ExplorersThis after-school program offers children the opportunity to explore nature and science by engaging their own creativity and natural desire to learn. Students in grades K-5 come to the Field Station once a week to participate in fun, hands-on lessons that emphasize science, nature, and art.
Click here to view the Explorers enrollment page. |
this info can go back on the Programs page if this program gets reinstated.
|
Explorers (K-5)
The Field Station is offering its popular after-school program that offers children the opportunity to explore nature and science by engaging their own creativity and natural desire to learn. Students in grades K-5 come to the Field Station once a week to participate in fun, hands-on lessons that emphasize science, nature, and art.
During the fall and spring, as the weather conditions permit, the majority of the class is taught outdoors, maximizing the use of the natural surroundings. In the winter, class is held mostly indoors, but there is often an outdoor portion of each class. In all seasons, special field-trips are scheduled to other locations in the National Park to increase the students exposure to a variety of natural places.
Class Day and Time
Grades K-2: Mondays & Thursdays 4:00-5:30pm
Grades 3-5: Wednesdays 4:00-5:30pm
Class Size
15 students, one teacher and one aide
Class Dates
10-week fall term: week of Sept 15 through week of Nov 17
10-week winter term: week of Nov 29 through Week of Feb 21
10-week spring term: week of Feb 28 through Week of May 9
Instructor
The class is taught by TJ Caracci. TJ graduated from Illinois State University in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science. He went on to a 10+ year career in corporate sales for several Fortune 500 companies. From 1996 to 1998, TJ served as a volunteer with the Peace Corps in the Republic of Vanuatu. As a volunteer, TJ taught math and English in a mixed-age, rural school. After his first year in country, TJ was selected as a pre-service trainer for the incoming class of Peace Corps volunteers. For the past 5 years he has been a stay at home parent. He has a five year old daughter who is entering Kindergarten this year. He brings a love for the outdoors, science and learning to the Explorers program.
The National Park Service also takes part in the program with a park service ranger joining the class once a term. Besides the classroom aide assisting, parent helpers may be needed from time to time to assist TJ in designated classes.
Program Calendar
The Field Station Explorers program closely follows the Duneland public schools calendar. The program calendar is designed so that there WILL NOT be Explorers classes during school holidays, such as fall recess, thanksgiving break, winter recess, winter holiday, and spring recess. However, the Explorers WILL meet on non-holiday days such as school days off for teacher in-service or conferences. To view the program calendar for the 2009-2010 school year please see the Explorers Program Calendar 09-10(xls)
Curriculum
The program is designed with the intention that participants will attend multiple years. Therefore, the activities and lessons are different from year to year. There are four years of curriculum so students can attend Explorers multiple years without repeating any lessons. All age groups complete the same basic lessons, but the lessons are altered slightly to reflect the abilities of the participants. For this reason, it is important that your child attend the class that is designed for his or her age group. Students may participate in each term individually, however, they are encouraged to complete the entire year.
One big goal of the Explorers curriculum is to encourage children to play outdoors and use their creativity and imagination. Through outdoor play, we hope to spark their curiosity toward the natural world and enable them to question what is happening around them. To keep the students engaged, they need something to look forward to each class, and each year. For this reason, there are several components of the Explorers curriculum that remain constant. Below are some of the activities that happen daily or are yearly events.
Awakening the Senses
Every fall, the Explorers program begins with two weeks of activities that use the senses to explore the habitats around the school. These activities include blindfolded walks, identifying mystery objects using the sense of touch, scavenger hunts, and various teambuilding games. By awakening their senses, the children become more aware of their surroundings and fully engaged for the upcoming school year.
Stewardship
Each spring, the students participate in a day of stewardship to improve the National Park and habitats near the school. They may clean up trash, pull invasive plants such as Garlic Mustard, cut brush in the prairie, or plant native perennials in the park. This activity enables the students to give back to the community and the park and provides them with a sense of accomplishment. (Stewardship Photos)
National Parks
A sense of place is very important for children to understand and appreciate. Because the school is located in a national park, understanding the importance of these special places is essential. Each December, the Explorers curriculum dedicates two weeks to studying other national parks and the special features and landforms that make them unique.
Annual Events
The following programs are so popular the students want to repeat them each year!
Badges
At the end of each term, each student will receive a badge award that depicts one of the areas of study. The badges symbolically serve as a reminder to be good stewards and protect the wild places in and around the community.
Explorers Mysteries:
Each year of curriculum is named after a local Dunes animal. This animal is a type of mascot to the students and they receive letters from the animal at the beginning of each class. These letters introduce the daily topic of study and contain a mystery or task that needs to be completed by the end of the class. Through participation, students gain knowledge that helps them unravel the mystery or complete the task. The letters add excitement and suspense to the beginning of each class and keep the students excited about returning the next week to see what the next mystery will be!
Use the following links to learn more about the yearly curriculum.
