Group of school kids playing

School Group Programs


Field Trips and Outreach Programs

Designed with state educational standards in mind, Delaware State Parks school programs offer students aged preschool to high school the opportunity to discover hands-on experiences that compliment classroom learning. Plan a field trip to a Delaware State Park or invite park interpreters to you for in-school programs throughout the year that can be tailored for schoolwide assemblies or small classrooms. Satisfy state standards in science, history, and mathematics while bringing your lessons to life

How to Plan a State Park Field Trip

Taking your students on a field trip is a great experience, but it takes a little time to research and plan the best trip for your class. For some students, this may be their first trip into the outdoors. Set your students up for success by visiting the park’s website and sharing the adventure with your class.

This information will help you with the registration process and pre-trip preparation needed to make your trip a success. If at any time during your field trip experience you have questions or requests, talk to the park interpreter. Interpreters want the best experience for your group and will do all they can to ensure your class’ success.

One way to get the most for your field trip dollar is to book multiple programs at parks that are near each other. The park interpreters are happy to work together to coordinate programs like these.

Contacting Delaware State Parks and Registering For Your Program

Setting up a field trip is a big job. We know your time is limited, so Delaware State Parks has made it as easy as possible for you to secure your date and prepare your students.

Once you have found programs that you are interested in, use the contact information at the top of the park page to reserve your classroom.


Choosing a Date

When choosing your dates, think about what time of year you would like to make your visit. Most teachers like to plan field trips in the spring, between mid-April and mid-June. The weather in the spring can make for a great field trip, but can sometimes conflict with testing. The fall can also be a popular time to book trips as the weather begins to change. Plan early to make sure you get the dates you want for your group.

Consider booking your field trip in the late fall, winter or early spring. If your program is not weather- or season- specific, you may have additional flexibility than in more popular months.

If you are planning to visit during the peak field trip months, you might find more flexibility scheduling afternoon start times for your programs. Most schools visit in the morning because bus schedules dictate their window of opportunity. If you have some flexibility in your day, or if you are registering for an overnight program at a park that offers them, an afternoon start time will ensure more available program dates.


Grant and Foundation Funding

Scholarships

Some of the Delaware State Parks offer scholarship money to cover student participation fees. Some even have money available to cover bus costs, often the largest per student cost for field trips. These funds are available through the park Friends groups. Check with the park that you are interested in visiting to learn more about who qualifies and how to apply.


Arrivals

Generally, it is best to plan for buses to arrive on-site 15 minutes before your scheduled program time. That will allow you and your students time to get off the bus and take care of any housekeeping issues that need to be addressed. The park interpreter will establish a meeting location and bus parking during the registration process.


Lunches

Lunch can be a great opportunity for students to take a break from learning — sometimes lunch can be as much of an event as the actual program! The park interpreter can identify picnic tables or areas available to your group to eat and play.


Trash-Free Parks

All Delaware State Parks have a carry-in, carry-out trash policy. If you choose not to reserve a pavilion, you will need to bring trash bags for your lunch trash so you can take it with you and dispose of it back at school. If you rent a pavilion, trash collection is provided as part of your rental fee.




How to Prepare Your Students for a State Parks Field Trip

The best way to insure that your students will get the most out of your class field trip is to prepare everyone involved. If your students and their chaperones are well prepared, they are more comfortable with what can be a new experience. Here are some suggestions for how best to prepare for your special day.

Pre-Visit Activities

There are several ways to prepare your students for the content that they will be learning during their program. One way is to check out the park’s outreach programs to complement your field trip. Coupling an outreach and on-site program could get you discounted rates on both.


Park Manners

Stay with your group and listen to your leader.

Stay on pathways and trails.

Follow directions and ask questions.

Respect the rights of other living things in the park. All of our visitors, animals and plants are important to us. They deserve the right to enjoy the day just as you are.


Clothing Requirements

When your class visits a Delaware State Park, you will spend a large portion of the day outside. Students and chaperones should dress for the weather and be prepared to get dirty. They should wear flat, closed-toe shoes (like sneakers), regardless of the weather. If the weather report calls for rain or snow, everyone should come prepared for wet and muddy feet. If your program takes place on or near a body of water, your students might get muddy feet even on the sunniest day. Make sure your students and chaperones dress accordingly.




Working With Chaperones

Be very honest about your expectations for the field trip. Outline the day, your planned activities and any clothing requirements that you might have for your students and chaperones. Explain what their role in the field trip will be and what you expect of them. Explain your wishes regarding electronics and use of phones during the field trip.

Don’t forget grandparents and aunts and uncles. Sometimes close relatives are happy to spend the day with their young one when parents are unable to attend.


Field Trips

Hike on History - Auburn Valley State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: 1 to 5

Hike the Trolley Trail, part of the Auburn Heights trail system, and discuss transportation and the Yorklyn-area industry. Students will learn how a mill race creates power, the different states of water and how a mill's production can be affected by weather. We will also learn how people who worked at the mill traveled to nearby towns and compare that to students' experiences.Space is limited to one class at a time (about 25 maximum).

Fee: $5 per student or $65 minimum

Standards: NGSS: PS1, PS2, PS3, ESS3 Social Studies: H1.405; H2.K-3, 4-5; H3.3; H4.K-3

Bridging to the Past - Auburn Valley State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: 3 to 5

Bridges paved the way to the 20th century industrial and automotive booms in northern Delaware. Students will bridge history with STEM as they learn about the historic bridges connecting the trails throughout the park, basic engineering principles, and will design, build, and test their own bridges.

Fee: $5 per student or $65 minimum

Standards: NGSS: 3-5-ETS 1-3 Social Studies: H1.4-5; H2.K-3,4-5; H3.3; H4.K-3

Machinery Mansion Tour - Auburn Valley State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: 3 to 5

Tour the first floor of the Auburn Heights mansion. Learn about the mansion's construction and its amenities which were very modern in 1897. We will emphasize the furnishings that include simple machines and how they work. Students will see a live steam demonstration, with a focus on how water and steam can create power and the phases of matter and how they relate to water and the operation of a mill. Space is limited to one class at a time (about 25 maximum).

Fee: $5 per student or $65 minimum

Standards: NGSS: PS2, PS3, ESS3 Social Studies: H1.4-5, H2.K-3, 4-5; H3.K-3; H4.K-3, 4-5

Who's in the water? - Auburn Valley State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: 5 to 6

Insects can tell us a lot about the health of an aquatic system. During this program, students explore the Red Clay Creek and examine the varieties of aquatic larvae present in the water. Using insect ID resources, they will track the health of the water as indicated by the species of insects found, and learn about the creek's industrial past, the role insects play in ecosystems, and how to help keep our water clean.

Fee: $5 per student or $65 minimum

Standards: Grade 5

Using Water to Work - Auburn Valley State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: K to 3

Students will learn that materials exist as either solid, liquid, or gas, and that the physical properties of materials can be changed by adding water or het, or by mixing. Through the demonstrations, studetns wil learn about heat energy and how heating water may change its physical properties. We will also show that moving water has energy that can be transferred to other objects.

