Students will practice the science skills of observation, measurement, & asking questions. A puppet show, observation hike, & tree measurement activities will be included.

Students will compare their 5 senses with the senses of honey bees. Students will also learn about how honey is made, help extract honey from comb, & and taste honey.

Students will compare a live snake & a toy snake, look for animals in soil, and hike to find clues about living things. Students will learn what all living things need to survive and some ways scientists group living things.

Students will measure and draw small living animals observing how they are alike and different, and how they look and move. Brief puppet shows will help students understand animal life cycles through the seasons.

Students will enjoy an introduction to the parts and lives of trees before hiking to find examples of trees at various stages of life. Observation and dichotomous keys will be used to identify tree leaves and seeds.

The "Soil Chef" will help students understand the difference between soil and dirt and give the recipe for soil. Students will hike to the Quarry Hill sandstone cave and also sift and sort soil samples into their components.

This bird intensive class will have students observing birds with binoculars, live trapping birds, assisting with bird banding and understanding how habitat and bird adaptations are related.

Explore how a scientist defines a habitat versus a biome. Learn about Minnesota's biomes and how each is unique. Then head outside on a hike to the pond, prairie, and forest to investigate what animals might be using these areas as a part of their habitat. Students will also play a matching 'Find the Habitat' game (indoors).

Students will perform chemical and physical test, observe pond invertebrates (macro and micro) and play the pond organism pyramid puzzle game to understand the web of life in the Quarry Hill pond.

Students will use various tools of meteorology to take measurements and predict the weather. They will learn about human impacts on our "sea of air" and also how animals respond to weather and seasonal changes.

Students will be exposed to the geologic and human history of Quarry Hill Park and SE Minnesota as they hike to search for and identify fossils. After an introduction to proper climbing techniques and equipment, students will have an opportunity to climb an outdoor limestone wall - a great team building activity.

Students will learn microscope basics and have time to practice with prepared slides before moving on to the amazing world of microorganisms within a drop of water. preparing a wet mount slide, observation, sorting, and classifying skills will be emphasized.

Visit the Olmsted Country Waste-to-Energy plant and Recycling Center. Students will tour both facilities and also spend time at 12 waste related learning stations. There is no fee for this offering. Class fees are covered by Olmsted County.

Energy use & conservation, alternative energy sources, & environmental problems related to energy will be explored as students work through 16 energy stations and test their energy IQ while navigating the Energy Survival Game Trail.

Students will learn about strategies animals use to survive winter. Ways for people to enjoy winter, while avoiding hypothermia, will be taught at stations like the “Ice Bucket Challenge”. 

Students will work at hands-on experiment stations to learn about the geology under our feet and how our limestone bedrock forms caves and affects groundwater quality.