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Suggestions for CM-style nature field trips with co-op group
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Our CM co-op group is interested in adding regular nature field trips to our schedule. I’ve stepped up to take lead on scheduling these. I’d love to hear what others have done with their co-op groups.
Visit an Apiary to learn about beekeeping. Have a bird specialist come with birds of prey. Agricultural museums like Agrirama in Tifton, GA. Corn mazes. See if your city has a parks naturalist and associate programs.
When I think of nature field trips, I think of easy nature walks. I live in California where you can find trails with different characteristics: beach, desert, lake, mountain. Maybe try to find places to visit that encourage the children to explore something different. If you can locate trails in your area, you could do some themed nature walks.
—A basic how to keep a nature journal walk would be fun which would demonstrate the simplicity and enjoyment of an active nature study/journal using minimal supplies.
—Trees and Leaves: Collect leaves on a trail to identify and press. After the leaves are pressed, schedule a time for the group to compile them into personal leaf collection books.
—Birds: book of birds photographed on the trail including one bird sketch.
—Rocks & minerals, mammals, insects, flowers
—and my personal favorite: the night sky. Your group could meet between 8:00 and 10:00 p.m. to observe meteors and constellations.
Here in Texas, the Parks and Wildlife Department folks will host all sorts of field trips and educational workshops. They are awesome!
Hike and Bike trails are great places to do nature study.
Any sort of wildlife/nature preservation/reserve usually has programs that allow for field trips. Maybe you have a Nature Conservatory nearby?
You might also check with the local Art League or Photography Club. There should be someone that could make suggestions for great places off the beaten path.
The MO Dept of Conservation has divided the state into regions. You are in region 3. That means that you will be able to find activities and ideas from them specifically for you. Here are a few things for your region:
Call your local conservation office (816-622-0900) and ask to talk to the education person. Ours has an education agent who works with me to set up specific things like hikes to observe specific things. She also has tons of ideas and resources to help me as a teacher and group leader.
Your KC DoC office has these events already scheduled, and I have noticed that if I ask they are often happy to do these things specifically for my group separately from the open public event:
http://mdc.mo.gov/events/region/03/heading/Kansas%20City
Here is a great list of all the conservation areas in the KC region:
http://mdc.mo.gov/atlas/region/kc
Some will work better than others, of course, but if you had this list while talking to your education agent, you could probably come up with more ideas than you can use.
If you will look at the MO DoC kids magazine (free to MO residents, just subscribe), there are tons of fun nature activities and crafts to do. Many would be fun in conjunction with your field trips.
The MO Department of Natural Resources also has tons of things if you know where to look. They are doing some cool things for Earth Science Week in October 2013.
http://www.dnr.mo.gov/geology/education.htm#videos Scroll past the info on the earthquakes to see the info plus videos that they have.
Tour geological (rock) museums
Tour rock stores to explore and have some one explain what they see.
Tour a working mine
Visit and tour a cave
Hike a conservation trail
visit a river/creek/pond/lake and see the various forms of life
animal refuges and parks
zoo
bird aviarys
Volunteer to do clean up in a river section or other wildlife area
Visit a park with a scavenger hunt list and cameras (and trash bags)
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