Fee: $5 per student or $65 minimum

Standards: NGSS: PS1, PS2, PS3, ESS3 Social Studies: H4.K-3

Childhood in the Age of Steam - Auburn Valley State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: K to 12

Childhood has changed through the ages, but some of its aspects are universal. Students will learn about childhood as it existed in the 1900s-1930s by examining historical materials and artifacts. They'll also learn about the daily life of children and families in the northern Delaware region, including their similarities and differences to today. Students will also get the opportunity to use reproduction toys of the time.

Fee: $5 per student or $65 minimum

Standards: Social Studies: H1.K-3; H2.K-3, 4-5; H3.K-3; H4:K-3,9-12

Organisms Are Everywhere! - Bellevue State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: 1 to 1

Students will observe the various life forms found at Bellevue State Park. Through an interactive discussion, they will discover what makes something “alive”, and what plants and animals need to survive. Students will also use dip nets to find and closely examine the organisms that live in Bellevue's pond!

Fee: $6 per student

Standards: NGSS: 1-LS1, 1-LS2, 1-LS4

Water Wonders - Bellevue State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: 3 to 3

Students will become experts on Bellevue's water systems! We'll use hands-on techniques to collect data and compare the pond and stream environments at Bellevue. We'll discuss organisms found in each environment, flow of water, erosion, sediment types and  man-made impacts on the environments.

Fee: $6 per student

Standards: NGSS: 5-PS3, 5-LS1, 5-ESS3

Trees Up Close - Bellevue State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: K to K

Students will take a nature walk around the park to learn, observe, describe and compare trees found throughout Bellevue. They will identify the parts of a tree, what a tree needs to survive and how trees are like them. Students will also learn how trees can adapt to their environment.

Fee: $5 per student

Standards: NGSS: K-ESS1 - K-ESS2

Exploring Ecosystems - Bellevue State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: K to 3

Students will compare, learn about and see the park's ecosystems in action. They will learn about and identify the relationships amont producers, consumers and decomposers.

Fee: $6 per student

Standards: NGSS: 5-PS3, 5-LS1, 5-ESS3

Life Cycle Safari - Bellevue State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: K to 3

Students will enjoy a multi-sensory exploration into the life cycles of three different organisms: butterflies, dragonflies and frogs. We will discuss the similarities and differences in their life cycles, and students will dip in the pond and search the meadow for these organisms in their habitats.

Fee: $6 per student

Standards: NGSS: 3-PS1, 3-LS2, 3-ESS2

Animal Architects - Brandywine Creek State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: 2 to 2

Ever wondered what animal built that nest in the tree or carved open a hole in the trunk?  Animals build homes for a variety of reasons.  During this program students get to explore some animal homes in the forest, learn why different species build different structures, and design their own bird nests to see which one can hold the most weight in eggs!

Fee: $6 per student

Standards: NGSS: 2-ETS1, 2-LS4

Insects - Brandywine Creek State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: 2 to 3

Discover insect adaptations, life cycles and insect survival needs through a series of interactive activities.  In the field, students will collect insects, make observations, and record data. Visit the Brandywine Creek Pollinator Garden to see insects in action or to learn about their importance in pollination (depending on the time of year). If pollinators are out and about, students can also participate in a fun citizen science pollinator project in the park garden.

Fee: $6 per student

Standards: NGSS: 2-LS2-2, 2-LS4, 3-LS1

Organisms In Nature - Brandywine Creek State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: 3 to 3

Learn about the lives of organisms firsthand as we discover life cycles and survival needs. Students will compare living and non-living things in two different habitats. We will use scientific tools to study the organisms we collect.

Fee: $6 per student

Standards: NGSS: 3-LS1, 3-LS3, 3-LS4

Stream Study - Brandywine Creek State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: 4 to 5

It is up to you to determine the health of our creek and what impacted its current condition! We will explore our stream using a macro invertebrate study, chemical tests, and past creek data. Learn about the impacts of weather, humans, and other organisms in the ecosystem on our watershed. Dress to get your feet wet and muddy! This program can be expanded for a longer excursion and/or an older age group by combining this program with the Wetland Hydrology Program (contact us for more details).

Fee: $6 - $7 per student

Standards: NGSS: 4-LS1, 4-ESS2, 5-LS1-1, 5-ESS2, 5-ESS3

Ecosystems: Energy In Action - Brandywine Creek State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: 5 to 6

How does energy flow through an ecosystem? Examine the biotic and abiotic factors affecting our ecosystem and determine how organisms in an ecosystem are linked to one another by the flow of energy. We will play education games, solve food chain puzzles and for longer programs we will record organism data.

Fee: $6 - $7 per student

Standards: NGSS: 5-PS3, 5-LS1, 5-LS2, MS-LS1-6

Wetland Hydrology - Brandywine Creek State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: 5 to 8

Wetlands are a critical but disappearing part of our ecosystems.  In this program, students will discover the functions of a wetland and why these special habitats deserve our protection.  Students will also get to exercise their engineering brains and get hands-on by trying to design the most effective wetland model. Prepare to get muddy as we hike to visit the oldest nature preserve in Delaware, Brandywine Creek’s Freshwater Marsh Nature Preserve.

Fee: $6 per person

Standards: NGSS: MS-ESS3, MS-ETS1, 5-ESS3

Orienteering - Brandywine Creek State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: 6 to 12

Ever wonder how people find their way in the wild? They use a compass and a topographical map. Students will learn how to use a compass, read map legends, recognize symbols on a map, and relate them to physical features on the landscape. Then teams of students will sharpen their map and compass skills by navigating the park's orienteering course.

Fee: $6 - $7 per student

Standards: Geography Anchor Standard One: 6-8a, 9-12a, 9-12b

Weather: Young Meteorologists - Brandywine Creek State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: K to K

Learn how weather influences how wild animals survive and how it impacts our daily lives!  Gain hands-on experience using various scientific instruments to measure weather.  We will record the data like real meteorologists and learn about the type of weather we have here in Delaware and throughout the country.

Fee: $6 per student

Standards: NGSS: K-ESS2, K-ESS3

History of the Land: The Lenape of Delaware - Brandywine Creek State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: K to 3

Dive into the history of the people who lived here before the State of Delaware was even established! The Lenni Lenape have lived here for many generations and have a rich history. Students will learn about the lives of the lenape people prior to European settlement, and where the Lenape are today. We’ll explore how the Lenape lived in harmony with the land and discuss their agricultural skills and knowledge. Students will get to see and touch some objects to help them connect and experience Lenape history. We’ll also get to experience some Lenape culture through music and games.

Fee: $6 per student

Standards: NGSS: K-ESS2, K-ESS3 Social Studies: History K-3a

Animal Adaptations - Brandywine Zoo - Field Trip

Grade Level: 3 to 9

Explore how animals are adapted to live in their environments and discover the importance of biodiversity and why the conservation of each organism matters. This program is tailored to your students age group.

Fee: $7 - $8 per person

Standards:

Live Animal Encounter - Brandywine Zoo - Field Trip

Grade Level: PreK to adult

Meet some of the Zoo's ambassador animals and learn about their amazing adaptations that help them survive in the wild. The program's focus can be customized by request, for example: camouflage, fur patterns, defense mechanisms or other adaptations. If requested, program can be focused specifically on the following classes of animals: reptiles, mammals, amphibians. This program is great for classrooms with special needs and audiences of all ages.

