Educational Resource Guide Our Mission To enhance quality of life and inspire preservation efforts in this and future generations by providing a regional system of premier natural, historical and cultural parklands maintained and operated to the highest professional standards. our Vision To preserve and protect the natural heritage of Northwest Ohio. Operating Principles: Clean Education 2 Safe Visitor Experience Natural Forever Organizational Excellence Metroparks Education Programs Metroparks programs emphasize hands-on, experiential activities that reinforce the Ohio Academic Content Standards. All environmental and historical programs are specifically aligned with the state standards. We are dedicated to promoting a better understanding and appreciation of the flora, fauna, history and culture of Northwest Ohio and its unique ecosystems. 3 Contents Scheduling A Program 5 Teacher Checklist 6 Historical Programs 8 Nature Education Programs 12 Oak Openings Region Programs 14 Stewardship Programs 15 Boy Scout Programs 16 Girl Scout Programs 18 Nature Special Attractions 19 Program Index 20 Map 23 Speakers Bureau Trail Partners Metroparks employees provide a variety of informative Trail partner volunteers are available to help others lecture programs on Northwest Ohio’s environment enjoy Metroparks by accompanying people with physical and history. Reserve a speaker for your next event! disabilities on trails and/or to interpretive programs. To For information and reservations, call 419.407.9700. schedule a program with the use of Trail Partners, call 419-407-9700. Career Explorations DefInitions The field of parks and recreation offers many opportunities for future careers. A diverse group of Interpreter: A person who employs a mission-based personnel from rangers, naturalists, historical communication process which forges emotional and interpreters and many more can share their educational intellectual connections between the interests of the backgrounds, job requirements and experiences. audience and meanings inherent in the resource. To arrange a presentation, display or to invite a staff In Parks: Educational programs that may be presented member to appear at a career fair, call 419-407-9700. in many of the Toledo Area Metroparks. Outreach: Educational programs that may be presented in your choice of location including, but not limited to Service Learning schools, libraries, and community centers. 4 Students give back to their community by participating in stewardship projects including invasive species removal, harvesting prairie seeds, general park clean up and more; all while learning about the habitat they are helping. Arrangements can be made for one day of service or Adopt-an-Acre and see the changes a habitat experiences throughout the year. To learn about Metroparks volunteer opportunities, call 419-407-9700. Visit MetroparksToledo.com for the Ohio Academic Content Standards. Scheduling A Program To schedule a program, call 419-407-9700, Monday - Friday, 9 am to 4:30 pm, at least six (6) weeks before the intended field trip. Please have the following information ready when you call: 1st and 2nd choice of dates to visit and the time of day Preferred program Preference of park Age and number of students Number of adults: Metroparks suggest one adult to ten (10) students Special needs Title I Waivers Metroparks strives to provide affordable educational programs. Refer to the program fee index for specific details. Fees for Title 1 schools may be wavied. If your 5 school is designated by Title 1, please indicate this when you are registering. Nature Express Nature Express is a transportation assistance fund, made possible through private donations to the Metroparks. The fund is open to schools in Lucas County with at least 40% of students enrolled in Title 1. Eligible classes will have 75% of their bus rental to a Metroparks educational program covered on yellow school buses. To find out if your school is eligible, call 419-407-9700. teacher and adult chaperone checklist 1 to 3 Days Before the Program 3. Name tags are helpful and allow Metroparks leaders 1. Remind everyone to dress appropriately for the to connect with students more easily. weather. 4. Review with the group: Coats, hats, gloves and raingear are recommended Walk quietly in cold and rainy/snowy weather conditions. Listen attentively and please respect the area Tennis shoes or sturdy footwear and long pants are Do not pick plants or take anything from the park recommended (Sandals, flip flops, clogs and similar Stay together footwear are not appropriate.) Stay on the trail, unless directed by Metroparks Drinking water, sunscreen and mosquito repellant leader are recommended May through October. Let the Metroparks leader lead the walk or program 2. Discuss with the students and adult leaders where you are going in the Metropark and what you will be Review with adult chaperones: learning. Teachers and adult chaperones are responsible 3. If your students will be bringing lunches, review the for maintaining discipline and keeping the group lunch guidelines on page 7. together during the program. Metroparks leaders are responsible for program 6 The Day of the Program presentation and program content. 