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Environmental Education Services at Douglas-Hart Nature Center

The Douglas-Hart Nature Center offers quality programs for students of all ages. These programs offer unforgettable and valuable experiences with nature.  Each program is designed to meet your specific educational objectives.   All Douglas-Hart Nature Center naturalists are certified as Intrepretive Guides through the National Association for Interpretation.

Please enjoy all that the Nature Center has to offer!  Presentation dates are available year round, with the exception of State and/or Federal holidays. Email Kristin at enveddhnature@consolidated.net for scheduling or for more details on our educational services.

Our Environmental Education Services Include:

• Nature Field Trips
• Naturalist in the Classroom
• Teacher Workshops
• Community Programs
• Educational Loan Boxes

 



Field Trips

Field trips may be scheduled after January 1st for the spring and after August 1st for fall and winter field trips.  Field trip time is limited to 1-2 hours with a naturalist, but your class may stay longer to use the picnic area and trails.  When more than one class schedules, each class will spend a scheduled time with a naturalist, while the other class will have scheduled activities or free time with their teacher.   Field trips are conducted throughout the year.   The cost of our field trips is 50¢ per child for schools and non-profit centers.   The cost for day care centers and for-profit agencies is $1per student.

Pre-school & Kindergarten
Simply Sense-ational Children will be exposed to the wonders of nature at the Douglas-Hart Nature Center through sensory awareness activities. Exploration of the visitor center includes hands-on activities and an introduction to some live animals. A short trail hike is optional.

The F.B.I.
Children will learn all about decomposition and the F. (fungus) B. (bacteria) I. (insects). They will investigate Mother Nature's Recyclers using magnifying lenses and their own little noses.

Birdie Basics

Little explorers will learn all about our feathered friends. Our state bird, the cardinal, will be emphasized.

Froggie Fun
A trip to the pond to feed the fish & turtles will include an educational lesson on the frogs and other creatures living in our pond.

Wormy Wonders
Squirmy worms are the center of attention during this nature experience. Students will learn about worms and their role in nature and will have the opportunity to meet some up-close.

First to Sixth Grades

Curious About Critters
Critters of all shapes and sizes reside at the nature center. We will learn about them and search the woods and pond for their presence.

Terrific Trees
Learn all about trees and their importance to humans and the environment.

Incredible Insects
We will look for and learn about and imitate these not so creepy crawlers.

Pond Life
An opportunity to use dip nets at the pond is always lots of fun! All students spend time collecting critters from the pond. Discussion of each is followed by a big good-bye as they are put back into their habitat. (March-May Only)

Exciting Ecology
Food Chains, interactions, and competition are discussed during this "wild" field trip.

Birds, Birds, Birds!
What more can we say!

Wildlife & Wildlife Signs
Learn about Illinois wildlife and the signs they leave behind. Tracks, scat, and animal homes are identified and explored.

Guided Trail Hike
This program includes a trail hike through prairie, forest, and pond. Students learn about a "potpourri" of topics as they explore these habitats. Feeding the pond critters and exploring the visitor center are also included.

November through March teachers can schedule to have a naturalist visit their classroom to speak on a variety of topics. Owls, Bats, Wildlife in Winter, Wildlife Signs, Reptiles and Amphibians, and Illinois the Prairie State are the most popular in-class presentations, but a naturalist will speak on almost any nature related topic with advanced notice. When conducting these presentations we utilize as many visual aids and displays as possible. In order to offer quality programs, class size is limited to 20 students for Pre-School programs and 30 students for Kindergarten-8th Grade.

Teacher Workshops

Teacher workshops are offered throughout the year on a variety of topics. Some past workshop topics include: Illinois ENTICE programs, Batty About Bats, Wonderful Prairies, Exploring Nature, Seasons of the Salamander, Bird Basics, and Project WILD.  All workshops include hands-on experience and curriculum materials containing a wealth of ideas. Call the nature center to find out when the next workshop is or to schedule a workshop for a group of educators (10 minimum).

 

 

Community Groups

The Douglas-Hart Nature Center offers a variety of programs for scouts, 4-H'ers, clubs, and other organized groups throughout the year.  Group size is limited to a minimum of 10 and maximum of 30.

Groups may choose from one of the following program topics:

• Nutty About Nature - A guided tour of the nature center and a search for animal homes.
• Wonderful Winter - Learn about the adaptations of animals that live in this snowy state.
• Illinois Wildlife - Learn about our State bird, insect, fish, tree, mineral, mammal, wild flower, and prairie grass.
• Birding Basics - Learn about the birds that call Illinois home and go bird watching.
• Slide Presentations - available during the day or evening for interested community groups. Topics include: The Douglas-Hart Nature Center: Past-Present-Future; Wildlife of Central Illinois; Bats of North America; Bird Identification Basics for the Backyard Bird Watcher.
• Scout Programs- Scout groups may schedule visits to fulfill requirements for wildlife/nature achievements and badges. Group size 10 minimum, 25 maximum.

BAT BOX
Your students will be batty about bats after exploring the contents of this box. A mounted bat specimen, skulls, and model are accompanied by a video. Lots of pictures, posters, and curriculum ideas are also included.

BIRD BOX

This super box contains bird study skins, feathers, and nests; video and audio tapes; posters and picture files; binoculars and field guides; and seed samples with accompanying seed recipes and feeder suggestions.

MAMMAL BOX

Children will discover the diversity of mammals living in Illinois with fur pelts, bones, picture files, videos, and posters. Animal track molds are also available with this kit upon request.

TREE BOX

Seeds of all sorts, tree cross sections, and a collection of rubber tree stamps are combined with field guides, magnifying lenses, posters, and an abundance of activities. This box is a great supplement to tree study and Arbor Day activities.

NATURE WALK BOX

Everything you need to lead a nature walk around your schoolyard, through the neighborhood, or to a nearby park or natural area. This box is filled with a hodge podge of nature materials, discovery boxes, magnifying lenses, field guides, games, and activity ideas.

ILLINOIS PRAIRIES

Bison, badgers, artifacts, videos, field guides and plant specimens accompany a variety of prairie study aides.

LADYBUGS, PRAYING MANTIDS, AND BEES - THANKS FOR HELPING ME!

Packed with videos, books, and curriculum guide, students will learn these insects help humans.

WETLANDS

Created by the Illinois State Museum, this box is packed with great items on these wonderfully diverse habitats.

WORM BOX

This nature education box contains everything you need to make a lesson on worms, decomposition, composting, or soil complete. In addition to a wealth of curriculum ideas for all ages, this box comes with a working worm ranch.

RIVER OTTERS

These playful mammals almost disappeared from Illinois waters.  Learn how they made their comeback with this box.

SPRINGTIME DISCOVERIES

Learn about this busy season through books, videos, puppets, furs, nests, and more!