Education
A Wilderness Conservancy Adventure Awaits You and Your Class!
We are rapidly approaching our fifth season with our environmental education program. We have received lots of positive feed back from teachers, parents, and students over the seasons. Providing an opportunity for your students to step out of their classrooms and into the natural world to make connections is what we strive for to supplement your lesson plans.
Come join us at Mountain Lake this spring and allow your students to experience nature's classroom! field trips are fun! field trips are educational and fun
*** Remember: All programs are experiential-based learning and are applicable to Virginia Standards of Learning! Many of our instructors are trained by the Project Learning Tree System. ***
Please contact us to schedule field trip dates:
Emily Woodall
Education Coordinator
ewoodall@mountainlakehotel.com
540-626-7121 ext: 444 (conservancy office)
Grade 1&2
Creepy Crawlies is the study of insect anatomy, habitat, behaviors, adaptations, lifecycles and their niche in the ecosystem. The program is designed to give the students an understanding and appreciation of some of nature's most maligned creatures, insects. Through exploration and study the students will enter the world of insects and come to comprehend their place in the ecosystem.
Home Sweet Home is a Discovery Hike focused on the search and study of water and land homes at and around Mountain Lake. Students will observe and investigate tracks and clues to find and explore animal homes of all shapes and sizes while paying close attention to the needs of the critters who live inside.
Grade 3
Squirmy Worms and Leaf Litter is a study of soil, decomposition, terrestrial food chains, and vermicompost. Students will take a close look at critters creeping beneath the forest floor and those inside the compost bin while investigating their roles in the food chain.
Habitat Hike is a study of Mountain Lake's aquatic and woodland habitats and the organisms that they support. This program is designed to heighten awareness and increase understanding of plant and animal diversity within an environment and the adaptations necessitated by a shared resource situation. Students will traverse Conservancy trails, hunting for critter signs and exploring their habits and homes.
Grade 4
The Magic of Plants is the study of plant anatomy, biology, habitat, and resources. This program is designed to give students an understanding and appreciation of one of nature's most important producers, plants. Students will delve into the world of plants with some soil, seeds, and even a plant treasure hunt.
Habitat Hike is a study of Mountain Lake's aquatic and woodland habitats and the organisms that they support. This program is designed to heighten awareness and increase understanding of plant and animal diversity within an environment and the adaptations necessitated by a shared resource situation. Students will traverse Conservancy trails, hunting for critter signs and exploring their habits and homes.
Grade 5
Kingdom Quest is an in-depth study of the five kingdoms of living things. Students will explore Mountain Lake's woodland, meadow and water habitats in search of members of all five kingdoms. A treasure hunt will be held in which students will examine everyday objects and determine the representative kingdoms and their members. Students will dig in to a vermicompost bin, in pursuit of critters and kingdom evidence.