Fee: $7 - $8 per person

Standards: NGSS: K-HS-LS1, K-HS-LS4

Habitats and Ecosystems - Brandywine Zoo - Field Trip

Grade Level: PreK to adult

Animals live in their habitat homes, and each habitat contains an ecosystem of interacting plants and animals that rely on each other for survival. Learn about what makes up ecosystems and habitats and what animals need to survive. Optional add on to learn about Delaware ecosystems. This program is tailored to your students' age group.

Fee: $7 - $8 per person

Standards: NGSS: 5-LS2, 5-LS4

Five Senses - Brandywine Zoo - Field Trip

Grade Level: PreK to K

Discover how humans and other animals use their senses of smell, taste, touch, sight, and hearing to learn about their surroundings and interact with their world. Students will identify the five senses and compare their senses with animals' senses. Students will be able to describe how important the five senses are to an animal's survival.

Fee: $7 - $8 per person

Standards: NGSS: K-LS1, K-LS2

Storybook Programs - Brandywine Zoo - Field Trip

Grade Level: PreK to 5

During story book programs, we'll read a story and discuss relevant themes paired with some animal friends and touchable artifacts from the story. Choose from several themed story books that focus on animal adaptations, nocturnal animals, movement, and more. Visit program registration page, found at BrandywineZoo.org/zooschool, for available books.

Fee: $7 - $8 per person

Standards: NGSS: K-LS1, K-LS3, 1-LS1, 1-LS3, 2-LS1, 2-LS3, 3-LS1, 3-LS3

Horseshoe Crab Ecology - Cape Henlopen State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: 4 to 8

Students explore the world of the horseshoe crab by examining live specimens and how they are a key component of the Delaware Bay ecosystem.

Fee: $5 per student or $65 minimum

Standards: NGSS: 4-LS1, 4-ESS2, 4-ESS3; 5-LS2, 5-ESS3; MS-LS2, MS-ESS3

Creatures of the Coast - Cape Henlopen State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: 4 to 8

Form meets function as students investigate how our coastal animals adapt and interact with their marine environment. Using live animals and props, students will learn about the habitats of the coastal marine environment.  Can also be presented as an outreach component.

Fee: $5 per student or $65 minimum

Standards: LS1.A, LS2.C

Sand Dune Dynamics - Cape Henlopen State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: 4 to 12

Through observation and inquiry, students gain an understanding of the interaction between the living and non-living components of sand dunes and learn how energy drives this change.  Students will develop an appreciation for the important role dunes play in the coastal ecosystem.

Fee: $5.50 per student or $65 minimum

Standards: NGSS: 4-LS1, 4-ESS2, 4-ESS3; 5-1S1, 5-LS2; MS-LS2, MS-ESS3

Seining the Bay - Cape Henlopen State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: 4 to 12

Students get wet during this hands-on activity as they collect marine animals with a seine net. Students will explore the ecological connections between the organisms and the environment of Delaware Bay.  Available mid April - mid October

Fee: $5 per student or $75 minimum

Standards: LS1.A, LS1.C, LS2.A, LS2.C, ESS3.A

Adaptations Night Hike - Cape Henlopen State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: 5 to 12

Students explore the coastal habitat at night as they discover how animals adapt to nocturnal life.  They will test the limits of their own senses at night and learn about the nocturnal and crepuscular behavior of the animals. Available April-October.

Fee: $5.50 per student or $65 minimum

Standards: LS1.A, LS1.C; LS2.A, LS2.C

Coastal Wetland Ecology - Cape Henlopen State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: 6 to 12

Students take a hike to explore fresh and saltwater marshes comparing the habitats through hands-on investigations and learn the importance of these ecosystems to Delaware’s watersheds.  Available April - May and October – November.

Fee: $6 per student or $65 minimum

Standards: LS1.A, LS1.C; LS2.A, LS2.C, ESS2.C, ESS3.C

Marine Ecology - Cape Henlopen State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: 6 to 12

During this inquiry driven program, students measure water quality parameters and collect live organism to get a snap shot of the health of DE Bay.

Fee: $6 per student or $65 minimum

Standards: LS1.A, LS1.C, LS2.A, LS2.C, ESS3.C

Bug Out – Insects! - Cape Henlopen State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: K to 3

Students use their senses and exploring skills to learn about insects, their life cycles and how they survive, using puppets, props, fun activities and live insects (seasonal).

Fee: $5 per student or $65 minimum

Standards: NGSS: K-LS1, K-ESS3; 1-LS1, 1-LS3, 2-LS2, 2-LS4; 3-LS1, 3-LS3,3-LS4

Beach Detectives - Cape Henlopen State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: K to 3

Students scour the beach and use their powers of observation and identification to solve an ecological puzzle connecting organisms to their habitats and energy of movement.

Fee: $5 per student or $65 minimum

Standards: NGSS: K-LS1, 3-ESS2, 3-ESS3, 1-LS1, 1-LS3, 2-LS4, 2-ESS2; 3-LS2, 3-LS3

Pinelands Hike - Cape Henlopen State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: K to 3

Students hike the maritime forest using your senses and powers of investigation to study the soil and the environment, discovering how plants and animals survive in this habitat.  

Fee: $5 per student or $65 minimum

Standards: NGSS: K-LS1, K-ESS2, K-ESS3, LS1, LS3, 2-LS2, 2-LS4, 3-ESS2, 3-LS2, 3-LS3

Crabby Crustaceans - Cape Henlopen State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: K to 3

Using props and live animals, students compare the differences and similarities between true crabs and horseshoe crabs and how each survives in their habitats.  Students will understand the role and importance of both “crabs” in the Delaware Bay ecosystem.  Can also be presented as an outreach component.

Fee: $5 per student or $65 minimum

Standards: LS1.C, LS4.C, LS4.D, ESS3.A

Seashore Safari - Cape Henlopen State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: K to 4

Students get wet helping collect plants and animals from Delaware Bay using a beach seine net and learn about the adaptations these organisms have for survival. Available mid April - mid October

Fee: $5 per student or $65 minimum

Standards: NGSS: K-LS1, 3-ESS2, 3-ESS3; 1-LS1, 1-LS3, 2-LS2, 2-LS4; 3-LS1-4; 4-LS1, 4-ESS2

Reptiles: Snakes and Turtles - Cape Henlopen State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: K to 8

Students experience live snakes and turtles discovery the diversity of design and learn why these native reptiles are an important part of our ecosystem.

Fee: $5 per student or $65 minimum

Standards: NGSS: K-LS1, K-ESS3; 1-LS1, 1-LS3, 1-LS4; 3-LS1, 3-LS4; 4-LS1, 4-ESS2, 4-ESS3; 5-LS2, 5-ESS3

Seining the Bay - Delaware Seashore State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: 1 to 4

Pull a 30-foot net through the shallow waters of Rehoboth Bay.  Gather the critters and plants and get an up-close view of the creatures that call the bay home.  Learn about their habitats and special adaptations before releasing them back into the bay.

Fee: $5 per student or $65 minimum

Standards: NGSS: 1-LS3; 2-LS4; 3-LS1, 3-LS2, 3-LS4; 4-LS1

Squid Dissection: From Pen to Ink! (STEM) - Delaware Seashore State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: 2 to 8

Study one of the most specialized invertebrates of the sea! A park naturalist will guide participants in a dissection, and at the end of the program, students will be able to write their names in squid ink! Can also be scheduled as a field trip.

