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Friday's Group

Wood Lake Nature Center has a great program for parents working with homeschools. Currently, our program is on a five-year rotation with a specific class offered each month from September to May. For information about pricing and registration, look at the Classes and Registration section below. To find out more about each year’s course offerings, look at the Class Schedule section on this page. For any additional questions, please contact Leah Darst, School-year Naturalist and Homeschool Curriculum Coordinator, at 612-861-9193.

Classes and Registration

Homeschool parents have two options:

• register a family for Wood Lake's Friday Homeschool Group, held the third Friday of every month

• sign up a Co-op or group for classes on whatever day/time works best for the group's schedule and ours

At the beginning of September, each homeschool coordinator may call the nature center at 612-861-9365 to inquire about registration dates for the fall.  Homeschool groups who either prepay for or commit to coming to all nine months of classes may register for classes spanning the entire school year.  Homeschool groups who prefer to choose specific courses and not sign up for all nine months may only register for classes through November. 

The cost for each class is $3.00 per student with a $35.00 minimum.  Groups smaller than 12 who are willing to split the minimum payment between students are welcome to come despite small class size, as long as they pay the minimum $35.00.  Class sizes are limited to 16 students per naturalist.  Larger groups are welcome to sign up for classes if there are available naturalists and space for the date(s) requested.  Some classes have an additional fee for materials or snowshoe/ski rental.

Classes are geared for ages 6-12, though both younger and older students are accepted for programs.  If a group of older students would like to attend Wood Lake homeschool classes, accommodations can be made to create a more advanced class.  If children younger than 5 are brought with to the class, they should either be counted as one of the students and participate with the class or be kept separate so as not to disturb the students.

For each class, homeschool groups should show up at the nature center dressed and prepared to be outside for the majority of the 1½ to 2 hour class.  A naturalist will lead the group through the activity and parents are expected to stay as well as assist the group when necessary.  Optional take-home assignments are offered at the end of class and serve as a review before the next class.

It is important for homeschool parents to come along and be ready to participate and learn with their children.  We like to give relevant information that can be utilized later on at home.  For environmental education to really have an impact, it should be practiced as well as learned.

Class schedule:

	2009-2010 Year 1	2010-2011 Year 2	2006-2007 Year 3	2007-2008 Year 4	2008-2009 Year 5
Sept.	Dead or Alive (waste & resource)	Seeds & Weeds (plant biology)	Bugs & Bees (entomology)	Bats (adaptations/behavior)	Butterflies (metamorphosis)
Oct.	Apple Cidering (plant life cycles)	Wild Edibles (conservation / biology)	Predator/Prey (adaptations)	Mammals (adaptation/physiology)	Natural Dyes (botany/chemistry)
Nov	Deer Ecology (behavior/ populations)	Animal Camouflage (adaptations)	Food Web (interdependency)	Animal Communication (adaptations/behavior)	Native American Life (anthropology)
Dec	Migration/Hibernation (adaptations/behavior)	Animal Homes (behavior)	Nocturnal Adaptations	Mouse Rugs Alt: Animal Bones (anatomy/taxidermy)	Astronomy
Jan	Muskrat Safari (population cycles/ adaptations)	Keeping Warm physiology/ adaptations)	Snowshoeing/ Winter Games (physics)	Nature Close-up (magnifiers and microscopes)	Animal Tracks (identification/ populations)
Feb	Endangered Species (conservation/values)	Survival Shelters (human physiology)	Hot Air Balloons (physics)	Cross-Country Skiing (physics) Alt: Scavenger Hunt	Snowshoeing/ Skiing (physics)
Mar	Maple Syruping (anthropology/botany)	Recycling/ Papermaking (resource conservation)	Weather (meteorology)	Decomposition / Composting	Nature of Physics (physics/ adaptations)
Apr	Water Experiments (hydrologic cycle)	Trees & Leaves (plant physiology)	Flight (physics)	Soil, Rocks, & Minerals (soil science/geology)	Herpetology (adaptations)
May	Marsh Explorers (aquatic ecology)	Worm Cookies (decomposers)	Birds (adaptations/behavior)	Resource Management (soil stewardship & invasive plants)	Fossils (paleontology)

 

Course Descriptions
Note: classes are being updated and may differ from the descriptions below.  For a more detailed description of current classes, or with other any questions regarding homeschool classes, please contact the Homeschool Curriculum Coordinator.

