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Education Programs: School

Please check back later for information on the fall programs.

If you are a teacher who is interested in receiving the fall programs brochure by mail or e-mail, please let us know by contacting us at preserve@calvin.edu.

Discover Spring at the Preserve

Our programs are aligned with the KC4 curriculum guideline to provide your students with hands-on, outdoor experiences.  Calvin College students and volunteers share their love for nature and knowledge with your students during these 1 1/2 hour programs. For more information check out our programs brochure (.pdf).

Description of Programs

Our curriculum was designed for students in Pre- K to fifth grade to complement units studied in the classroom.  Most of our themes can be adapted to other grade levels.

  • Using Our Five Senses   Pre K  & Kindergarten 
    Students will use every sense but taste to explore the fields and forest of the Preserve.
  • Plants in the Spring   1st Grade
    This program focuses on plant life cycles through the seasons. Spring programs will include searching for and naming wildflowers.
  • Animals in the Spring 2nd Grade  
    Students discover the relationships between animals through observation and activities that illustrate predator-prey interactions and camouflage.
  •  Habitats and Communities  3rd Grade
    Students explore different habitats in the Preserve to see how animals and plants depend on each other for survival.
  • Rocks and Minerals   4th Grade
    Using scientific tools, students identify rocks and minerals in our lab and then look for signs of glacial history in the Preserve.
  • Our Wet Wild World  5th Grade
    Students explore the concepts of the water cycle, pollution, and watersheds through a variety of hands-on activities.

Fees and Payment Information 

Program fee is $1 per a student. Teachers and adult chaperones are admitted free of charge.  Fees are due on the day of your programs. Cash or checks only. 

Schedule a Visit

To schedule a program please call the Biology Department Office at 616-526-7700 between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.  Spring season runs from April 14 to May 15. School programs are scheduled Monday through Friday during the following time slots: 9:00 to 10:30 am, 10:45 am to 12:15 pm, and 12:45 to 2:15 pm. These times can be adapted to work with your schedule.

Did you know?

Each year, approximately 2,000 elementary students participate in hands-on educational programs at Calvin's preserve and Bunker Interpretive Center.