Fee: $6 per student

Standards: NGSS: 2-PS1-1, 2-PS1-3, 2-LS4-1; 3-LS1-1, 3-LS4-2; LS4.B, LS4.C, 4-LS1-1; MS-LS1-3

Marsh Walk - Delaware Seashore State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: 2 to 12

Learn about the importance of wetlands in Delaware’s Inland Bays as you make your way through the muddy waters of a salt marsh.  Students will learn how to identify marsh grasses and their various adaptations to living in such a harsh, salty environment.  With some luck, the group may get to see osprey, herons, horseshoe crabs or even a diamondback terrapin along the way.

Fee: $5 per student

Standards: NGSS: 2-LS4, 2-ESS2, 3-LS4; 4-LS1, 4-ESS2, 4-ESS3; 5-LS2

Life of a Surfman - Delaware Seashore State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: 4 to 10

Learn about the day-to-day life of a surfman while touring the Indian River Life-Saving Station, one of the oldest buildings along the coast!

Fee: $5 per student

Standards: Social Studies: H1.4-5, 6-8, 9-12

Beachcombing 101 - Delaware Seashore State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: K to 3

Explore the beach and use a scientist's best tool - your eyes! Scour the beach for both living and non-living organisms, and then discover how the species play an integral role in Delaware coastal habitats.

Fee: $4 per student

Standards: NGSS: K-LS1, K-LS2, K-ESS3; 1-ESS2, 1-ESS3; 2-ESS2

Legislative Hall Tour - First State Heritage Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: 3 to 12

Every student should know where the laws are made for themselves and their state. This guided tour of Legislative Hall emphasizes the building as Delaware’s capitol, but also Dover as Delaware’s capital city. Along the tour, students will participate in activities that help engage their understanding of the building they are in and its purpose. This program will describe to students the legislative process, procedure, and powers as they apply in Delaware. During the tour, the program will stress the involvement of citizens both young and old, emphasizing how they are able to effect change.

Fee: Free

Standards: Social Studies: C1.K-3, 4-5, 6-8, 9-12

Stories of The Green - Walking Tour - First State Heritage Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: 6 to 12

For 300 years, The Green has been the center of commerce, politics, and civic life in Dover.  Guided walks through the historic district reveal the people and events that left their mark on Dover’s history.  Beginning at the John Bell House, each walking tour will take place around The Green in Dover, led by a historic interpreter in period dress.

Fee: Free

Standards: Social Studies: H2.6-8, 9-12

Slavery and Freedom - Walking Tour - First State Heritage Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: 6 to 12

Learn about Delaware’s complicated positions regarding freedom and slavery, and its role as a border state during the Civil War. Find out how a brave group of runaway slaves known as the Dover Eight made a daring escape from the Dover Jail. Hear about famous African-American Richard Allen and his connections to the Golden Fleece Tavern. Beginning at the John Bell House, each walking tour will take place around The Green in Dover, led by a historic interpreter in period dress.

Fee: Free

Standards: Social Studies: H4.6-8 9-12

Women of The Green - Walking Tour - First State Heritage Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: 6 to 12

Many women were innkeepers, political leaders and social figures throughout the history of The Green. Learn about the lives and contributions of these often forgotten figures. Beginning at the John Bell House, each walking tour will take place around The Green in Dover, led by a historic interpreter in period dress.

Fee: Free

Standards: Social Studies: H4.6-8 9-12

Dover’s Heroes of the Revolution - Walking Tour - First State Heritage Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: 6 to 12

Tories, Whigs, militia and insurrection – Dover was a hotbed of revolutionary and loyalist activity during the struggle for American Independence.  While suspicion was cast on some of its residents, others would achieve national acclaim for their actions during this trying time.  Visit the final resting places of such valiant figures as John Haslet and John Patton, and see the locations around The Green associated with other early military heroes including Caesar Rodney and Dr. James Tilton. Beginning at the John Bell House, each walking tour will take place around The Green in Dover, led by a historic interpreter in period dress.

Fee: Free

Standards: Social Studies: H4.6-8 9-13

Growing Up in the 18th Century - First State Heritage Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: PreK to 8

Life was different in Colonial America. Students will learn about what life was like for the average Delawarean during the 1700s. Students will learn about when colonial times occurred; they will also learn about the available technology and cultural mindset. Students will be shown several objects and be asked to use their reasoning skills to decide what the object would have been used for in colonial times. Students will also be able to see and touch articles of reproduction clothing.

Fee: Free

Standards: Social Studies: H2.K-3, 4-5, 6-8

Living History at Fort Delaware - Fort Delaware - Field Trip

Grade Level: 2 to 12

Students will become participants in the living history program. Your class may meet 'people from the past' in first person character, including a Union garrison soldier, a prisoner, a laundress, and a blacksmith. After your program, your class will have time for lunch and fort exploration.

Fee: $7 per person

Standards: H1.4-5, 6-8 H2.K-3, 4-5, 6-8 H3.K-3, 4-5, 6-8 H4.K-3

Fort Miles: Coastal Defenders - Fort Miles Museum and Historical Area - Field Trip

Grade Level: 4 to 12

Delaware Bay was a strategic location during World War II.  Discover what a Coastal Artillery fortification is and the energy processes involved in its basic functioning. Learn how Fort Miles protected the coastline by touring Battery 519 and the historic area.

Fee: $5 per student or $65 minimum

Standards: History 1- 6-8a, History 2 – 6-8b, Geography 4 – 6-8b; History 2 – 9-12b, History 4 – 9-12a

Towers & Gunners - Fort Miles Museum and Historical Area - Field Trip

Grade Level: 6 to 12

What did it take to accurately operate the artillery?  Work as a team to target, plot and “fire” the guns.

Fee: $5.50 per student or $65 minimum

Standards: History 2 – 6-8b; Geography 4 – 6-8b, History 4 – 9-12a; Geography 1 – 9-12b, Mathematics CC.7.G.5, CC.8.G.1, CC.9-12.G.CO.12

My Life at the Pond - Killens Pond State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: 1 to 1

Students will use dip-nets to capture pond organisms for closer observation and identification before they are returned to the pond. Students will meet the park’s live reptiles and amphibians and explore their habitat needs and what makes a reptile’s needs different from an amphibian’s. Finally, students will become detectives to discover which animals left behind tracks and traces. Students should wear shoes and clothing that can get wet and muddy!

Fee: $7 per student

Standards: NGSS: K=LS1, K-LS2, 1-1LS1, 1-LS2

Insects Abound - Killens Pond State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: 2 to 2

As a group, students will learn the parts of an insects and the role these parts play in the insects life. Students will learn about an insect’s life cycle, the different phases of metamorphosis, and what makes an insect different from all other organisms. Then students will be broken into groups to look for insects in different habitats using sweep-nets and log rolling. With the help of a naturalist, the insects will be identified, discussed, and released. Shoes and clothing that can get wet and muddy are suggested for this activity.

