Outdoor Nature Programs
Attention Teachers: We are currently offering guided tours for Inside Africa every weekday with no guide fees! Entrance fees still apply. Please see our Programs at a Glance for details.
Outdoor nature programs are led by trained docent naturalists and explore the forest, pond and fields of the Natural Area Teaching Laboratory adjacent to the Museum. Each program includes a hike through several habitats, hands-on investigations, games and other learning activities. If you wish to visit the Museum's exhibits afterward, please indicate so in your reservation request.
Submit Your Outdoor Tour Reservation Online Here!
Sensing Nature
Preschool & Kindergarten
1 hour, 15-45 students
$3 per student/ $3 per non-chaperone adult
Use your senses to investigate forest and field in search of the colors, shapes, smells, textures and sounds of the natural world.
Eye on Insects
Fall only
Grades 1 and 2
1.5 hours, 15-45 students
$3 per student/ $3 per non-chaperone adult
Get an up-close view of the miniature world of insects, exploring their life cycles, homes and adaptations. Activities include insect catching and a bug relay race.
Green Machine
Spring only
Grades 1 and 2
1.5 hours, 15-45 students
$3 per student/ $3 per non-chaperone adult
Follow a tree's life cycle to discover the vital role plants play in ecosystems. Students build a tree, examine wood cookies and discover the creatures that live in the "basement" of the forest.
Stayin' Alive
Grades 3 and 4
2 hours, 15-45 students
$3 per student/ $3 per non-chaperone adult
Investigate habitats, simulate predator/prey relationships, observe animal adaptations and create food chains during this program focusing on how animals survive.