Special 3 to 5-hour, age-specific programs are offered during the school year for grades K through 12. Each program is tailored to meet the schedule and needs of the group. Hands-on activities focus on ecological concepts. A visit is incomplete without outdoor exploration of Touch of Nature's beautiful natural setting. Nature Center Pond and Little Grassy Lake are available for aquatic exploration and study. There are also terrestrial treks and canoe courses through the great outdoors. There is at least one instructor present for every 10 to 15 students.
Explore the woodland beauty of Southern Illinois in springtime! Go on a wildflower walk and identify numerous wildflowers using various identification techniques. Round out your knowledge with a discussion of habitat and invasive species.
What lives below the pond's surface? While at the water's edge, discover the animals that call a pond home. Discuss the life cycles of pond-dependent insects, fish and amphibians. Relate pond life to the health of the pond system.
Naturalize along the beautiful banks of Little Grassy Lake. Learn about what has formed its shorelines and what lives there. Journey by canoe for a new perspective on what calls the lake home.
Be a nature detective! How can we identify forest plants? What do rocky bluffs tell us? What animals have lived here in the past, and who lives in these woods now? Open your senses to discover the natural wonders of this extensive woodland system.
Examine bird specimens to understand how birds make a living. Go on a bird walk through the forest to see, hear, and identify our feathered friends. Relate the presence of sensitive bird species to the habitats where they reside.
Record the lessons that nature has to teach. Open your senses to the natural world and express yourself through creative journaling. Enjoy a scavenger hunt that has you looking at nature in a whole new way. In addition to creative journaling, learn the importance of accurately recording your discoveries for the purpose of citizen science.
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Sandstone bluffs, cypress swamps, and oak-hickory forests provide the setting for this five-day ecological experience. Adjacent to the Shawnee National Forest, Touch of Nature Environmental Center is located in the transition zone of several North American biomes and is thus an ideal location for the study of many natural communities. These diverse systems support an extremely diverse assortment of bird and wildflower species.
The neo-tropical songbird migration is highlighted as expert birders lead treks to view woodland warblers as well as a myriad of other avian species. There are owl prowls for nocturnal birders.
With leaves just forming on tree branches, the sunny forest floor is carpeted with a plethora of wildflower species. Join area naturalists on favorite walks to identify and enjoy the flowers reflecting this unique area.
Natural resource experts will lead discussions on habitat preservation, restoration, and species diversity in this beautiful "Land between the Rivers."
The Nature of Our Planet is a half-day nature camp at the Touch of Nature Environmental Center for youth entering grades 6th-8th. Campers will have the opportunity to work with SIU graduate students involved with the NSF HEART GK-12 Program and to learn all about different ecological and environmental issues through hands-on activities.
Each day campers will participate in activities that relate to the ecological theme of that day. From collecting tree cores, to examining ancient fossils, to making compost, campers will have the opportunity to experiment and discover new things that cover a broad range of topics.
Programs
