The programs are adapted to accommodate the particular age and abilities of the student. These programs focus on the benchmarks of the following strands: History and Nature of Science, Life Science, Earth and Space Science, and Physical Science.

Discovery Lab: Students are introduced to the wonders of nature. We will use our senses to explore the ponds, streams, forest, and prairie. What is happening on this day? What are the plants and animals that call Minnesota their home? How are things alike? How are they different? Are there patterns that we can identify? Can we find something that we have never experienced before? What tools will we use to help us examine our world?
(All grades/all seasons) Focus: Diversity of Organisms, Interdependence of Life, Use of Tools, Questioning.

Outdoor Games: Did you know that the Latin root for school is schola , which means play? To introduce the outdoors to your class we have designed a full day of games and crafts that help students learn about the environment and team building.
(All grades/all seasons) Focus: Ecological Concepts and Processes, Diversity, Interdependence of Life, Population Dynamics, Problem Solving, Team Building.

Back in Time I: Students will be introduced to the people and animals of Ice Age Minnesota. Giant Beaver, Ground Sloths, Mammoths and Saber Tooth Cats, once roamed our neighborhoods. What happened that caused these animals to now be extinct? What were the people like that coexisted with these animals? Students will participate in uncovering and identifying artifacts from the Valley Branch history grid site.
(Intermediate and older/Spring and Fall) Focus: Diversity of Organisms, Population Dynamics, Human Impact on the Environment, Problem Solving, Scientific Method.

Back in Time II: Students will hike to the 1950's homestead of Jessica Souther. Here they will search for artifacts, explore ruins, develop a time line, and create a picture of what it may have looked like more that 50 years ago.
(Intermediate and older/Spring and Fall) Focus: Population Dynamics, Human Impact on the Environment, Problem Solving, Scientific Method.

Stories in Stones: Students will explore the trails for pebbles, stones, and boulders that will tell us something of the history of our area. We will identify the three types of rock and their part in the rock cycle.
(Elementary/Spring and Fall) Focus: Sorting and Categorizing based on physical properties, Identification of Common Rocks, Soil Composition, Rock Cycle.

Wetlands: Students will take trips to the pond and stream to have a first hand look at the animals and plants that live there. We will examine the water cycle, food chains, and the water quality of the wetlands. Students will be given the opportunity to capture, examine, and release a variety of organisms.  Students will record and graph data related to these activities. Students may participate in the Valley Branch Turtle Project and/or create a stream model.
(All grades/Spring and Fall) Focus: Water Cycle, Watershed, Diversity of Organisms, Interdependence of Life, Properties of Water, Use of Tools, Scientific Method.

Prairie Lab: What is a prairie? What plants and animals call this biome their home? How has the prairie been important to Minnesotans? We will explore the Kettlekamp Prairie for reptiles, raptors, wild turkeys, butterflies, beetles, grasses, and flowers. Students will participate in measuring and recording soil types, temperature, and wind speed.
(All grades/Spring and Fall) Focus: Diversity of Organisms, Interdependence of Life, Human Connections to the Environment, Use of Tools, Compostion of Soil.

Outdoor Survival Skills: Have you ever wondered how to keep warm, dry, and safe when outdoors? We will learn how to dress for the weather, create a simple shelter, choose a campsite, build a fire, tie a knot, use a compass, and find sources of food and water. We will talk about the most important survival tool of all: Positive Mental Attitude.
(Intermediate and older/all seasons) Focus: Human Survival Needs, Properties of Heat, Animal Adaptations to the Cold, Problem Solving, Team Building.

Creatures without Backbones: Snails, dragonflies, and centipedes are just a few of the fascinating creatures that live all around us. Students will learn techniques to capture and observe these creatures.  Invertebrate life cycles, behavior, and physical anatomy will be included in our investigation.
(All grades/Spring and Fall) Focus: Diversity of Organisms, Interdependence of Life, Scientific Process, Tool Use, Problem Solving, Recording, Organizing, and Interpreting.

Calling All Birds: Spend the day observing birds as they stake out their territory, build nests, search for food, attract a mate, or simply pass through our area. We will learn the anatomy of birds and how birds have adapted to survive here in Minnesota. We will learn to identify a number of birds by sight and sound. Audio recording equipment will be demonstrated. For those patient enough, an opportunity to hand feed wild birds will be provided. A bird banding demonstartion may be possible given a 30-day advance notice.
(All grades/all seasons) Focus: Diversity of Organisms, Interdependence of Life, Scientific Process, Tools Use, Problem Solving, Recording, Organizing, and Interpreting Data.