Year 1

September: Dead or Alive
Observe characteristics of living, dead, and inanimate (never alive) things and learn the difference between the three. Sort objects into the three categories and go on a hike to identify how all three things fit into nature’s cycle of life.

October: Apple Cidering
Using an old-fashioned cider press, make apple cider and learn about the natural and cultural history of apples. Enjoy a fall hike, time allowing.

November: Deer Ecology
Learn about deer behavior, what they eat, and how we manage this beautiful animal at Wood Lake.

December: Migration/Hibernation
Identify the ways animals (including humans) adapt for winter. Hike to find signs of animal activity and play a migration game to learn about the importance of habitat for migrating animals.

January: Muskrat Safari
Learn about adaptations of aquatic and land mammals. Go out to the marsh to search for muskrat lodges and get a glimpse of life under the ice.

February: Endangered Species
Find out about the many endangered species world-wide and in our own state. Learn why they become endangered and what we can do to help!

March: Maple Syruping
Learn about the natural and cultural history of maple syruping. Identify and tap maple trees, collect sap, and turn syrup into a maple sugar treat.

April: Water Experiments
Explore the marsh, learn about the water cycle, and perform water tests to see how healthy our water is here at Wood Lake Nature Center.

May: Marsh Explorers
Discover the incredible variety of animals, insects, and plants that live in the marsh. Dip into the marsh with a collection cup to explore the hidden depths of this diverse wetland.

Year 2

September: Seeds and Weeds
What exactly is a weed?  Learn about the importance of plants, then search for the four different kinds of seeds found at Wood Lake.

October: Wild Edibles
Discuss how to identify, collect, and prepare wild edible plants. Sample some of Wood Lake’s wild edibles and prepare a simple wild edible recipe.

November: Animal Camouflage & Coloration
Learn how an animal's coloration helps it survive. Investigate the effectiveness of different types of camouflage at Wood Lake. End the class with a visit from a snake; a living master of camouflage.

December: Animal Homes
Learn how animals’ size and adaptations define their shelters. Hike to survey different animal homes.

January: Keeping Warm
How do animals stay warm all winter without wearing coats and earmuffs?  Learn about the importance of insulation for animals that live in cold climates. Make predictions about the effectiveness of various insulative materials and carry out an experiment to test the predictions.

February: Survival Shelters
What would you do if you were stranded outdoors? Learn about the basics of survival, then test survival skills by making a shelter out of natural materials.

March: Recycling/Paper Making
What is the difference if we recycle or not? Does it really matter? Learn the importance of reducing our waste and make a piece of recycled paper to take home.

April: Trees & Leaves
What is the life cycle of a tree? What does a tree eat? Answer these questions and learn about the shapes and functions of leaves

May: Worm Cookies
Learn about the life history and significance of earthworms, then dig up worms to clean, cook, and mix with dough to make real worm cookies. (No kidding; they’re delicious!)

Year 3

September: Insect Study
Using sweep nets and magnifying ‘bug boxes’, find and observe insects and other invertebrates in the prairie and forest.

October: Predator Prey
Compare the adaptations of predators and prey by looking at skulls of herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores. Play a game to simulate predator/prey relationships and watch a video of predators in action.

November: Food Web
How does nature keep itself balanced? Discuss the food chain and make a food web before we hiking the park in search of functioning food webs.

December: Nocturnal Adaptations
Owls, bats, and skunks. What do they all have in common? Find out that and more by trying some cool experiments to test our own adaptations to the night.

January: Snowshoeing
Learn about the history and physics behind snowshoes, then experience the joy of walking on top of snow, conditions permitting.  Additional snowshoe rental cost: $1 per participant.

February: Hot Air Balloons
Discover the physics of hot air balloon flight, then construct and launch a model hot air balloon.

