School Programs
Environmental education enhances our connection to the natural world and the ecological communities that surround us. Through immersive natural experiences, students are invited to deepen their sense of place and their appreciation of the vital, irreplaceable natural resources many of us take for granted each day. Hands-on experiential education is a critical component of our philosophy, allowing concepts learned in the classroom to come to life right before students’ eyes.
Our dedicated staff of naturalists has created unique programs, designed to correlate to the Wisconsin Department of Instruction Standards for Science. Educators seeking to meet these science standards can use our programming as a supplemental resource to ensure their students are getting high-quality programming from our expert naturalist staff.
School Programs Directory & Inquiries
Search for exciting educational opportunities in our School Programs Directory. The directory gives teachers the ability to find the perfect program for their needs, with filters for method of delivery, grade level, and seasons available. If you want to make sure that your students get to meet one of our live animal ambassadors, we have a filter for that too! You also are able to use the search bar to quickly find a favorite program.
Each program listing features a detailed description, the standards that the program meets, program duration, pricing information, and the student limit. The program listing also includes the method(s) of delivery, grade level(s), season(s) available, and animal ambassador species for that particular program.
Once you have decided on which program(s) you are interested in, you can click the Request a Program button on the bottom of each listing page to fill out an inquiry form. Inquiries will be responded to within two business days.
Methods of Delivery
Programs at Schlitz Audubon
Our field trips are an incredible way for students to see the very best of what Schlitz Audubon Nature Center has to offer. Your class starts the day with a large group introduction. We then split up into smaller groups of 8-15 students, each assigned to a naturalist educator. We believe working in small groups provides more attention to detail and a direct hands-on approach that will give you and your students the highest quality programming available. These small groups will take to the trails to explore whatever topic your program features – Lake Michigan, maple sugaring, or birds of prey, to name just a few! While we do our best to accommodate larger groups, if you bring more than the recommended maximum number of students for a program, your students may be in larger groups and their experience may vary.
Programs At Your School
We can also join you in your own classroom or other space at your school. Interactive hour-long programs are offered for a variety of natural history topics such as plants, insects, reptiles & amphibians, plus our amazing raptor presentations. These programs are a great way to infuse meaningful science components into your existing curriculum, without the added details of scheduling bus transportation. Through artifacts, discussions, and activities these programs are perfect to introduce or reinforce the most vital aspects of your core learning areas.
programs at a natural area
Wisconsin has a wealth of natural areas for people to visit that are within easy driving distance of the Greater Milwaukee Area. Join our naturalists for day-long experiences at protected destinations such as Cedarburg Bog, Lapham Peak, Horicon Marsh, or even Devil’s Lake State Park. Canoeing on the Milwaukee River or in local wetlands is also an exciting offering! While exploring these places, we’ll cover topics such as glacial geology, biodiversity, and Wisconsin history.
Important School Program Notes
Eight chaperones are invited to attend for free with each Schlitz Audubon on-site field trip. Chaperones include teachers, parents, and classroom aides. Aides for students with specific needs are welcome and encouraged for students that need them; these aides attend free of charge and do not count towards the eight free chaperone count. The School Programs Manager will send out pre-trip information, which will include the minimum amount of chaperones needed to complement our small group teaching style. Additional chaperones can join for our adult admission fee of $10.
We welcome students of all abilities and strongly believe that everyone should have the opportunity to benefit from nature. Our naturalists will work with you to meet the needs of students or teachers. In addition, many of the trails at the Center are wheelchair accessible to ensure access for anyone with mobility challenges.
Through the generosity of donors, Schlitz Audubon is able to offer scholarship funding to help students have the opportunity to connect with nature. Scholarships are available to schools with a high percentage of economically disadvantaged students, for both onsite and offsite programming. Please contact the Registrar at registration@schlitzaudubon.org to learn more.
For September – December programs, invoices will be emailed in August and beyond. For January – June programs, invoices will be emailed in December or beyond. Payment is requested one week prior to the program date and can be done through mailing a check or via credit card.
Though we do not have designated lunch space, we can host school groups for cold lunches on our outdoor Veranda or in one of our indoor classrooms, weather-dependent. For half-day programs, we charge a $20 fee to add on lunch, which covers our setup, staffing, and clean-up.
Our programs take place rain or shine; we respect the efforts and resources required to bring your students to the Center. If the weather is inclement enough that schools may close, we will work with your school to reschedule your program for a later date.