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School Field Trips (Middle School)
BLACK EARTH CAMPUS
Introducing the Black Earth
Campus
Service Learning Opportunities
Nature Center Highlights
How to Register
Fees and Logistics - Black Earth Campus
Directions to the Black Earth Campus
Topics at Black Earth Campus
Overnight Programs
Scholarships are Available!
Click on the A.L.D.O. Guide to print a copy, or contact
the ALNC to have one mailed to you.
MONONA CAMPUS
Can't Make it to the Black Earth
Campus?
Monona Campus Programming
Directions to the Monona Campus
Fees and Logistics - Monona Campus
Topics at Monona Campus
Nature Center Mission
To provide innovative hands-on programs that "...teach
the student to see the land, to understand what he sees, and
enjoy what he understands" in the spirit of Aldo Leopold.
Nature Center Highlights
Meeting your needs:
- Outdoor middle school programs are designed to challenge
growing bodies, as well as growing minds
- Team-building and outdoor experiences build respect for
the environment and each other
- Standards-based and FOSS correlated activities
(Diversity of Life, Earth History and Populations and
Ecosystems) combine subject content with real world learning
- Service learning opportunities are available
Make it special! -
Overnight options are available.
- After School Programs are available.
- Spanish-speaking naturalists are generally available
upon request. Two weeks' advance notice is required.
INTRODUCING THE BLACK EARTH CAMPUS!
The Aldo Leopold Nature Center
is proud to introduce a new site geared especially for the
needs of middle and high school students - the Black Earth
Campus!
Adventure Learning
Programs
- Explore the wild woods at
Black Earth
- Discover rocky outcroppings of the Coulee Region
- Conduct scientific research or collect field data
- Restore a bit of native Wisconsin
Explore trails, forested
hills, burgeoning prairie and rocky outcroppings. Build team
spirit while restoring wildlife habitat and take an active
role in land management and service learning. Learn survival
techniques and how to find your way in a forest. Or "rock
on" while learning about local geology!
Facilities include:
The Alexander Studio Orientation Theater
Log Cabin Retreat Lodge
Council Ring and Campfire Pit
Ridge-top Hiking Trails
and more!
It's all waiting for you at
the Aldo Leopold Nature Center's new Black Earth campus!
Service Learning Opportunities
 Would
you like to include a service project as part of your
group's educational program?
Ongoing native habitat projects (prairie, oak savanna,
woodlands) and service learning projects allow students to
have an active hand in scientific restoration efforts and
research.
Opportunities range from garlic mustard removal,
Tug-A-Suckle (or Tug-An-Olive), buckthorn drags, parsley
cutting and trail building.
Projects can run from 1-3
hours and vary throughout the season. Call the Nature Center
Director at 608-221-0495 to find out what service projects
are available and right for your group.
Overnight Programs!
Overnight programs are available for
small groups. Ask about combining one or several Middle
School Programs with a Service Learning Opportunity and
overnight stay. It's the "ultimate" Black Earth experience!
Scholarships are Available! Include a
conservation service project with your Black Earth field
trip and we will reimburse your bus transportation expenses
(up to $100 per bus for a limited time only). Call for
details!
How to Register
To schedule your field trip,
click here to fill out our online
registration form.
Questions?
Email alncreg@naturenet.com or call
608-221-4038.
Preferred Dates and Program Times
School or Group Name
Contact Name, Phone Number, Email and Mailing Address
Total Number of Students
Grade Level of Students
Choice of Topic
PLEASE...
- Let us know what current standards and curriculum topics
you will be covering in class so that we can better tailor
the tour to meet your students' needs.
- Provide us with information about student(s) with
special needs.
- Let us know if all the students have the same background
information (if more than one class is attending.)
Middle School Programs at Black Earth!
The Aldo Leopold Nature Center is proud to announce new
field-based educational programs geared especially for the
needs of middle and high school students at the Black Earth
Campus!
Nestled in a remote, hidden valley, the 38-acre Black Earth
Campus is perfect for teens looking for a close-to-home
wilderness experience in a more challenging environment.
Forests, prairie and rocky outcroppings form the backdrop
for scientific exploration and service learning projects.
Programs range from 2- to 4-hour guided educational programs
and service learning projects, to single and multiple
overnight stays. Staff retreats are also available.
Black Earth Campus
Programming
All programs are held rain or
shine!
