ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASSES
Grades 3 - 6
Printer-friendly version
INDOOR PROGRAMS
Animals in Winter
Grades 3-6
See live animals up-close and learn about many varied and successful adaptations animals have for coping with the stresses of winter.
Available at SLNSC or school site
Fall, winter, spring
Eyes of the Wild: Hawks and Owls
Grades 3-6
Peer into the raptor world through an up-close experience with a variety of live hawks and owls that call New Hampshire home. Discover the similarities and differences among these fascinating raptors!
Available at SLNSC or school site
Fall, winter, spring, summer
Good, Bad or Ugly?
Grades 3-6
What makes us like some animals, but not others? By learning the truth about misunderstood animals, we can learn to appreciate the important role every animal plays in the natural world.
Available at SLNSC or school site
Fall, winter, spring, summer
Marvelous Mammals
Grades 3-6
From herbivores and insectivores, to carnivores and omnivores, mammals serve a variety of functions in the natural world. Live mammals and other educational props help students gain insight into the marvelous lives of mammals.
Available at SLNSC or school site
Fall, winter, spring, summer
Predators
Grades 3-6
From small to large, all predators live by catching other animals. We will explore their specific hunting strategies as we study several live predators.
Available at SLNSC or school site
Fall, winter, spring, summer
Stories on the Wild Side
Grades 3-6
Animal characters in stories are often very different from real animals. But sometimes we can learn important truths about animals through stories. This program combines storytelling and the live animals featured in the tales to separate fact from fiction. Available at SLNSC or school site
Fall, winter, spring, summer
The Truth About Bats
Grades 3-6
Bats have historically suffered at the hands of humans due to their little-understood nocturnal habits. We will look at the amazing diversity of bats throughout the world and shed fresh light on these secretive and gentle creatures.
Available at SLNSC or school site
Fall, winter, spring, summer
Winter Birds
Grades 3-6
Discussion topics include bird adaptations, migrations, and identification using live birds and mounted specimens. Students will learn how and why birds are banded as they help to capture and release wild birds and collect measurements for banding records under the direction of a Master Bird Bander.
Maximum group size is 30. Program is 2 hours. Fee is $6/student.
Available at SLNSC only
Winter (until March 15)
OUTDOOR PROGRAMS
Ecosystems Scavenger Hunt
Grades 3-6
Divided into small exploratory teams, your students will visit eight locations that help them become aware of how all the living and non-living parts of an ecosystem are connected.
Available at SLNSC or inquire about your school site
Fall, spring, summer
Habitats
Grades 3-6
Using hands-on activities, students will learn about the complex interrelationships that are the essence of all natural communities and the importance of the places animals call "home."
Available at SLNSC or inquire about your school site
Fall, spring, summer
Living Wild
Grades 3-6
How animals survive in the wild is demonstrated with a variety of "learn by doing" activities. Students will role play and investigate the adaptations of plants and animals in outdoor natural communities.
Available at SLNSC or inquire about your school site
Fall, spring, summer
Squam Lake's Microscopic Mysteries
Grades 4 - 6
Rotifers, copepods, and phantom midges share our lakes! Take a trip on our 28-foot pontoon boats to study zooplankton. We will collect a sample of these creatures and take a close look at them in the classroom with our bioscope. All data collected will be posted on our website so teachers can compare results from past years!
Limit of 14 students/boat, with a maximum of 42 students for three boats scheduled for one time. If your group exceeds 42, we suggest that one half explore the exhibit trail while the other half is on the boats, then exchange.
Program is 2 hours. Fee is $175.00/boat/program.
Available at SLNSC only
Fall, spring, summer
"Tree"-mendous Trees
Grades 3-6
Through hands-on activities students will learn all about trees and the forest community. Human reliance on trees and forests is also emphasized.
Available at SLNSC or inquire about your school site
Fall, spring, summer
Wet and Wild: Water and Wetlands
Grades 3-6
Water 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 will learn about the importance of water and wetlands to both humans and wildlife.
Available at SLNSC or inquire about your school site
Fall, spring, summer
Wildlife Webs
Grades 3-6
Students will examine the energy-rich components of a natural community and come to understand the flow of the sun's energy through forest, field, and pond. This adventure in learning will build a better appreciation for the "web of life."
Available at SLNSC or inquire about your school site
Fall, spring, summer
Winter Exploration
Grades 3-6
This outdoor experience (on snowshoes, if conditions permit) combines natural history and active games to demonstrate how animals survive the rigors of winter.
Available at SLNSC or inquire about your school site
Winter
Make learning come alive at Squam Lakes Natural Science Center. Plan a school trip now! Our school programs are designed to enhance your school’s curriculum by providing interactive learning experiences. We offer fun, hands-on exploration of the natural world where children share the joy of discovery.
Fall, Summer, and Spring Programs
Include a walk on the Gephart Exhibit Trail (open May 1 to November 1). You'll see native animals in natural enclosures and visit the trailside "hands-on" activity buildings. Allow 1.5 hours.
Indoor Live Animal Programs
One-hour sessions featuring live, native New Hampshire wildlife.
Outdoor Programs
Most are 1.5 hour sessions, including a short introduction inside, followed by outdoor activities, and ending with an indoor summary. See individual descriptions to verify program length.
Fees for ALL School Programs
Fees are as listed below unless otherwise noted in individual program descriptions. Payment is expected the day the services are provided. If payment is not received within 30 days, a $25 late fee will be applied.
Fees for Programs at the Science Center (per student)
|
Indoor Program |
Outdoor Program |
2nd Program |
Exhibit Trail Only |
Minimum Fee per Program |
Fall |
$7.00 |
$8.00 |
$5.00 |
$6.00 |
$90.00 |
Winter |
$5.00 |
$6.00 |
$4.00 |
CLOSED |
$90.00 |
Spring |
$7.00 |
$8.00 |
$5.00 |
$6.00 |
$90.00 |
Summer |
$7.00 |
$8.00 |
$5.00 |
$6.00 |
$90.00 |
Fall – September, October
Winter – November through April
Spring – May, June
Summer – July, August
One adult is free for every five students. Additional adults pay student fee. Paraeducators are free.
Indoor and Outdoor program fees include admission to the Gephart Exhibit Trail. There is no minimum fee for exhibit trail use only.
Lake Education Programs
Program is 2 hours. Fee is $175.00/boat/program. Limit of 14 students/boat, with a maximum of 42 students for three boats scheduled at one time. If your group exceeds 42, we suggest that half explore the exhibit trail while the other half is on the boats, then exchange. Three boats are available.
Fees for Programs at School Site
$6/student, minimum fee $125 per program, plus travel fee of 48 cents per mile round trip. Schools 25 miles or more from the Science Center must schedule a minimum of two programs per reservation or incur a minimum fee of $200. A maximum group size of 60 is recommended. May be subject to "out of state" fees. Programs at your site are generally not available in May and October due to a high volume of school programs at the Science Center.
Cancellation Policy
There is a charge of 25% of the estimated program cost for cancellations made within ONE MONTH of your scheduled program and a charge of 50% within TWO WEEKS of your reservation. Cancellations due to school closings will be accepted. Cancellations are not accepted due to weather, except thunder and lightning or severe snow or ice. A rescheduling fee of $25 applies to all other date changes within one month of your arrival date. "No Shows" will be charged full price.
For more information or to plan a SLNSC program, please contact:
Squam Lakes Natural Science Center
PO Box 173
23 Science Center Road
Holderness, NH 03245
Phone: 603-968-7194 extension 18
Fax: 603-968-2229
Email: info@nhnature.org
