SCHOOL PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS

All of our school programs are aligned to Michigan GLCEs and NGSS and are tailored for the age of your students. For more information on which standards are addressed in our programs, contact our Program Manager at programs@mynaturecenter.org.

PreK/K 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th-8th
Animal EncounterXXXXXXSpecialty Program
Apple Butter TourXXXXXXSpecialty Program;
limited dates available
Aquatic AdventuresXXX
Avian AdaptationsXXXEligible for Rose Zack
Youth Birders Scholarship
Birds in My BackyardXXXXXX Eligible for Rose Zack
Youth Birders Scholarship
Creepy CrawlyXXXX
Decomposer DiscoveryXXXX
Ecosystem Investigations XXX
Forestry FundamentalsXX
Home Sweet HomeXXX
Magnificent MammalsXXXX
Maple Syrup TourXXXXXX Specialty Program;
limited dates available
Precious PlantsXXXX
Sensory SafariXXX

Animal Encounters

Meet Fenner’s animal ambassadors in this program featuring a live animal component with a selection of our reptiles and amphibians.

Apple Butter Tours

Step back in time and help us make old fashioned apple butter!  Learn about the anatomy of fruits and plant life cycles while planting a seed in our historic apple orchard.  Investigate the physical changes that occur to our apples as we turn them into mouth-watering apple butter!

Aquatic Adventures

Examine the wonders of life in the water!  This program will allow students to gain valuable insight into the underwater world, through hands-on discovery and up-close investigation of the organisms that live in lakes, ponds, and rivers.

Avian Adaptations

Investigate the form and function of the parts of a bird to understand how they live. We will compare Michigan’s birds big and small and test our hypotheses about avian adaptations. This field trip will focus on structure and function, traits, using models, and constructing explanations.

Birds in My Backyard

Get to know the birds living in your backyard. We will observe and identify the birds that inhabit local ponds, fields, and forests and explore how they meet their needs. This field trip will focus on interdependent relationships, ecosystems, and observation skills. 

Creepy Crawly

Come along as we investigate all things creepy and crawly! From slithering snakes to interesting insects, this program will have you following slime trails to some of Fenner’s creepy and cool creatures.

Decomposer Discovery

Without these important organisms, our planet would be piled high with waste. Students get up close and personal with the decomposers living in Fenner’s forests, and learn more about their important role in our environment.

Ecosystem Investigations

Get your hands dirty and dive in to discover how the living and nonliving components of our environment work together to form ecosystems. Students will draw their own conclusions about how different ecosystems are similar and different through the use of hands-on investigations.

Forestry Fundamentals

Pines, oaks, maples, and more adorn this interactive forestry program. Students will examine the importance of trees through scientific inquiry and question a tree’s true worth.

Home Sweet Home

Explore how an animal’s habitat provides all of the resources that it requires, such as food, shelter and nutrients.  Search for animal homes as we investigate the variety of habitats located at Fenner.

Magnificent Mammals

Fluffy, furry, and fuzzy describes this program about our mammal friends. Join our naturalists as they venture out for a glimpse into the lives of deer, bears, and beavers!

Maple Syrup Tours

Experience Fenner’s history with guided Maple syrup making tours.  Learn the anatomy of trees, why they make sap and how people use this tasty sap to make delicious maple syrup!

Precious Plants

Join our naturalist for a journey through the Nature Center as we learn why plants are so important.  We’ll cover plant life cycles, parts of a plant, important native species, and more.

Sensory Safari

Discover how animals use their senses to survive in the wild as we go on an exploratory adventure using our touch, taste, hearing, smell and sight.