Neighborhood Relations

Do you really know your neighbors? This class will help you understand the plants and animals that live in your neighborhood habitats, and how to investigate them most respectfully. Using a combination of outdoor explorations and indoor activities and discussions, we will learn about the soil inhabitants, aquatic organisms (even without a pond, there is water outside) and interactions between animals and plants in the "visible world."

Each habitat represents different challenges to plants and animals. Careful investigation shows how different organisms adapt to take advantage of the habitat’s resources and protect themselves against its dangers. Some solutions to these problems are the exact same. For example, insects and plants both have waxy coating on their bodies so they don’t dry out (ever try to flush a cockroach down the toilet!) Others are as different as breathing water or air. Roll out the Welcome Wagon and get to know the neighbors you’ve never met!

The Dirty Work

• Little bugs dig soil
• The Berlese Funnel and… wait, what is a Berlese Funnel?
• Life underground and what it means to you

Fish Are The Last Ones To Notice That Water Is Wet

• Life supposedly started in the water – but it is still there
• Microscopic investigations of the little guys
• What is the biggest aquatic organism in your yard? It depends on the water in your yard.
• What is the most polluted water you will ever find outside?

The Edges Of The Earth

• Edge investigations
• Water/land
• Field/woods
• Synthetic (man-made) edges

As The World Turns

• Interaction investigations
• Pollination
• Recycling
• Other cycling - nutrients, gasses

This class requires a suitable site, but that can be nearly anyplace. A pond, a field and woods are ideal, but many backyards, especially with gardens will work well. Any or all of the components provide fascinating eye-opening investigations.

4 sessions – 10 hours:

• 2 sessions - 2 hours per session
• 2 sessions - 3 hours per session

$1150

Maximum 15 students