TM HURON-CLINTON metroparks school program guide 2017-2018 www.metroparks.com RETURN TO TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 The Huron-Clinton Metroparks consist of 13 beautiful parks, covering 25,000 acres throughout Southeast Michigan, encompassing Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, and Livingston counties, drawing over seven million visitors annually. WHO WE ARE: The Huron-Clinton Metroparks Interpretive Department boasts one of the largest interpretive programs in the nation. It has been recognized for its professional leadership, educational programs, expertise of staff, and commitment to the natural and cultural environment. WHAT WE OFFER: School programs provide environmental, cultural, and natural science literacy. All programs support the Michigan Science Standards curriculum in content, methodology, and technology use. A wide variety of programs offered that support Common Core curriculum, STEM, and Michigan Science Standards. Each of these programs are taught by a professional Interpreter who is knowledgeable in the content and school requirements. WHEN WE OFFER SCHOOL PROGRAMS: School programs and field trips are available year-round. WHERE ARE WE: Our Interpretive Centers are located in 10 Metroparks, along with an extensive mobile learning program for Southeast Michigan. Hudson Mills Metropark Activity Center Indian Springs Metropark Environmental Discovery Center Kensington Metropark Farm and Nature Center Lake Erie Metropark Marshlands Museum Lake St. Clair Metropark Nature Center Oakwoods Metropark Nature Cetner Stony Creek Metropark Nature Center Wolcott Mill Metropark Farm and Historic Center WHY SCHEDULE A SCHOOL PROGRAM: Research shows that children’s social, psychological, academic, and physical health is positively impacted when they have daily contact with nature. Environmental education engages sutdents in learning and raises test scores. Our school programs are great examples of STEM-based environmental education, with hands-on activities, cooperative learning, and critical thinking. HURON-CLINTON METROPARK SCHOOL PROGRAM GUIDE 2 CLICK CENTER’S NAME TO GO TO THAT PAGE 4 GETTING STARTED 5 HUDSON MILLS METROPARK ACTIVITY CENTER 8 INDIAN SPRINGS METROPARK ENVIRONMENTAL DISCOVERY CENTER 13 KENSINGTON METROPARK FARM CENTER 17 KENSINGTON METROPARK NATURE CENTER 23 LAKE ERIE METROPARK MARSHLANDS MUSEUM 26 LAKE ST. CLAIR METROPARK NATURE CENTER 30 OAKWOODS METROPARK NATURE CENTER 33 STONY CREEK METROPARK NATURE CENTER 39 WOLCOTT MILL METROPARK FARM CENTER 42 WOLCOTT MILL METROPARK HISTORIC CENTER 45 MOBILE LEARNING AND EXPLORATION VEHICLES 1. Lake St. Clair 2. Wolcott Mill 2 3. Stony Creek 4. Indian Springs 4 3 5. Kensington 6. Huron Meadows 5 1 7. Hudson Mills 8. Dexter-Huron 9. Delhi 6 10. Lower Huron 11. Willow 7 12. Oakwoods 13. Lake Erie 10 8 9 11 12 13 TABLE OF CONTENTS 3 GETTING STARTED Group reservations can be made by calling individual centers. All reservations must be made at least two weeks in advance. TO SCHEDULE A PROGRAM, HAVE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION READY: • Date and time you would like to have your program • Number of children • Program you would like to schedule • School address, email address, and phone number CONFIRMATION A confirmation email with important details regarding your visit will be sent to you after you schedule an appointment. FIELD TRIP • These programs are at the park • One hour programs are $3 per student, $45 minimum charge • 1½ hour programs are $4.50 per student, $60 minimum charge • 2 hour programs are $6 per student, $90 minimum charge • Voyageur Canoe programs are $75 per ride, 12 person minimum and 18 person maximum • For schools outside of Livingston, Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw, and Wayne counties, programs are $4 per student per hour • Due to program cost, some fees may vary - See program listings • Vehicle permit required for park entry, excluding school buses MOBILE LEARNING COST • These programs are at your school • Cost is $100 for the first program, $75 for additional programs the same day • There is a maximum of four programs per day with 30 students per program - Subject to change due to topic choice • Includes schools within Wayne, Oakland, Livingston, Macomb, and Washtenaw counties • Different fees apply for counties outside of those previously listed • Due to program cost, some fees may vary - See program listings • Limit to one program type per visit SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES The Metroparks offer a variety of scholarship opportunities. These range from transportation and field trip funding to outreach programming. Please refer to our website for current opportunities. If you are interested in sponsoring these educational opportunities please visit the Metroparks Foundation page on