Monona and Black Earth Highlights

Bus Funding!

Fees and Logistics

Suggested Themes for K-2

Suggested Themes for 3-5

At-School Program

Register for a Fieldtrip

If you would like a copy of our new Classroom Connections Brochure, please contact us at (608) 221-0404 x 1 or alncreg@naturenet.com to request your copy!

Check out our exciting pilot program topics here!

Educational Mission
ALNC's mission is to provide innovative hands-on programs for children and teachers that "...teach the student to see the land, to understand what he sees, and enjoy what he  understands" in the spirit of Aldo Leopold.

Monona Highlights
Newly Expanded Facility
Over Twenty acres of outdoor classroom, including wetlands, prairie and woods, provide the backdrop for nature observation and discovery. With access to the Monona Woodland Park and Edna Taylor Conservation Park, students can explore over 90 acres of land. The “Children’s Shack” can also be incorporated into your program to deepen an understanding of Aldo Leopold’s “Land Ethic”.

• New interactive programs and exhibits
• Explore prairie, woodland and pond habitats
• Focus on "learning by doing" with experienced naturalists
• Enjoy individual attention with low student to naturalist ratios
• Explore Native American effigy mounds
• Discover Aldo Leopold and his legacy at "The Children's Shack"
• After school programs are available

• Two established tree identification courses on site
• Ideal for field study investigation and service learning projects
• Remote location perfect for overnight programming
• Service learning component is ideal for this site
• Explore rugged hills, rock outcroppings, restored oak savanna and prairie habitats

• Tailored to meet your class curriculum
• Designed to address Wisconsin State Standards in many subject areas
• Correlated with the FOSS Science Curriculum
• Content and experience-rich for all ages
• Offering two convenient locations in Monona and Black Earth

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Bus Funding!
Check out Nature Net’s Nature Express Program, to see if you might be eligible for Bus Funding (follow link for more information and an application).

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• 1.5 hours (programs may be longer with appropriate fee adjustments).
• Times: 8:45-10:15 am;   10:45 am-12:15 pm;    12:45-2:15pm    (times can be adjusted)
• Program Fee*: $35/Naturalist for 1.5 hour program; $45/Naturalist for 2 hour program.
• Naturalist to Student ratio is 1:10 preK - 2nd grade; 1:12 for 3rd - 5th grade.
• Tack on a 30-minute self-guided tour of our new interactive exhibits for an extra:
  • $10 per 10 students (PreK - 2nd grade).
  • $10 per 12 students (3rd - 5th grade).
• Special requests will be accommodated to the greatest extent possible.
• All programs are held rain or shine!
• Students and chaperones should be dressed for the outdoors as appropriate for the season.
• Buildings may be used for a portion of the program and in inclement weather.
• All teachers, aides and one chaperone per Naturalist are free.
• Additional chaperones are $3.00 each.
• Service Learning components can often be added upon request.
• Combine two programs to make a full day field trip.  Groups are welcome to bring bag lunches and have an outdoor picnic (must call ahead for reservation).
• Snowshoes are available for use as part of several winter programs for an additional $1/student.  Ask about availability - group sizes limited to 25 per session.
• Sit ski available for those with phycial disabilities to allow for trail exploration when snow is present.

*Fees subject to change

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Please Provide us with the information listed below:

• Dates and Program Time you prefer
• School or Group Name
• Contact Name
• Phone Number
• Email Address
• Total Number of Students
• Grade Level of Students
• Program Choice(s)
• Specify Monona or Black Earth Campus

Before You Come Checklist:

• Register and provide ALNC with all information listed above.
• Send Payment (send prior to the program or bring on the day of the program).
• Call with changes  to attendance numbers or cancellations - requires two weeks notice (Note: any changes after this will result in a full charge).
• Let us know if you need Spanish-speaking naturalists.  Two weeks advance notice is required for scheduling purposes.
• Let ALNC know what current vocabulary and pre-visit preparation information is being covered in class so that they can better tailor the program to meet your needs.
• Provide ALNC with information about student(s) with special needs.
• Let ALNC know if all the students have the same background information (if more than one class is attending).
• Check out Nature Net's Nature Express Program to see if you might be eligible for bus funding.

