Homeschool programs are designed to meet state and national standards and are appropriate for students age 5 and older. If you are a homeschool parent or organizer and are interested in more in-depth programs for older students or topics that are not covered in these offerings, please contact:
To register, call Fiona Smith at (302) 239-2334 x134 or click the link to
download a registration form. Programs meet at the Ashland Nature Center unless otherwise noted.
Homeschool Overnight Retreats at the Ashland Nature Center - Hockessin, DE
Winter Retreats - Would your homeschool like a retreat space? Schedule a 2-day retreat during the winter months and rent the Ashland Nature Center Lodge for only $300. Facility can hold 60 participants. Programs can be provided for an additional cost. Reserve your dates now. Contact Judy Montgomery at judym@delawarenaturesociety.org or by phone at (302) 239-2334 ext. 127
Spring Programs Coming Soon!
NOTE:
Programs are designed for ages 7 and up. Please see our seasonal offerings for programs suitable for younger children
To register or for more information, contact
Jason Beale, Abbott's Mill Nature Center, 15411 Abbott's Pond Road, Milford, DE 19963, (302) 422-0847
Homeschool Program #1: Animals in Winter
Friday, February 17 - 2:00-4:00 pm
Member/Non-Member: $5/$7
Leader: Delaware Nature Society Staff
Winter is a challenging time for animals to survive. Each species have unique physical or behavioral adaptations to make it through. Meet live animals and taxidermy mounts of birds, reptiles, and mammals to see how they do it.
Homeschool Program #2: Maple Sugaring
Friday, March 2 - 2:00-4:00 pm
Member/Non-Member: $5/$7
Leader: Delaware Nature Society Staff
Learn to identify maples trees and the function of roots, branches, and leaves. Discover the history of maple sugaring, tap a tree, and observe the changes in pale sap as it is boiled and becomes maple syrup.
Homeschool Program #3: The Mill and Machines
Friday, March 16 - 2:00-4:00 pm
Member/Non-Member: $5/$7
Leader: Delaware Nature Society Staff
Discover the world of simple machines in historic Abbott's Mill. Operate levers, pulleys, and gears to see how they allow humans to lift, move, and power different devices. Take a scavenger hunt through the mill to see if you can find these simple machines.
Homeschool Program #4: It All Starts with Soils
Friday, March 30 - 2:00-4:00 pm
Member/Non-Member: $5/$7
Leader: Delaware Nature Society Staff
Soils are the basis of Delaware's terrestrial habitats. Learn how to identify clay, silt, and sand through various tests and observations. Discover the characteristics of these soils and how it affects forests and farm fields.
Homeschool Program #5: Birding with Binoculars
Friday, April 20 - 2:00-4:00 pm
Member/Non-Member: $5/$7
Leader: Delaware Nature Society Staff
Explore the varied adaptations of native birds, including body shape, beaks, and feet. See mounted specimens and learn how to use binoculars to observe and interpret bird behavior in the field.
Homeschool Program #6:Fantastic Fish
Friday, May 4 - 2:00-4:00 pm
Member/Non-Member: $5/$7
Leader: Delaware Nature Society Staff
Discover biological and ecological adaptations of fish by examining external and internal features. Read a fish by its structure and find out how form relates to function. Seine for fish in Johnson's Branch. Optional fish dissection to follow (3:00pm, additional $1 fee). You must register in order to participate in this activity.
Homeschool Program #7: Delaware Bay Ecology
Friday, May 18 - 2:00-4:00 pm
Member/Non-Member: $5/$7
Leader: Delaware Nature Society Staff
Travel to the Delaware Bay to witness the mass migration of breeding Horseshoe Crabs and the shorebirds that depend on their eggs as food for their 7,000 mile journey. Seine for marine life in the bay and comb the beach for shells, egg cases, and other organisms. This program meets at Slaughter Beach pavilion at the Memorial Fire Company on Bay Ave. Directions are available upon request.
Homeschool Program #8: Geography and Orienteering
Friday, June 1- 2:00-4:00 pm
Member/Non-Member: $5/$7
Leader: Delaware Nature Society Staff
Read maps and interpret features such as elevation, waterways, and other aspects of the landscape. Learn how to use a compass to find north and take bearings. Use your skills to find your way on an orienteering course.
