School Field Trips & Scouting

Scouting at the Arboretum

The Arboretum offers prearranged nature and environmental scouting programs. The classes are taught by an Arboretum teacher and run for one hour. We will assist scouts with lessons to cover badge specifications.



There is a fee of $5.00 per scout. Leaders are free.
Please call 973.376.3587 for more information and available times.

School Field Trips

The Arboretum offers a series of environmental programs available to school classes to supplement their science curriculum. Students experience the natural world through creative, interactive indoor activities and outdoor exploration of our 16-acres.

Topics include woodland habitats, insect ecology, tree studies, maple sugaring, bird adaptations, plant life cycles and local geology.


Learn more about lessons here.
For information on scheduling and fees, please call 973.376.3587.


TOPIC & LESSON CONCEPTS
Birds
Offered: October-June
Different lessons designed for each appropriate grade level.
o Bird adaptations
o Bird habitats
o Bird identification
o Bird ecology
o Bird migration

Trees
Offered: February-March
o Parts of a tree
o How a tree functions
o Legend of maple syrup discovery
o Observation of tapped sugar maple tree

Flowers and Pollinators
Offered: April-June
o The anatomy of a flower
o How flowers make seeds
o Outdoor investigation of flowers

Insects
Offered: October-June
o The difference between insects, spiders and "bugs"
o Insect ecology
o Live cricket experiment
o Outdoor investigation of insects

Compost 101
Offered: October-June
o Investigate soil
o How to recycle your organics to create nutrient rich soil
o View a red wiggler worm bin with hand lens.

Seasonal Woodland Habitat
Offered: October-June
Local Geology and Rocks Woodland Habitat
o What is needed in a habitat to support life
o Outdoor exploration of the structure of life in a woodland habitat (Fall or Spring)
o Life cycle of a chipmunk
How rocks are formed:
o How to use a dichotomous key to identify rocks
o Outdoor identification of local rocks
o Local geology trail hike
For information on scheduling and fees, please call 973.376.3587.