What will we explore?
Our environmental education field trips cover a wide range of topics - we offer over two dozen field trip lessons and counting in five subject areas! If you don't see a topic here that you are interested in learning about, please know that we are also able to customize your visit to meet your needs.
Preschool & Pre-K
Gardens, Farms, and Chickens
In this introduction to sustainable gardening and farming, students will learn about gardening basics through planting seeds in one of our Learning Gardens then visit our mini farm to learn about how food is grown. They will meet chickens and understand their roles on the farm.
Takes place at Oakhurst Garden.
Kindergarten
Five Senses Walk (SKP1)
Students will explore the garden and woods engaging their senses every step of the way. They will smell herbs, feel fuzzy or smooth leaves, listen to birds and other wildlife, taste garden produce if available, and use their sense of sight to take it all in.
Takes place at any Wylde Center Site.
Rocks and Soil (SKE2)
During our rocks and soil program students will examine many different types of rocks and group them based on their physical attributes. We will discuss how soil is formed and get down and dirty as we explore different soil types.
Takes place at any Wylde Center Site.
Living vs. Nonliving (SKL1, SKL2)
This program explores living and nonliving features of the garden.We will discover offspring of various plants and animals living in the garden and group them based on their observable characteristics, and discover the nonliving aspects of the garden, which are vital to the survival of the living ones!
Takes place at Oakhurst Garden, Edgewood Garden, or Mulberry Fields.
First Grade
Characteristics and Basic Needs of Plants and Animals (S1L1)
We will hike to find the different plants and animals living at the garden and discuss the basic needs of both. We will examine how they move, grow and reproduce, and how they are uniquely adapted to living in their environment.
Takes place at Oakhurst Garden, Edgewood Garden, or Mulberry Fields.
Scientific Drawing (S1CS5, S1L1)
Students will explore the garden or woods to find objects that they want to learn more about. They will then create a scientific drawing of their object, identifying and labeling its main parts as they observe them.
Takes place at any Wylde Center Site.
Second Grade
Wylde Woods Exploration (S2E3)
We will look for evidence of organisms living in the garden and note any impact that they have had on their surroundings. We will walk in Wylde Woods, amongst the all native plantings and discuss non native species impact on natives.
Takes place at Oakhurst Garden.
Life Cycles (S2L1)
This program provides an up-close look at many of the plants and animals living in the garden and examination of these organisms in various stages in their life. We will learn the life cycle of plants by observing seeds and the plants they grow into, learn about the life cycle of chickens by meeting the Wylde Center chickens and observing their eggs, and/or find out how worms and composting help start the life cycle all over again.
Takes place at Oakhurst Garden or Mulberry Fields.
Third Grade
Rocks & Soils (S3E1)
In this hands-on program we will discuss the various types of rock and learn how they are formed. We will then focus on examining different types of soil. Students will conduct an experiment that demonstrates how particle size affects water movement through soil. They will then dig to find their own soil samples and look at the different parts that make up the soil and the organisms working within.
Takes place at Oakhurst Garden, Edgewood Garden, or Hawk Hollow.
Habitat Exploration (S3L1)
Students will learn about the features that make up a suitable habitat while exploring the woods, stream and garden habitats of the green space and investigating the plants and animals unique to each.
Takes place at Oakhurst Garden, Edgewood Garden, Hawk Hollow, or Mulberry Fields.
Ecosystems (S3L1) Walk with us as we explore the interconnectedness of all the organisms living at our green spaces. We discuss the transfer of energy at each level and the roles of decomposers, producers and consumers, while discovering some fascinating ways that plants and animals have adapted to survive by mimicry, camouflage, and more.
Takes place at any Wylde Center Site.
Fourth Grade
Water Cycle (S4E3)
Students will use the stream and other natural resources to learn about the water cycle within one of our green spaces. Field trips at our Oakhurst Garden location will be able to get a tour of our rainwater irrigation system which has made that garden 100% watered by rainwater.
Takes place at Hawk Hollow or Legacy Park.
Food Web (S4L1, S4L2)
Students will walk through one of our green spaces to identify consumers, producers, and decomposers. We will learn about the interconnectedness of all living things, and discover what happens when equilibrity is thrown off by invasive species, and the merits of native species. Students will also identify factors that affect the survival and extinction of organisms.
Takes place at any Wylde Center Site.
Fifth Grade
Plant Classification (S5L1)
Students will explore the plant life on site to learn the part of the plant, plant cell functions, the difference between vascular and nonvascular plants, and the difference between coniferous and deciduous trees.
Takes place at any Wylde Center Site.
Microorganisms in the Garden (S5L4) Study ways sustainable farmers and gardeners use beneficial microorganisms, cover crops, and compost as techniques to build soil health.
Takes place at Oakhurst Garden or Mulberry Fields.
Stream Study (S5E1)
Students will study the stream at one of our green spaces to learn about erosion, weathering, and natural floodplains, and how these things affect stream health and the ability of the stream to support life.
Takes place at Hawk Hollow.
Sixth Grade
Conservation in the Garden (S6E5, S6E3)
Learn what sustainability is and how it helps us keep the earth healthy. Experience some of the ways the Wylde Center promotes sustainability, and find out why conserving natural resources like water and soil directly impacts our personal health. Topics covered: erosion, soil health, soil composition, composting, water conservation.
Takes place at Oakhurst Garden or Edgewood Garden.
Seventh Grade
Genetics (S7L3, S7L5)
This program will explore how organisms have changed over time through natural selection and how humans have breed certain traits over time. We will focus on the chickens and vegetables growing in the gardens. Using our chickens and plants as models we will discuss the role of genes and chromosomes in their production of desirable traits.
Takes place at Oakhurst Garden or Mulberry Fields.
Food Web (S7L4)
During this program we will discuss how energy is transferred by examining various ecosystems on site. Students will learn about the different types of relationships among organisms living in the garden.
Takes place at Oakhurst Garden or Mulberry Fields.
Eighth Grade
Decomposition in the Compost Pile (S8P1)
Learn about the chemistry and biology of decomposition as we make our way through the compost pile. Students will learn not only what’s in compost and how it breaks down, but also its value to plants and humans alike.
Takes place at Oakhurst Garden or Edgewood Garden.
High School
We do not have set programs for high school students, but are happy to put together programs based on the needs of your class. Please contact Dory Cooper to find out more.