Herp Monitoring Project: Spend the day looking for and learning about snakes, lizards, turtles, frogs, and salamanders. We will observe their behaviors, calls, and learn about their survival techniques. We will also learn their importance to Minnesota and what we can do to assure their survival. Radio Tracking may be used. Take part in the Valley Branch Turtle Project!
(All grades/Spring and Fall) Focus: Diversity of Organisms, Interdependence of Life, Scientific Process, Tool Use, Problem Solving, Recording, Organizing, and Interpreting Data.

Minnesota Plant Hike: What is a plant?  What is not a plant?  Learn to identify Minnesota wildflowers and trees. Take a close up view at the smallest and the largest plants in our area. Find out how people have used them in their daily lives. Students will have an opportunity to make leaf and bark rubbings, twine, and/or sample a taste of “wild tea”.
(All grades/all seasons) Focus: Diversity of Organisms, Interdependence of Life, Tool Use, Observation and Classification, Human Connections to the Environment.

Outdoor Skills Challenge: I know, you and your students have been to Valley Branch about one hundred times and they know all there is to know about the great outdoors. Well, here is your chance to put them to the test. Take part in the Valley Branch Outdoor Skills Challenge. Stations along the trails have been designed to test your knowledge of local plants, animals, and outdoor survival skills.
(Intermediate and older/all seasons) Focus: Ecological Concepts and Processes, Diversity, Interdependence of Life, Population Dynamics, Problem Solving, Team Building.

Turtle Project: Worldwide the number of reptiles are declining. What is happening with the turtles at Valley Branch? How many are there? What kind are they? What do they do all day? Students help carry out research on the turtle population found here. Students learn to capture and release painted turtles safely. Before they are released, the turtles are measured, weighed, examined, and identified.  Recaptured turtles are looked up in our database to see when and where they were last captured.
(All grades/Spring and Fall) Focus: Diversity of Organisms, Interdependence of Life, Scientific Process, Tool Use, Problem Solving, Recording, Organizing, and Interpreting Data.

Forest Lab: Students will learn to identify and compare an assortment of Minnesota trees. We will identify what other plants and animals live in the forest. From the seedling to the 200-year-old burr oak, the forest has many stories to tell. Students may participate in the long term Forest Biodiversity Project by colletcing data and contributing to our information on trees, shrubs, flowers, grasses, and animals found in our study plot. In the spring we will visit the sugar bush.
(All grades/all seasons) Focus: Diversity of Organisms, Interdependence of Life, Scientific Process, Tool Use, Problem Solving, Recording, Organizing, and Interpreting Data.

Field Studies: We will explore the world of a particular animal (owl, deer, coyote, monarch butterfly, wild turkey, or squirrel). We will use a variety of techniques to discover where this animal lives. Remote trail cameras and radio tracking will be used. Students may be given the the opportunity to use a map and compass, read and create graphs, and problem solve ways to learn more about the species.
(All grades/all seasons) Focus: Diversity of Organisms, Interdependence of Life, Scientific Process, Tool Use, Problem Solving, Recording, Organizing, and Interpreting Data.

Winter Lab: What happens when the temperature falls below freezing? What do plants and animals do to cope with the cold? Whose tracks will we find and what stories do they tell? How can we calculate how heavy the animal was that left that track?  What is snow? What does it look like up close? What does it weigh? How deep is it?  What is going on under the snow and ice?  Why is ice considered a rock?  When is the pond ice considered safe to walk on?  How are evergreen trees adapted to the cold?  We will try to answer these questions as we ski, snowshoe, kick sled, or hike along the trails.
(All grades/Winter) Focus: States of Matter, Animal Adaptations to the Cold, Ecological Concepts, Diversity of Organisms, Interdependence of Life, Scientific Process, Tool Use, Problem Solving, Recording, Organizing, and Interpreting Data.

Photo Journalism: Students will explore nature to find inspiration for the creation of their own field guide, short story or poem. The student will use digital photography to help illustrate their literary masterpiece. Digital cameras and instruction are provided.
(Intermediate and older/all seasons) Focus: Observation, Problem Solving, Photo Compostion, Journaling.

Cross Country Skiing/Snowshoeing/Kick Sledding: If winter is not your favorite season it will be once you learn to ski, kicksled or snowshoe. It is a great way to quietly explore the natural world, and stay in shape. Send us your shoe size and we will match you up with the equipment that will have you gliding over the frozen landscape.
(All grades/winter) Note:This activity can be combined with other program options. Focus: Recreation, Team Building.

Orienteering: Learn to shoot a bearing, read a topo map, and find a destination. Students will learn to use the map and compass to navigate their way through the VBWA (Valley Branch Wilderness Area). Beginner to expert courses are available to challenge all ability levels. Students may also create their own courses.
(Intermediate and older/all seasons) Focus: Map Reading, Tool Use, Problem Solving, Team Building.


Contact Jim Rue (Special Education Coordinator) for more information :
651-436-5243 or jim.rue@spps.org