1. Check the weather in the morning before departing Adults should lead by example, walk quietly, listen to for the field trip. Metroparks will not cancel your the Metroparks leader and let students respond program unless there is a safety concern such as to questions. thunderstorms, tornado watches or wind warnings. Cell phones should be turned off or set to vibrate. 2. If you have a question or decide to cancel, please If you need to answer, distance yourself from the group. call 419-407-9700 as early as possible. Chaperones should be aware of special behavioral and/or medical needs of the group members. Smoking is not permitted during the program. Just Before Leaving for the Metroparks 1. Take restroom break before leaving school. 2. Arrive 15 minutes early to prepare your group for the program. 3. Divide students and their adult leaders into pre-arranged groups before arriving. 4. Know where to meet – check your registration form. Create Your If You Are Bringing a Lunch Please consider the following tips: Have students use reusable containers when Own Program packing lunch instead of paper bags and baggies. If they cannot use reusable containers, encourage Teachers can work with interpreters to custom them to use recyclable containers and take them design your students’ learning experience to home to recycle. reinforce classroom concepts and Ohio Academic 7 Try not to pack any more food than the student will Content Standards. consume for lunch. Class Size: must be a minimum of 10 students You can reserve a picnic shelter for your group’s picnic with 1 adult chaperone for an additional fee by calling 419-407-9700. Duration: up to three hours Thank you for helping model greener lifestyles. In Parks and Outreach Pick A Pack Teachers can work with interpreters to combine All Programs historical and environmental programming to Encourage: create a cross-curricular field trip. Listed prices Raising Hands apply. Examples could include: Taking Turns Oak Grove School and Nature Walks Listening politely Lock Walks and Pond Study to a speaker Canal Experience and Nature Walks Following directions Nature Walk and Stewardship Communicating information verbally Historical Programs Down and Dirty Practice Makes Perfect Get down and dirty performing chores done prior to the Learn the seven principles of Spencerian penmanship. conveniences of modern home technology. Students Practice your new skills with a nineteenth century pen, learn through this hands-on experience how families ink, and inkstand. The schoolmarm will have a hidden lived by rotating through stations washing laundry, message for you in the writing lesson. churning butter, carding wool, and drop spinning. Grades 4 - 6 1 hour Oak Grove School, Wildwood Grades Preschool - 5 1 hour In Parks Preserve 10 to 30 students 10 to 24 students Jump Into Recess Build A Wigwam Experience the favored toys and games of the Living in Northwest Ohio, Native Americans relied on generations through cooperative learning. Students the land’s resources for survival. The class will work as play the games of graces and marbles; practice walking a team to build a conical wigwam and learn about the on stilts and have relay races with hoops and sticks. culture of Native Americans on the Ohio frontier. Grades Preschool - 5 1 hour In Parks and Outreach Grades K - 5, 8 1 hour 10 to 30 students Wildwood Preserve, Providence, Side Cut/Fallen Timbers, Pearson 10 to 30 students 8 Visit MetroparksToledo.com for the Ohio Academic Content Standards. Games of Skill and Determination Test your skills and coordination learning about games that Native children played in the Maumee Valley. Daily life developed skills needed to live in the Ohio Wilderness. Grades K - 5, 8 1 hour In Parks and Outreach 10 to 30 students About Face! Forward March! Learn about the Legion of the United States as they fought the Battle of Fallen Timbers and opened the Northwest Territory to settlement. Grades 3 – 5, 8 & 11 1 Hour In Parks 10 to 30 students 9 On the Trails of History Hike a primitive trail, exploring the Fallen Timbers battlefield and the primary sources that led to its discovery. Must use restroom before leaving school and must wear long pants and full shoes. Grades 3 - 5, 8 & 11 3 Hours Fallen Timbers National Historic Site 10 to 30 students Beams and Bulbs Explore the ins and outs of Georgian Colonial Style architecture as you tour the formal gardens, attic, boiler room, and other select areas of the home. Overlooking Ten Mile Creek, the Stranahan estate blends 1930s technology with Georgian Colonial architecture making this home and its grounds one of a kind. Grades 10 - 12 1 hour Manor House, Wildwood Preserve 10 to 30 students Historical Programs (continued) Preschool Pioneers Work with Metroparks Historical Programs Department to choose a hands-on program to introduce preschoolers to history.