The Earth Connections School Programs immerse students in a variety of fun-filled, discovery-oriented adventures in the outdoors.  Students learn the basic laws of ecology and are challenged to apply their understanding of these concepts in forest, river, and seashore ecosystems. Students work cooperatively in group situations to develop life skills, a sense of community spirit and an awareness of their connections to the natural world.

Activities take place in small study groups of 8-12 students.  Experienced teachers guide each group on learning explorations through the ecosystem.  Group activities start and end the program to foster community spirit and group learning. We employ a variety of hands-on, minds-on teaching techniques to address the needs of diverse learning styles. We challenge all students with open-ended inquiry and critical-thinking situations. In addition, our experiential methodology strengthens problem-solving skills and often effectively reaches those students who have not been successful in a traditional classroom atmosphere.

Our programs are intended to be part of the classroom curriculum, not an “extra”.  Individual programs are correlated to the standards and performance indicators of the State of Maine Learning Results that correspond to the grade level of the participants.  We are happy to provide teachers, parents and administrators with an outline of activities and concepts covered within specific programs and the standards addressed. 

For inquiries, contact School Program Director at (207) 789-5868 or 1-877-944-2267 (Maine only).  

School Program dates:
In addition to the dates, outreach programs may be available at other times of the school year.

Winter - February 1 - February 29, 2008
Spring - April 28 - June 6, 2008
Fall- September 15 - October 17, 2008

Fees for the 2008/2009 School Year:
(These fees are for Maine schools only. Out-of-state schools, please contact us for rates.)

2 hour outreach program at your school $6 per student
1 day (at Tanglewood or your school) $13 per student
2 days/ 1 night $55 per student
3 days/ 2 nights $88 per student

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Winter Programs

Wonderful Winter Habitats  (Grades 2 and up)
Through age-appropriate, experiential activities correlated to the State of Maine Learning Results, students will explore plant and animal communities and discover how living things survive the challenges of winter. Depending on the age of the students, activities may include animal tracking, shelter-building, snow experiments, stories and puppet shows.

Snowshoe Trek (Grades 5 and up)
Students will learn basics of this easy-to-master sport. Then, through age-appropriate, experiential activities correlated to the State of Maine Learning Results, they will exploring the mysteries of nature in winter as they try out their new feet! Use of snowshoes is included and no prior experience is necessary.

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Spring and Fall Programs

The following program options can be offered as a one-day program or as part of an overnight program (unless otherwise noted).  Many of these programs can also be offered as outreach programs at your school.

Village: Creating Communities (Grades 2-3)
Children work together to design and create a village in the forest. Taking into consideration the basic needs of living things, students construct miniature people (Peeps) and shelters for the Peeps to inhabit throughout the year. Through storytelling, traditional skills, and activities this program encourages young children to use facts and fantasy to dramatize community life. This is a four part program with two visits in the fall and one in both winter and spring.

Building Our Human Community (Grades 4-8)
This program helps students develop communications and cooperation skills through group challenges, a low ropes course, and problem-solving activities that show how healthy ecosystems are like healthy classrooms. Students gain the confidence in themselves, and respect for others, that lead to responsible environmental and social choices.

Intertidal Discovery (Grades K-8)
Students will be eyeball to eyeball with limpets and dogwhelks as they explore an intertidal zone, experience tidal changes, and learn about special adaptations of marine "critters." Our marine site in Northport includes sandy and cobble beaches, mud flats, rocky coast, and at low tide, amazing tide pools! Marine dates are limited because of the tides. Register early!

Freshwater Exploration (Grades K-8)
Students will be up close and personal with the Ducktrap pond and river to discover the interdependent lifestyles of the creatures that live and grow in fresh water. They will become familiar with backswimmers, frogs, and other animals and aquatic plants in the fragile riverine ecosystem. Through discovery-oriented activities, students will develop an understanding of the necessary role that clean water plays in the lives of the trees, plants and animals in and along the river.

Watershed Connections (Grades 5-8)
Students will explore the variety of ecosystems encompassed by the Ducktrap watershed and discover how these are interconnected. They will investigate the importance of rivers and their connection to the land and humans. Through hands-on and discovery-oriented activities, students will understand how individual actions affect the quality of the watershed in their own community.

Forest Ecology Adventure (Grades K-8)
Students will go on an expedition deep into a mixed coniferous and deciduous forest. They will look for signs of the many wild animals that live with the trees, plants and fungi. Through hands-on, scientific methods students will learn about the inter-connected world of forest soils, trees, and wildlife.

Youth Forestry Camp (Grades 5-8).
Students will spend three days and two nights immersed in hands-on, minds-on learning based on the Maine State Learning Results. They will learn how to use tools of the trade, collect and analyze data and determine how to balance the needs of people with the needs of the forests. Based on this learning, they will create management plans in small groups and present them to their peers through a highly educational "town meeting" format. 

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