School Programs
Let's get your students outside and excited about natural science!
Currently scheduling 2023/24 school year - get on the calendar now to reserve your Field Study.
Some May dates left!
Programs must be scheduled at least 1 month in advance to allow for staff scheduling.
Field Study: Over 180 acres of ecologically diverse habitat are our classroom and our playground! Students engage in educational activities, interactive lessons, and interpretive hikes designed to help teachers meet NGSS learning objectives. Using inquiry-based strategies, classes learn about plants, animals, history, and habitats. Lessons can be modified to fit a one or two hours, a half day or a full day visit.
We can generally accommodate up to three classes of 30 students and offer a multi-class discount. Special arrangements may be made for larger groups, different program lengths, or to meet your unique classroom goals. Check out our new extended field study packages to elevate your experience!
Programs are held outside, so please come prepared for the weather!
Traveling Naturalist: Can't work a visit to the nature center into your schedule? Working with one class at a time, the Traveling Naturalist program sends a Field Study program to you!
Young Naturalist: Woldumar's programs offer hands-on, in-school activities for PreK-1st grades.
Choose from our available school program topics described below.
To get more information or for help planning your visit, contact us at 517-322-0030 ext 2 or email programs@woldumar.org.
Want to register your class for a field study program?
Programs Offered
- Since 1963, Woldumar has been a valuable resource for teachers. One- and two-hour Field Study programs engage students in educational programs, interactive lessons, and interpretive hikes designed to help teachers meet their learning objectives.
- Key concepts and program descriptions are found in our downloadable brochure.
| Description | PreK - 2 | Grade 3-5 | Grade 6-8 | When offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Animal homes and niches | X | Year Round | ||
| Groundwater adventure | X | X | Year Round | |
| Insect safari | X | X | Fall, Spring | |
| Nature detectives | X | Year Round | ||
| Plants on the move | X | X | Fall, Spring | |
| Pond exploration | X | X | X | Fall, Spring |
| Reasons for the seasons | X | X | X | Year Round |
| Reflections of a pioneer child | X | X | X | Year Round |
| Web of life | X | X | Year Round | |
| Wilderness survival | X | X | Year Round |
- If your class is unable to fit a visit to Woldumar into the schedule, our Traveling Naturalist program sends a Field Study program to your class.
| Topics | PreK - 2 | Grade 3-5 | Grade 6-8 | When offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Animal homes and niches | X | Year Round | ||
| Groundwater adventure | X | X | Year Round | |
| Insect safari | X | X | Fall, Spring | |
| Nature detectives | X | Year Round | ||
| Plants on the move | X | X | Fall, Spring |
- New this year is this opportunity for hands-on, one-hour, in school activities for PreK - 1st grade. Woldumar staff will engage students with a short story, lead a natural science lesson, and provide extension activities for students to do after we leave.
- Topics:
- Eco-Warriors
- Is it alive?
- Nature detectives
- Sensational seasons
- The power of plants
- Water matters
- Our experienced staff will lead your group in team development using physical challenges and problem solving initiatives. TRAC success requires planning, teamwork, determination and strategy. Following each activity, facilitated discussions relate to life skills and real world application. Outcomes include improved communication, trust, cooperation and camaraderie.
| Topics | Grade 3-5 | Grade 5-Adult |
|---|---|---|
| Group-building activities | X | X |
| Ropes activity course | X | |
| The wall | X |
- Pair your 2-hour field study with teambuilding, a self-guided hike, snowshoeing, another naturalist-guided lesson or use our library of natural science fiction and nonfiction for a literary extension.
- Woldumar offers unique spaces and a variety of experiences for:
- Student retreats
- Staff retreats
- Meetings
- Conferences
- Celebrations
- Full-day field study
Do you have questions about:
- Fill out a Program Request Form or call Woldumar Nature Center at 517-322-0030 to register your class for a field trip. Registrations are taken on a first come, first served basis and require a minimum two-week notice. Programs fill quickly so register in advance and have alternate dates in mind. When calling, please be ready to provide the following information:
- School / Organization Name, Address and Phone Number
- Contact Person for Confirmation Materials
- Program Choice
- Choice of Dates and Times
- Grade Level and Number of Students
- Lunch / Gift Shop Arrangements
- Special Needs or Requests
- Please note that this is a program request only, and that we will still need to contact you to confirm certain details of your visit.
- Program fees are based on one classroom of up to 30 students.
- One Hour Field Study: $75.00
- Two Hour Field Study: $125.00
- TRAC Teambuilding: Half Day: $250.00 - Full Day: $400.00. (Student rates. Other groups, please call for quote.)
- Self-Guided Field Study - $30.00
- Traveling Naturalist Program Fees – One-hour program: $100.00 per class. (Includes Mileage)
- Full Day Program - Combine options and receive discounted rates! Please Call for quote.
- A 10% multi-class discount is applied when you book two or more classes at the same time.
- Teachers who are MAEOE members save an additional 5%. Visit maeoe.com to learn more.
- To make our programs accessible to all students, teachers are encouraged to apply for scholarships when they register. Requests are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Priority is given to:
- Schools that demonstrate great financial need.
- First time visitors.
- Off-season requests (November - March).
- Requests submitted with a compelling narrative.
- Schools where physical distance from the nature center creates a barrier.
- Teachers are also encouraged to apply for outside grants. Useful sites include:
- Unfortunately, due to schools' limited time and budgets, not every class can make a visit to Woldumar every year. This year, we're asking individuals to consider giving the gift of a Traveling Naturalist Program to an area class - or even your own child's class!
- How does it work?
- Complete a program request for Field Study at Woldumar.org and indicate your gift.
- We will contact you to confirm your gift and receive payment.
- We will contact the teacher to choose and schedule your program.
- Field Study fees for a class of 30 include all school staff plus one adult chaperone per 4 students. Additional adults and non-infant siblings are $5.00 each.
GM GREEN
GM GREEN is a free program for secondary education students, supported by General Motors and funded through the General Motors Foundation. GM GREEN enhances your natural sciences curriculum, employing chemistry to study biology and ecology in a real-world setting.
While the GREEN process is widely variable and adaptable to meet your classroom objectives, a typical GREEN experience involves visiting a river or stream to conduct water quality and macro-invertebrate sampling and analysis. Woldumar staff, General Motors Environmental Scientists, and Michigan State University students work together to teach students how to use the sampling equipment, conduct the study, and interpret the results.
Educators interested in taking part in this program or learning more should contact Woldumar's Program Director (email: ; phone 517-322-0030 ext.2)
Annie's Big Nature Lesson
Did you know that Woldumar is one of Michigan's nature centers participating in Annie's BIG Nature Lesson, where teachers and students immerse themselves in a full week of in-depth ecological study, including teacher-led lessons, independent student observation, and research time. See Annie's Big Nature Lesson for more information about their program.