Squam Lakes Natural Science Center School Catalog

www.nhnature.org 603-968-7194

School Programs


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Make learning come alive at Squam Lakes Natural Science Center!

Why Choose Squam Lakes Natural Science Center?

• Animals! Nearly all indoor and outdoor programs feature a visit with one or more live animals.

• A 200 acre outdoor classroom of forests, fields, ponds, and streams featuring the live animal exhibit trail with native New Hampshire animals and hands-on exhibits, plus three additional hiking trails.

• Programs available at the Science Center or animals and naturalists can travel to your school.

• A highly educated and professional staff of teacher naturalists experienced in working with children of all ages, abilities, and interests.

• An extensive menu of programs to choose from or the option to create your own to meet the specific needs of your curriculum and students.

• School programs that help you address the New Hampshire Science Curriculum Framework. To see how our programs align with the framework visit www.nhnature.org/teachers and click on “Teacher Resources.”

• The only Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Accredited institution in northern New England.

Our mission is to advance understanding of ecology by exploring

New Hampshire’s natural world.


3At the Science CenterIndoor Live Animal Programs:

These one-hour sessions in the Science Center’s amphitheater-style classrooms feature live, native New Hampshire wildlife like beaver, coyote, skunk, woodchuck, peregrine falcon, osprey, and many more.

Outdoor Programs: Most are one and a half hour sessions, including a short introduction inside, followed by outdoor activities, and ending with an indoor summary, usually with a live animal.

Lake Education Programs: All lake education programs are two hours and limited to a maximum of 42 students per group. If your class size exceeds 42, you can split the group with part enjoying the exhibit trail while the other half participates in the lake program, and then switch.

Live Animal Exhibit Trail: See native New Hampshire animals in natural enclosures and interact with and learn from the hands-on exhibits along the self-guided three-quarter mile live animal exhibit trail. Allow one and a half hours for the loop walk (open May 1 through November 1).

Hiking Trails: Enjoy three hiking trails on the Science Center’s 200 acres. Explore the Ecotone Trail where field meets forest or hike the Forest Trail to learn about the forest history and animals in the forest. For a bit more exercise, hike Mt. Fayal for a bird’s eye view of Squam Lake.

At your School: Indoor Live Animal Programs and Outdoor Programs:

Let the Science Center bring live animal programs to you! These programs are taught by expert teacher naturalists. Select from the programs in this catalog with a symbol or customize a program for your specific interests.

Photo by Rich Czina

PROGRAMS


INDOOR PROGRAMS4Fur, Feathers, & ScalesGrades Pre-2Birds, mammals, and reptiles - what do they have in common and what makes them different? Students address this question and learn other skills, such as sorting and classification during this engaging program.

Have to Have a HabitatGrades 1 and 2Animals live everywhere around us. But no matter where they live they all require the basic needs of food, water, shelter, air, space, and sun. See three different live animals and learn how each meets its habitat needs.

Modern DinosaursGrades 1 and 2Dinosaurs no longer roam the Earth, but some of their modern-day descendants do. Students focus on reptiles and birds and learn about their adaptations and roles in the natural world.

How to Use This Guide• Use the tabs on the edge of the pages for

quick access to grade levels.

• These symbols show when programs are offered:

• Use the symbols to determine if a program is available at the Science Center as well as at your school site:

= Fall (September 1-November 1)

= Winter (November 2-April 30)

= Spring (May 1-June 30)

= Summer (July 1-August 31)

= at Squam Lakes Natural Science Center

= at your location

“This is our favorite field trip - a great educational experience!”

Moharimet Elementary School Teacher

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Insect AdventureGrades 1 and 2Creep, crawl, hop, and jump! Investigate one of the largest groups of animals on Earth - insects. Students become junior entomologists as they collect and identify these six-legged creatures from fields or ponds. An indoor variation of this program is also available.

Discover WinterGrades 1 and 2Learn what animals do in winter and how they survive the cold. Students learn about natural communities, habitats, and adaptations through active games (on snowshoes, if conditions permit).