Raccoon Curriculum
Heron Curriculum
Racerunner Curriculum
Dragonfly Curriculum
During the fall and spring, as the weather conditions permit, the majority of the class is taught outdoors, maximizing the use of the natural surroundings. In the winter, class is held mostly indoors, but there is often an outdoor portion of each class. In all seasons, special field-trips are scheduled to other locations in the National Park to increase the students exposure to a variety of natural places.
Class Day and Time
Grades K-2: Mondays & Thursdays 4:00-5:30pm
Grades 3-5: Wednesdays 4:00-5:30pm
Class Size
15 students, one teacher and one aide
Class Dates
10-week fall term: week of Sept 15 through week of Nov 17
10-week winter term: week of Nov 29 through Week of Feb 21
10-week spring term: week of Feb 28 through Week of May 9
Instructor
The class is taught by TJ Caracci. TJ graduated from Illinois State University in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science. He went on to a 10+ year career in corporate sales for several Fortune 500 companies. From 1996 to 1998, TJ served as a volunteer with the Peace Corps in the Republic of Vanuatu. As a volunteer, TJ taught math and English in a mixed-age, rural school. After his first year in country, TJ was selected as a pre-service trainer for the incoming class of Peace Corps volunteers. For the past 5 years he has been a stay at home parent. He has a five year old daughter who is entering Kindergarten this year. He brings a love for the outdoors, science and learning to the Explorers program.
The National Park Service also takes part in the program with a park service ranger joining the class once a term. Besides the classroom aide assisting, parent helpers may be needed from time to time to assist TJ in designated classes.
Program Calendar
The Field Station Explorers program closely follows the Duneland public schools calendar. The program calendar is designed so that there WILL NOT be Explorers classes during school holidays, such as fall recess, thanksgiving break, winter recess, winter holiday, and spring recess. However, the Explorers WILL meet on non-holiday days such as school days off for teacher in-service or conferences. To view the program calendar for the 2009-2010 school year please see the Explorers Program Calendar 09-10(xls)
Curriculum
The program is designed with the intention that participants will attend multiple years. Therefore, the activities and lessons are different from year to year. There are four years of curriculum so students can attend Explorers multiple years without repeating any lessons. All age groups complete the same basic lessons, but the lessons are altered slightly to reflect the abilities of the participants. For this reason, it is important that your child attend the class that is designed for his or her age group. Students may participate in each term individually, however, they are encouraged to complete the entire year.
One big goal of the Explorers curriculum is to encourage children to play outdoors and use their creativity and imagination. Through outdoor play, we hope to spark their curiosity toward the natural world and enable them to question what is happening around them. To keep the students engaged, they need something to look forward to each class, and each year. For this reason, there are several components of the Explorers curriculum that remain constant. Below are some of the activities that happen daily or are yearly events.
Awakening the Senses
Every fall, the Explorers program begins with two weeks of activities that use the senses to explore the habitats around the school. These activities include blindfolded walks, identifying mystery objects using the sense of touch, scavenger hunts, and various teambuilding games. By awakening their senses, the children become more aware of their surroundings and fully engaged for the upcoming school year.
Stewardship
Each spring, the students participate in a day of stewardship to improve the National Park and habitats near the school. They may clean up trash, pull invasive plants such as Garlic Mustard, cut brush in the prairie, or plant native perennials in the park. This activity enables the students to give back to the community and the park and provides them with a sense of accomplishment. (Stewardship Photos)
National Parks
A sense of place is very important for children to understand and appreciate. Because the school is located in a national park, understanding the importance of these special places is essential. Each December, the Explorers curriculum dedicates two weeks to studying other national parks and the special features and landforms that make them unique.
Annual Events
The following programs are so popular the students want to repeat them each year!
- Pumpkin Hunt: The children dress up in their Halloween costumes and search for Jack-o-lanterns hidden in the woods on the hiking trails.
- Ski Adventure: If snow is available, the students learn to cross country ski in a field and on trails in the park. (Ski Photos)
- River Hike: Each spring, the class tackles a long hike along the Little Calumet River, searching for salamanders and other life. (River Photos)
- Build-a-Boat: The last day of Explorers each year is spent designing boats from natural objects and launching them into the creek near the school. Boat races and contests are involved, as well as creek walking. (Boat Photos)
Badges
At the end of each term, each student will receive a badge award that depicts one of the areas of study. The badges symbolically serve as a reminder to be good stewards and protect the wild places in and around the community.
Explorers Mysteries:
Each year of curriculum is named after a local Dunes animal. This animal is a type of mascot to the students and they receive letters from the animal at the beginning of each class. These letters introduce the daily topic of study and contain a mystery or task that needs to be completed by the end of the class. Through participation, students gain knowledge that helps them unravel the mystery or complete the task. The letters add excitement and suspense to the beginning of each class and keep the students excited about returning the next week to see what the next mystery will be!
Use the following links to learn more about the yearly curriculum.
Raccoon Curriculum
Heron Curriculum
Racerunner Curriculum
Dragonfly Curriculum