Students and chaperones should be dressed for the outdoors
as appropriate for the season. The building may be used for
a portion of the program and in inclement weather.
Black Earth
Programs:
Program length is negotiable, however we recommend a
minimum of 2-4 hours.
Program Fee: $45 per Naturalist for each 2-hour program.
(12 students per Naturalist)
Program Times: Negotiable. Generally 9 am-3 pm.
Service learning component is strongly suggested at this
site.
All teachers, aides and one chaperone per Naturalist are
free.
Additional chaperones are $3.00 each per 2-hour tour
slot.
Payment should be sent prior to the program or provided
on the day of the program.
Changes to attendance numbers or cancellations require
two weeks' notice. Any subsequent changes will result in a
full charge.
Directions to the Nature Center
The Black Earth Campus is conveniently located approximately
20 minutes from Madison's west side at 10648 Sutcliffe Road
in Black Earth on a 38-acre private campus. Take Route 14
west to Black Earth. Turn south at Rte 78/Cty F. Follow
78/Cty F for ½ mile through town, turn west on F/KP. Follow
F/KP ~ 1 mile to Cty F. Turn south on Cty F and turn on to
Sutcliffe Road (it will be the second road on your right.)
Follow Sutcliffe Rd west for 1 mile. The driveway is just
over the crest of the hill, on the north side of the road.
(This site is open by appointment only.)
Topics at Black Earth!
Animal Tracking
 "January
Thaw," an essay found in Leopold's A Sand County Almanac,
kicks off this program as an introduction to how "trackers"
read the landscape to discover the secret lives of animals.
We'll learn different types of animal signs, typical track
pattern classification, and hit the trail to uncover the
stories the land can tell. Skins and skulls are included in
this program.
Forest Management
Forest mapping is an important tool in planning and making
decisions about forest management. Through guided map
making, students will be able to identify and represent
important landscape features and their relation to each
other. Students will investigate the social, economic and
environmental value of the mapped forest before discussing a
management plan for the site.
Timber Cruising
Careers in forestry are diverse and numerous. This class
will introduce students to some tools utilized by foresters
to determine the diameter of trees, calculate board feet,
core a tree to determine age and harvest a tree. Students
will also learn why the forest products industry is the
second largest in the state!
Geology of the Driftless Region
 Hundreds
of millions of years ago, Black Earth was underneath a tidal
sea. We know because the remains of that seabed are found
all around the Driftless Region! Discover swiss cheese rock,
learn what an "oolite" is, and see fossils from long ago as
we explore the unglaciated hills and rocky outcroppings of
Black Earth.
Tree I.D.
Students will learn to recognize their forest neighbors on
two Tree I.D. courses at Black Earth! We'll discover what
characteristics separate trees, how to use a dichotomous
key, and test students' newly acquired skills on two routes
in the forested hills of Black Earth.
Flora and Fauna of the Coulee
Landscape
The Coulee Landscape is characterized by its highly eroded,
driftless topography, extensive forests, and sandy soils
over dolostone bedrock. Students will explore this landscape
at Black Earth as they hike through an an oak-savanna
restoration site, scale the northern slope of an oak-hickory
forest hill, and see a remnant prairie atop Turkey Ridge.
Along the way they'll meet the plants and animals that call
the Driftless Region "home."
Orienteering
 Students
will learn the parts of the compass, how to hold and use it
properly, and pacing. We'll lead them through some
introductory initiatives, then test their skills on an
outdoor orienteering course. Students will have to find six
stations to put together a written message - can your
students decipher the code?
Forest Diversity
How does topography influence what plants are found in an
area? Using technology, students will do a forest survey to
measure both the living and non-living components of two
areas in a forest ecosystem. They'll then compare what
communities thrive on north-facing vs. south-facing slopes.
Small Mammal Ecology
"Pest" rodents like mice, voles, moles and shrews are
essential to the food chain! Students will see small mammal
skeletons up close through an owl pellet dissection and may
see a small mammal through live trapping!
Winter 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, pack a survival kit
and work cooperatively to develop a strategy when faced with
a crisis situation. They'll also learn how to recognize and
treat the symptoms of hypothermia and frostbite, and work in
teams to build a fire and a debris shelter.
Team Building
What are the attributes of a good team and why are teams
important? In this program students will be given
progressively more difficult "initiative games" to challenge
their problem solving, creative thinking and communication
skills. From crossing the "Chocolate River" to constructing
the "Pipeline," our Naturalists will select the best
initiatives to help your class build trust and cooperation,
and work to achieve a common goal in a physically safe
environment.