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Suggested Themes for Grades K-2

Air and Weather - FOSS 1-2
Hands-on activities help students learn the concepts of wind speed, the water cycle, cloud types, and temperature. Use of different weather “tools” ranging from anemometers to simple flags will be taught and reinforced with a walk through the prairie, woods, or marsh. Students will have the opportunity to compare their weather observations between the habitats.

Animal Tracks and Signs
Students will learn how to investigate the lives of animals through the tracks and other signs they leave behind. Games, a nature hike and a hunt for animal tracks are also included.  Great winter program!

Animals 2X2 - FOSS K
Students will turn over logs, look under rocks and dip in the pond in search of animals. We’ll observe their behaviors as well as compare and contrast their structures and habitats. We’ll also learn how to sort and classify our finds and use study mounts to discuss the adaptations of various Wisconsin mammals, birds, reptiles, fish and amphibians.

Camouflage in Nature
A green insect on a green leaf or a gray squirrel on a dark tree trunk. Why do some animals blend in and some don't? We'll look for the answer to this intriguing question through first-hand observations and games. Pond dipping is included when possible.

Everybody Eats - Why We Need Each Other!
From producers to consumers find out how plants and animals all rely on each other to obtain their food. A hike in our local ecosystems gives the students first-hand observations and games reinforce how the plants and animals are all connected. Pond dipping is included when possible.

Habitats
Discover how each organism meets its basic needs for food, water, shelter, and space in order to survive. Through a hike, activities, songs, and a puppet show we’ll investigate the various habitats of the Nature Center and the life it supports. Pond dipping included when possible.

Incredible Insects - FOSS 1-2
Journey to the pond in search of aquatic insects and take a hike through the prairie to inspect galls and ant hills. A puppet show will illustrate the two types of insect metamorphosis and students will see insect collections up close. A pond dip will give students hands-on experience catching insect larvae, pupae and nymphs.  (pond dipping in Monona only)

MAD - Migrate, Adapt, or Die
Who will survive Wisconsin's winter? Using study mounts, naturalists will introduce the concept of MAD - Migrate, Adapt or Die along with several other adaptations animals use to survive the winter. An investigative hike will help students discover these changes on their own and a puppet show will enhance the concepts.

Maple Syruping in Wisconsin (Monona Only)
(Aligned with 4th grade curricula objectives but adaptable for grades K-5.)
This program is offered for two weeks in March. Students learn basic tree identification, try tools used by pioneers to “tap a tree,” taste the sap from maples and watch it cook down to syrup. Learn the science of sap flow in the tree and the boiling process. We will teach the history of maple syrup making from the Native Americans to the present—and taste the final product! Adapts well to a longer program.
2012 Dates: March 12-23, 2012

Pebbles, Sand, and Silt - FOSS 1-2
Students will observe, describe, and sort earth materials based on size, texture, and other properties. We’ll explore places where earth materials are found and discuss how they are used. After reading Everybody Needs a Rock, students will “adopt” their own rock. Finally we’ll hike to the woods to talk about soil creation and meet some critters that call soil “home!”

Pioneer Living (2nd Grade and up - Monona Only)
What was life in Wisconsin like for early settlers 150 years ago? Students will "play pioneer" as they experience first hand a variety of activities including games and household chores, like fetching water, washing laundry and grinding food. Students will step back in time as they enter our one-room “Shack” to hear stories and see pioneer tools. Adapts well to a longer program.

Plant Life (New Plants) - FOSS 1-2
Students will observe the diversity of the plant kingdom on a hike through the prairie, woodland and wetland habitats. We’ll study the structure and function of flowering plant parts and learn what all plants need to survive. Students will record their observations through words and pictures in a journal.

