Leeland Valley -- Field Trips, Teams Course, Retreats

Our modern way of life is limiting our exposure to nature, making it harder to connect with and understand the natural world and those that live close to the earth. To make this connection, we can create field trip programs to help make your students' lessons in science, social studies, humanities and the arts, and physical education come more alive.

We have created a number of themes to illustrate what your outing might consist of. Many of these themes contribute to achieving KERA Learning Goals and Academic Expectations . We are here to serve you, so please let us know what you are studying, and together we can plan your field trip.

The following themes and activities are just some of the possibilities! With a sense of adventure and imagination, the ideas are endless!

Program Areas

Click on scroll down this page for descriptions of possible activities in each area.

Science

Social Studies

Humanities and the Arts

Adventure and Physical Education

Science

The Wonders of Nature
Clip Art: Boy with magnifying glass

Students will have fun being naturalists as they learn about mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, insects, plants, rocks, and fossils.
Click here to learn about our available activities for this theme.

Natural Studies Hike
The group will be divided into small groups of 8-12 students to go on a 2-3 hour hike. Each student will have a job for the day, be it a biologist, geologist, meteorologist, photographer, journalist, forest ranger, herpetologist, etc.. (Can be combined with Season's Package (#6 below).)

This Is My Father's World
(Designed especially for church groups)
We will go on an inspiring Father's World Treasure Hunt for natural things that show us how "He speaks to us everywhere." This program can include activities from other themes.

Ecology Study

perform a creek assessment
compare a once clear cut forest with an older forest
partcipate in activities from Project Wild and Project Wild Aquatic
recycling organic waste and enriching the soil through composting.

Ecosystems and their Components -
The ecosystems available at Leeland Valley are freshwater stream, hardwood forest, meadow, and a forest area in early succession. Students are led through outdoor activities that enhance an understanding of the components of an ecosystem (such as food webs) and how interdependent these components are. Vocabulary is stressed specific to the teacher's needs, and activities are selected accordingly. Can be adapted to all grade levels.

Project WILD, Project WILD Aquatic, Project Wet, Project Learning Tree
The Leeland Valley staff features a trained facilitator for these programs. Activities from these programs are available and can be selected or adapted at the teachers request.

Night Hike
Experience and learn about outdoor life after dark through:

a night hike in the forest using your night vision
star gazing

Seasons' Package
Leeland is a great place to experience different seasons and compare them by observing, drawing, photographing, or writing about:
*      the landscape (fields, forest, creeks)
*      the plants(trees, flowers, etc)
*      creek life
*      the night sky(Can be adapted to PK or K.)

Social Studies

"Living the Native Way"
(Kentucky before Boone or Prehistory)
Students will have fun being Native Americans, living fully in the natural world with a reverence for life, as they:

go on an Indian Soft Walk or Still Hunt or build a shelter
hike through the forest and learn about edible and medicinal plants,
learn fire building and fire starting skills, and
close with a name-giving ceremony or other whole-group activity.

This is one of our most popular themes. Click here for more available activities for this theme.

A Day In An African Village
Students will have fun living in an African village as they: Outline map of Africa

help build or live in an African home
learn African dancing or drumming
make an African craft or food
close with a Market Day or other whole-group activity

Adventure and Physical Education

Team Building
Your students will have great fun learning about themselves, building relationships, and learning that each team member is important when working together to reach a goal. The group will go through a challenging teams course that stresses cooperation over competition.

Camp Out
Your class can camp out to learn about camping, survival, or to just have fun. End the day by roasting marshmallows, singing around the campfire, and telling stories.

Great Outdoors Picnic
Your class can bring their own picnic lunch and eat in the great outdoors. Your picnic can also include hiking, playing in the creek, sports, and playing games .

Clip art: Man in yoga pose Outdoor Yoga Class
Learn the benefits of stretching, breathing, and relaxing through Hatha yoga. (This class could be an activity for any theme.)

Humanities and the Arts
A Book Comes to Life We will provide the outdoor setting to reenact scenes from a book or story your class has read, such as The Lorax or My Side of the Mountain. (Can be adapted to PK or K.)	Nature in a Picture Choose your medium and enjoy capturing nature (trees, landscapes, rock fences, etc.) using the visual arts.