School Field Trips

Experience. Study. Discover.

At the Outdoor Experiential Learning Center, children are more than just observers. Students are active participants in the living world around them and critical members of dynamic, scientific teams collecting meaningful data.

The field studies listed below are just a starting place. We can easily tailor programs to your class needs and interests. Group team building activities can also be incorporated into any program. Join us at the Outdoor Experiential Learning Center to discover, study and play with the natural world!

For more information on available dates and pricing, contact our OELC Coordinator at 269-375-1950 x120 or summer@prettylakecamp.org.

Available programs

All field studies listed below meet Michigan science G.L.C.E. (Grade Level Content Expectations) for the specified age group.

Five Senses on the Farm

Age Group: Preschool – First Grade
Timeframe: Preschool/Young 5′s – 2 hours; Kindergarten/1st Grade – 3 hours
Key Questions: What are your senses? Why are senses important?

After our friendly farm animals have helped the students discover the importance of each of their senses, we will embark on a five-senses hike. Our facilitators will guide the children as they make discoveries about the world through the use of their senses.

The Circle of Life: Life Cycle Explorations

Age Group: First and Second Grades
Timeframe: 4 hours
Key Questions: What is a life cycle? How are plant and animal life cycles similar? How are they different?

Children will use organisms from the forest and the garden to discover life cycles in action. After organizing our discoveries, children will plant seeds so they can watch the life cycle of plants continue at home.

Budding Botanists: Investigations with Plants

Age Group: Second and Third Grades
Timeframe: 4 hours
Key Questions: What are the functions of flowers, stems, roots and leaves? How can plants be classified?

Explore the world of plants with us as children collect specimens of wildflowers, grasses and other native plants for study. After creating Botany Books from our specimens, children will receive a seed or plant to take home.

Survivor: A Field Study in Animal Adaptations

Age Group: Third and Fourth Grades
Timeframe: 4 hours
Key Questions: How do we know if something is living or non-living? What do living things need to survive? What behavioral and physical adaptations do living things have that help them survive?

During this investigative field study, children will discover the common traits all living things possess, and how living things adapt to their environment to ensure the survival of their species. Students will wade in wetlands, turn over rotting logs in the woods, and meander through meadows as they collect specimens to take back to the classroom where they will observe and record data. The day will culminate with our Release Ceremony as we return our special friends to their respective homes outside.