Pond and Marsh (Monona Only)
Our most popular program introduces students to the interconnected community of the pond and marsh. This interactive, hands-on program allows students to discover fascinating pond critters while heightening their observation skills.

Seasonal Discovery
There’s always something new happening at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center! Students will learn to observe how plants and animals respond to seasonal changes like:

Fall – Sunny prairie flowers, sticky seeds, migrating birds, scurrying squirrels and falling leaves
Winter – Animal tracks, snow crystals, tree skeletons, hardy birds, burrowing mammals
Spring – Woodland wildflowers, bursting tree buds, chorusing frogs, returning birds, emerging insects

Trees - FOSS K
Students will learn all about different trees, leaves, and seeds on a hike through our woodland and savanna habitats. We’ll match leaves with common geometric shapes and compare leaf types (simple, compound, toothed, lobed). We’ll take leaf rubbings to make
a leaf book and conclude with a story about trees.

Using All the Senses
The call of a frog, the scent of a trail, the shape of a leaf, and the texture of bark are all ways to identify plants and animals. Why do some animals blend in and some don’t? Learn the answer to this question and some techniques to improve sensory observation skills when identifying life. We’ll investigate the trails for all of nature’s colors and shapes! Worm game included during program.

Wintering in Wisconsin
Where do woodland animals go when the snow flies? Students will learn about true hibernators like the groundhog and deep sleepers such as the chipmunk through this program. They’ll also take an up-close look at the Nature Center’s study mounts and explore the grounds on a nature hike!

Other Suggested Themes:
Please remember - your program topic can be tailored to fit your group’s specific needs. Ask us about a topic of your choice!

Most programs are suitable year round.

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All About Birds
You always can tell what a bird does eat when you look at its beak and you look at its feet.” Students will learn “how birds make a living” with our hands-on activity. We’ll examine study mounts before exploring the land with binoculars in search of our resident species.

Communities
Aldo Leopold wrote: “When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.” During this program, we define, compare and contrast types of communities found at the Nature Center. The pond, marsh, prairie and woodland are options for seasonal habitat exploration. Pond dipping included when possible.

Early Native American Life
Take a trip back in time to see how Native Americans lived long ago. A hands-on timeline will demonstrate what foods and tools they depended on and how they changed over time. Take a hike up the drumlin to view Native American mounds as we question what they are, how they were made and why they are here.

Glaciers: Natures Bulldozers and Dump Trucks
Learn about the glaciers that formed the five land regions of Wisconsin and other formations made along the way. Hike a glacial drumlin to see the work of glaciers first-hand, observe a model glacier at work and discuss terminology.  Come away with an understanding of how powerful glaciers really are and how they influenced human settlement in Wisconsin.  

Introduction to Map Reading
This program begins indoors where students are introduced to a variety of maps. After instruction on how to use components of the map, students venture forth, with maps in hand, to find the “nature treasures” we have hidden on our grounds. Use of a compass is optional. Adapts well to a longer program.

Leopold's Life and Legacy
As they learn about Leopold's land ethic and how his work influences conservation efforts even today, students hike the woods, prairie, and pond areas surrounding the Nature Center and spend time in the Children's Shack. Partake in some of Aldo Leopold's favorite past-times such as bird watching, tree identification, or land restoration.  This program combines well with Nature Journaling. 

MAD - Migrate, Adapt or Die
We will discuss how animals survive Wisconsin’s changing seasons through the introduction of MAD—Migrate, Adapt, or Die. Students explore these concepts through a habitat hike, a puppet show, study mounts, and a variety of other activities.

