2009-2010 Home School

Want to get hands-on plant science into your home-school curriculum? Consider an Arboretum learning experience. For individuals or homeschool groups the Arboretum offers hands-on plant experiences that address state science standards in a unique and engaging educational setting.

Home School Days For Individual Students Fee includes free admission to the Arboretum ($9 for adults and 16+, under 16 are free). Prepayment required for each participating student. Adult homeschool educators and siblings welcome free of charge.
Interdependence (960-09-22-09 ) Tuesday, September 22, 12:30-2:00 p.m. Explore relationships between plants and animals in a forest community including food, shelter, pollination, and seed dispersal. $7 member/$9 non-member. Suggested age: 7-10 years, Limit: 50, Sensory Garden
Mother Earth  (960-10-06-09) Tuesday, October 6, 12:15-2:15 p.m. Listen to Dakota tribal story teller, Joseph Campbell tell about Native American uses of plants. Hear the legend of the first flute and how the cedar tree made its music. Sample traditional foods and hike to find the plants in nature. $7 member/$9 non-member, Suggested age: 8-12 years, Limit: 50, Learning Center
Plant-Take-A-Part (960-12-08-09) Tuesday, December 8, 12:30-2:00 p.m. Solve the mystery in room 103 by watching a puppet show with Mr. Tree. Explore the diversity of the plant world in the greenhouse. Trace familiar foods from plant to package, then use the plant parts to make a tasty treat. Finally, plant seeds to observe and measure as plants grow from bottom to top. $7 member/$9 non-member, Suggested age: 5-8 years, Limit: 50, Learning Center
People and the Rainforest (960-02-16-10) Tuesday, February 16, 12:15-2:15 p.m. Explore adaptations of rainforest plants. Discover ways people everywhere depend on the rainforest. See how vanilla vines grow and taste a real vanilla treat from the kitchen. Search the greenhouse for rainforest plants and start a cutting to take home with you. $7 member/$9 non-member, Suggested age: 8-12 years Limit: 50, Learning Center
Maple Syrup Time (960-03-16-10) Tuesday, March 16, 1:15-2:30 p.m. Hike into the woods to tap a maple tree. Toast to spring and taste the sap. Visit the sugar house where the sap is boiled into syrup. Learn about maple sugaring traditions of native people. $7 member/$9 non-member, Suggested age: 6-12 years, Limit: 50, Frog Hollow
Spring to Life (960-04-29-10) Thursday, April 29, 1:15-2:30 p.m. Meet Verna Equinox and learn about spring's travel north. Plant a one summer and a many summer plant to take home. Measure how quickly spring is happening at the Arboretum and walk through the wildflower garden.  $7 member/$9 non-member, Suggested age: 6-8 years, Limit: 50, Sensory Garden
Discover Spring Peeper Meadow (960-05-25-10) Tuesday, May 25, 12:30-2:30 p.m. Follow the boardwalk from dry to squishy to underwater habitats in the restored sedge meadow wetland. Use dipnets and binoculars to see what plans and animals live here now. Help monitor Arboretum scientists' work to bring nature back in a former corn field. $7 member/$9 non-member, Suggested age: 7-12 years, Limit: 50, you will be driving to the meadow after an introduction, Learning Center
Fieldtrips For Home School Groups Home School groups of 12 or more students may pre-register for any of the Arboretum fieldtrips. Click here for a current brochure.  Programs are geared to certain grade levels and will be taught at that level. Full payment due in advance of the program. $5/student, Minimum 12 students.	Call to Register your group:   952-443-1422

SUMMER CAMPS AND CHILDREN'S GARDEN
Registration begins January 2 for the following summer.