Past Events › Homeschool Programs

Calling all Jakes and Jennies—come join us for a very “fowl” afternoon of fun as we celebrate fall by learning all about turkeys. Learn how (and why) they gobble while practicing your best turkey call, explore the habit and habitats of wild turkeys and how to identify turkey scat, tracks, feathers and more through games, crafts and outdoor explorations!

It’s time for some out of this world exploration. Planets have fascinated scientists and humans for many years. What does it take to be a planet? We’ll take a look at each of the planets in the solar system and what makes each unique.

It’s time for some out of this world exploration. Planets have fascinated scientists and humans for many years. What does it take to be a planet? We’ll take a look at each of the planets in the solar system and what makes each unique.

Some animals in nature have “built-in” snowshoes, but humans have had to invent their own! Learn the Native American history of snowshoeing and try out snowshoes for yourself in this winter exploration! We’ll practice some snowshoe “calisthenics,” have a snowshoe race, and take a hike by snowshoe to observe early winter animal activity.

Some animals in nature have “built-in” snowshoes, but humans have had to invent their own! Learn the Native American history of snowshoeing and try out snowshoes for yourself in this winter exploration! We’ll practice some snowshoe “calisthenics,” have a snowshoe race, and take a hike by snowshoe to observe early winter animal activity.

Let us add an environmental education component to your home school curriculum with our 2017 Spring Semester Package option! The package includes all 21 sessions from January 3rd, 2017 through May 23rd, 2017.

Let us add an environmental education component to your home school curriculum with our 2017 Spring Semester Package option! The package includes all 21 sessions from January 3rd, 2017 through May 23rd, 2017.

Aldo learned from his grandfather how important habitat was to the birds that followed the Mississippi River near his childhood home. The cold months after the New Year
are an especially harsh time for birds and other wildlife.

Aldo learned from his grandfather how important habitat was to the birds that followed the Mississippi River near his childhood home. The cold months after the New Year
are an especially harsh time for birds and other wildlife.

Any of us could find ourselves in a situation where we need to use winter survival skills. Not only must we respect natural forces but also learn what nature provides to help us survive. Learn how to dress, pack a survival kit and work cooperatively when faced with a survival situation.

Any of us could find ourselves in a situation where we need to use winter survival skills. Not only must we respect natural forces but also learn what nature provides to help us survive. Learn how to dress, pack a survival kit and work cooperatively when faced with a survival situation.

Bundle up and come out to learn all about the science of snow. Go snowshoeing, create snow sculptures, make snow paintings and learn how to make a snowflake to bring home. We’ll also explore how and why it snows as we try to predict the next snowfall.

Bundle up and come out to learn all about the science of snow. Go snowshoeing, create snow sculptures, make snow paintings and learn how to make a snowflake to bring home. We’ll also explore how and why it snows as we try to predict the next snowfall.

Our planet is covered by more water than anything else. What happens to that water when the temperatures drop? It freezes! We will learn all about the properties of ice and the different ways ice is found in nature.

Our planet is covered by more water than anything else. What happens to that water when the temperatures drop? It freezes! We will learn all about the properties of ice and the different ways ice is found in nature.

Wisconsin is home to many outdoor enthusiasts who loved spending time outdoors and wanted to protect nature. We will learn about some of Wisconsin’s famous conservationists, from Aldo Leopold to John Muir and Gaylord Nelson.

Wisconsin is home to many outdoor enthusiasts who loved spending time outdoors and wanted to protect nature. We will learn about some of Wisconsin’s famous conservationists, from Aldo Leopold to John Muir and Gaylord Nelson.

What is phenology? Phenology is the study of changes over time and is happening all around us! Even though the ground is still covered by snow and the birds are still enjoying warm, sunny Florida weather, there is still a lot happening in the winter time!

What is phenology? Phenology is the study of changes over time and is happening all around us! Even though the ground is still covered by snow and the birds are still enjoying warm, sunny Florida weather, there is still a lot happening in the winter time!

Not all birds migrate south for the winter time! Some of them brave Wisconsin’s cold, snowy winter and are still able to find food! We will walk through the habitats of the nature center in search of these brave birds.

Not all birds migrate south for the winter time! Some of them brave Wisconsin’s cold, snowy winter and are still able to find food! We will walk through the habitats of the nature center in search of these brave birds.

