School Programs
Welcome to Fontenelle Forest! Whether you’re planning your first visit or are already a regular visitor, we hope our educational programs inspire a deeper connection with the natural world. All programs invite you to explore the quiet wild of nature and discover the many diverse aspects of Nebraska’s natural landscape. We offer a range of topics and options for all ages and group size. If you don’t see something that fits your needs, please get in touch. Come discover Fontenelle, Nebraska’s backyard!
Request a program
At the Forest
All programs are 2 hours unless otherwise noted
We are currently evaluating how to best move forward with our school programming while following the recommendations set forth due to COVID-19. If you have questions about school programs (on-site, off-site, or virtual programming), please call 402.731.3140 and ask to speak to our School Programs Manager.
Up High, Down Low**(Formerly Fall Inquiry/Wild About Winter) Fall, Winter, Spring Pre-K, K, 1stLook up high, down low, and all around to discover the interconnected layers of the forest. |
Naturally Sense-ational**Fall, Winter, Spring Pre-K, K, 1stUsing your senses, come explore the Forest with us! |
Soil Science**Fall, Spring K, 1st, 2ndDo a little digging into our Loess soil and examine how the soil of Fontenelle Forest interacts with tree roots and more. |
Habitat AdventureFall, Winter, Spring 1st, 2nd, 3rdCompare wants and needs in this fun program searching for food, water, shelter and space in the forest. |
A Plant’s LifeFall, Spring 2nd, 3rd, 4thTake a closer look at the importance and structure of plants, then make observations of plant species in the forest. |
Renew or Not?Fall, Spring 2nd, 3rd, 4thDiscuss natural resources and explore the forest to find these resources firsthand, brainstorming all they can be utilized for! |
WebologyFall, Winter, Spring 3rd, 4th, 5thFood chains are everywhere- let’s hike and build a few together using the plants and animals at the Forest. |
Awesome Adaptations(Formerly Sharp Claws) Fall, Winter, Spring 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6thDiscover the physical and behavioral adaptations of plants and animals in this exploratory program. |
Who Goes There?Fall, Winter, Spring 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6thHow do we know what animals live in the forest if we never see them? Dive into this fun program where we explore the signs left behind by our forest friends. |
Agents of ChangeFall, Winter, Spring 4th, 5thExplore how wind, water, and ice cause erosion and deposition in Nebraska and Iowa. |
Birds of a FeatherFall, Spring 4th, 5th, 6thLearn about the amazing world of birds by taking a close up look and listen at the wide array of adaptations, calls, and more! |
Green’s the ThingFall 5th, 6thCompare and contrast prairie and forest ecosystems through observation and data collection out on the trail. |
Backpack Forest ExplorationAll Year Pre-K – 12thUsing self-guided backpack activities you’ll help kids become scientists making close observations and discovering the variety of life in the forest. Request a Backpack programGet More Information |
Critters On-Site *All Year Pre-K – 12thCome face to face with some of our amazing critters and learn all about why they are so neat! Request a Critter program |
Raptors On-Site *All Year K-12thWhat is a raptor? Find out in this up close and personal encounter with our educational raptors. Request a Raptor program |
* 1 Hour long
** 1.5 hours long – include 30 minutes to NATURE PLAY OUTSIDE
School Program Pricing
$7.75 per student
Teacher/Adult free up to 1:10 ratio
$11 per additional adult
Frequently asked questions
Nature On-The-Go
Bring the Forest into your classroom with Raptors, Critters, or a Naturalist!
Critters Pre-K – 12thCome face to face with some of our amazing critters and learn all about why they are so neat! 1 Hour Program – $130 Additional Program – $205 Request a Critter program |
Naturalist K – 5thWant nature in your classroom? We can bring it to you! Choose from the above themes and we’ll work with you to bring an outdoor experience, inside. 1 Hour Program – $130 Additional Program – $205 Request a Naturalist program |
Raptors K – 12thWhat is a raptor? Find out in this up close and personal encounter with our educational raptors. 1 Hour Program – $150 Additional Program – $225 Request a Raptor program |
Science through Nature
Designed to supplement remote learning or home school education through observation, exploration, and investigation, partnered with fun, interactive hands-on activities and a naturalist-guided hike!
what is the science of studying nature? the “Ologies” series:
Science through Nature (previously Homeschool Science) is an educational program for students who want to explore the sciences through nature-based, hands-on activities.
What does it mean to be a scientist? Each month, students will discover how to be just like a scientist by learning about the natural world! This exciting program is designed to supplement remote learning or home school education through observation, exploration, and investigation, partnered with fun, interactive hands-on activities and a naturalist-guided hike!
This year, students will learn about the “Ologies” or “the study of.” Each session will focus on a different “Ology” and how it can be applied to the diverse ecosystem of plant and animal life within the Forest.
Recommended for students 2nd through 4th grade. All sessions will be held at the Fontenelle Forest Nature Center from 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Maximum of 15 students per session. Pre-registration required.
This program is $10 for members and $15 for non-members. Pricing is per student, per session. Members must sign in to receive discount.
The “Ologies” Series |
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September 14, 2020ECOLOGYThink of all living things in Fontenelle Forest. Every living organism, from the tallest white-tailed deer to the tiniest fungi, has a place in the forest. We will learn about habitats and how plants and animals live and interact with one another. |
October 5, 2020dendrologyWhat’s alive in the forest, but doesn’t move? Trees! In this session, we’ll learn all about trees and why they are so important to the environment. We’ll spend time outside, learning how to identify trees. |
November 2, 2020herpetologyDuring this session, we’ll learn about our cold-blooded friends, amphibians and reptiles! We’ll have an opportunity to meet a forest resident and learn about various adaptations they use to survive in the winter. |
December 14, 2020ornithologyWe’ll learn about our feathery friends in this session! How do they eat? Where do they go during the winter? We’ll answer these questions and observe birds with binoculars. |
January 11, 2021MammologyThe Forest is home to different types of mammals, and they are all unique in their own way. We will learn what defines a mammal and how they compare to other animals in the forest. |
February 8, 2021meteorologyHow can scientists predict the weather? In this session, we’ll learn all about weather and climate and how it can affect our everyday lives. |
March 8, 2021ichthyologyWe’ll be fish out of water for this session! We’ll learn all about fish and their role in the ecosystem. We’ll follow the flow of water and learn about rivers and wetlands of Nebraska. |
April 12, 2021herbologyFor this session, we’ll learn about plants! What do plants need to survive? What’s the life cycle of a plant? We will investigate and get answers to all of these important questions. |
May 10, 2021entomologyDid you hear the latest buzz? Insects are everywhere and there’s so much to learn from them. We’ll do our best in this session to hunt for the common and uncommon insects and see what these little invertebrates have to teach us. |