Programs Offered:  
Year Round  
Class Sizes: 
Minimum     15 students          Maximum    45 students

PROGRAM COSTS:   
Cost per program + current mileage rate fee for round trip between center and site.  (Prices determined by comparable Nature Centers in the region.)  

Registration: 
You may register for programs by contacting the Center at 724-537-5284 Tuesday through Friday 10:00 am-4:00 p.m.  Times fill up quickly during September, October and May, so please schedule early. 

Operation Squish Squash (Grades K-3) (1 hour) Focusing on Saltwater and Freshwater Marshes and Swamps, students learn about these four types of wetlands and how to discriminate between these types of ecosystems.  The Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve will bring the mystery of wetlands into your classroom!  The "Wetland Mystery Box" will actively engage students in wetland identification and wetland plant and animal recognition.

Marsh Madness (Grades 4-6) (1 hour) Do your students understand that wetlands are a vital part of the environment?  Can they describe the different functions of a wetland?  The Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve will bring the functions of a wetland into your classroom!  Students will be introduced to wetland ecosystems and their valuable functions.  A relay-based, cooperative group exercise that students are guaranteed to enjoy will demonstrate the necessary characteristics of wetlands. 

Watershed Ways (Grades 4-7) - What is a watershed?  What do we do in our communities to pollute our watershed?  Students discover how much freshwater is actually available for human use.  They will also participate in an interactive life-sized stream games by becoming water drops and taking a journey down a stream polluted with everyday contaminants.    EXTRA LARGE EMPTY SPACE NEEDED FOR GAME BOARD!!!

Goodbye Orange Water (Grades 6-9) - How does mine drainage impact a stream ecosystem?  How does a wetland naturally restore the health of a stream?  Students are introduced to passive wetland treatment technology, mine drainage chemistry, and iron oxide recycling.  

Tree-mendous (Grades K-2) - How do these tall woody plants function?  Through interactive games and activities, students learn the parts and functions of trees in an ecosystem.