Trailside Nature Museum contains a variety of habitats ranging from ponds and streams to meadows and forests.
Most programs start at 10 a.m. and run between one and two hours at a cost of $150 per group (up to 30 per group unless otherwise noted). Groups larger than 30 will be split into two or more groups and charged accordingly. Call ahead for details.
Groups may choose to bring a bag lunch and are welcome to use the picnic tables outside the museum. Teachers and parents accompanying the group should be aware that the reservation has a "carry-in, carry-out" policy and visitors must take their trash with them when they leave. Visiting teachers will be expected to monitor the collection of litter and garbage from their group.
| Group | Program | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Grades K – Adult | American Indian | Includes presentations about the tools, toys, and foods of the Indians of the region. Also, a short forest hike, native stories and a visit to the museum’s authentic, full-sized wigwam is included. |
| Group | Program | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Grades K – Adult | Maple Sugaring | Provides children with an introduction to this traditional and unique late-winter activity. Tree biology, sap collection, evaporation process and historical methods of making maple sugar are discussed. Students get to help tap a tree, collect sap and, of course, take a “taste test.” |
| Group | Program | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Grades K – Adult | Pond or Stream Study | Gives participants an exciting look at pond or stream life. Students explore a section of a pond or stream and discover some of the aquatic plants, insects, crayfish, amphibians and other animals that thrive in the reservation’s wetlands, ponds and streams. |
| Group | Program | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Varies | Nature Ecology | Introduces participants to the fascinating variety of plant and animal life in our area. The reservation's fields, woods and wetlands provide an exciting setting for nature study unsurpassed in our region. Topics can include habitats, animal tracking and general forest ecology, and will vary according to season of the year. Specific ecology topics may also be requested. |
| Group | Program | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Grades 5 – Adult | Beginner’s Orienteering | Teaches basic land navigation skills that can be used in the wilderness or on the road. Students learn how to read a map and orient themselves to the landscape. Basics of how to read a compass are also covered. To ensure individual attention, group size is limited to 15 students per group. |