Winter is a time when animals like to burrow underground and sleep, or hibernate, for the winter months. We will dig up some facts about burrowing animals and why they choose to make burrows.

Winter is a time when animals like to burrow underground and sleep, or hibernate, for the winter months. We will dig up some facts about burrowing animals and why they choose to make burrows.

The sun is the source of all energy on earth and makes life here possible. We’ll learn all about the benefits the sun provides as we track the movement of the sun with a shadow plot, hold an ice race, and take temperatures throughout the Nature Center’s habitats.

The sun is the source of all energy on earth and makes life here possible. We’ll learn all about the benefits the sun provides as we track the movement of the sun with a shadow plot, hold an ice race, and take temperatures throughout the Nature Center’s habitats.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a meteorologist? We will step into their shoes as we learn about the data they need to collect before they can make a forecast.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a meteorologist? We will step into their shoes as we learn about the data they need to collect before they can make a forecast.

Imagine all of the different art projects that can be done using natural materials! We will use what nature has provided us to make beautiful creations. Coloring with mud and turning pine cones into animals are just a few of the projects that can be done using objects found in nature.

Imagine all of the different art projects that can be done using natural materials! We will use what nature has provided us to make beautiful creations. Coloring with mud and turning pine cones into animals are just a few of the projects that can be done using objects found in nature.

Join us for a seasonal favorite! Learn basic tree identification, try tools used by pioneers to “tap a tree,” taste the sap from maples and cook it down to syrup. Discover the science of sap flow in the tree and the boiling process.

Join us for a seasonal favorite! Learn basic tree identification, try tools used by pioneers to “tap a tree,” taste the sap from maples and cook it down to syrup. Discover the science of sap flow in the tree and the boiling process.

Nature is full of April fools! We’ll learn the adaptations like mimicry and camouflage where animals fool us and each other. We’ll discover how plants and animals can trick each other in both good and bad ways.

Nature is full of April fools! We’ll learn the adaptations like mimicry and camouflage where animals fool us and each other. We’ll discover how plants and animals can trick each other in both good and bad ways.

Spring is a time for new growth, and what better way to promote that new growth than by planting the garden at ALNC! We will put on our work gloves, fill our watering cans and head out to the greenhouse and garden to start new plants.

Spring is a time for new growth, and what better way to promote that new growth than by planting the garden at ALNC! We will put on our work gloves, fill our watering cans and head out to the greenhouse and garden to start new plants.

Legend has it that every spring a rabbit would visit children’s homes during the night and leave a woven nest with an egg in it as a sign that spring had arrived. Join us to hear this wonderful story and create your own spring nest just as the animals do by using materials from the land.

Legend has it that every spring a rabbit would visit children’s homes during the night and leave a woven nest with an egg in it as a sign that spring had arrived. Join us to hear this wonderful story and create your own spring nest just as the animals do by using materials from the land.

Earth Day was a day started by Wisconsin native, Gaylord Nelson, with the goal of taking care of our Earth through eco-friendly activities. We will honor what he started by helping to foster a healthy environment.

Earth Day was a day started by Wisconsin native, Gaylord Nelson, with the goal of taking care of our Earth through eco-friendly activities. We will honor what he started by helping to foster a healthy environment.

The land has sure changed since the middle of winter time! The birds have come back from migration, the plants are blooming and the winter coats have been put away. We will record phenological observations and then use cameras and other technology to track and compare these observations with others,

The land has sure changed since the middle of winter time! The birds have come back from migration, the plants are blooming and the winter coats have been put away. We will record phenological observations and then use cameras and other technology to track and compare these observations with others,

Across from the Nature Center driveway is the City of Monona’s Woodland Park. We’ll explore this wonderful, wooded area for newly emerging spring wildflowers and mushrooms!

Across from the Nature Center driveway is the City of Monona’s Woodland Park. We’ll explore this wonderful, wooded area for newly emerging spring wildflowers and mushrooms!

Aldo Leopold wrote: “When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.” What things do you view as part of your community? Plants? Animals? People? Businesses? During this program, we define, compare and contrast different types of communities and explore the different natural communities found at the Nature Center.

