Suggestions for CM-style nature field trips with co-op group

Are you in MO??

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.

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)