Everything Has A PlaceGrades 1 and 2Students learn about habitat through hands-on, outdoor activities. They investigate a variety of natural communities and discover how animals and plants fulfill their habitat needs for water, food, shelter, air, and sun.

Exploring Our Five SensesGrades Pre-1Awaken your students’ senses to the incredible natural world around them as they explore the outdoors. Students learn about their senses through a special activity for each sense.

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Animals in WinterGrades 3-6Winter means cold, ice, snow, and shorter days. How do New Hampshire animals survive these conditions? See three live animals up-close and find out about various successful adaptations they use to cope with the stresses of winter.

CoyotesGrades 3-6Through story, slides, and sound, students learn about wild members of the dog family: coyotes, foxes, and wolves. A visit with a live coyote highlights the role these fascinating and effective predators play in the natural world.

Eyes of the Wild: Hawks and OwlsGrades 3-6Peer into the raptor world through an up-close experience with some live hawks and owls that call New Hampshire home. Compare the similarities and differences between fascinating hawks and owls.

INDOOR PROGRAMS6Good, Bad or Ugly?Grades 3-6What makes us like some animals, but not others? Learn the truth about misunderstood animals and appreciate the important role every animal plays in the natural world.

Marvelous MammalsGrades 3-6From herbivores and insectivores, to carnivores and omnivores, mammals serve a range of functions in the natural world. Live mammals and hands-on props help students gain insight into the marvelous lives of mammals.


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“It was a wonderful visit - one student shared that it was the best day of school

in his whole life. Thank you.”

Croydon Village School teacher

PredatorsGrades 3-6From small to large, all predators live by catching other animals. Students explore some specific predator hunting strategies by studying several live predators.

Stories on the Wild SideGrades 3-6Animal characters in stories are often very different from real animals. But students can still learn important truths about animals through stories. Storytelling and visits with live animals featured in the tales help students to separate fact from fiction.

The Truth About BatsGrades 3-6Bats have historically suffered at the hands of humans due to misconceptions about their little-understood nocturnal habits. Look at the amazing diversity and importance of bats throughout the world. Learn about these secretive and gentle creatures.

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Winter BirdsGrades 3-6Students learn how and why birds are banded. They help capture and release wild birds and collect measurements for banding records under the direction of a Master Bird Bander. Discussion topics include bird adaptations, migrations, and identification, using live birds and mounted specimens.


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Ecosystems Scavenger HuntGrades 3-6Divided into small exploratory teams, students visit eight locations to collect and analyze data. The data help them learn how all living and non-living parts of an ecosystem are connected.

Geology RocksGrades 4-6New Hampshire is a state of rocks, stones, and “mountain bones,” shaped by geologic forces. Through hands-on activities and exploration, students learn about different rock types, the geologic cycles that formed them, and the effects of ice and water on the current landscape. Meet a live animal influenced by the region’s geology.

HabitatsGrades 3-6Using habitat activities, students learn about the complex interrelationships that are the essence of all natural communities and the importance of the places animals call home.

Living WildGrades 3-6How animals survive in the wild is demonstrated with a variety of learn-by-doing activities. Students role play and investigate the plant and animal adaptations in outdoor natural communities.

Squam Lake’s Microscopic MysteriesGrades 4-6 Rotifers, copepods, and phantom midges share our lakes. Take a trip on the Science Center’s 28-foot pontoon boats to study zooplankton. Student teams collect samples and take a close look at them in the classroom with a bioscope. All data are posted on the Science Center’s website for teachers to compare with results from past years.

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Tree-mendous TreesGrades 3-6Through hands-on activities students learn all about trees and the forest community including their importance to wildlife. How humans rely on trees and forests is also emphasized.

Wet and Wild: Water and WetlandsGrades 3-6Water is vital to life. Wetlands perform essential functions, from controlling floods and purifying water, to providing habitat for wildlife. Using indoor and outdoor activities and live animals, students learn why water and wetlands are important to both humans and wildlife.

Wildlife WebsGrades 3-6Students examine the energy-rich components of a natural community and gain an understanding of the flow of the sun’s energy through forest, field, and pond. Students will achieve an appreciation for the web of life.