Maple Syruping in Wisconsin - Past and Present (Monona Only)
(Aligned with 4th grade curricula objectives but is adaptable for grades K-5.)
This program is offered for two weeks in March—call 221-0404x1 for this year’s dates or check our website. Students learn basic tree identification, try tools used by pioneers to “tap a tree,” taste sap from maples and watch it cook down to syrup. Learn the science of sap flow in the tree and the boiling process. We will teach the history of maple syrup making from the Native Americans to the present—and taste the final product! Adapts well to a longer program.
2012 Dates: March 12-23, 2012

Math in Nature
If you were a frog, how far could you leap? How can we estimate the height of a tree? Ever guess how old a tree is? Naturalists lead students in a number of math-in-nature activities with the help of measuring tools, formulas, games, and observation skills.

Nature Journaling
Aldo Leopold’s fame can be largely attributed to his skill as a nature writer. In Leopold fashion, students will begin by heightening their observational skills at the Nature Center. Students will be given the opportunity to sketch from nature and practice descriptive writing or poetry in personal journals. Students may bring their own journals or use the Nature Center’s simple journal page.  This program combines well with Leopold’s Life and Legacy.
Sample Nature Writing Journal (Microsoft Word Document).

Orienteering (4th grade and up)
Students will learn how to use a compass and practice basic orienteering skills. Students apply these skills through demonstrative games, pre-set courses on site, and by creating their own orienteering courses in small groups.

Pioneer Living (Monona Only)
What was life in Wisconsin like for early settlers 150 years ago? Students will "play pioneer" as they experience first hand a variety of activities including games and household chores, like fetching water, washing laundry and grinding food. Students will step back in time as they enter our one-room “Shack” to hear stories and see pioneer tools. Adapts well to a longer program.

Recycling Energy in Nature
Worms recycle, groundhogs conserve energy, and plants convert sunlight into sugar. Students will be introduced to principles of energy at work all around them as we turn over logs, dig into the soil, and dip into the pond. A tour of our environmentally friendly building is optional.

Seasonal Discovery
There’s always something new happening at the Nature Center! Students will learn to observe how plants and animals respond to seasonal changes.
Fall – Sunny prairie flowers, sticky seeds, migrating birds, scurrying squirrels and falling leaves
Winter – Animal tracks, snow crystals, tree skeletons, hardy birds, burrowing mammals
Spring – Woodland wildflowers, bursting tree buds, chorusing frogs, returning birds, emerging insects

Structures of Life - FOSS 3-4
Students observe and compare organisms through examination of study mounts and a pond dip to learn the adaptations of animals in different habitats. We’ll categorize animals through careful observation of physical characteristics. On a hike through the woodland and prairie, we’ll discuss seed structure function, and dispersal.

Water - FOSS 3-4 (Monona Only)
Through games, hands-on activities and experiments, students will learn how water travels through the water cycle, and infiltrates through various soil types. In a visit to the pond, we’ll talk about how water quality determines what life can survive in aquatic habitats.

Winter Ecology
How do animals survive the winter? Come and discover which animals hibernate and which ones stay to endure the rigors of the season. We will hike the grounds to learn about the ecological importance of snow cover and even ice on ponds! We’ll also look for signs of the animals that stay around the Nature Center all winter.

Outdoor Survival
Any of us could find ourselves in a situation where we need to use winter survival skills. Not only must we respect natural forces but also learn what nature provides to help us survive. Students learn how to dress appropriately, pack a survival kit and work cooperatively to develop a strategy when faced with a crisis situation. Students will learn to recognize the signs of hypothermia and how to treat a victim. Outdoors, the students work in teams to build a fire and a debris shelter.

Wetland Exploration (Monona Only)
What is considered a wetland and how do we know? Students will visit our marsh and pond habitats, comparing and contrasting their characteristics. This program includes pond dipping, wetland study mounts, and a hike to the marsh to observe wildlife while discussing the benefits of wetlands.

Other Suggested Themes:
Please remember - your program topic can be tailored to fit your group’s specific needs. Ask us about a topic of your choice!

Most programs are suitable year round.

