Day Class Descriptions
Wildlife
Sampler -
recommended
Estuary Life Naturalist Educators choose a series of age-appropriate activities from various class offerings in order to provide students with a general overview of our curriculum. Lead teacher input regarding preferred focal topics is welcome. Typical activities include: a live reptile encounter, visiting the pier, exploring the marsh pit, and learning about topics such as migration, adaptations, the water cycle, or population dynamics through ‘nature field games.’
Estuary
Studies/Sailing -
recommended
This class focuses on the concept of the bay and salt marsh as
the nursery of the Gulf of Mexico. Students will take a trip on our
65 ft. sailing schooner, Cyrus E. King, where they will get an
overall view and explanation of how Wolf Bay estuary works. Students
will visit the pier and marsh, examine plankton samples under a
microscope, and learn about various plants and animals that are
specially adapted to live in an estuarine environment including
marsh grasses, migratory birds, crabs and the bottlenose dolphin.
Most of the time, the students will actually encounter our friends,
the dolphins, while on the waters.
Students will investigate the importance of coastal forests while enjoying a hike. Activities focus on the basic structural and functional characteristics of trees in order to help students see every tree as a unique living organism. Through using dichotomous keys, students will learn to identify common tree species. By exploring the forest layers, students understand the important role forests play in the cycle of life from the soils beneath their feet to the canopy above.
Students will learn or review the water cycle using fun
activities to understand the importance of clean, fresh water.
Students will also conduct experiments in order to see how water
flows across our land and how human actions can alter the health of
our water systems. This class focuses on the Wolf Bay and Wolf Bay
watersheds to make the connection between local water quality and
the importance of statewide water conservation practices.
Students will observe, touch, and learn about live and preserved reptile and amphibian specimens. Many of the misconceptions about these often misunderstood animals will be dispelled when students learn about their specific characteristics and adaptations.
Apply math concepts and teamwork in a real-life situation. Students will learn basic orienteering skills (maps, compass use and pacing). Students will test their skills on a camp-wide scavenger hunt by working in small groups to navigate from one site to another using only a compass and map.
Explore the forest ground, trees, and a number of other animal habitats to gain an understanding of animals’ amazing physical and behavioral adaptations. This class will include searching for evidence of animals on a hike, hands-on examination of pelts and skulls, bird watching and interactive games to help students grasp the concepts of defensive mechanisms and population dynamics.
Canoeing
(Group
Size Limitations)
Join us on a canoe tour of the beautiful Wolf Bay estuary. Few outdoor activities better emphasize the importance of teamwork than learning to canoe. Students will explore marsh and beach habitats only accessible by boat under the close supervision of our trained instructors. Wolf Bay is naturally shallow and typical water depth is less than 8 feet. All participants must wear a PFD (provided). Canoeing is weather dependant; please choose a back-up class in case of inclement conditions.
Students will learn with cooperation, teamwork and creative problem-solving techniques that they can overcome physical or mental challenges by working through a progression of field based initiatives. Groups leave this class with a sense of community and cooperation. The communication and leadership skills they gain will travel with them back to the classroom setting and throughout their lives.
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Students build on the communication and leadership skills they learned in “Team Initiatives” to conquer challenge course low elements. The challenge course offers a valuable lesson in community and helps make the students aware of their important place within it. These teambuilding skills travel back to the classroom to strengthen the school community. Students must wear closed-toe shoes on the Challenge Course – no ‘crocs’ please.
Students will learn the fundamentals of sailing. They will take an active role in learning seamanship kills such as sail theory, navigation, reading wind and tides, sailing, rowing and knot tying. The focus is on learning about the Gulf Coast environment, weather patterns, and wildlife and plant life in the estuary system while incorporating Biblical teachings.
