Introduction to Nature

September, October, April, May K-3
A guided walk through the park will help students utilize their senses to connect with and learn about the environment. A series of hands-on  activities will help them to explore differences between living and non-living things. Students will investigate variations, observable features, and habitats of many different kinds of local plants and  animals. Hand lenses will be provided for use in the program.
 

Trees

Any Month K-12
Discover the many interesting and beautiful trees of our area. Trees are  a major component of our local environment, with a role in our economy, climate, soil erosion protection, as well as providing habitat for  wildlife. Students will discover the value and role of trees in an  ecosystem, basic tree classification skills, the life cycle of trees, how trees interact with animals, and the uses that have been found for area trees by Native Americans and pioneers.

Insects

Sept., Oct., May K-12
Insects play important roles in our local ecology including pollinating  crops and interacting with other animals through food chains. Through  the use of sweep nets and hand lenses, students will observe insects first hand while learning about the role of insects in an ecosystem. Students will gain insect classification skills and learn about the life  cycle of insects.

Birds

 Any 3-12
Students will discover the role of birds in an ecosystem, basic bird classification skills through the use of visual characteristics and bird songs, the life cycle of birds, relate bird structures to survival functions, and will recognize the importance of habitat for wildlife. A  pair of binoculars are available for each student to use.

Reptiles and Amphibians

April, May 3-12
In this program students classify reptiles and amphibians by their characteristics, relate body structures to survival functions, observe  the importance of habitat for wildlife, and explore the park pond, wetland, and forest for examples of these animal groups. Live animals are used in the introduction. Dip nets are provided to help capture frogs and tadpoles.

Monarch Tagging

September, early Oct. 3-12
Students will learn about the life cycle of the Monarch butterfly, its  need for milkweed plants, and the Monarch Watch program from the University of Kansas. Outdoors, students will have an opportunity to help with Monarch migration and population research by attempting to  capture, tag, and release a Monarch butterfly. A monarch tagged in a program at Unger Park on 9-19-98 was recovered in El Rosario, Mexico, on  3-01-99! Butterfly nets are provided.

Wildflowers

April through October 4-12
Spring is the time to discover woodland wildflowers such as trillium and Jack-in-the-Pulpit, while summer and fall are the seasons to observe prairie flowers such as prairie dock and obedient plant. Students will  learn about the structure and purpose of a flower, the life cycle of plants, learn to classify plants according to their characteristics, how plants interact with animals and uses discovered for local plants by Native Americans and pioneers.

Ferns and other Non-flowering Plants

 Any 4-12
Students will learn about the life cycle of non-flowering plants utilizing spores for reproduction. A walk in Lowe-Volk Park will visit a  variety of ferns as well as examples of mosses and lichens. Ten species  of ferns have been recorded in Lowe-Volk Park, the most for any natural area in Crawford County. (Available only in Lowe-Volk Park)
 

Forest Ecology

Any 5-12
Students will learn terms such as producer, consumer, and decomposer,  discover local examples of each in the forest, trace the organization of  simple food chains and food webs, discover the needs of organisms in an ecosystem, and begin to understand the inter-relatedness of life. The introduction will include information on Dr. Paul Sears, a Bucyrus High  School graduate who went on to become Professor of Ecology at Yale University.

Wetland Wonders

 April through September 5-12
This program will focus on the importance of fresh water, both to  humanity and wildlife. Students will visit wetlands to use nets and  charts to collect and identify aquatic organisms. They will learn which  organisms can be used as indicators of good water quality. (Available in  Unger Park and Lowe-Volk Park)

Stream Study

 May through September 5-12
This program will focus on the importance of fresh water, both to  humanity and wildlife. Students will use nets and charts to collect and  identify aquatic organisms. They will determine the water quality  through the types of life found in the stream. Students will be able to view the start of the Sandusky River in Ohio at the junction of Allen  Run and Paramour Creek from the Park’s observation deck. (Available only  in Lowe-Volk Park)

Pond Study

 April through September 5-12
This program will focus on the importance of fresh water, both to  humanity and wildlife. Students will use nets and charts to collect and  identify aquatic organisms. They will learn which organisms can be used  as indicators of good water quality. (Available only in Unger Park)