Winter ExplorationGrades 3-6How do New Hampshire animals survive winter with cold, ice, snow and shorter days? This outdoor experience combines natural history and active games to demonstrate how animals adapt to the rigors of winter.


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INDOOR PROGRAMS10Adaptations for WinterGrades 6-8How do New Hampshire animals survive the cold, short days of winter? Students learn about the amazing adaptations animals possess through observing live animals and discussing strategies of avoiding winter such as hibernation or migration.


Creatures of the NightGrades 6-8You don’t have to stay up late to learn about elusive nocturnal animals. Students see some creatures of the night and find out about specific adaptations that make these animals so well-suited for life at night.

New Hampshire MammalsGrades 6-8Mammals are an important part of our state’s valuable natural communities. Students learn about mammal characteristics and look into structural and behavioral traits within the group Mammalia.

Predator ConnectionsGrades 6-8Predators play a vital and sometimes misunderstood role in the natural world. Using several live predators, students learn about how these animals hunt and gain an understanding of the critical role predators play in natural systems.


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Questionable CreaturesGrades 6-8The public image of some wild animals is often inaccurate and causes negative attitudes. A review of the good qualities of these questionable creatures gives this program a positive focus.

RaptorsGrades 6-8Raptors are birds of prey that use talons to capture food. Using live birds and mounted specimens, students see how avian predators fill different ecological niches.

Winter Bird BandingGrades 6-8Students participate in a bird banding operation under the direction of a Master Bird Bander. Student teams help to capture wild birds at a feeder, collect and record data, and release the birds again. Discussion topics focus on bird adaptations, migration, and identification, using live birds and mounted specimens.

Animal CSI (Creature Scene Investigation)Grades 6-8Decipher the clues at the creature scene where a dead snowshoe hare was found. Cooperative student teams solve this mystery by searching for tracks, scat, and other animal signs. Using the investigative process, students make observations, record measurements, and form hypotheses. The program concludes with a visit from a potential predatory suspect.

Get Moving with MathGrades 6-8This is an interdisciplinary program where classroom math comes to life. Students become animals and compete with New Hampshire wildlife through various physical challenges. Mathematical calculations compare our human abilities to those of animals.

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Field & Forest EcologyGrades 6-8What characteristics make fields and forests such different natural communities? Through hands-on scientific examination, teams of students measure wind speed, temperature, soil pH, humidity, and more. Students review data and then compare and contrast the results between the two communities.

Lake ExplorationGrades 7 and 8Come aboard a floating classroom to study Squam Lake. Using hands-on measurements of pH, dissolved oxygen, water hardness, clarity, and temperature, student teams assess the lake’s health. Students also collect sediment and plankton to observe with a bioscope in the lab. All data are posted on the Science Center’s website for teachers to compare results with data from past years.

Mountain AdventureGrades 6-8Students explore outdoor New Hampshire while hiking Mt. Fayal. Along the way, they will make natural history and geology observations. Note: Program is 2 hours.

OspreyTrackGrades 6-8This program covers ongoing research at the Science Center to track ospreys through the use of satellite transmitters. Students gain an understanding of why these once threatened fish-eating raptors are important environmental indicators and how scientists are able to learn more about these amazing birds. The program includes an indoor overview of osprey biology, two outdoor activities, and an opportunity to meet a live osprey.

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“The field trip is the perfect combination of physical exercise, hands-on learning, expert

teaching and lots of learning.”

Barnet School Teacher


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Animals with Bad ReputationsGrades 9-12The “public image” of some animals is often inaccurate and leads to attitudes detrimental to wildlife and the environment. Take a close look at the good qualities of some animals with unfair bad reputations.


Birds of PreyGrades 9-12Raptors are birds of prey that use talons to capture their food. Viewing live birds and mounted specimens, students examine the key role these avian predators play in the natural world.

Mammals of New HampshireGrades 9-12Students look at structural and behavioral traits that distinguish mammals from other classes of animals and consider the important role they play in New Hampshire’s natural world. Students examine three mammal species in-depth.

Owls of New HampshireGrades 9-12Students learn about native New Hampshire raptors, with a focus on owls. Using live birds, prepared mounts, and hands-on props, students discover key details about these winged predators.

