Title: Inside the Ecosystem

Image of rugosa rose

Duration: 90 minutes

Badge/Patch Correlations: Nature Fun Patch

Overview: This program offers an opportunity to view plants from a naturalist’s perspective. How is each plant unique? In what ways can we tell them apart? These and many other questions will be answered. Each scout will help to construct her own nature handbook where she’ll place plant samples collected in the park that surrounds the environment center.

Activities:

  • Create and decorate a nature handbook
  • Go on a short walk to collect plant seeds and leaves
  • Make a leaf rubbing

Title: Under Pressure, Underfoot    Image of monarch butterfly

Duration: Two 90-minute sessions 

Badge/Patch Correlations: Bugs Badge (Legacy)

Overview: Whether you’re a fan or in fear of insects, the fact remains that these tiny critters can perform some monumental tasks. This program teaches about this amazing group of animals and the ways their simple habits benefit humans.

Activities:

  • Take a short hike to collect insects
  • Perform the honeybee “dance”
  • View insects through a microscope

Title: Underwater Wonders

 (Available April-Nov. only)

Duration: 90 minutes 

Badge/Patch Correlations: Save Water Award from WOW! Wonders of Water (It’s Your Planet – Love It! Journey)

Overview: This program provides an introduction to the salt marsh habitat, allowing scouts to investigate it first-hand and gain a better understanding of the flora and fauna that make it unique.

Activities:

  • See and taste the difference between salt and fresh water
  • Use dip nets to collect samples of salt marsh animals
  • View fish, shrimp, and other salt marsh animals and learn what makes them different

Title: Water Animals    Image of terrapin turtle

Duration: 90 minutes

Badge/Patch Correlations: Animal Fun Fun Patch

Overview: As an introduction to the adaptations of aquatic animals, participants will observe captive animals to learn how they feed, move, and breathe.

Activities:

  • Observe living animal specimens and learn about their behavior
  • Mimic the movements of aquatic species in a game of “Salt Marsh Simon Says”
  • Play the “Salt Marsh Hide and Seek” game to learn about animal camouflage

Title: What’s a Humanimal?     Image of groundhog

Duration: 90 minutes

Badge/Patch Correlations: Animal Awareness Fun Patch

Overview: This program attempts to define this odd word by examining the similarities and differences between animal species, specifically humans and some of our most familiar kin both wild and domestic.

Activities:

  • Take a short hike to look for animal homes
  • Learn about how to interact with wildlife in a way that is safe for both the observer and the animal
  • Play a game to learn how animals use sound to find food

Title:  World of Worms    Image of worms

Duration: 90 minutes

Badge/Patch Correlations: Composting Fun Patch

Overview: Scouts will learn how worms experience the world and how they benefit nature and humans. Included in the program will be a harmless, hands-on encounter with worms!

Activities:

  • Take a short hike to search for worms
  • View worms through a microscope
  • Conduct simple experiments with worms to learn about their senses
  • Learn how worms can be used to help create compost at home.

Program fee: 

90 min. program: $10 per scout 

180 min. program: $18 per scout

There is no charge for leaders or chaperones

Policies:

Minimum of 6 scouts is required to run a program

Required adult to child ratio:   1:2 for  8 year-olds and younger

Reservations should be made at least 2 weeks in advance

For more information, please contact Kirk Weber at 201-460-8384 or by e-mail at kweber@ramapo.edu

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