Can't Make it to the Black Earth Campus?
The Monona Campus offers 21 acres of wetlands, prairie and
woods, providing the backdrop for nature exploration and
discovery. A replica of Aldo Leopold's Shack can also be
incorporated into your program to deepen understanding of
Aldo Leopold's "Land Ethic".
Monona Campus Programming
All programs are held rain or
shine!
Students and chaperones should be dressed for the outdoors
as appropriate for the season. The building may be used for
a portion of the program and in inclement weather.
Monona
Programs:
• 1½ hours (programs may be longer with appropriate fee
adjustments).
• Program Fee: $30 per Naturalist (12 students per
Naturalist).
• Program Times: 8:45-10:15 am 10:45 am-12:15 pm
12:45-2:15 pm
• After School Programs are available. Call for details.
• Special requests will be accommodated to the greatest
extent possible.
• All teachers, aides and one chaperone per Naturalist are
free.
• Additional chaperones are $2.50 each per 1 1/2 hour tour
slot.
• Payment should be sent prior to the program or provided
on the day of the program.
• Changes to attendance numbers or cancellations require
two weeks' notice. Any subsequent changes will result in a
full charge.
Directions to the Nature Center
The Monona Campus is located at 300 Femrite Drive, Monona,
WI. Take the Beltline (Hwy 12-18) to Monona Drive. Exit
north and continue through the Monona Drive/Broadway Street
intersection. Turn east onto Femrite Drive and pull into the
Woodland Park driveway on the north side of the street.
Follow the driveway to the Bus Parking Lot on your right.
Topics at Monona
Aquatic Field Studies
 Naturalists
guide students in a detailed aquatic field study of a
wetland or pond system at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center or
at a site of your choice. Equipment is available for
students to work in teams to gather data on the living and
non-living parameters of an aquatic system, including pH,
temperature, Dissolved oxygen, turbidity and invertebrate
biodiversity. Students will learn the relationships between
these factors, and discuss the potential impact of human
activities on aquatic systems.
Forest Math
Students will find there is plenty of math lurking in the
forest during this program, as they learn about the secrets
hidden in tree rings, measure the height and width to
determine the number of saw logs and board feet in trees,
and use a formula to estimate a tree's age. Students will
also learn twig and tree identifications skills, and be
presented with Aldo Leopold's essay, "The Good Oak," from
A Sand County Almanac.
Leopold's Life and Legacy
As they learn about Leopold's land ethic and how his work
influences conservation efforts even today, students explore
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, and habitat restoration.
Nature Writing
Aldo Leopold's fame can be largely attributed to his skill
as a nature writer. In Leopold fashion, students will become
nature writers, using journaling and sketches to record
their observations about the natural world. This program
enhances writing and observational skills, encourages
students to pay attention to detail, and teaches the Leopold
legacy. (Pre-visit Preparation: Students should make a
Nature Journal to bring.)
Small Mammals
Those "pest" rodents like mice, voles, moles and shrews are
essential to the food chain. Students will see small mammal
skeletons up close through an owl pellet dissection and may
see a small mammal through live trapping!
Orienteering
Students
learn the parts of the compass, how to use it properly, and
basic orienteering skills. They will then apply their new
knowledge and skills through demonstrative games and in the
field on two orienteering courses.
Team Building
What are the attributes of a good team and why are teams
important? In this program students will be given
progressively more difficult "initiative games" to challenge
their problem solving, creative thinking and communication
skills. From crossing the "Chocolate River" to constructing
the "Pipeline," Naturalists will select the best initiatives
to help your class build trust, cooperation and work to
achieve a common goal in a physically safe environment.
Winter Ecology
Students will hike the Nature Center 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 are
still around during the difficult cold months and who
survives Wisconsin winters!
Winter 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, pack a survival kit
and work cooperatively to develop a strategy when faced with
a crisis situation. They'll also learn how to recognize and
treat the symptoms of hypothermia and frostbite, and work in
teams to build a fire and a debris shelter.
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!
• Biodiversity
• Birds-Predator or Prey?
• Classification
• Communities Comparison
• Insects in Depth
• Mammals
• Phenology
• Plant & Animal Adaptations
• Reptiles & Amphibians
• Watersheds: How You Fit In
• Wetlands: Functions & Values
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