Predator/Prey DynamicsGrades 9-12Predators play a vital and sometimes misunderstood role in the natural world. Students observe several live predators and learn about the amazing adaptations that help them to survive. Students also examine the essential role predators play in the wild.

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Winter Bird BandingGrades 9-12Birds have been banded and monitored at the Science Center’s winter feeders for more than 30 years. Student teams contribute to this long-term study by making observations at a feeding station and participating in bird banding under the guidance of a Master Bird Bander. Discussion focuses on bird adaptations, migrations, and identification, using live birds and mounted specimens.

Field & Forest EcologyGrades 9-12Students investigate the differences between the natural communities of fields and forests. Through hands-on scientific studies, teams measure wind speed, temperature, soil pH, humidity, and more. Discussion compares and contrasts the measurements.

OUTDOOR PROGRAMS

14 INDOOR PROGRAMSLake EcologyGrades 9-12Study Squam Lake on a floating classroom. Using hands-on measurements of pH, dissolved oxygen, water hardness, clarity, temperature, and more, student teams can assess the lake’s health. Students also collect lake sediment and a plankton sample to observe with a bioscope in the lab. All data are posted on the Science Center’s website for teachers to compare with results from past years.

OspreyTrackGrades 9-12This program covers ongoing research at the Science Center to track ospreys through the use of satellite transmitters. Students gain an understanding of why these once threatened fish-eating raptors are important environmental indicators and how scientists are able to learn more about these amazing birds. The program includes an indoor overview of osprey biology, two outdoor activities, and an opportunity to meet a live osprey.

OUTDOOR PROGRAMS


15Homeschool Programs

Homeschool groups qualify for school rates and custom programs. Please call for information and reservations.

Squam Lakes Natural Science Center also offers a series at the Science Center especially for homeschooled students, ages 4 to 6 and 7 to 10. The series runs once a month from November through April.

All Homeschool Programs address the New Hampshire Science Framework.

Tips for Your Trip

Time: In addition to driving time, allow for registration and a restroom visit before your program. Consider using some of the educational activities from nhnature.org on your way to the Science Center.

Weather: Plan ahead and be prepared for the weather and the season with appropriate clothing, footwear, insect repellent, sunscreen, and rain gear.

Lunch: Your group may bring a picnic lunch. Picnic tables are available outside and under a covered pavilion.

Trash: The Science Center is a carry-in, carry-out facility. Please bring your own trash bags.

Gift Shop: The Howling Coyote Gift Shop features nature-related merchandise including many items for teachers. Teachers receive 10% off purchases in the gift shop (open May 1 through November 1 or by request).

Photo by Rich Czina

Complimentary Visit for Teachers

Get to know the Science Center before you bring your class. Call 603-968-7194 x18 to arrange your complimentary visit.

Teacher Happenings

Sign up at [email protected] to receive Teacher Happenings via email two or three times a year. Teacher Happenings contain useful information about programs, grant opportunities, and special offers.


“Your staff is knowledgeable and works well with all levels of students.

Thank you for providing a great experience to us every year. We are able to show many students parts of New Hampshire they have not

experienced.”

Jaffrey Grade School Teacher

Squam Lakes Natural Science Center

Centrally located in New Hampshire’s beautiful

Lakes Region.

Route 113, Holderness (just 10 minutes from Exit 24 off I-93)

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Squam Lakes Natural Science Center • 23 Science Center Road • PO Box 173 • Holderness, NH [email protected] • www.nhnature.org • 603-968-7194

Bring Your Students Nearer to NatureVisit www.nhnature.org for the latest information about program fees. You will also find helpful tips and resources to prepare for your field trip. Make your reservation today.

Call: 603-968-7194 x18Email: [email protected]: www.nhnature.org

For almost 50 years, Squam Lakes Natural Science Center has educated students throughout New England and shared its mission to advance understanding of ecology by exploring New Hampshire’s natural world.

Holderness

Rev. 8/14

Squam Lakes Natural Science Center School Catalog

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Transcript of Squam Lakes Natural Science Center School Catalog