Fee: $7 per student

Standards: NGSS: 2-LS1, 2-LS4

Kent County Watersheds - Killens Pond State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: 3 to 4

Students will learn the concepts of a watershed, ecosystem health, and factors that may affect water quality. We will “build” a mini watershed and introduce common pollutants that affect watersheds. We will discuss things that can be done to make a watershed a healthy place to live. In addition to hands-on learning with the enviro-scape model, we will get wet and muddy exploring the pond for macroinvertebrates - which ones they find will tell us about the health of the pond! Students will also test water from Killens Pond for different health indicators like pH and dissolved oxygen. Students should wear clothes that can get wet and muddy.

Fee: $7 per student

Standards: NGSS: 3-ESS2, 3-ESS3, 3-LS2, 4-ESS2, 4-ESS3, 4-LS2

Structures of Pond Organisms - Lums Pond State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: 1 to 4

Students will examine organisms from the pond’s edge and compare structures of crayfish, insects, and other aquatic creatures under a microscope, predicting answers to questions about the organism’s basic needs, life processes, and structures that develop and change over time.

Fee: $7 per student

Standards: NGSS: 1-LS1, 1-LS3; 2-LS2, 2-LS; 3-LS1-4; 4-LS1

Ecosystem Connections - Lums Pond State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: 5 to 8

Students will use dip-nets to observe interactions between organisms and determine watershed health at the pond’s edge, explore food webs during an up-close animal encounter at the nature center, and investigate how climate is interconnected to wildlife beside the vernal pool. This program demonstrates how humans can have a positive or negative effect on our ecosystem and that the choices we make today can make a difference.

Fee: $7 per student

Standards: NGSS: 5-ESS3, 5-LS1, 5-LS2; 5-PS3, 5-ETS1; MS-LS2

Aquatic Habitat Comparison (STEM) - Lums Pond State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: 9 to 12

Students will conduct biological surveys to test hypotheses that compare pond and vernal pool habitats. They will measure biodiversity and water quality to determine what makes these habitats different and why the differences occur.

Fee: $9 per student

Standards: HS-LS2-2, HS-LS2-6, HS-LS2-7, HS-LS4-4, HS-LS4-5, HS-LS4-6

Insect Life Cycles, Traits and Structures - Lums Pond State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: K to 5

Using sweep nets and dip nets students will collect and compare the diversity of insects and other organisms in two different habitats, the field and the pond, and investigate differences in life cycles, structures, and their functions.

Fee: $7 per student

Standards: NGSS: K-LS1; K-ESS2,K-ESS3; 1-LS1, 1-LS3, 2-LS4; 3-LS1-4; 4-LS1

Waters of the Chesapeake - Trap Pond State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: 3 to 6

Students will explore the unique habitat of the Baldcypress Swamp aboard our pontoon boat. They will follow an imaginary water drop from Trap Pond as it makes its way to the Chesapeake Bay. The program also includes exercises in outlining watersheds and a brief introduction to water quality testing that will show the importance of water management and pollution control.

Fee: $12 per student (Scholarships Available)

Standards: NGSS: 3-LS4; 4-ESS2; 5-ESS2; MS-LS2, MS-ESS2, MS-ESS3 Social Studies: G1.6-8, G2.6-8, H1.6-8, G1.K-3, G2.K-3, H1.K-3, G1.4-5, G2.4-5, H1.4-5

Using a Map and Compass - Trap Pond State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: 6 to 10

Countless generations have used maps to help understand the land around them. Reading and using maps can be fun as we investigate Trap Pond.

Fee: $5 per student(Scholarships Available)

Standards: NGSS: MS-ESS3, HS-ESS3 Social Studies: H3.6-8, G1.6-8, G2.6-8 H3.9-12, G1.9-12, G2.9-12

Tracks and Traces - Trap Pond State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: K to 2

This program introduces students to the types of animals that can be found in the park. On this guided hike students will find clues that will help them discover what animals live here and gain some helpful hints for viewing wildlife.

Fee: $5 per student (Scholarships Available)

Standards: NGSS: K-LS1, K-LS2; 1-LS1, 1-LS2; 2-LS1, 2-LS2

Freshwater Seining or Dipnetting - Trap Pond State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: K to 2

Examine some of Trap Pond's underwater life during this fun program. Students and chaperones may get a little muddy as they learn about lifecycles and the environment.

Fee: $5 per student (Scholarships Available)

Standards: NGSS: 1-LS1; 2-LS2

Exploring a Southern Swamp, Pontoon Tour - Trap Pond State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: K to 6

Hop aboard our pontoon boat to discover the Baldcypress Swamp. Both people and animals have made their homes here due to the unique habitat.

Fee: $5 per Student (Scholarships Available)

Standards: NGSS: K-ESS3; 2-LS2, 2-LS4; 3-LS4; 4-ESS3; 5-LS2; MS-LS2, MS-LS4, MS-ESS3 Social Studies: G2.6-8, H1.6-8 G1.4-5, H1.4-5, G1.K-3, G2.K-3, H1.K-3

Living Organisms of the Creek, Forest and Field - White Clay Creek State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: 1 to 2

Discover the rich diversity of life along the forest and in the creek as we explore the life cycles and basic needs of organisms. Students will observe plants and animals, use dip nets and participate in an interactive hike.

Fee: $6.50 per student

Standards: NGSS: 1-LS1-1, 1-LS1-2 2-ESS2-2, 2-ESS2-3, 2-LS2-1, 2-LS4-1

White Clay, Sand & Soil - White Clay Creek State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: 2 to 4

Get those hands dirty in this one of a kind program at White Clay Creek!  Students will explore and compare the sandy beach and riparian forest along the creek as we investigate the properties of soil (sand, clay and humus) to determine their effects on plant and animal life.  Time includes a ½ hour lunch break.

Fee: $7 per student

Standards: NGSS: 2-ESS1-1, 2-ESS2-1, 2-ESS2-2, 2-LS4-1-LS2-3-LS4-4, 3-LS4-4 4-ESS1-1, 4-ESS2-1, 4-ESS2-2

Geology - White Clay Creek State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: 3 to 6

Students will become junior geologists by exploring different mineral properties.  Equipped with geology hammers students will use the information they learn to sort rocks on a gravel bar along the White Clay Creek.   Maximum Group Size: 60.  Bus must remain at the park for the duration of the program and is used to transport children within the park.

Fee: $6 per student

Standards: NGSS: ESS2.A, ESS2.C, ESS2.E, ESS2.A

Extended Geology - White Clay Creek State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: 4 to 5

Students will become junior geologists by exploring different mineral properties. Equipped with geology hammers, they will use the information they learn to sort rocks on a gravel bar along the White Clay Creek.  This expanded program incorporates additional stations on earth materials and how water shapes the land. Because of the extended time, this program can accommodate up to 100 students. Bus must remain at  the park for the duration of the program and is used to transport children within the park. Time includes a ½-hour lunch break. A two-hour Geology program is also available.

Fee: $7 per student

Standards: NGSS: 4-ESS2-1, 4-ESS2-1, 4-ESS3-1, 5-ESS2-1, 5-ESS2-2

Life, Land and Water - White Clay Creek State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: 4 to 6

Students will collect and identify aquatic riparian organisms observing their structures and functions that help them survive., They will model water's power to shape the landscape within the White Clay watershed focusing on erosion, deposition and slope. Maximum student number: 60. Bus must remain at the park for the duration of the program and is used to transport students within the park.