the website. GETTING STARTED RETURN TO TABLE OF CONTENTS 4 HUDSON MILLS METROPARK ACTIVITY CENTER 734-426-8211 • 8801 N. Territorial Road, Dexter, MI 48130 1. Lake St. Clair 2. Wolcott Mill 2 3. Stony Creek 4. Indian Springs 4 3 5. Kensington 6. Huron Meadows 5 1 7. Hudson Mills 8. Dexter-Huron 9. Delhi 6 10. Lower Huron 11. Willow 7 12. Oakwoods 13. Lake Erie 10 8 9 11 12 13 With a historic river meandering through its 1,549 acres, Hudson Mills Metropark is located on North Territorial Road, 12 miles northwest of Ann Arbor. The park’s trails give easy access to the marriage of serene woods and waters. The Interpretive program is based out of the Activity Center, which is located at the head of the two- mile Nature Trail. Programs combine an indoor component with an exploration using nearly four acres of woodland and wetland as an outdoor classroom. Playfields, playgrounds and a food bar are also available from the Activity Center. RETURN TO TABLE OF CONTENTS 5 ALL GRADE LEVELS MAPLE SUGARING MARCH • 1 HOUR Experience how maple syrup has been made over the years. This includes tapping a maple tree, watching the process of turning sap into syrup and getting a sweet taste at the end. An optional all-you-can-eat pancake and sausage breakfast is available for an additional $3.50 per student and $5.50 per adult. Focus: plant parts & function ∙ plant needs ∙ how people use the environment ∙ states of matter HUDSON MILLS THROUGH THE SEASONS; SEASONAL HIKE YEAR-ROUND • 1 HOUR Take a hike to see, hear and smell the signs of the season. Learn the basic needs of the plants and animals of the park. Register for all seasons for a complete life cycle! Focus: identify basic needs identify & compare living & non-living things ∙ life cycles PRESCHOOL – KINDERGARTEN CREEPY CRAWLIES FALL & SPRING • 1 – 1½ HOURS Go on a bug hunt and discover the difference between insects, worms, and spiders, and observe their amazing adaptations for survival. (OPTIONAL: Decorate a creepy crawly T-shirt. Have the students bring a white or light-colored t-shirt.) Focus: identify basic needs ∙ identify & compare living & non-living things ANIMALS IN WINTER WINTER • 1 HOUR Discover how animals survive the winters through hands-on objects and a short hike. Focus: identify basic needs identify ∙ compare living & non-living things FIRST – SECOND WETLAND DISCOVERIES FALL & SPRING • 1 HOUR Search for animals in the stream using nets. By exploring the biodiversity, you will understand how this relates to positive and negative effects that humans have caused on the environment. Focus: identify the needs of animals life cycles water quality habitats PLANT PARTS & THEIR CYCLES FALL & SPRING • 1 – 1½ HOURS Discover parts of plants and their cycles. Discuss how a flower turns into a seed, and travels. Then, dress up a student to become a flower. Go on a scavenger hunt and search for plant parts. Focus: plant parts & functions plant life cycles identify needs of plants PLANT HEREDITY FALL & SPRING • 1 HOUR Through games, students will explore plant heredity, observable plant characteristics and how these are passed on from parents to young. This is a wonderful follow-up program to “Plant Parts and Their Cycles.” Focus: plant heredity ∙ characteristics passed from adult to young HUDSON MILLS METROPARK ACTIVITY CENTER RETURN TO TABLE OF CONTENTS 6 INCREDIBLE INSECTS FALL & SPRING • 1 – 1½ HOURS Discover insects and their life cycles, then search for them outside using nets. Also, observe insects’ amazing adaptations for survival. Focus: identify basic needs ∙ identify & compare living & non-living things ∙ environmental adaptations ANIMAL ADAPTATIONS & STRUCTURES YEAR-ROUND • 1 HOUR Learn how animals protect themselves, how they get food, and why they look the way they do through hands-on items and a game. Focus: structures & functions ∙ classification ∙ environmental adaptation LET’ S GO FISHING! SPRING • 1 HOUR Go fishing using the park’s rods and reels. Explore fish as predators and prey in the food chain. Focus: environmental adaptations ∙ food chain ∙ structures & functions ∙ classify animals THIRD – SIXTH THE FRENCH VOYAGEURS & THE FUR TRADE YEAR-ROUND • 1 HOUR Join a French Voyageur to learn about the trade and interactions between the French and the Native American here in Michigan. Through artifacts and replicas, students will experience life at a 1700s era trading post. Michigan history, geography and economics come alive in one program. Focus: Native/European interaction ∙ physical characteristics of Michigan ∙ scarcity ∙ choices ∙ natural resources PREDATOR PREY CSI YEAR-ROUND • 1 HOUR Students will identify the mystery animal by comparing animal skulls and adaptations. Then play the predator and prey carrying capacity game. Focus: Adaptations ∙ organisms ∙ habitat, predator and prey ORIENTEERING YEAR-ROUND • 1½ HOURS Learn