Environmental & Historical Education Programs

Spring 2008

 

The Elkhart County Park and Recreation department offers a wide variety of environmental and historical education programs for students from
pre-school thru high school. Our programs are intended to provide first hand experience for the students by instilling an awareness, conceptual understanding and appreciation for the environment. Activities encourage the use of all senses, while discussions aim for an understanding of human needs versus impact, thus illustrating the meaning, importance and tools of conservation. For more information or to schedule a program, please contact the Elkhart County Parks Administration Office at (574) 535-6458  

 Environmental Education Programs

 

Programs are intended to provide first hand experience for the students by instilling an awareness, conceptual understanding and appreciation for the environment. Activities encourage the use of all senses, while discussions aim for an understanding of human needs versus impact, thus illustrating the meaning and tools of conservation. When selecting programs it is imperative that each teacher is aware of their classes understanding in these areas. Remember that your students may have been exposed to some of these topics through a prior visit to our parks or at another nature center.

Critter Corner:

Oxbow,
Grades: Pre-3rd, 1-1½ hours

Come visit the wonderful world of imagination!. Hop like a rabbit or transform yourself into a bat, snake, great blue heron and other forest creatures. This activity involves a lot of active participation, teamwork and lots of laughs.

Signs of Spring:

Oxbow, Bonneyville, River Preserve
Grades: K-6th, 45 mins.-1 hour

Spring is in the air! Wildflowers are blooming, trees are leafing out, birds are migrating and animals are giving birth to their young. On this hike students will discover these and many other natural changes of the spring season.

A Sense of Nature:

Oxbow, Bonneyville, River Preserve
Grades: K-2nd, 45 mins.-1 hour

Students will take a sensory adventure through the park and discover the colors, scents, sounds and textures of the natural world.

Wild About Wetlands:

Oxbow, Bonneyville, River Preserve
Grades: 3-12th, 1-1½ hour

What is a wetland? Why are they so important? Why are we so wild about them? Students will find out through
hands-on activities and the investigation of the wet and wild inhabitants.

 

Fun and Games:

Oxbow, Bonneyville

Grades: 1st-5th, 1-1½ hours

Learning can be fun, and games can teach a lot. This activity combines the perfect mixture of games and learning to give the students a better understanding of our natural world. Through hiking and nature games, the naturalist will make your visit a fun and rewarding experience.

The Wonderful World of Insects:

Oxbow, Bonneyville, River Preserve

Grades: 1st-5th, 1 hour

How do insects differ from other animals? How do they grow and mature? How do they benefit us? During this program students will explore the insect world through hands-on activities, games and hikes. This program is available from May thru October only.


 

 Historical Education Programs

 

Mill Tours:

Bonneyville Mill


All Grades, 30 minutes-1 hour


The staff at Bonneyville Mill is always happy to demonstrate and explain how water power has
been harnessed to grind grain into flour. Mill tours can be geared toward particular areas of interest
(History, Science, Social Studies, etc.) when so requested. Please note that the mill operates between
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.. Students may also purchase Bonneyville flour/grain if they so desire.

Bonneyville flour/grain prices are as follows:

 

Buckwheat 2lb...$2.50 5lb...$5.00
Cornmeal 2lb...$2.00 5lb...$3.00
Whole Whea t 2lb...$2.50 5lb...$4.50
Cracked Wheat 2lb...$2.50 5lb...$4.50
Rye 2lb...$2.50 5lb...$4.50

 


Museum Tour Topics:

This list of tour topics has been developed to cover various themes encompassed by the Elkhart County Historical Museum's collection. These topics were selected to compliment the educational curriculum for the various grade levels identified. The introductory tours were organized to give the students a brief overview of the areas listed, and the remaining tours focus on a particular theme that will be illustrated during the tour through museum artifacts and the tour guide interpretations. Please plan on arriving at the museum fifteen minutes prior to the tour for a brief introduction.

 

Introduction to the Elkhart County Historical Museum (General Tour #1):

This tour briefly covers five of our most popular rooms. Rooms toured are the Depot, Native American Hallway, Emporium, Children's Room and the Barn. Program time is one hour and the group will spend approximately twelve (12) minutes in each room. The program is suggested for all age/grade levels. Group size must be 60 or fewer.

Introduction to the Elkhart County Historical Museum (General Tour #2):

This second general tour covers five of our family-oriented display rooms. Rooms toured include the Not-So-Long-Ago, Treasures of the Past, Cottage, Victorian Row House and the Memorial Room. Program time is one hour and the group will spend approximately twelve (12) minutes in each room. The program is suggested for all age/grade levels. Group size must be 60 or fewer. * Tours one and two can be combined for a longer two-hour tour and is suggested for older students and adults only.

