Homeschool Ed-ventures! - Riveredge Nature Center

2013-2014 Program Descriptions | 2013-2014 Program Dates

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Homeschool

Science

Education

at Riveredge

2013-2014

Registration now openfor 2013-2014!

Click here to register

ABOUT ED-VENTURES:

Homeschool Science Education at Riveredge Nature Center

Join us in our 380 acre outdoor classroom as we explore and learn about the natural world, ask questions, and make connections.

What is Homeschool Ed-ventures?

Homeschool Ed-ventures is a science education program designed for K4-8^th grade homeschooled students who enjoy hands-on learning and outdoor adventure. Taught in the “Riveredge style,” each class of 10-12 students engages in cooperative, inquiry-based learning, guided by professionally trained educators. Detailed curriculum information and seasonal family events share the learning experience with the child’s entire family.

Continued Learning and Relationship Building

As children grow up in our program, they progress through play-based nature explorations to scientific inquiry and in-depth field studies. We offer four mixed-age classes, each with unique curriculum designed for their developmental level:

Dragonflies (grades K4-K5)

Monarchs (grades 1-2)

Hawks (grades 3-5)

Sturgeon (grades 6-8)

The mixed-age classes offer opportunities for students to take leadership roles, receive mentoring and develop strong learning partnerships.

Outdoor Exploration and Sense of Place

The core content of our program takes place outdoors; our students delight in exploring the many habitats at Riveredge throughout the seasons. The children also develop a strong sense of their place in the natural world and a sense of belonging at Riveredge.

Read Parent Testimonials Here!

Homeschool Program Powerpoint

2013-2014 PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS:

2013-2014 Program Descriptions (September 2013 - May 2014):

Unit and Quest Format: In order to allow for more in-depth study, each unit topic will be covered over a period of two classes. During the first class, the topic will be introduced and explored in general. During the second class, students will delve into a sub-topic of their choice for more in-depth study. The last class of each season will take the form of a learning quest or adventure.
Fall Unit 1: A Bug's Life September 13^th/16^th and September 27^th/30^th What is life like when you're only 1/2" tall? Search for butterflies, grasshoppers, spiders, and other arthropods and learn about their adaptations, lifecycles, and special roles. Unit 2: Geology Rocks October 11^th/14^th and October 25^th/28^th Let's go rock collecting! From pebbles to boulders, rocks dot our landscape and leave clues of Earth's history. We will also study ancient landforms at Riveredge created by geologic processes. Quest: Water Cycle Adventure November 8^th/ November 11^th Imagine: the water you drink today may have been inside a dinosaur millions of years ago! Experiment with watershed and aquifer models and follow H₂O from clouds to rivers to plants and beyond. Winter Unit 1: Skeleton Sleuths January 10^th/13^th and January 24^th/27^th How do wild animals find food in the depths of winter? Examine skulls and bones to find out who eats whom and search the forest and thicket for evidence of browse, predation, and even owl pellets. Unit 2: Energy Solutions February 7^th/10^th and February 21^st/24^th Explore how humans can use renewable resources to power our world. Create your own windmill, capture solar energy, or experiment with biofuels. We will also discuss energy conservation. Quest: Maple Sugarin' March 7^th/10^th Let'shead to the sugarbush to tap a tree! Follow clues to identify sugar maples and learn about American and pioneer traditions surrounding this time of year. Spring Unit 1: Energy Flow in a Pond April 4^th/7^th and April 18^th/19^th Prepare to be amazed as you discover ponds teeming with life in early spring. Collect and observe beetles, tadpoles, dragonfly larvae and more. Map their interactions to create your own food web. Unit 2: Garden Explorations May 2^nd/5^th and May 16^th/19^th Dive into the secret lives of seeds and plants as we experiment with organic gardening and permaculture methods. Plant your own project in the Riveredge garden and watch it grow! Quest: Nutrient Detectives May 30^th/June 2^nd Put on your detective hats and discover nutrients travelling through animals, plants, waterways, and soil. Learn different methods of composting food and yard waste to keep those nutrients going.
Parents: Click Here to Access Your Homeschool Teaching Guides

2013-2014 PROGRAM DATES:

Monday Class Dates (9am-12pm)
Fall Winter Spring September 16 January 13 April 7 September 30 January 27 April 21 October 14 February 10 May 5 October 28 February 24 May 19 November 11 March 10 June 2

Friday Class Dates (9am-12pm)
Fall Winter Spring September 13 January 10 April 4 September 27 January 24 April 18 October 11 February 7 May 2 October 25 February 21 May 16 November 8 March 7 June 30
(Additional Sessions Available for Monarchs and Hawks from 1-4pm)

REGISTRATION AND FEES:

Homeschool Ed-ventures fee per student for the 2013-2014 Session (includes 15 classes):

Fee per child for the entire 2012-2013 school year (includes 15 classes):

Members: $175 Non-members: $220

Fee per child per season (fall, winter, or spring; includes 5 classes)

Members: $60 Non-members: $75

Registration Deadlines:

Fall and full school year: Friday, August 30, 2013

Winter: Friday, December 13, 2013

Spring: Friday, March 21, 2014

Please send your payment for the 2013-2014 session along with your registration form. See below for registration options.
Checks can be made out to Riveredge Nature Center. Please indicate Homeschool Ed-ventures in the memo line of your check.
Registrations can also be made over the phone or online.
You will receive a program confirmation in the mail. All other program information will be sent via email.
Mail Registration forms to: Riveredge Nature Center P.O. Box 26 Newburg, WI 53060-0026 Attn: Homeschool Ed-ventures.
Parents: Click Here to Access Your Homeschool Teaching Guides