Self-Guided Adventures

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(Offered year-round at the Arboretum)

Self-Guided Adventure Registration Form

PRE-K - THIRD GRADE OPTIONS

Children's Garden Self-Guided Program

400 students maximum
The Children's Garden is an enclosed 4-acre garden designed to spark curiosity about trees and the natural world as children play. It is available to school groups in PreK to Grade 3 with registration only. Registered groups may reserve Garden Adventure backpacks to enhance their educational experience. Register one pack for every 15 students. A list of materials, how to use them, and pre/post trip suggestions will be sent with trip confirmation.

Potential to address the following IL Learning Standards:
11A - Observation and Scientific Questions
12A - Characteristics of Living Things

Click here for more detailed information about the Children's Garden backpack materials and activities.

Information about The Children's Garden.
Information about The Maze Garden.

PRE-K - TWELFTH GRADE OPTIONS

NEW! - Vanishing Acts: Trees Under Threat Exhibit

Open until Sept 2, 2012

Time is running out for more than 8,000 tree species.  Yet, few people know of their plight.  All over the world forces threaten wild tree species.  Explore this new outdoor exhibit and offer your students a timely and compelling look at endangered trees, reasons to care about this pressing global issue, an inspiring view of how trees enrich our lives and simple actions for environmental stewardship.  Age appropriate classroom activities for before, during and after your visit are available at http://www.mortonarb.org/saving-endangered-trees/vanishingacts/more-to-explore.html under the heading “teacher’s guide.”  The exhibit is located in the Conifer Collection on the east side of The Morton Arboretum.

Joy Path Self-Guided Program - NEWLY REVISED!

180 students maximum
Use an interpreted trail, teacher guide, activity backpack, and map to explore woodlands and aquatic ecosystems. Each pack serves 15 students and two chaperones.

Potential to address the following IL Learning Standards:
11A – Scientific Inquiry
12A – Life Cycles
12B – Habitats and Food Webs
12E – Natural Cycles
16E – Environmental History

Click here for more detailed information about the Joy Path Backpack materials and activities

Information about Joy Path.

Woodland, Wetland, Prairie

180 students maximum
Make discoveries on your own while exploring the Arboretum’s woodland, wetland, and prairie (no support materials provided). Below are some suggested itineraries that take up to approximately 90 minutes. These options may include interpretive trail signs.

• East Side: Starting at parking lot #8 walk the “Joined Loops 3 & 4 Trail” to Big Rock Visitor Station. Continue on the "Woodland Trail" to Big Rock. For a longer experience, walk the long way around the “Heritage Trail” back to the Big Rock Visitor’s Station. (Click here to see a map of the Arboretum's east side.)
• West Side: Starting at the Prairie Visitor Station (parking lot #25) walk the Prairie Trail loop and go to parking lot #30. For a longer experience, walk to the nearby Millennium Oak.
  (Click here to see a map of the Arboretum's west side.)

Printable Activity Pages for Self-Guided Adventures

• ABC Hike
• Observations of a Leaf
• Observe and Sketch
• Sensory Investigation
• The Living and the Non-Living Treasure Hike
• Wetland Treasure Hunt
  

SIXTH-TWELFTH GRADE OPTION

NEW! - Tree Identification Self-Guided Backpack Program

60 students maximum (15 students per backpack)
Use a teacher guide, activity backpack and map to explore plants up-close.  Through this map-reading scavenger hunt students are given the task of locating and identifying different tree species.  Each student will create a series of sketches of Illinois trees.  Each student should bring a notebook or sketchpad and pen/pencil for this activity.  Each pack serves 15 students and two chaperones.

Click here for more detailed information about the Tree ID backpack materials and activities