Regional Native Americans:

The students will be divided into three groups. The groups will visit the Native American Hallway, learn about the daily lifestyle of the Potawatomi Indians who lived in this area, and participate in a hands-on simulated archaeology dig. The group size must be 45 or fewer students. Program time is one hour. Suggested grade levels 3rd and up.

Early Schools of Elkhart County:

The students sample a one-room school, write with old-time writing tools and examine a box of hands-on pioneer toys. Group size must be 30or fewer. Suggested age/grade level is 3rd grade. Program time is one and one half hours (1 1/2).

Early Settlers & Pioneers of Elkhart County:

Who were the pioneers? What was their lifestyle like? During this program you will discover these answers and more. The rooms included on this tour are the Township, Barn, Cottage and Native American Hallway. There is also a hands-on activity as part of the program. The time period covered is from the 1700's to around 1844. Suggested grade level is 4th grade. Group size must be 60 or fewer students. Program length is one hour.

The Railroad: The Lifeline to a Continent (1851 to the Present):

Did you know that railroads were Elkhart's first major industry? Come learn about railroad history in Elkhart County. Program time is 60 minutes. Suggested grade levels are 4th – 12th. This program is also available as an off-site program.

A Day in a One Room School:

This program allows children to experience firsthand a school day similar to one in the year 1890. Working arithmetic problems on a slate board, reading aloud from the recitation bench and practicing penmanship with a quill or feathered pen is all part of the day's activities. Students are asked to bring a sack lunch, and the museum will furnish either hot chocolate or lemonade. Students are encouraged to dress in period clothing. This program is specifically designed for groups of ten (10) children or less. Generally essay winners or specially selected groups attend this program. This is a 4 ½ hour program designed for 3rd grade students. Adult supervision required. Note: This program is offered on Wednesdays and Thursdays only.

Tactics, Strategy & Uniforms of the Revolutionary War Period:

Learn about Indiana's part in the Revolutionary War. Terry Trimmer, who is a member of the Varnum Continentals, a colonial miltia company, presents this program. Program time is one hour. Suggested grade levels are 4th grade to adult. This program is also available as an off-site presentation.

Museum Slides:

A slide show program is available. This program is given by a museum tour guide in your classroom. Program time is approximately 30-45 minutes and can be used for all ages and grade levels.



Scheduling:

Environmental Education & Bonneyville Mill


Scheduling: All programs are by reservation only. The Elkhart County Park and Recreation office, 574-535-6458, will accept reservations Monday through Thursday,
8:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. We suggest that you make reservations at least two weeks in advance if possible. If you wish to guide your class through the parks yourself, please schedule your hike with our office to be sure of space and so our staff won’t schedule activities conflicting with your plans. Teachers are also advised to make alternate plans should adverse weather or other factors complicate your plans. The staff will be prepared, despite weather conditions and will wait up to ten (10) minutes for late groups. It is up to the teacher or group leader to cancel program(s) if unable to attend, or call when arriving late.


Accessible Education: The Elkhart County Park and Recreation Department believes that all students should have the opportunity for quality environmental and historical education. We welcome all students regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age or disability to participate in our programs. If you or your students have a disability requiring special accommodations for access to programs or facilities, please notify our office when scheduling your program. The staff will be happy to coordinate with you any special needs you may have.

Locations: Programs at Ox Bow Park begin at Black Maple Shelter by the bridge. Programs at Bonneyville Mill Park begin at Feedlot Shelter across from the Mill. Programs at the River Preserve begin at the Benton Spillway parking lot on County Road 31 south of County Road 44, near Benton, IN.


Group Size: The staff will usually work with 12-15 students at a time to provide an efficient learning atmosphere. All classes and organizations are required to provide one adult for every 7-10 students. These persons will be responsible for the conduct of the students.


Class Preparations: We recommend that you prepare your class before arriving at the park. Notify students of proper clothing for the weather and environment they may encounter. Teachers should also advise students of safety guidelines and park rules. These include staying on the trail, listening to the Naturalist, not littering and saving plants and animals for others. All adults with a group should be aware of any allergies or other medical problems that might occur.Program Fees: There are no fees for off-site programs but donations to the Elkhart County Parks' Environmental Education Fund are welcome. All groups scheduling winter environmental programs at our facilities are required to pay a fee. A $1.00 per person fee is required for all Elkhart County groups and a $2.00 per person fee is required for all groups outside Elkhart County. Payment must be received one week prior to the program date. Checks are made payable to: Elkhart County Parks, 211 West Lincoln Ave., Goshen, IN 46526-3280.