Fee: $7 per student

Standards: NGSS: 4-ESS2-1, 4-ESS3-2, 4-LS1-1 5-ESS2-2, 5-ESS2-1, 5-PS3-1, 5-LS1-1, 5-LS2-1, MS-ESS2-1, MS-ESS2-2, MS-ESS2-4 to MS-ESS2-6, MS-ESS3-2 to MS-ESS3-4, MS-LS1-1 to MS-LS1-5, MS-LS3-2, MS-LS1-6, MS-LS1-7, MS-LS2-3

Weather, Climate and Ecosystems: Impacts in a Piedmont Watershed - White Clay Creek State Park - Field Trip

Grade Level: 8 to 9

This two-part program consists of a 45 minute in-school presentation about climate change vs. weather and a 3 1/2 hour in-park field experience about extreme weather's impact on living organisms and human structures. Engineering practices, modeling, abiotic factors, plant and animal adaptive structures or behaviors are all part of the field experience. Bus must remain at the park for the duration of the program and is used to transport students within the park.

Fee: $8 per student

Standards: NGSS: MS-LS2, MS-LS4; MS-ESS3; MS-ETS1

Turning Up the Heat - Wilmington State Parks - Field Trip

Grade Level: 3 to 4

Students will participate in a variety of hands-on experiments and activities to explore how climate change and urban heat islands can affect a plant's or animal's ability to survive in its habitat.

Fee: $5 per student

Standards: 3-ESS3-1, 3-ESS2-2, 3-LS4-3, 4-ESS3-2

Water’s Power to Change (STEM) - Wilmington State Parks - Field Trip

Grade Level: 4 to 5

Students will connect energy and geology concepts to the topography of the Brandywine Creek in addition to exploring the creek's pivotal role in Wilmington's transition from an agricultural to industrial city.

Fee: $5 per student

Standards: 4-PS3-1, 4-PS3-3, 4-PS3-4, 4-ESS2-1, G2.4-5a, G3.4-5a, H2.4-5b, H4.4-5a

Earth’s Dynamic Systems - Wilmington State Parks - Field Trip

Grade Level: 6 to 8

At the Alapocas Run State Park quarry, students will examine the properties of rocks and minerals, the forces responsible for changing the Earth's crust and use GPS units to connect the park's geology to its history.

Fee: $6 per student

Standards: MS-ESS1-4, MS-ESS2-1, MS-ESS2-2, MS-ESS2-3, MS-ESS2-4, MS-ESS3-1, MS-ESS3-4, G2.6-8a, G3.6-8b

Wildlife in the City - Wilmington State Parks - Field Trip

Grade Level: PreK to K

Students will learn the difference between living and non-living things, discover what all living things need to survive and how wildlife changes to survive in a city.

Fee: $5 per student

Standards: K-LS1-1, K-ESS3-1

Outreach Programs

Bridging to the Past - Auburn Valley State Park - Outreach Program

Grade Level: 3 to 5

Bridges paved the way to the 20th century industrial and automotive booms in northern Delaware. Students will bridge history with STEM as they learn about the historic bridges connecting the trails throughout the park, basic engineering principles, and will design, build, and test their own bridges.

Fee: $5 per student or $65 minimum

Standards: NGSS: 3-5-ETS 1-3 Social Studies: H1.4-5; H2.K-3,4-5; H3.3; H4.K-3

Using Water to Work - Auburn Valley State Park - Outreach Program

Grade Level: K to 3

Students will learn that materials exist as either solid, liquid, or gas, and that the physical properties of materials can be changed by adding water or heat, or by mixing. Through the demonstrations, students wil learn about heat energy and how heating water may change its physical properties by using a model steam engine. We will also show that moving water has energy that can be transferred to other objects.

Fee: $5 per student or $65 minimum

Standards: NGSS: PS1, PS2, PS3, ESS3 Social Studies: H4.K-3

Wiggly Worms - Bellevue State Park - Outreach Program

Grade Level: 2 to 2

Students will explore worms up close! We bring our "worm bin" to your classroom to discuss the lives of worms. Students will also discuss how worms help us by creating soil!

Fee: $95 per program

Standards: NGSS: 2-LS1,2-LS2, 2-ESS3

Solids and Liquids - Bellevue State Park - Outreach Program

Grade Level: 2 to 5

Students explore the differences between the physical properties of solids and liquids through experiments that examine what floats and what sinks, how solids and liquids mix, and the creation of some special solids and liquids right before their eyes.

Fee: $95 per program

Standards: NGSS: 2-PS1, 3-PS1, 4-PS1, 5-PS1

Life Cycles - Brandywine Creek State Park - Outreach Program

Grade Level: 3 to 4

Organisms depend on their environment for survival throughout their life cycle.  Learn how different ecosystems provide what these organisms need and examine the life cycle of various organisms, from seed to tree, egg to frog, and caterpillar to butterfly.  Live animals may be included, depending on the season.

Fee: $105 per program

Standards: 3- LS1-1, 4-LS1-1

Owls Adaptations - Brandywine Creek State Park - Outreach Program

Grade Level: 3 to 5

Students will learn how owls' adaptations help them survive in Delaware. Then, we will dissect sterilized owl pellets in search of tiny bones in the owls' prey.  Program uses owl taxidermy, owl wings, talons, mammal skulls, dissecting tools and ID charts. School provides owl pellets. Additional fee charged if we supply pellets.

Fee: $105 per program

Standards: 3-LS4, 4-LS1-1, 4-LS1-2, 5-LS2

Ecosystems: Energy In Action - Brandywine Creek State Park - Outreach Program

Grade Level: 5 to 6

How does energy flow through an ecosystem? Examine the biotic and abiotic factors affecting our ecosystem and determine how organisms in an ecosystem are linked to one another by the flow of energy. We will play education games and solve food chain puzzles.

Fee: $105 per program

Standards: NGSS: 5-PS3, 5-LS1, 5-LS2, MS-LS1-6

Wetland Hydrology - Brandywine Creek State Park - Outreach Program

Grade Level: 5 to 8

Wetlands are a critical but disappearing part of our ecosystems.  In this program, students will discover the functions of a wetland and why these special habitats deserve our protection.  Students will also get to exercise their engineering brains and get hands-on by trying to design the most effective wetland model.

Fee: $105 per program

Standards: NGSS: MS-ESS3, MS-ETS1, 5-ESS3

Animals in Winter - Brandywine Creek State Park - Outreach Program

Grade Level: K to K

What do animals do in the winter?  Students will be introduced to the concepts of migration, acclimation, and hibernation through a series of engaging activities.  Learn how some of the native animals of Delaware survive the chilly weather.

Fee: $105 per program

Standards: NGSS: K-LS1, K-ESS2, K-ESS3

Weather: Young Meteorologists - Brandywine Creek State Park - Outreach Program

Grade Level: K to K

Learn how weather influences how wild animals survive and how it impacts our daily lives!  Gain hands-on experience using various scientific instruments to measure weather.  We will record the data like real meteorologists and learn about the type of weather we have here in Delaware and throughout the country.

