CFPA logo

Founded 1895		 CFPA's  Education Programs

Where learning happens... naturally!
Student Programs

Please visit the Registration Information section for fees and other information.
Pre-registration is required for all programs.  Contact CFPA at (860) 346-2372 or info@ctwoodlands.org.
All student Programs are correlated to the Connecticut Framework K-12 Curricular Goals & Standards.
The Outdoors as a Natural Classroom


The corridors are forest paths and the classrooms are shaded alcoves and productive wetlands.  Teachers, students, scouts and families are invited to learn in the open and accessible “school” of the John R. Camp Outdoor Classroom and Demonstration Forest. Recent studies of schools across the nation find that using the environment as an integrating context in school curricula results in wide-ranging, positive effects on student learning and the teaching of educators. 


Benefits of the outdoor class include:
  • Improvements in student achievement in science, language arts, social studies and math;
  • Development of problem-solving, critical-thinking and decision-making skills;
  • Increased enthusiasm and engagement in learning; and
  • Gains in standardized test scores and grade point averages.
animal tracking
Animal Tracking
The educational experience at the John R. Camp Outdoor Classroom and Demonstration Forest is designed to provide students the opportunities to:
  • Tap into their inquisitive nature and discover the land around them;
  • Experience a rich environment for scientific explorations, creativity, and problem-solving; and
  • Utilize inquiry skills in order to gain a greater understanding of the world.

Student program offerings include Living Lab Field Studies, Seasonal Explorations, and Connecting Art and the Environment.
Program descriptions are found below.

Living Lab Field Studies 

Students participate in meaningful and authentic scientific experiences that emphasize inquiry, exploration and problem-solving through concrete and motivating learning experiences.  Special emphasis is placed on collecting evidence to develop explanations and build inquiry skills.  Choose from the following program options:

Vernal Pools (K-12) A Living Lab Field Study.
Use this unique, seasonal habitat to investigate habitats, animal and plant life and watersheds.  Activities include measuring, sampling and organism identification.

Forest Ecology (K-12) A Living Lab Field Study.
Examine forest systems, diversity, ecological interrelationships and historical aspects of the land to help understand the interdependencies of forest life and the importance of forests in daily lives.

Energy Sleuths (3-8) A Living Lab Field Study.
Students explore life cycles of trees including stages of tree decomposition to understand how matter and energy flow through the environment.

Forest Forensics (6-8) A Living Lab Field Study.
In honor of Arbor Day & Earth Day, students are invited to a day-long event filled with scientific discoveries about the forest.  Learning stations are facilitated by guest presenters in the scientific field and students use critical thinking skills to make predictions, investigate clues, collect evidence and apply conclusions to help develop scientific inquiry abilities.  Topics include invasive insects, trees as micro-habitats, land-use planning and tree identification and growth.  Forest Forensics is a partnership program created by the Department of Environmental Protection and Connecticut Forest & Park Association (CFPA).  Activities are correlated to the Connecticut Core Science Curriculum Framework.

Forest Forensics 2007 Dates:
May 31, Kellogg Environmental Center, Derby and
June 7 (raindate of June 8), Connecticut Forest & Park Association, Middlefield
 
$5/student.   Call CFPA for more details and reservations.
     

Seasonal Explorations (PreK-12)
Discover the myriad natural events occurring in Connecticut's forests, vernal pools and alongside its trails.  Using prediction, observation and problem-solving skills, students detect the variations of animal behavior and plant production throughout the changing seasons.  Available as guided explorations (for small groups only) or self-guided explorations (for PLT certified educators).


Connecting Arts & the Environment

Through participation in written, musical or visual arts rooted in the environment, students gain an understanding of the value of observation, communication, interpretation, artistry and community. Students are encouraged to begin their journey of lifelong learning by connecting the arts to the world around them.  Choose the following program options:

Literature and the Land (PreK-12) Connecting Arts & the Environment.
Relate the works of natural history authors and poets such as Jean Craighead George, Aldo Leopold, Lynne Cherry, Robert Frost, Eric Carle and others to the local landscape and improve students’ joy of reading.  Through engaging activities students connect their readings to the habitats, plants and animals of Connecticut and the region.

Natural Artistry (PreK-2) Connecting Arts & the Environment.
Music and visual arts are often inspired by the fascinating sounds and sights of nature:  the seasonal color change of leaves, warble of songbirds and babble of streams, scenes of breathtaking vistas and buzz and hum of insects.  Hands-on, forest-related activities foster creativity, design and invention through observations and studies of plants, animals and landscapes.

Correlations to Connecticut Frameworks

K-12 Curricular goals & Standards

This section under construction - please revisit soon.
Return to:  Education Programs
 To: Registration Information Return to: CFPA Home Page