Barnes Nature Center Presentations

Brought to Your Classroom

Please note:  All In-School Programs can also be done at the Nature Center

Connecticut Wildlife Series (1 hour each lesson)

An in depth hour lesson each on Connecticut mammals, birds and reptiles and amphibians.  This program can be done at your school over  3 different days or at the Nature Center in one day.  Please click on more information for special scheduling and fee information.

Grade:  2nd-6th  

Fee:  $350 per day (including travel) 3 units x $350 = $1,050

         $300 per instructor if done at Nature Center   

         (more information)          science standards

Exploring the Animal Kingdom (1 hour)

Learn what characteristics make an animal a mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian and selected invertebrates unique.  A variety of live and mounted animals makes this program one of our most popular as students see and touch their way through the animal kingdom.

Grades: Pre-K -- 3rd

Fee: $70 per class up to 20 students

Travel Fee: $60 per hour of round trip travel   (more information)          science standards

Hibernation & Migration (1 hour)

How animals survive the Winter is the focus of this program.  Find out why some animals hibernate, while others migrate and others go on with life as usual.  Mounted and live animals will help students learn the secrets of Winter survival.

Grades: K -- 3rd

Fee: $70 per class up to 20 students

Travel Fee: $60 per hour of round trip travel     more information)          science standards

Animal Tracking (1 hour)

Winter is the best time for tracking and is one of the best ways to discover the secret lives of animals.  Students will learn where to look for footprints, how different animals walk and how to match an animal track to its owner.  Students will use the knowledge they learn to identify an animal track reproduction and make a plaster cast of their track to take home. 

Grades:  2nd - 5th     

Fee:  $70 per class up to 20 students

Travel Fee: $60 per hour of round trip travel    (more information)          science standards

Web of Life – Terrestrial (1 hour)

Learn about the interactions of the forest ecosystem.  Students will learn about producers, consumers and decomposers through the use of mounted and live animals.  A hands-on food web activity will “wrap-up” the program.

Grades:  3rd - 5th

Fee: $70 per class up to 20 students

Travel Fee: $60 per hour of round trip travel    (more information)          science standards

Web of Life – Aquatic (1 hour)

Learn about the interactions of the pond ecosystem.  Live and mounted animals will help students learn about producers, consumers and decomposers.  A hands-on food web activity will “wrap up” the program.

Grades:  3rd - 5th

Fee: $70 per class up to 20 students

Travel Fee: $60 per hour of round trip travel    (more information)          science standards

Skulls & Skeletons (1 hour)

Explore the structures that enable animals to move.  Look at bones, exoskeletons and skulls of a variety of animals to match their shape with function.  A few live animals will help demonstrate different modes of locomotion. 

Grades:  1st - 5th  

Fee:  $70 per class up to 20 students

Travel Fee: $60 per hour of round trip travel    (more information)          science standards

Reptiles (1 hour)

Students will take an in depth look at these fascinating creatures by observing live animals and study materials.  Learn about the reptile way of life with a focus on Connecticut’s turtles and snakes. 

Grades:  1st – 5th

Fee:  $70 per class up to 20 students

Travel Fee: $60 per hour of round trip travel    (more information)          science standards

Amphibians (1 hour)

Enter into the world of tadpoles, frogs, toads and salamanders.  Students will visit with live animals as they learn how amphibians develop and their unique characteristics.  The focus will be on Connecticut species.

Grades:  1st – 5th

Fee:  $70 per class up to 20 students

Travel Fee: $60 per hour of round trip travel    (more information)          science standards

Reptiles & Amphibians (1 hour)

This program combination is a condensed version of the individual programs.  It uses the same animals but is designed to be an introduction for younger students or as a general overview for older students. 

Grades:  K – 5th

Fee:  $70 per class up to 20 students

Travel Fee: $60 per hour of round trip travel    (more information)          science standards

Fabulous Frogs (45 minutes)

Young students will discover the diversity of frogs and toads in Connecticut by viewing slides and meeting and touching live animals. Students will enjoy learning about the fascinating lives of these amphibians. 

Grades:  Pre-K – 1st

Fee: $52.50 per class up to 20 students

Travel Fee: $60 per hour of round trip travel   (more information)          science standards

Terrific Turtles (45 minutes)

Young students will enjoy visiting with a variety of CT’s turtles as they discover their habits and habitats.  Students will have a chance to try on a real turtle shell and meet and touch live turtles.  A turtle race will round out the program.

Grades:  Pre-K – 1st

Fee:  $52.50 per class up to 20 students

Travel Fee: $60 per hour of round trip travel   (more information)           science standards

Birds of Prey (1 hour)

Learn about the many kinds of raptors that call Connecticut home.  Mounted specimens will help students understand the  lifestyles and adaptations that place raptors at the top of the food chain during this exciting, hands-on program.

Grades:  3rd - 5th

Fee:  $70 per class up to 20 students

Travel Fee: $60 per hour of round trip travel    (more information)          science standards

Beautiful Birds (1 hour)

Discover the wonder of beaks, feathers, feet, flight and feeding.  Mounted specimens and hands-on experiments will help students learn how different lifestyles affect how birds are shaped. 

Grades:  1st – 3rd

Fee:  $70 per class up to 20 students

Travel Fee: $60 per hour of round trip travel   (more information)          science standards

Owls of Connecticut (1 hour)

Mounted specimens will give students a chance to see Connecticut’s owls up close.  Owl feathers, bones, and pellets will be examined during this hands-on program.  Owl calls will also be played so students can learn to identify theses nocturnal creatures by the uniqueness of their voice.

Grades:  2nd – 5th

Fee:  $70 per class up to 20 students

Travel Fee: $60 per hour of round trip travel     (more information)         science standards

Fees & Class Size

Class Size:  The maximum class size is 25 students per presentation due to the hands on nature of our programs.

Layover Fee:  If there is more than a 1/2 hour break between programs, a layover fee of $60 per hour will be applied.

Minimum Fee: A program scheduled during our prime season (Sept. 15th - Dec. 1st and April 1st to the end of school) that starts before 11:00 and does not end by 11:30 will have a daily minimum per instructor fee of $300.  

How To Schedule

To make reservations for a program, please call (860) 589-8200 Monday through Friday between 8:30 - 4:30.  All programs require advanced scheduling of at least two weeks.  We recommend scheduling Spring tours before the end of February.  Many groups schedule up to a year in advance.  A written confirmation will be sent verify your date, time and fee.  Once you have received your confirmation, please mail in your deposit of $20 per class.  For In-School Presentations, we request that you send us written directions to your school from the nearest state highway at the time you schedule your program.