Fee: $105 per program

Standards: NGSS: K-ESS2, K-ESS3

Water Cycle - Brandywine Creek State Park - Outreach Program

Grade Level: K to K

Did you know that the sun plays an important role in us having the water plants, animals, and us need to survive? We'll learn how our limited water supply is cycling around the planet through the various steps of the water cycle. Students will pretend they're water drops and take a water cycle journey by playing a fun game!

Fee: $105 per program

Standards: NGSS: K-LS1, K-PS3-1

Hooray For Habitats - Brandywine Creek State Park - Outreach Program

Grade Level: PreK to K

What do we do to adapt to our environment and how can we help animals be safe and happy in theirs? Plants and animals depend on their habitat to provide food, water, shelter, air and light. Learn how different habitats provide these survival needs in this fun and interactive program.

Fee: $105 per program

Standards: K-LS1-1, K-ESS3-1, ESS3.A

In Touch with Nature: Senses - Brandywine Creek State Park - Outreach Program

Grade Level: PreK to 2

How do our five senses help us when we are out in nature or engaging with natural objects? Students will discover how their senses can help them navigate, stay safe, and learn more about nature. They’ll use their senses to learn about an assortment of natural objects to see what they can discover about them. By playing games and participating in activities, students will learn how we can use our senses and some special senses that animals have to help them out in nature.

Fee: $105 per program

Standards:

Radical Reptiles - Brandywine Creek State Park - Outreach Program

Grade Level: PreK to 4

Reptiles are very different from other animals. From where they live to how, to what adaptations they use to survive and thrive, these unique creatures hold a radical place in our ecosystem. Students will learn about what makes reptiles so special, from their scales and patterns to their unique senses and where they live. They may also have a chance to meet our ambassador reptile, Cornelius the corn snake!

Fee: $105 per program

Standards: K-LS1-1, K-ESS3-1, 1-LS3-1 (LS3.B), 2-LS4-1, 4-LS1-1, 4-LS1-2

Animal Adaptations - Brandywine Zoo - Outreach Program

Grade Level: 3 to 9

Explore how animals are adapted to live in their environments and discover the importance of biodiversity and why the conservation of each organism matters. This program is tailored to your students age group.

Fee: $7 - $8 per person

Standards:

Five Senses - Brandywine Zoo - Outreach Program

Grade Level: PreK to K

Discover how humans and other animals use their senses of smell, taste, touch, sight, and hearing to learn about their surrounding and interact with their world. Students will identify the five senses and compare their senses with animals' senses. Students will be able to describe how important the five senses are to an animal's survival.

Fee: $190 - $400 plus travel fees depending on group size and program type

Standards: NGSS: K-LS1, K-LS2

Storybook Programs - Brandywine Zoo - Outreach Program

Grade Level: PreK to 3

During story book programs, we'll read a story and discuss relevant themes paired with some animal friends and touchable artifacts from the story. Choose from several themed story books that focus on animal adaptations, nocturnal animals, movement, and more. Visit program registration page, found at BrandywineZoo.org/zooschool, for available books.

Fee: $190 - $400 plus travel fees depending on group size and program type

Standards: NGSS: K-LS1, K-LS3, 1-LS1, 1-LS3, 2-LS1, 2-LS3, 3-LS1, 3-LS3

Live Animal Encounter - Brandywine Zoo - Outreach Program

Grade Level: PreK to adult

Meet some of the Zoo's ambassador animals and learn about their amazing adaptations that help them survive in the wild. The program's focus can be customized by request, for example: camouflage, fur patterns, defense mechanisms or other adaptations. If requested, program can be focused specifically on the following classes of animals: reptiles, mammals, amphibians. This program is great for classrooms with special needs and audiences of all ages.

Fee: $190 - $400 plus travel fees depending on group size and program type

Standards: NGSS: K-HS-LS1, K-HS-LS4

Habitats and Ecosystems - Brandywine Zoo - Outreach Program

Grade Level: PreK to adult

We learn about the different Delaware habitats and meet some animals that are local and exotic from around the world! Students will be able to identify specific adaptations that certain animals have to help them survive different ecosystems here in Delaware.

Fee: $190 - $400 plus travel fees depending on group size and program type

Standards: LS2.C, LS4.C, ESS2.C, ESS2.E, ESS3.A, ESS3.C

Safe Environments- Anti-Bullying Program - Brandywine Zoo - Outreach Program

Grade Level: PreK to adult

This program takes a new approach to anti-bullying programming and helps students better understand each other using animals that are often misunderstood or feared, such as insects, spiders or reptiles. We'll learn about how students can cultivate safe environments not only for each other, but also for the animals around us.

Fee: $190 - $400 plus travel fees depending on group size and program type

Standards: NGSS: 5-LS2, 5-LS4

Squid Dissection: From Pen to Ink! (STEM) - Delaware Seashore State Park - Outreach Program

Grade Level: 2 to 8

Study one of the most specialized invertebrates of the sea! A park naturalist will guide participants in a dissection, and at the end of the program, students will be able to write their names in squid ink! Can also be scheduled as a field trip.

Fee: $6 per student

Standards: NGSS: 2-PS1-1, 2-PS1-3, 2-LS4-1; 3-LS1-1, 3-LS4-2; LS4.B, LS4.C, 4-LS1-1; MS-LS1-3

History Sleuths! - Fort Delaware - Outreach Program

Grade Level: 7 to 12

An historian brings artifacts and copies of primary and secondary research documents to the classroom, including diaries, journals, letters, military records, and photographs. Students get a hands-on opportunity with these resources to learn how historians tell the story of the people who lived and worked at Fort Delaware during the Civil War.

Fee: $95, plus travel fee of 51 cents/mile over 30 miles round-trip

Standards: H1.4-5, 6-8, 9-12 H2.4-5, 6-8, 9-12 H3.4-5, 6-8, 9-12

Can You Stop the Civil War? - Fort Delaware - Outreach Program

Grade Level: 7 to 12

The American Civil War is one of the most significant events in human history, but some think that it could have been avoided altogether. Is that really the case, or does it oversimplify things? In this program, students will get the chance to make some of the decisions facing United States politicians, to see if they could prevent the war from happening. This 'Choose Your Own Adventure' style program teaches students about the events leading up to the Civil War, and ultimately about the cause of the war itself.

Fee: $95, plus travel fee of 51 cents/mile over 30 miles round-trip

Standards: H1.4-5a; 6-8a; H4.k-3b, 4-5b, 6-8a, 9-12a.

Reptile and Amphibian Show - Killens Pond State Park - Outreach Program

Grade Level: 1 to 5

This live reptile and amphibian program brings native Delaware turtles, snakes, frogs, and toads in the classroom for students to experience hands-on! Students will learn the characteristics of reptiles and amphibians; their characteristics will be compared and contrasted. Students will learn how reptiles and amphibians are beneficial to the environment and what we can do to help!

Fee: $95 per program

Standards: NGSS: K-5-LS1-2; 2-LS1, 2-LS4

Watershed Solutions (and Mixtures!) - Lums Pond State Park - Outreach Program

Grade Level: 5 to 7

Students will analyze and sort solids and liquids and explore natural mixtures and solutions that represent real world issues related to human impact, water pollution, and the watershed then predict the effect or recommend a solution to a problem. Can also be presented on site as a field trip.