Elkhart County Historical Museum Tours


Scheduling: Call the Elkhart County Parks Office at 574-535-6458 from 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday to schedule programs at the museum. Guided museum tours can be scheduled Tuesday through Friday (closed Monday) begining at 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. If you wish to guide your class through the museum yourself, you must schedule your visit with the office to be sure there is no conflict. It is up to the teacher or group leader to cancel programs if unable to attend, or call when arriving late. Teachers will be responsible for the conduct of the students.

Location: The museum is located at 304 West Vistula Street or State Road 120, in Bristol. Please use the west entrance and ring the door bell upon arrival. Plan on arriving 15 minutes prior to the tour. Tentatively plan on going downstairs to the conference room for an introduction. Following the introduction, the groups will be divided into smaller groups of fifteen (15) or fewer students per tour guide. It would be helpful if you have the group divided in advance.

Program Fees: All groups scheduling museum tours or programs at our facilities are required to pay a fee. A $1.00 per person fee is required for all Elkhart County groups and a $2.00 per person fee is required for all groups outside Elkhart County. Payment must be received one week prior to the program date. Checks are made payable to: Elkhart County Parks, 211 West Lincoln Ave., Goshen, IN 46526-3280. There are no fees for off-site programs but donations to the museum are welcome.

Accessible Education: The Elkhart County Park and Recreation Department believes that all students should have the opportunity for quality environmental and historical education. We welcome all students regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age or disability to participate in our programs. If you or your students have a disability requiring special accommodations for access to programs or facilities, please notify our office when scheduling your program. The staff will be happy to coordinate with you any special needs you may have.

 

Indiana State Education Standards

Environmental Education


Critter Corner (1-3)
K: 3.2, 4.1, 4.2
1: 1.2, 3.4, 4.3, 4.4, 6.2
2: 3.4, 4.1, 4.3, 5.3
3: 1.2, 1.5, 4.4

Signs of Spring (K-6)
K: 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 4.1, 4.2, 6.1
1: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 3.1, 3.3, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 6.2
2: 1.1, 1.4, 3.1, 3.2, 3.4, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.5, 5.3, 5.5
3: 1.1, 1.2, 1.4, 2.7, 3.3, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 4.1, 4.3, 5.5, 6.5
4: 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 6.4
5: 2.8, 4.4, 4.5, 4.7, 6.1, 6.4
6: 1.1, 1.2, 3.12, 3.13, 4.3, 4.4, 4.8, 4.9, 4.10, 5.6

Sense of Nature (K-2)
K: 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 4.1, 4.2, 6.1
1: 1.1, 1.2, 2.6, 4.1, 4.2, 5.3
2: 1.1, 1.4, 4.1, 4.4, 5.6

Wild About Wetlands (3-12)
3: 1.2, 1.4, 1.5, 2.7, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 5.5, 6.5
4: 1.3, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6
5: 1.1, 1.2, 1.5, 1.6, 2.8, 3.4, 4.1, 4.2, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.9, 6.1, 6.3
6: 1.2, 1.3, 1.5, 1.9, 2.3, 2.8, 3.8, 3.13, 3.16, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.8, 4.9, 4.10
7: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.8, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 4.14, 5.4
8: 1.1, 1.2, 2.3, 3.6, 4.4, 4.8, 7.2, 7.5, 7.7

Fun & Games (1-5)
1: 1.2, 1.2, 2.2, 2.3, 2.6, 3.4, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 6.1
2: 1.1, 1.4, 1.5, 3.1, 3.4, 3.7, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.8, 5.3, 5.5, 6.2
3: 1.5, 1.6, 2.7, 3.5, 3.6, 4.1, 4.6, 5.5, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3
4: 1.3, 1.4, 2.4, 3.12, 3.13, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.6, 6.1, 6.2
5: 4.4, 4.5, 4.7, 4.9, 6.1


Insects (1-5)
1: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 2.1, 2.5, 2.6, 3.4, 3.5, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 6.1, 6.2
2: 1.1, 1.2, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 3.4, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.7, 5.6, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3
3: 1.2, 1.4, 1.5, 2.7, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.6, 5.5, 6.3
4: 3.13, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.6, 6.3
5: 1.4, 1.6, 3.12, 4.1, 4.4, 4.5, 4.7, 6.1


Bonneyville Mill Tours


Kindergarten
Social Studies - K1.1, K3.3, K3.5, K4.1, K4.2, K4.3
Science - K1.2, K2.2, K3.1, K3.2, K4.1, K5.1, K6.1
Mathematics - K4.1, K5.1
Language Arts - K2.2, K2.3, K2.4, K2.5, K3.1, K3.3, K7.1

