Olivia Delano
Director of Earthcare and Justice Programs & Camp Director
Tim Darst
Associate Director of Earth Literacy Programs
Class Description
What kind of field trip experiences are offered for kids?
We work with teachers to tailor field trips to your curriculum. Each experience includes a guided discussion of the impact humans are having on the natural world and how we can alleviate harmful effects. Options include:
Habitat Exploration Hike - Students explore and observe various habitats on the property (meadows, springs, wetlands, and woods) to learn what plants and animals need to survive.
Humans in Harmony – After visiting sites on the property where humans are impacting animal habitats and plants, students will see first-hand ways to mitigate human impacts through rain gardens, pollinator gardens, wetlands, and bioswales.
Garbology – Sorting garbage intended for recycling, reusing, composting, and landfill illustrates to students where our garbage goes when we throw something “away.” This lesson covers the basics of single-stream recycling and the importance of reusing to reduce humans' impact on land, water, air and other living things in the environment.
Erosion Emersion – Examining land features on our property allows students to understand erosion. Students also learn to perform tests and experiments that measure various land features' susceptibility to erosion.
Biodiversity Hike – Students explore the various habitats on our property to compare biodiversity as the phenomenon for a discussion about biodiversity loss and solutions to increasing biodiversity. Habitats on-site include meadows, springs, wetlands, and woods.
Compost Dive – Students will explore the world of compost and the interdependent relationships between the plants, decomposers, animals, and soil. Students will record their findings through direct observations of the organisms and materials in our on-site composting system.
The Incredible Journey – Students virtually travel as water molecules throughout the geosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and atmosphere to explore those systems and how they interact and are impacted by the sun and wind.
Programs can be structured in a variety of formats, depending on the interest and needs of the children. Program components can include:
- learning essential nature skills
- gardening and understanding how food grows
- creating healthy snacks from the garden
- experiencing Earth-centered arts and science activities.
How long are the programs? When are they available?
Programs are offered throughout the spring, summer, and fall months. They can be scheduled as half-day or full-day experiences. Half-day programs are generally scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Full-day programs can be scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Students bring their own lunches. Adaptations can be made to suit the needs of any group.
Who might be interested in a field trip for their kids?
- School groups come for an educational outreach experience.
- Summer camps incorporate field trips to the Earth & Spirit Center as supplemental programs.
- Groups of families with similar-aged children create their own get-away summer day program.
- Girl Scout or Boy Scout troops
How many students can I bring? What is the cost?
Groups may bring up to 60 children, with a suggested minimum of 15 students. Some subsidies may be available for under-resourced schools. Please call 502-452-2749 for details. Chaperones of one-per-ten children are required and they may attend at no cost. Cost: $9 per child for 2 hour adventure