Fee: $100 per program

Standards: 5-ESS3, LS2, PS1, ETS1, MS- ESS1

Animal Survival: Bones and Fur - Lums Pond State Park - Outreach Program

Grade Level: K to 5

Animals have adaptions for survival like night vision, sharp teeth, and warning coloration. Explore the food web while examining animal artifacts (skulls, shells, and fur) of local consumers and producers. Students will compare the bones of native wildlife to the human body and investigate the function of different structures. Can also be presented on site as a field trip.

Fee: $100 per program

Standards: K-LS1-1, K-ESS2-2, K-ESS3-1, K-ESS3-3, 1-LS1-1, 1-LS1-2 2-LS4-1 3-LS1-1, 3-LS2-1, 3-LS3-1, 3-LS3-2, 3-LS4-2, 3-LS4-3, 3-LS4-3, 4-LS1-1, 4-LS1-2, 4-ESS2-1, 5-LS2-1, 5-ESS3-1

Night Hunters - Trap Pond State Park - Outreach Program

Grade Level: 3 to 6

Almost all of an owl's adaptations help it to live and hunt at night. Our traveling naturalist will bring taxidermy and lots of presentation materials that your students can see, handle and hear while learning many of the unique adaptations of our “night hunters.” For a small additional materials fee, we can also have your students dissect an owl pellet to learn about the owl's diet.

Fee: $95 plus materials (additional mileage charge for 25 miles or more travel) (Scholarships Available)

Standards: NGSS: 3-LS4, 5-LS2, MS-LS2, MS-LS4

Science At Your Door - Trap Pond State Park - Outreach Program

Grade Level: 3 to 9

We will bring our Mobile Science Lab right to your school! Students can learn about The Power of Water, Aquatic Animals, Water Quality Testing and Watershed/Nonpoint Source Model "Enviroscape". Park interpreters will help students conduct experiments, collect data and learn how different forces impact the watershed.

Fee: $5 per student with a $500 minimum. (Scholarships available)

Standards: NGSS: K-LS1; 2-LS4; 3-LS3; 5-PS1, 5-PS3, 5-LS2, 5-ESS2, 5-ESS3

Owl Adaptations, Pellets and Bones - White Clay Creek State Park - Outreach Program

Grade Level: 3 to 5

Students will learn how owls' adaptations help them survive in Delaware. Then, using large mammal bones as models, we will explore how owls are alike and different from humans. If you choose to, the class will dissect sterilized owl pellets in search of tiny bones in the owls' prey.  Program uses owl taxidermy, owl wings, talons, mammal skulls, bones, dissecting tools and ID charts. Additional fee to dissect owl pellets. This program is available from December through March. Relates to Human Body Unit.

Fee: $95 per program (up to 25 students per program

Standards: NGSS: 1-LS1-1, 2-LS4-1, 3-PS2, 3-LS1, 3-LS4; 5-PS2 Social Studies: H4.6-8

Mystery Minerals - White Clay Creek State Park - Outreach Program

Grade Level: 3 to 5

Rocks are made up of minerals that can be sorted by their properties. Students will become junior geologists when they explore different mineral properties. In stations around your classroom, your students can test samples for properties such as luster, magnetism, and streak to identify their mystery mineral. Available November through April.

Fee: $95 per program (up to 25 students per program

Standards: NGSS: 4-ESS2-1, 4-ESS2-2 5-ESS2-1, 5-ESS2-2

Weather, Climate and Ecosystems: Impacts in a Piedmont Watershed - White Clay Creek State Park - Outreach Program

Grade Level: 8 to 9

This two-part program consists of a 45 minute in-school presentation about climate change vs. weather and a 3 1/2 hour in-park field experience about extreme weather's impact on living organisms and human structures. Engineering practices, modeling, abiotic factors, plant and animal adaptive structures or behaviors are all part of the field experience. Bus must remain at the park for the duration of the program and is used to transport students within the park.

Fee: $8 per student

Standards: NGSS: MS-LS2, MS-LS4; MS-ESS3; MS-ETS1

Sensing Wildlife - White Clay Creek State Park - Outreach Program

Grade Level: K to 1

Animals use their senses to communicate and survive in the wild. Students will learn about animal senses, sort and compare natural items using their senses and gage how animals use their senses to survive.

Fee: $95 per program (up to 25 students per program

Standards: NGSS: 1-LS1, K-LS1, K-ESS2-2,

Energy is Everywhere (STEM) - Wilmington State Parks - Outreach Program

Grade Level: 1 to 4

Students will discover how different forms of energy are used in our everyday lives. Additionally, for the 4th grade, electric circuitry used in alternative energy is demonstrated.

Fee: $95 per program

Standards: 1-PS4-1, 1-PS4-3, 2-PS1-1, 2-PS1-2, 3-PS2-1, 3-PS2-2, 4-PS3-3, 4-PS3-4

The Power of Water (STEM) - Wilmington State Parks - Outreach Program

Grade Level: 3 to 4

Using the scientific method, students will examine water as a source of power and explore the effect of flow and pressure on water.

Fee: $95 per program

Standards: 4-PS3-1, 4-PS3-4, 3-5-ETS1-1, 3-5-ETS1-2, 3-5-ETS1-3

Hot Times in the City - Wilmington State Parks - Outreach Program

Grade Level: Prek to k

Sunny days can lead to a hot city. During this program children will work with the naturalists to design a city that reduces the warming effect of sunlight.

Fee: $95 per program

Standards: K-PS3-1, K-PS3-4, K-ESS2-2

Sounds Around Us - Wilmington State Parks - Outreach Program

Grade Level: Prek to k

The world around us is filled with natural and man-made sounds. During this program children will explore sounds and their sense of hearing. They will also have the chance to create some unique sounds.

Fee: $95 per program

Standards: K-2-ETS1-1, K-2-ETS1-2

Seeds on the Move - Wilmington State Parks - Outreach Program

Grade Level: Prek to k

Seeds do not have legs, yet they seem to move around. During this program children will discover seeds and where they come from. Children will learn the different ways seeds move around and get a chance to make them move.

Fee: $95 per program

Standards: K-LS1-1

Physics of Play - Wilmington State Parks - Outreach Program

Grade Level: PreK to K

Through hands-on activities using items they play with every day, children will begin to explore the world of physics and how objects move and fall. Please note: this program needs a location with enough space to conduct physics experiments.

Fee: $95 per program

Standards: NGSS: K-PS2-1, K-PS2-2

Animals in the Neighborhood - Wilmington State Parks - Outreach Program

Grade Level: PreK to K

Virtual Program - Students will review the parts of a tree, learn how it grows from a seed to mature tree and discover what living things need to survive.

Fee: $95 per program

Standards: K-LS1-1, K-ESS3-1

Virtual Programs

REECH Program

REECH offers a custom hands-on, learning experience over a 2-day, 1-night period. Students collect samples, take measurements, make observations, and record data, with the goal of understanding how well the coastal ecosystem is functioning. The following Delaware state standards are addressed:

LS2.A – Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems
LS2.B – Cycles of Matter and Energy Transfer in Ecosystems
LS2.C – Ecosystem Dynamics, Functioning and Resilience
LS2.D – Biodiversity and Humans