First Grade
Social Studies - 1.1.1, 1.1.2, 1.3.3, 1.3.4, 1.3.5, 1.3.8, 1.4.1, 1.4.2, 1.4.3, 1.4.4, 1.4.5, 1.4.6
Science - 1.1.4, 1.2.6, 1.2.7, 1.3.1, 1.3.2, 1.3.3, 1.3.4, 1.3.5, 1.4.3, 1.4.4
Mathematics - 1.4.1, 1.4.2, 1.4.7, 1.5.5
Language Arts - 1.3.1, 1.7.1, 1.7.2, 1.7.7, 1.7.9

Second Grade
Social Studies - 2.1.1, 2.1.2, 2.1.3, 2.2.4, 2.3.3, 2.3.4, 2.3.5, 2.4.1, 2.4.2, 2.4.3, 2.4.4, 2.4.6, 2.4.7, 2.5.4
Science - 2.3.3, 2.3.6, 2.4.3, 2.4.4, 2.4.5
Mathematics - 2.4.5, 2.5.5, 2.5.6, 2.5.7
Language Arts - 2.4.3, 2.5.1, 2.5.2, 2.5.3, 2.7.11

Third Grade
Social Studies - 3.1.2, 3.1.3, 3.1.4, 3.1.7, 3.3.3, 3.4.1, 3.4.2, 3.4.3, 3.4.4, 3.4.5, 3.4.7, 3.5.1, 3.5.5
Science - 3.1.6, 3.1.7, 3.3.8, 3.6.1, 3.6.2
Mathematics - 3.2.6, 3.5.7
Language Arts - 3.4.1, 3.4.2, 3.5.1, 3.5.2, 3.5.3

Fourth Grade
Social Studies - 4.1.6, 4.1.9, 4.1.12, 4.1.14, 4.3.4, 4.3.5, 4.3.8, 4.4.1, 4.4.2, 4.4.3, 4.4.4, 4.4.8, 4.5.5
Science - 4.1.8, 4.3.12, 4.4.9, 4.6.1, 4.6.2
Language Arts - 4.4.6, 4.4.7, 4.5.1, 4.7.1, 4.7.2


Elkhart County Historical Museum Tours

Social Studies Standards


Kindergarten
General Museum Tours – K1.1, K1.3, K2.1, K2.3, K2.5, K3.3, K3.5, K4.1, K5.1, K5.3

First Grade
General Museum Tours – 1.1.1, 1.1.2, 1.1.3, 1.3.3, 1.3.4, 1.3.5, 1.3.8, 1.4.1, 1.4.6, 1.5.5

Second Grade
General Museum Tours – 2.1.1, 2.1.2, 2.1.3, 2.2.4, 2.3.4, 2.3.7, 2.4.7

Third Grade
General Museum Tours – 3.1.1, 3.1.2, 3.1.3, 3.1.4, 3.3.3, 3.3.7, 3.4.1, 3.4.3, 3.4.4, 3.5.1, 3.5.3, 3.5.4
Regional Native Americans – 3.1.1, 3.1.2, 3.1.3, 3.1.4, 3.1.7, 3.3.3, 3.3.4, 3.3.5, 3.4.3, 3.5.1
Early Settlers & Pioneers – 3.1.1, 3.1.2, 3.1.3, 3.1.4, 3.3.1, 3.3.3, 3.3.5, 3.4.1, 3.4.3, 3.4.4, 3.5.1
Early Schools of Elkhart County – 3.1.4, 3.1.6, 3.5.3, 3.5.5
A Day in a One Room School – 3.1.4, 3.1.6, 3.2.1, 3.3.1, 3.3.3, 3.4.3, 3.4.5, 3.5.3, 3.5.5

Fourth Grade
General Museum Tours – 4.1.9, 4.1.11, 4.1.12, 4.1.13, 4.3.4, 4.3.6, 4.4.1, 4.4.5, 4.4.7, 4.5.1, 4.5.2, 4.5.3, 4.5.5
Underground Railroad – 4.1.7
The Railroad: The Lifeline to a Continent (1851-Present) – 4.1.9
Regional Native Americans – 4.1.1, 4.1.2, 4.1.3, 4.1.4, 4.1.5
Early Settlers & Pioneers –4.1.1, 4.1.2, 4.1.5, 4.1.13
Early Schools of Elkhart County – 4.3.4, 4.4.1, 4.4.6

Fifth Grade
General Museum Tours – 5.1.1, 5.1.7, 5.5.1, 5.1.3, 5.3.3
The Revolutionary War – 5.1.11, 5.1.12, 5.1.13, 5.1.14, 5.1.15


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Elkhart County Parks and Recreation
211 W. Lincoln Ave.
Goshen, IN 46526-3280

Phone 574-535-6458   TDD 574-535-6420
Email info@elkhartcountyparks.org