Aldo Leopold wrote: “When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.” What things do you view as part of your community? Plants? Animals? People? Businesses? During this program, we define, compare and contrast different types of communities and explore the different natural communities found at the Nature Center.

Put on your muckin’ shoes to explore the mysterious inhabitants of wetlands! Wetlands provide a unique home to specialized plants and animals, and help people too! We’ll search the skies with binoculars for Baltimore oriole nests and scan logs for signs of turtles.

Put on your muckin’ shoes to explore the mysterious inhabitants of wetlands! Wetlands provide a unique home to specialized plants and animals, and help people too! We’ll search the skies with binoculars for Baltimore oriole nests and scan logs for signs of turtles.

Now is a great time to reflect on all of the activities we did during the winter and spring! You will get to make your very own nature journal to take home with you and record in throughout the summer time. We will make our first entries into our journal as we venture along the trails of the nature center and enjoy the outdoors.

Now is a great time to reflect on all of the activities we did during the winter and spring! You will get to make your very own nature journal to take home with you and record in throughout the summer time. We will make our first entries into our journal as we venture along the trails of the nature center and enjoy the outdoors.

Citizen science teaches us that science isn't something that only happens in a classroom or lab. Each student will choose a fun citizen science project; from the Lost Ladybug to Project Feeder Watch and many others, too.

Go on a Nature Quest Scavenger Hunt to find objects and signs of animals in the prairie! We’ll play “Camouflage” in the tall grass and use matching cards to find the specialized plants that make up the prairie. If your team is the first to discover all clues you win Prairie BINGO!

Ever wonder where minerals come from or how rocks are made? We will observe, discover and learn about the 3 types of rocks and how they each are formed. We’ll even learn how to identify different minerals that make up rocks!

Work in teams to make an insect “nest” and create scent trails to food and other survival needs! We’ll also communicate like bees (through “dance”) and catch insects on land and in the water to study.

Take a tour inside one of nature’s amazing machines – leaves! We’ll learn all about chlorophyll and how photosynthesis works. We’ll then hike to see what colors are appearing on our trees and learn why they change color and fall off in autumn.

We will learn all about Wisconsin’s past, present and future climate. Learn the difference between weather and climate, record current weather data, and learn how we can help be a part of the solution.

Come join us for a smorgasbord of science featuring a favorite fall fruit. We’ll dissect an apple, discover how flowers turn to fruit, make apple art and learn about physics and reactions with apple eruptions!

“Bats eat bugs, they don’t eat people!” Learn the David Stokes song and multiple fun facts about bats. We’ll play a game on bat echolocation, learn how mother bats find their young in hibernacula, and one participant will “become” a bat complete with bat adaptations. We’ll also learn how bats are helpful to people and the natural ecosystems they inhabit.

Seeds and trees are both packed full of energy! We’ll start our adventures with a hike to identify trees and plants then we’ll go on a seed scavenger hunt to learn the many ways in which seeds can travel. We’ll also collect and plant prairies seeds, and make a seed ball to take home.

Fall is a time of change, for people, plants, animals and weather. From beetles to bergamot, learn how different species adapt to the changing seasons and prepare for the long winter ahead.

Bears are extremely intelligent and extremely misunderstood. Students will learn all about the biology, ecology, and natural history of the three bear species in North America. We’ll go on a “bear hike” to practice how to be bear safe in Wisconsin, and we’ll test our senses as compared to a bear’s.

“You always can tell what a bird does eat when you look at its beak and you look at its feet.” Students will learn “how birds make a living” with our hands-on activity. We’ll examine study mounts before exploring the land with binoculars in search of our resident species.

Explore objects too big or too small to see with the naked eye! From water molecules to the atmosphere we’ll use microscopes to enlarge small objects and organisms and learn about and build molecules. Then we’ll look past the earth’s surface while spending some time viewing earth from space in Science on A Sphere! We’ll make the far away and extremely small come to life!

Join us for an afternoon under the stars as we explore our solar system; including planets, moons and constellations. We’ll get an up close and personal look at these celestial bodies with the Science on a Sphere.

See and learn about snowshoe styles from past to present as we learn the science and culture behind this mode of winter travel. Afterwards, we’ll head outside to explore the winter landscape on snowshoes, practice basic skills, and play some games! In the case of no snow, students will still learn about and experience snowshoes, but the hike will be done without snowshoes.

