Homeschool Program

September

• September 14, Insect Connections – Using our senses is the way we make observations of the natural world. This introductory program will guide our explorers in making and recording observations of insects to gain a better understanding of their connection to the ecosystems found in our parks. 

• September 21, Fascinating Phenology of Flowers – Phenologyis a way of looking at the changes an organism goes through with respect to the seasons. We will begin our study of the changes that flowering plants go through seasonally in our park ecosystems and revisit this topic to make fresh observations during the second week of each monthly session. 

• September 28, I Don’t Like Spiders – Many of us have an aversion to spiders. However, spiders play an important role in our ecosystems. We’ll weave a picture of spiders while observing their varied web making techniques, hunting skills, and more.

October

• October 12, The Big Natural Picture – Our interconnected ecosystems form a big picture of how they work together. From the banks of the Pigeon River to Lake Michigan, we’ll use native fish species to bring those connections into focus. 

• October 19, Discovering Ducks – We see ducks on the river at Hemlock Crossing every day. What role do they play in our wetland ecosystems? We’ll take a deep dive into the life of ducks. 

• October 26, An Acorn Is a Seed –Plants have different techniques that aid in dispersal of their seeds. We’ll make observations of some of these adaptations in the field and discuss what successes and limitations there are to each one. 

November

• November 9, Freaky Fungi – Eeew! Mushrooms! But wait, how do they function in our ecosystems? We’ll investigate the importance of fungal associations and function to our ecosystems. 

• November 16, Club Mosses – The club mosses are a unique group of plants with an interesting life cycle. They are common forest floor inhabitants with a connection to the deep past. How have they been around for so long? Let’s talk about it! 

• November 23, Turkey Talk – Using the familiar Wild Turkey, explorers will investigate the way they deal with the seasonal changes in the ecosystem they inhabit. We’ll try to answer the question of how that plays a role in their life cycle. 

Winter dates coming soon! 

Thank you for selecting Ottawa County Parks for your homeschool program! We are eager to welcome your children to our Nature Center. The parent letter is intended to help you get ready for your child’s experience. Please take the time to read through this letter thoroughly. If you need any further information, please contact us.

• Homeschool Program Parent Letter