March: Weather
Using infrared thermometers and anemometers, learn why we have weather and how to measure it, and see firsthand how the water cycle works.

April: Flight
Discuss and see examples of the four types of flight and go outside to experiment with boomerangs and water rockets.

May: Birds
Look at birds' amazing adaptations for survival in various habitats. Study real bird parts, participate in a bird behavior scavenger hunt, and see what kind of birds can be seen at Wood Lake Nature Center.

Year 4

September: Bats
Why are people afraid of these great flying mammals?  Learn about the adaptations and behavior of these winged night creatures, debunk some common bat myths, and try out some cool experiments to learn what it's like to be a bat.

October: Mammals
What has fur, warm blood, a four chambered heart, glands, and give birth to live young? You’re right, mammals. Learn about mammal characteristics and then search for some famous mammals.

November: Animal Communication
How and why do animals communicate?  Find out more about the languages and behaviors of some of Wood Lake's 'talkative' animals.

December: Mouse Rugs  (Alternate: Animal Bones)
Ever wonder how to taxidermy an animal? Look at the anatomy of a mouse and learn the basics of skinning an animal. (Grades 3 and up or as a family group.)  If taxidermy is not preferred, learn about animal bones and anatomy by dissecting an owl pellet. (Additional $1.50 per mouse/pellet.)

January: Nature Close-up
What does snow look like close-up? Have you ever seen the hooks on a bird feather or the scales on an insect wing? See nature like you've never seen it before. Learn all about magnifying lenses and microscopes, then collect something special to look at close-up.

February: Cross-Country Skiing  (Alternate: Winter Scavenger Hunt)
Learn the basics of cross-country skiing with an indoor demonstration followed by practice outdoors. Snow conditions permitting. Additional ski rental cost: $3 per participant under 16 years old, $6 per participant 16 or older. If there's not enough snow, test your Wood Lake winter knowledge by going on a scavenger hunt.

March: Decomposition/Composting
Why aren't there dead dinosaurs piled up in our backyards? Find out about the amazing creatures that turn our garbage into nutrients and learn how to make your own compost.

April: Soil, Rocks, and Minerals
Learn the difference between igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks and compare their characteristics. Discover how they turn into a key component of soil and explore soil’s other ingredients.  Come prepared to get dirty!

May: Natural Resource Management
We are losing our soil faster than we can make it.  What's the problem and how can we help?  Learn about natural resources, soil conservation, and invasive plants, then take part in restoring Wood Lake’s diversity by removing buckthorn and/or other invasive plants.

Year 5

September: Butterflies and Metamorphosis
Before going out to try to catch these unique critters, learn about the life cycle of butterflies, the difference between moths and butterflies, and the ways animals change through metamorphosis. Finish the class by looking at the amazing travels of monarch butterflies.

October: Natural Dyes
How do animals get their color? For that matter, how does anything get its color? Learn about pigments and structural colors and fun, natural things that can be used to dye yarn or fabric. 

November: Native American Life
Experience what life may have been like for Native Americans. Cook stickbread over a fire, use bone tools, play battledoor, and learn about the plants and animals used for survival.

December: Astronomy
Take part in some hands-on activities to explore the wonders of this vast universe, focusing on planets and stars.

January: Animal Tracks
Study track identification basics and hike to search for and identify tracks of resident animals. Make plaster casts of animal prints to take home.

February: Snowshoeing/Cross-Country Skiing
Venture out into the (hopefully) white winter wonderland while learning to cross-country ski or snowshoe.

March:  The Nature of Phyics  NEW!
How do animals jump so high?  How do humans compare to some of the world's most amazing animal athletes?  Learn about the basics of physics and see how your talents compare to the amazing feats performed by the animal kingdom.

April: Herpetology
What in the world are herps?! Find out which animals are herps and discover the characteristics of those animals. Learn about those animals up close and get a chance to touch some live herps.

May: Fossils  NEW!
Join a Wood Lake naturalist at the Lilydale brickyards for some real fossil hunting!  Learn about the ancient plants and animals and keep some of the fossils you find.