*Because of restrictions due to Covid-19, NRT is not currently scheduling on site field trip programs. Most programs listed below can be presented virtually, using Zoom as an interactive platform to engage with students either in class or at home. Please visit the NRT's Virtual School Programs page to see how NRT naturalists can still bring a meaningful science-based  experience to your students!

NRT's Education Department offers a variety of hands-on and standard-aligned STEM programs for students throughout grades K-12. These programs aim to provide unique and real world field opportunities that would not be experienced in a traditional classroom setting!
Programs range in time from a half day to full day. Our naturalists can alter the content of many programs to suit the needs of your group. Groups choosing to schedule all day programs may elect to have lunch in the NRT's outdoor pavilion area. 
There may be minimum and/or maximum group sizes that can be accommodated per day, depending on programs chosen, the age of students, and other factors. 
Please contact the NRT Education Department for program recommendations, pricing details and scheduling information.
​Read about our program offerings below!

Please contact the education department for questions about presentation options for your school.
​

​Recommended for Grades K-1

Bugs & Insects
Topics: insect body parts, adaptations, and habitats.
​Alignment with Life Sciences Pre-K-LS1-1(MA), K-LS1-1 and K-LS1-2(MA).
What are the characteristics of a true insect? Investigate the forest and wetlands to catch, identify, and explore interesting invertebrates.​​



​
Fresh from the Farm 
Topics: needs of living things, working farm dynamics, and animal husbandry. Alignment with Life Sciences PreK-LS2-1(MA), PreK-LS2-2(MA), K-LS1-1, and
​1-LS3-1.
Did you know almost everything in your kitchen came from a farm? Meet the farm animals, make homemade butter, and create wool bracelets from our sheep. ​

Weather Watchers
Topics: types of weather, cloud formation, measuring wind direction, and making predictions. Alignment with Earth and Space Sciences K-ESS2-1 and K-ESS3-2.
Students will learn how interpret different nature signs to make weather predictions! Observe cloud types, measure wind direction, use a compass, look for hemlock cones, and more! 
​
Animal Characteristics 
Topics: characteristics of reptiles, amphibians, mammals, birds and adaptations. Alignment with Life Sciences K-LS1-2(MA), 1-LS1-1, 1-LS1-2, and 1-LS3-1.
Using turtle shells, furs, feathers and more, explore what characteristics distinguish one animal group from another! 
​

---

Recommended for Grades 5-6

Exciting Ecosystems 
Topics: ecosystem interactions, dynamics, energy transfer, biotic and abiotic factors and ecology. Alignment with Life Sciences 5-LS2-1.
Who are producers, consumers, and decomposers, and why are they important? Find out how energy moves through the food web by investigating biotic and abiotic factors in our local ecosystem. 
​
How Do They Know? Paleontology and Evolution
Topic: paleontologists use of the fossil record, comparative anatomy and evolution. Alignment with Life Sciences 6.MS-LS4-1 and 6.MS-LS4-2.
How do paleontologists know that birds evolved from dinosaurs? What adaptations can be found in modern animals and their ancestors from millions of years ago? Using comparisons between live animals and fossil replicas, learn how and why animals evolve over time.
​

​Recommended for Grades 2-4

​Happening Habitats 
Topic: habitat requirements, native animals, and animal adaptations. Alignment with Life Sciences 1-LS1-1, 2-LS2-3(MA), 2-LS4-1, and 3-LS1-1.
Delve into some of Sheep Pasture's natural habitats with hands-on activities, hikes and exploration. Discover what kinds of animals live in each habitat, how they meet their basic needs and more.

​Interesting Inheritance 
Topics: inheritance, variation of traits, fitness, and environmental impact. Alignment with Life Sciences 3-LS3-1, 3-LS3-2, 3-LS4-2, 3-LS4-3, and 3-LS4-4.
Through observation, art, and play, students will learn about traits, inheritance and variation found in nature. 

Seeds and Trees
Topics: seed dispersal, plant adaptations, habitat requirements, tree layers; and plant anatomy. Alignment with Life Sciences 2-LS2-3(MA).
Using seeds collected while hiking through Sheep Pasture, students will explore the various methods of seed dispersal. Afterward students will learn tree anatomy by building models with their own bodies! 

---

Recommended for Grades 7-12

​Stream Ecology
Topics: ecology, biodiversity, macro-invertebrate identification, bioindicators, habitat surveys, water quality, field data collection/analysis and human impact. Alignment with Life and Environmental Sciences 7.MS-LS2-1, 7.MS-LS2-4, 7.MS-LS2-6(MA), 8.MS-LS1-5, HS-ESS3-3, HS-LS2-1, HS-LS2-6, and
​HS-LS2-7.
Examine the health of a stream ecosystem through
hands-on field studies. Measure water quality, collect macro-invertebrates, survey riparian zones and more!
*Applicable to AP Biology and Environmental Science​

​*Custom Programming
Based on your curriculum, we can customize our programs to meet our needs! Most programs are adaptable for grades K-12. Contact us to design a  program most relevant for your students.



Looking for in school programming or programs for young children?