When snow falls, we love to sled and skate. But at the end of the day, we go home where it is warm and safe. What about all those animals out there in the forests, prairie and pond? We’ll investigate and explore the world under the ice and snow and even measure the thickness of the ice on the pond and see what lies beneath! Students will learn the science behind fur and insulation and why it’s so important for surviving the winter.

All of us work on teams in some part of our lives. Families, sports leagues, music groups, and other clubs or groups are all forms of teams: people working together to accomplish a shared goal. But are you a “team player?” We’ll provide challenges where the group must work together to succeed. From crossing the “Chocolate River” to a group walk on “skis,” we’ll identify and discuss the positive characteristics of teams.

Winter is a wonderful time to discover animal signs and homes! Through games, a take-home craft project, and an interpretive hike, youth will search for sign of the inhabitants of Wisconsin’s wetlands, prairies, and forests! We will snowshoe to investigate these amazing tracks (snow permitting)!

Machines, from airplanes to tweezers, are at work all around us. Without the help of machines, it would be much harder for people and animals to do work. We’ll explore the six types of machines (ramps, wedges, screws, levers, wheel and axles, and pulleys) and investigate how these machines help us overcome forces like gravity and friction.

Learn about the glaciers that formed the landscape of Wisconsin and what formations they made along the way. We’ll hike up a drumlin, learn about kettles, kames, eskers and moraines!

The frozen fun continues for another week! After learning about glaciers of the past, we’ll spend this week learning about glaciers today and how they are changing! We’ll even meet a glaciologist who will share her experiences researching in the Antarctic!

In the middle of winter, it must be hard to be a tree. Covered in snow, blown by strong winter winds and withstanding cold temperatures. We’ll learn how trees survive in winter, what dangers trees face in winter and how to identify leafless trees.

How do our eyes work? See a model eye up close and experience how animals see the world with specialized glasses. Discover how eye placement influences hunting for predators and hiding for prey. We’ll even explore some optical illusions! Find out if “seeing is believing” in this eye-opening program!

Magnets are in use all around us, from your refrigerator door to doctor’s offices! Did you know the earth is one giant magnet, and that for centuries people and animals have used the north and south poles for navigation? We’ll learn how magnets work, which stones are naturally magnetic, and how to construct a simple magnet in this “attractive” investigation!

Learn how to make sweet maple syrup by tapping maple trees in the “sugar bush!” Taste maple sap before and after boiling, and learn how different cultures used this sweet resource. Students will tap trees, collect sap, and learn which trees make the best syrup.

Beavers are fascinating creatures! Join us to learn the history of beavers from the fur trade to today. We’ll learn all about beavers and their behavior—from kits to castor, it’ll be an afternoon you “wood”n’t want to miss!

Fire is a great management tool for prairies and other habitats. In addition to helping prevent the spread of invasive species, controlled burns also help to improve habitat for wildlife and stimulate the growth of new plants. We’ll get to see how prairies are burned and have a chance to see the tools that professionals use when they conduct controlled burns.

Legend has it that every spring a rabbit would visit children’s homes during the night and leave a woven nest with an egg in it as a sign that spring had arrived. Join us to hear this wonderful story and adorn your own spring basket just as the animals do by using materials from the land. Learn to dye eggs naturally with leaves, grasses, and other gifts of nature to mimic the variety of colorful eggs made by our wild critters! Eggs and other materials will be provided.

Adjacent to the Nature Center is the City of Madison’s Edna Taylor Conservation Park. Rich with wetland habitats, Edna Taylor is a wonderful place to observe the spring migrations of birds, including Mallard ducks, Blue-winged teals, and Sandhill cranes! We’ll also visit an oak savanna and an Effigy Mound during this afternoon of discovery.

Spring is a time to use all our senses! See beautiful spring wildflowers, smell much from the pond and sniff garlic mustard as we pull, hear migrating birds and frog choruses, feel the different textures of nature and explore all things spring with our senses!

In honor of Arbor Day (April 24) and Earth Day (April 22), we’ll celebrate how trees help people, animals and our environment. We’ll help our Kindergarten Woods by pulling the invading garlic mustard. Then we’ll learn about restoration efforts and help the land by planting some native plants or trees. Enjoy giving back to the earth in this “exTREEme” celebration!