New Pilot Programs for 4th - 8th grade!

Brain Freeze! ^†
Learn about the glaciers that formed the landscape of Wisconsin and the other formations they made along the way. Hike a glacial drumlin to see the work of glaciers first-hand, observe a model glacier at work, and learn how the earth’s glaciers of today are changing.  Come away with an understanding of how powerful glaciers really are, how they influenced human settlement in Wisconsin and their role in a global ecosystem. 

Crazy about Climate! ^†
Find out about the science behind climate and how and why our climate is changing.  Through interactive investigations, student will learn concepts behind the carbon cycle, greenhouse effect and other scientific phenomenon that contribute to climate change. We will then innovate and create solutions that reduce these effects.

Get MAD - Migrate, Adapt, or Die! ^†
In this lesson, we’ll explore how climate change may affect Wisconsin’s wildlife. Students will look for and record phenology (calendar of natural events such as flowering) and will be able to see Leopold’s records of the presence or absence of species over time and their phenology. Scientists worry that if the climate changes too fast ecological systems could face major extinctions if wildlife can’t adapt at the same rate. Learn some ways our wildlife currently adapts to Wisconsin’s weather and how scientists think we can help people and other life adapt to our changing climate.

May the "Source" Be With You! (FOSS 5/6 Solar Energy) ^†
Students will learn about the potential of solar energy through interactive experiments to experience solar energy firsthand and investigate the variables that affect energy transfer and absorption.  We’ll also explore the sun as a means of alternative energy and the impact alternative energies can have on greenhouse gas emissions and our changing climate. 

Wisconsin's Wacky Weather (FOSS Weather and Water) ^†
After learning about weather and collecting data on today’s weather patterns to create a forecast for the next day, students will learn about some of the historic changes of the earth’s climate and the next decade and forecast various outcomes.  We’ll explore the differences between weather and climate, learn how the earth’s climate is changing, discuss factors that play into this change and consider our actions and the effects of them. 

^†All Pilot Programs are available in Monona only.

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Can't make it to the Nature Center?
We can bring nature programs to you! Programs range from indoor, large group presentations to outdoor, small group field experiences that utilize your school forest or playground for outdoor exploration and activities.

At-School Programming

Program Fee*: $50 per 35-45 minute presentation (30 youth maximum per group)

*Fees subject to change

All About Birds
Students will learn “how birds make a living” with a hands-on station activity and examine bird study mounts up close. A hike with binoculars is included in the outdoor program.

Animal Tracks
Students will learn how to “read” tracks and trails and make a track field guide to keep. A hike for animal signs is included in the outdoor program.

Creepy Critters
Students will learn amazing facts about the adaptations of some of Wisconsin’s “creepiest” critters. Sing songs and learn hands-on all about spiders, snakes, bats, and worms. Get over the creeps while discovering the many ways these creatures are important to our ecosystems. Live specimens may accompany this program, as available.

Marsha Muskrat
Receive a special visit from our walking and talking “Marsha Muskrat,” who will explain how her special adaptations allow her to survive and thrive in her wetland home.

Native Americans
Take a trip back in time to see how Native Americans lived long ago. A hands-on timeline will demonstrate what foods and tools they depended on and how they changed over time.

Orienteering
Students will learn how to use a compass and basic orienteering skills. Demonstrative games and student created orienteering courses are included in the outdoor program.

Skins and Skulls
Students will examine study mounts, skins and skulls of some common Wisconsin mammals while learning about the special adaptations of predators and prey.

The Lorax
Children will “become” Swomee Swans, Brown Bar-ba-loots and Humming Fish as they enjoy this interactive reading of Dr. Seuss’s classic tale.

The Mitten
Enjoy an interactive reading of animals in winter, followed by seeing and touching study mounts and animal skins.

Wintering in the Woods
Students will learn where woodland animals go when the snow flies as they see study mounts up close. A hike for animal signs is included in the outdoor program.