Nature Education Programs
Schools, Scouts and other Youth and Adult Groups
All ASGD science education programs meet the new Colorado State Standards for Science.
To schedule your program, please call us at 303-973-9530 or e-mail education@denveraudubon.org
Scholarships available to eligible schools. Please fill out the 2011-2012 ASGD Scholarship Application and send it with your program request. Discounts available to Boy and Girl Scout groups – call for pricing.
Field Trips to Aubudon Center at Chatfield
- 3 hours
- 5 – 50 students per field trip
- One adult chaperone per 10 children required for field trips.
- $8/student for field trip only ($90 for 5-11 students)
- $10/student for field trip plus a one-hour pre-visit program at your location ($112 for 5-11 students)
The Audubon Center is located at the southwest corner of Chatfield State Park. From C-470 and Wadsworth, take Wadsworth south about 4.4 miles. Turn left on Waterton Road. Immediately turn left into the first parking lot at the Audubon Center sign.
Bird Banding: Scientists In Action
- 1st grade through adult
- Due to space and time limitations, groups of 45 or more must arrive at the Center by 9am
- Program available when Bird Banding Station is open April 28 – June 3, 2012
Most children – and adults – rarely have the opportunity to visit a research station and see wildlife up close. In this unique program, 
students visit the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory’s bird banding station at Chatfield and observe bird biologists (ornithologists) in action! They also explore and learn about migration and the habitats where birds live, including woodland, prairie, river and pond.
Habitat Exploration
- 2nd grade – adults, offered fall and spring
Everything living and non-living in our local habitats – woodland, plains, river, and pond – is interconnected. Using nets and other scientific collection equipment, students sample the invertebrate and vertebrate wildlife found in the ponds and other habitats at the Audubon Nature Center, while investigating food webs. They also learn about the plants and search for signs of animals that live in the South Platte Basin ecosystems.
90 Minute Field Trips
- 1.5 hours
- 5 – 30 students per class
- Maximum of 3 programs per day
- $4/student ($50 for groups of 5-12 students)
Have a small group and don’t have all day? Come to the Audubon Nature Center for a 90 minute program that includes a 60 minute classroom program and 30 minute hike examining the habitats of the Chatfield basin as it applies to your chosen topic. Choose any program from “Programs at Your Location”.
Programs at Your Location
- 1 hour/program
- 5 – 30 students per class
- Maximum of 4 programs per day
- $4/student ($50 for classes of 5-12 students)
- Trip fee added for schools more than 10 miles from ASGD office. Call for details.
The following programs may also be scheduled at the Audubon Center as a 90 minute field trip with the above pricing.
The Name Game: How Do We Identify Birds?
Through a series of hands-on activities and games, students learn about classification and how to use field marks and other characteristics to identify birds. Then, using our collection of study skins and a field guide, the students practice their new skills.
Schoolyard Birding Expedition
You don’t have to travel far to find birds – they can be found right in your neighborhood and schoolyard. Using binoculars and field guides, students embark on a field trip on the school grounds or to a nearby park to locate birds, identify them, observe their behavior, and describe the habitat where they are found. Students then record their observations and discoveries in a field journal
A Bird’s Journey: Why Migrate?
Every spring, birds embark on a risky journey to their breeding grounds. Students discover the perils that birds encounter on their migration routes as they travel from southern regions to Colorado and back each spring and fall. they also learn about the importance of healthy habitats.
Invertebrate Safari
There are more creatures on the playground than meet the eye. Invertebrates, especially insects, are the most successful and numerous group of animals. Students embark on a schoolyard safari with sweep nets, beat sheets, and magnifying boxes to find insects and other invertebrates to collect. They then record their discoveries and observations in a field journal.
Whoo’s for Dinner?
What does an owl eat? How do owls hunt so efficiently at night? As “Wildlife Scientists”, students make predictions and then examine the study skins of Great Horned Owls and dissect owl pellets to discover the answers to these questions and more. Students learn about an owl’s unique nocturnal adaptations and solve the mystery of “Who’s for Dinner?” Add $2/owl pellet to the cost of the program.
Our Feathered Neighbors 3-Part Series
Practice classification, observation, and use of scientific tools by observing and thinking about birds, their identification, habitats, and behaviors. Choose any three of our one-hour sessions. $10/student for the three part series ($120 for classes of 5-12 students).
Naturalist in Residence 10-Part Series
Through a variety of in-class activities and schoolyard or local field trips, students explore nature via science, math, language arts, and social studies. Customize a program to fit your needs with Audubon Naturalists, or choose our nature writing and journaling residency with Mary Taylor Young, nature and wildlife author. Price varies according to selected program.
