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STILLMAN NATURE CENTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS
The Stillman Nature Center is a private,
not-for-profit center for environmental education located on 80 acres of
woods, lake, and meadow in South Barrington, Illinois.
A former estate, the land was donated by Alexander Stillman for the
purpose of establishing a nature center.
The Stillman Center offers programs for
school children throughout the year. Classes at the Center can be taught
by our naturalist, by a teacher from the visiting school, or both.
Fees vary with the amount of staff time provided by Stillman (see
below). School groups,
especially those that visit in winter and summer, should remember that
Stillman does not have an indoor visitor center. For students with special
needs, Stillman is in the process of building an accessibility trail,
parts of which are open.
Stillman welcomes all organized groups,
including adult organizations. If your group is looking for a new place to schedule a field
trip, give us a call at (847) 428-OWLS (6957).
Stillmanšs Director, Mark Spreyer, is also available for outreach
programs. He is particularly well known for his owl presentation. Fees for
outreach programs vary with the distance from Stillman to your meeting
place.
SCHOOL PROGRAM BASICS
Scheduling: Reservations
are required for all classes. Program times range from under an hour for
younger classes to two hours for older students. After selecting one of
the field experiences, described in this flyer, call (847) 428-OWLS
(6957) or email us at stillnc@wildblue.net.
If you are interested in a subject not offered here, please ask our
naturalist.
Group
Size and Supervision: Stillman will not accept groups of more
than 60 students at any one time. There must me at least one adult per
eight students. If your class has special needs, let us know.
Fees:
Naturalist
led: $25 for each program per class of, approximately, 25
students.
Teacher
led: $10 for each class of, roughly, 25 students. For these
self-directed classes, teachers should plan on using their own supplies.
Fees are subject to change without notice.
Waste-free
lunches: Please bring your own garbage bags and recycling containers.
If you bring a lunch, you are expected to take all of your garbage
back to school with you. The waste-free lunch is a useful lesson in
recycling.
Clothing:
Please make certain that the kids dress appropriately. When it is
cold, dress in layers to stay warm. Make
sure the students have hats, gloves, and boots.
When it is warm, have them wear boots or old shoes that can get
muddy and wet. If you feel the need, use insect repellent before coming to
Stillman.
FIELD
EXPERIENCES
Pond
Study and Wetlands:
Stillman's
pond community is home to everything from tiny duckweed to painted turtles
that bask on a fallen log. It is the ultimate hands-on experience for
students to sift through pond mud in search of insects and other aquatic
life. Stereoscopes are available for older students. Teachers that have pH
and/or dissolved oxygen kits are invited to bring them along and test the
water.
Stillman's
marsh is thick with cattails and home to waterfowl and muskrats. For
classes with more time, a pond/marsh comparison might be of interest.
Stillman also has soil probes that can be use to take samples in the
wetland.
Grades:
1st - college
Seasons available: Spring, Summer, Fall
Name
That Tree:
Whether
it's with the green leaves of summer, autumnšs spectacular colors,
or an icy twig, Stillman's
naturalist will show your class how to identify some of our Midwestern
trees. Easy to remember tips
and simple hand-outs will keep your class from barking up the wrong tree.
Besides identification, aspects of forest ecology are also included.
Grades:
4th - college
Seasons available: Summer, Fall, Winter
Birds,
Beaks & Behavior:
Most
students won't know the names of the birds that can be seen here. However,
with the help of Stillman's binoculars, they can learn to look for certain
characteristics. How big is it? What shape is its beak? What does the bird
sound like? How does it act? Answers to these and other questions can then
be brought to a field guide or naturalist, both are provided, and,
the bird's name will be discovered. Much about a bird's way of life will
be learned in the process.
Stillman's
Director is also a licensed bird bander. For smaller groups of older
students, a bird banding demonstration can be arranged.
Grades:
4th - college
Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall
Compass
Use:
Learning
to use a compass is a practical outdoor skill that reinforces math
lessons. In fact, students should know that there are 360o in a
circle before they follow our course. Unlike competitive orienteering
courses, ours is a compass-guided nature exploration. Students must dress
appropriately as they are likely to encounter thorny shrubs.
Grades:
4th - 8th
Seasons: Fall, Winter
Nature
Walks:
Anything
is fair game on a nature walk. It might be fox tracks in the snow or
spring wildflowers in the woods. Bring the class and wešll look together.
Grades:
all
Seasons: all
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