president • Complete registration paperwork to find out how to apply to use the funds. If they don’t already have such a fund, suggest that they start one for • Prepare your class for what to expect and appropriate clothes to wear future years. • Make plans for lunch location and time Fundraisers: Fundraisers are a great way to pay for your field trip. With many of the trips costing $4 – $8 or more per student, a fundraiser may be just what you need to cover your costs. FUNDING YOUR EXPERIENCE One of the biggest jobs you have when planning a field trip is finding the funds to pay for your experience. Your Transportation: district or PTA may have guidelines and approved sources for funds. Here are a few suggestions for alternative ways Time and again, teachers point to booking and paying for transportation as the biggest challenges they face when to raise funds for your school’s outdoor learning experience. planning a field trip. This doesn’t have to be the case. With some creative planning and a little research, you may find a great, inexpensive way to visit your local state park.

One way to get the most for your field trip dollar is to book multiple programs at parks that are near each other. The Schedule a Free Bus: park interpreters are happy to work together to coordinate programs like these. Some of the parks have free bus programs set up for the schools that visit them. Usually there is a distance restriction, or a school location restriction (i.e. free for schools visiting from a particular county). Like scholarship Delaware State Parks accepts cash, credit cards and checks to pay for programs. The park interpreter will discuss programs, these are funded by park Friends groups. Check with the park interpreters for more information about payment options with you during the program registration process. these programs.

Scholarships: Ride the DART Bus: Some of the Delaware State Parks offer scholarship money to cover student participation fees. Some even have The DART Bus System is a little-used resource for field trip experiences. Check local schedules to see how many parks you can access. The per student cost of riding a DART bus is often less than riding a school bus, and you money available to cover bus costs, often the largest per student cost for field trips. These funds are available are giving your students a great lesson in community involvement and riding public transportation. Schools in through the park Friends groups. Check with the interpreter at the park you are interested in visiting to learn big cities use public transportation to access field trip experiences all the time. DART also runs a school field trip more about who qualifies and how to apply. program for grades 3 and up. Visit dartfirststate.com/information for details.

Grants and Foundations: Schedule a School Bus: Awarding funds for field trips is a grassroots way for corporations and foundations to provide quality educational If you can’t walk to the park you want to visit, you will have to schedule a bus. Most school districts offer field trip experiences for students in local areas. Some local utility companies and other organizations offer grants to bus service with an additional fee per student. Scheduling can be an issue because these buses are shared among Delaware teachers. Others provide funding through local foundations to reach teachers who need funding for district schools and are the same ones used to transport students before and after school and to athletic events. field trips. With some creative scheduling, you may be able to get the most for your money. Try teaming up with another teacher to fill the bus. Each bus generally holds 40 students. You can double up with another class to fill the bus and cut down on the cost per student.

54 A Teachers Guide to Delaware State Parks destateparks.com/school destateparks.com How to Plan a State Park Field Trip 55 To get around tight bus schedules, you might also be able to use the same bus to get multiple classes to a field trip REMINDERS FOR CHAPERONES site. The bus can take trips back and forth to transport students for staggered program start times. That way, more students can participate in the field trip in less time and within the small window of time that the bus isn’t used for • Keep track of the children in your group. Introduce yourself to your students and try to know their names. Help its regular duties. gather the children to make sure they are listening when the park interpreter is teaching. Familiarize yourself with the locations of bathrooms and drinking fountains. Take a Walk: You probably know which parks are closest to your school. If so, look into walking your students to the park. Map • Your excitement and interest in the program are infectious and will make the children excited, too. Showing your walk ahead of time and talk to the park interpreter to see if they know of any short cuts. You might also be enthusiasm, sticking with the group and keeping the children on task and listening are part of how you can help. able to visit multiple times during the year if you are close enough to walk to the park. Children will enjoy being outside and will get the benefit of great exercise in addition to a fun field trip experience. • If you don’t already know, find out the purpose for your visit. Help review information with the students in your group to meet these goals. ARRIVALS Generally, it is best to plan for buses to arrive on-site 15 minutes before the scheduled program time. That allows • We hope that these guidelines will be valuable to you. Thank you for helping us to bring this great learning you and your students time to get off the bus and take care of any housekeeping issues that need to be addressed. experience to our students! The park interpreter will let you know where to meet and details about bus parking when you call to register.

LUNCHES Lunch can be a great opportunity for students to take a break from learning — sometimes lunch can be as much of an event as the actual program! The park interpreter can identify picnic tables, pavilions or areas available to your group to eat and play. Pavilions are available for rent to assure your group has a sheltered area in which to eat.

TRASH FREE PARKS All Delaware State Parks have a carry-in, carry-out trash policy. If you choose not to reserve a pavilion, you will need to bring trash bags for your lunch trash so you can take it with you and dispose of it back at school. If you rent a pavilion, trash collection is provided as part of your rental fee.

REMINDERS FOR STUDENTS • Stay with your group and listen to your leader. • Stay on pathways and trails. • Follow directions and ask questions. • Respect the rights of other living things in the park. All of our visitors, animals and plants are important to us. They deserve the right to enjoy the day just as you are.

WORKING WITH CHAPERONES Many teachers find that one of the hardest parts of planning a field trip is recruiting chaperones. You want adults who are interested in the subject matter, who know the students, and who will put students’ needs above their own. Here are some tips for recruiting and training chaperones.

Check with your district to see if there are any rules regarding chaperone recruitment. Some require a police background check before the chaperone can travel with the students.

Hand-pick chaperones from your list of engaged and interested parent volunteers. Those who already volunteer in your class know the students and are probably more available in the daytime hours.

Be very honest about your expectations for the field trip. Outline the day, your planned activities and any clothing Delaware State Parks is committed to making sure that our programs are of utmost value to teachers and students. requirements that you might have for your students and chaperones. Explain what their role in the field trip will be We hope that you find this guide a helpful resource. We welcome feedback and urge you to share your thoughts and what you expect of them. Explain your wishes regarding electronics and use of phones during the field trip. about our programs. Always keep in mind that we strive to be flexible and will customize programs for your group.

Don’t forget grandparents and aunts and uncles. Sometimes close relatives are happy to spend the day with their Thank you for all that you do to help your students succeed! young one when parents are unable to attend. -Jon Wickert

56 A Teachers Guide to Delaware State Parks destateparks.com/school destateparks.com How to Plan a State Park Field Trip 57 Fi

The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity and the diversity of its workforce.

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