Fall Tours & Programs for Educators & Teachers

There is a minimum fee of $10.00 for each tour or program. One adult, including the teacher, for each 10 students will be admitted free of charge. Chaperones are discouraged from bringing younger children.

Awareness Hikes

These hikes emphasize sensory awareness and appreciation of nature. All hikes focus on discovery and the wonder of the natural world.

Fees for all Awareness Hikes:
Macon County Schools $.50 per student
Non-school youth groups and Out of County Schools $1.00 per student

Sensory Hike
Colors, shapes, touch, sounds and smells of nature are experienced in the autumn woods and prairies.
Who: Preschool
When: Sept. through mid-Nov.
Time: 45 min.
SLS: 8AEC, 9AECa, 12AECa, 12BEC, 12EECa, 12FEC

Changes - Seasons
Plants and animals are preparing for what comes next. We will explore the autumn woods to find clues of their preparation.
Who: Kindergarten
When: Sept. through mid-Nov.
Time: 45 min. – 1 hour
SLS: 11AKa, 12AKa & b, 12BK, 12CK, 12EKa, 12FK, 13BKa

Bugs, Bugs, Bugs
So many bugs, so little time! We will meet a few on our hike and look at what makes a bug a bug.
Who: K through 3rd grade
When: Sept. through mid-Oct.
Time: 1 hour
SLS: 11AKa & c, 11BKa, 12AKa & b, 12BK, 12CK, 12DK, 13BKa, 12A, 1a, 1b, 12 B, 1a, 1b

Nature's Hitchhikers - Seeds
Take a hike to see what hitches a ride. Look at seeds close-up and aid in seed dispersal.
Who: 1st through 3rd grade
When: Sept. through mid-Nov.
Time: 1 hour
SLS: 12A, 1a, 1b, 12B, 1a, 1b

Pond Life
Hike to a pond to look for turtles, frogs and other critters that live in or around the water.
Who: 1st through 3rd grade
When: Sept. through mid-Nov.
Time: 1 hour
SLS: 12A, 1a, 1b, 2a, 12B, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b

Prairie Paths
Experience a prairie in all its glory. Learn about “turkey foot and Indian grass,” how the Native Americans and pioneers felt about the prairie and what happened to it.
Who: 3rd grade
When: Sept. through mid-Nov.
Time: 1 hour
SLS: 12A, 1a, 1b, 12B, 1a, 1b, 16E, 1(us), 2a(us), 2c(us)

Discovery Programs

These programs include an indoor presentation and hike. All programs are 1.5 to 2 hours in length. Grades 4 through 6. Programs can be adapted for other grade levels.

Fees for all Discovery Programs, except where indicated:
Macon County Schools $1.00 per student
Non-school youth groups and Out of County Schools $1.50 per student

Meet the Creepy Crawlies
Invertebrates, emphasizing insects
When: Sept. through mid-Oct.
SLS: 12B, 2a, 2b

Mother Nature's Neighborhood
Ecology and natural communities
When: Sept. through mid-Nov.
SLS: 12B, 2a, 2b,12E, 2c

Big Green Machine
Green plants, emphasizing seeds
When: Sept. through mid-Nov.
SLS: 12A, 2a, 12B, 2a, 2b

A Skeleton in Their Closet
Vertebrates, emphasizing mammals
When: Sept. through mid-Nov.
SLS: 12A, 2a 12B, 2a, 2b

A Visit to Homestead Prairie Farm
Hike through woods and prairies, experience life at an 1860s living history farm — emphasizes change in local environment and lifestyle. Limited to 30 students. Read more about the Homestead Prairie Farm.
When: Sept. through mid-Nov.
Time: 2 hours
Fee: Macon County Schools $1.50 per student
Non-school youth groups and Out of County Schools $2.00 per student
SLS: 12B, 2a, 2b 15A, 2b, 15B, 2a, 16B, 2d(us), 16C, 2b(us), 2c(us), 16D, 2a(us), 2b(us), 2c(us), 3b(us), 16D, 2(w), 17A, 2a, 2b, 17B, 2a, 2b, 17C, 2a, 2b, 2c, 7D, 2b,18C, 2a

Other Fall Programs

Fees for Other Fall Programs:
Macon County Schools $1.50 per student
Non-school youth groups and Out of County Schools $2.00 per student

Meet the Trobaughs
Learn about life in the past from stories of the Trobaugh children. Tour the 1860s house they lived in. Limited to 30 students.
Who: K through 3rd grade
Time: 1 hour
SLS: 4AKa & b, 5BK, 14AKb, 15BK, 16AKb, 17CK, 17DK, 19AKa & d, 16A, 1a, 1b, 16C, 1b(us), 16C, 1a(w), 1b(w), 16E, 1(us), 17D, 1

Bethel School Days
A turn-of-the-century, one-room school experience at Bethel Schoolhouse. Adapted to the appropriate learning level for your group.
Who: K through 8th grade
When: Late Sept. through early Nov.
Where: Friends Creek Conservation Area, Argenta
Time: 1 hour
SLS: 6AKa&b, 14Kb, 16AKb, 14Kb, 16Akb, 17DK, 19AKa & d, 21BK, 16A, 1a, 1b, 1c, 16B, 1a(us), 1b(us), 16C, 1a(w), 16D, 2b(us), 3a(us), 3b(us), 16E, 2b(us), 3b(us)

Geology - Archaeology
Learn about the geologic history of Illinois with emphasis on glaciations and the humans who inhabited Central Illinois as the last glacier melted. Limited to 35 students.
Who: 4th through 8th grade
When: Sept. through Oct.
Time: 2 hours
Where: Griswold Conservation Area, Blue Mound
SLS: 12B, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 12E, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 16D, 2(w), 16E, 2a(w), 2b(w), 17A, 2a, 2b, 17B, 2a, 2b, 17C, 2a, 2b, 2c, 3a, 3b, 17C, 2a, 2b, 2c, 17D, 2b

Ponds and Wetlands
Discover the importance of wetlands through demonstrations and hands on activities. We will hike to a pond and a wetland, collect some critters and examine them back in the lab.
Who: 3rd through 8th grade
When: Sept. through Oct.
Time: 2 hours
SLS: 12A, 2a, 12B, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 13b, 2e, 2f, 3e, 16E, 2a(us), 3a(us), 3b(us), 3c(us), 17B, 2b, 3a, 3b, 17C, 2c