From puffballs to morels, fungus is all around us! We’ll learn some common types of fungus, which ones are edible and which to avoid, dissect a mushroom, learn how to make spore print and much, much more!

Did you know people once used the stars for navigation? Today, technology has advanced and we can use GPS units to find our way from one place to another. In this class, we will learn how to read a map (youngest children), use a compass (older students) and how to use a GPS unit (oldest students). We’ll share with each other the pros and cons of each piece of equipment!

Follow us to the pond where we’ll meet some aquatic life! We’ll use nets and bug boxes to catch and identify the critters that live, breathe, and eat underwater. Scan nearby trees for wetland birds and submerged logs for signs of turtles. Can you spot frog or toad eggs? Join us to dip for insects and “ponder” life under water!

Become a herpetologist for the day and search for frogs, toads, snakes and salamanders in this “ribbiting” investigation! We’ll visit the pond and marsh to listen closely for croaks, chirps, trills, and whistles of frogs and toads to learn how to identify them. Then we’ll explore the island in search of all things slippery or slithery.

Summer is “bug season” to us, but where do insects go during the winter? Explore the life cycles of some of nature’s most amazing short-lived creatures! From migration to hibernation, morphing to molting, we’ll examine the life and death cycles of insects.

Many animals, such as birds, caribou and whales undergo great migrations. Imagine travelling from Alaska to Antarctica and back every year like the Arctic Tern! We are in for quite a trip!

The fall season in Wisconsin is a season full of transformation! From the leaves turning color to the changes many animals must make, there is a frenzy happening in nature. We will take a hike to look for changing colors and busy animals while enjoying the nice cool fall season.

How do seeds move without arms and legs? We’ll discover the many ways seeds get around and help some along by making a “Living Locket” to take home and plant!

We’d be neck-deep in last year’s plant litter if it weren’t for the creepy, crawly critters we usually overlook! We’ll turn over logs and dig into the soil to get an up-close view of how nature recycles and reuses its own plant material.

Discover the inner workings of trees as they prepare for winter’s return! We’ll “Build a Tree,” make a Tree Detective vest to take home, explore the A-MAZE-ING Basswood tree and enjoy fabulous fall colors!

Pioneers had a lot of work to do during the fall harvest time. Aside from harvesting their crops, they had to chop and stack wood, grind corn, and prepare food for the family. There are plenty of chores to be done on our frontier, although there will also be time for some fun games and activities for all of our pioneers to play!

This time of year is when the night time creatures take center stage. With Halloween just around the corner, it is a perfect time to learn all about the animals that rule the night sky. Can an owl turn its head all the way around? Are bats really blind? We will learn about these and many more animals that can be found under the cover of darkness.

Plants are everywhere! Some plants smell nice, other plants we call weeds, and still others we can eat! Plants are a very important part of food chains and the ecosystem as a whole. What do you have at your house that is made from a plant? There may be more items than you expect! Join us as we learn about plant power and their importance in our lives.

Today, the temperature will be 45 degrees and there is a strong chance of some snow overnight. How do weather forecasters know what the weather will be like? We will get a chance to learn about weather and how we are influenced by weather, and we will be able to see real-time weather patterns on our Science on a Sphere!

It’s almost Turkey Day! Did you know the Turkey was once suggested to be the national symbol of the United States? We will learn all about these fascinating birds and discover some fun facts about them and some of their other feathered friends.

“Put Red in the Shed and follow Fred.” If you can say this sentence, you can use a compass! We’ll learn the parts of a compass, some basic orienteering techniques, and test our skills on a compass course.

Nature is full of such beautiful sights! Winter is fast approaching and many things have been changing in our outdoor world. We will use our observation skills to record some of the changes that have occurred. What kinds of animals are we seeing? Are there any leaves left on the trees? We will learn about the term phenology and will have the chance to create our own observation journal.

Take a trip back in time to see how Native Americans lived long ago! We’ll explore artifacts used as tools and learn how nature was the grocery store, pharmacy, and hardware store to Native Americans. We’ll also hike to a burial mound and learn how and why these land forms were made.