Any of our onsite and off-site programs are available to home school groups with ten or more children, or for $50,  the equivalent price.

Sensing Nature
Hear like a deer. See like a hawk. Touch like a star nose mole. Smell the scent of a skunk. Learn the way animals use their senses to capture their food -- and avoid being someone else's food!  Observe and touch our live animals up close and then amble through our hands-on Sensory Nature Trail (1/8 mile). 1.5 hours. Appropriate for grades K-1.

Winter Woods
Come discover how plants and animals are adapted to survive and even flourish in Michigan’s winter weather. On a nature hike, students will search for animal signs including tracks, nests and other shelters. We’ll spend time looking for insect galls, winter twigs and other winter plants. Students will experiment with insulation as we create a winter home for gelatin animals. A visit to the critter house will complete the class. 1.5 hours. Appropriate for grades K-2.

Incredible Insects
Sweep through the prairie and probe the woodchip pile in search of insects, spiders and other arthropods. Explore and discover the lifecycles, adaptations, and habitats of these incredible insects. 6 legs, antennae, and 3 body parts: Do you have what it takes to be an insect? Visit our hissing cockroaches in the Critter House and see for yourself. Fall and spring. 1.5 hours. Appropriate grades 1-5.

tremendous trees
Discover the tremendous world of trees as students use their bodies and imagination to build a tree from the inside out. Working in a small group we will hike through the forest as tree detectives, investigate the requirements for plant growth through a maple seed mix up game and learn to identify these amazing forest sentinels using a dichotomous key. 2 hours. Appropriate grades 1-5.

beaks, feathers, and talons
Discover what makes our feathered friends unique by observing our live birds of prey up close.  We'll learn about bird specimens and special adaptations. Students will experiment with beak design, play running games to understand food chains and the difficulties of migration. Using binoculars, we'll put our field observation skills to work during a nature hike. 2 hours. Appropriate grades 1-5.

exploratory trip to the black pond
Investigate the habitats of native plants and animals on a hike through our beautiful woods. Walk out on our floating boardwalk to discover who is living in the pond with nets and containers. You may see pond animals from salamanders to fairy shrimp, viewing the smallest on our video microscope. Activities may include identifying habitat components, simulating food chains, and playing an animal classification game. 2 hrs. Fall and spring. Appropriate grades 1-5.

Classroom Challenge
Putting your class to the challenge, two trained Leslie Science and Nature Center facilitators will help your students to function as a team and develop positive life skills. We’ll practice cooperation, communication, problem solving skills, and teamwork as we embark on our group initiatives and challenges. Call for program fee. Appropriate for grades 4-8.  

nature's recyclers: vultures, rats, and roaches
The unpleasant but useful side of nature will visit your classroom and example how nature reuses and recycles.  Call for program fee. Appropriate for grades 4-8.