ALL PROGRAMS
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Archery
Description:
“Anchor, aim. . . release!” In this course we will cover the fundamentals of Olympic-style target archery, then let you practice your skills on the range! Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, you’ll have fun and challenge yourself with every arrow. Don’t miss this opportunity to unleash your inner archer and hit the Bulls-eye!
Season: All Seasons
Location: Prairie Woods ELC
AIS (Aquatic Invasive Species)
Description:
What’s a zebra mussel? Discover underwater invaders in this Aquatic invasive species class! You will study their biology, ecology, and impacts on our waters through engaging activities and hands on investigation!
Season: All Seasons
Location: Prairie Woods ELC
Birds on the Wing
Description:
Birds provide a vibrant, engaging look into nature. In this activity, we will learn how birds have adapted to different environments and what makes them unique. We will also use our eyes and ears to spot and listen to the colorful birds that call Prairie Woods home!
Season: All Seasons
Location: Prairie Woods ELC
Canoeing
Description:
You’ll have fun experiencing this historic form of transportation. After a lesson in canoeing skills and safety, students will set off over the water to witness the wetland wildlife at Prairie Woods.
Season: Summer, Spring, Fall
Location: Prairie Woods ELC
Climbing Wall: Indoor
Description:
No matter what the weather, stretch your arms, legs, and courage on our indoor climbing wall. Nine different climbs suit a wide range of skill levels, ensuring that everyone can feel challenged as they strive for the top! Great for birthday parties!
Season: All Seasons
Location: Prairie Woods ELC
Climbing Wall: Outdoor
Description:
Try our amazing 40-foot, three-sided climbing tower with six different climbs to fit your level and style. Whether you are a beginner or a pro, you will find a climb that will test your skills and boost your confidence!
Season: Summer, Spring, Fall
Location: Prairie Woods ELC
Compass
Description:
Let’s stay found! Students will learn the basics of how to find and shoot bearings using a compass, as well as how to navigate in a straight line. Got it? Test your skills in outdoor activities, games, and a compass course.
Season: All Seasons
Location:
Cross-country Skiing
Description:
Explore the wonders of winter while gliding across the snow. Students will enjoy the opportunity to have a new experience and learn the history of cross-country skiing.
Season: Winter
Location:
EcoConnections: Nature’s Relationships
Description:
Study the complex relationships seen throughout nature. Students have their own roles to play as we learn about population dynamics and survival strategies through simulation games. Are you a wolf, a rabbit, or a leech?
Season: All Seasons
Location:
Eco-Voyager Canoe
Description:
When it comes to water, we’re all in the same boat! With Prairie Woods’ outreach education program, you can explore a lake or river near your school as you paddle our 34-foot voyageur canoe. The Eco-Voyageur program is open to individual classes (15-30 students) or entire grade levels.
Season: Summer, Spring, Fall
Location:
Fat-tire Biking
Description:
Take your biking skills off road. This class will cover bicycle safety, body positioning, pedaling, and shifting as we explore the trails through the prairies. This class is for participants who are already comfortable riding a bike on flat and even terrain.
Season: All Seasons
Location:
Fire Building
Description:
Don’t let the cold get you down! Join us for a fun and educational class where you’ll learn how to make and light a campfire using primitive and modern techniques. Whether you want to go back to basics or use some handy tools, we’ll show you how to stay warm and cozy!
Season: All Seasons
Location:
Flying Squirrel
Description:
Experience the thrill of The Flying Squirrel, a team-building adventure that will lift your spirits! You and your teammates will take turns soaring up to 40 feet in the air! You decide how high, how fast, and how much you want to swing. The Flying Squirrel is a fun and exhilarating way to bond with your team!
Season: Summer, Spring, Fall
Location:
Giant’s Ladder
Description:
The Giant’s Ladder is a fun and exciting way to test your teamwork and climbing skills. You and a partner will need to support each other, physically and emotionally as you climb up the giant rungs of the ladder. Can you reach the top together?
Season: Summer, Spring, Fall
Location:
Insect Safari
Description:
Creepy, crawly, and crucial: insects are among the most abundant, and necessary, critters on earth. Investigate the importance of insects, learn about their roles in ecosystems, as you search for insects here at Prairie Woods.
Season: Summer, Spring, Fall
Location:
Kick Sledding
Description:
Think dog sled, but smaller and without the dogs. Known as a spark in Scandinavian countries, this snow-scooter is propelled by kicking the ground by foot. Zoom through the snow and explore PWELC in the winter!
Season: Winter
Location: Prairie Woods ELC
Log Cabin
Description:
Get dressed up and take a trip back in time to 1888 to the home of Swedish immigrant, Anders Danielson. While visiting, help the family out by grinding coffee, beating rugs, doing laundry, or sawing wood. Once you get all your chores done, relax with some pioneer crafts and games or with some hand-churned ice cream! Stay for an hour or a full day.
Season: All Seasons
Location: Prairie Woods ELC
Lorax Puppet Show
Description:
Watch Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax come to life in a live puppet show. Students will learn the lessons of the Lorax, the Onceler, the Truffula Trees and all the other friends that lived in the “grickle grass”. A short discussion will be held after the performance. Can be done for a classroom or large audience.
Season: All Seasons
Location: Prairie Woods ELC
Mammals and Animal Tracking
Description:
Through studying pelts and skulls, students learn about adaptations among our native mammals. Then, join us outdoors for a detective search, where we’ll use observation skills to track animals and learn about their behavior.
Season: All Seasons
Location: Prairie Woods ELC
Mobile Climbing Wall
Description:
Looking for a fun and thrilling activity for your group? Check out Prairie Woods’ 26.5-foot climbing tower that can travel to your location! Whether it’s a town festival, a family reunion, or a youth group event, you and your friends will love trying out the 5 different climbs on this wall!
Season: Summer, Spring, Fall
Location: Prairie Woods ELC
Mobile Climbing Wall
Description:
Looking for a fun and thrilling activity for your group? Check out Prairie Woods’ 26.5-foot climbing tower that can travel to your location! Whether it’s a town festival, a family reunion, or a youth group event, you and your friends will love trying out the 5 different climbs on this wall!
Season: Summer, Spring, Fall
Location:
Pond Study
Description:
Mysterious and fascinating creatures live in our wetlands. Search the pond’s edge to collect and observe living things in many shapes and sizes. Learn about wetland formation, the importance of wetlands, and what that means for us.
Season: Summer, Spring, Fall
Location:
Prairies, Bison and Beyond: The story of the Prairie
Description:
Just 1% of Minnesota’s original tall-grass prairie remains today. Explore the significance of this remarkable ecosystem through hands-on activities in our native and restored prairies.
Season: Summer, Spring, Fall
Location: Prairie Woods ELC
Snowshoeing
Description:
Experience life like the Snowshoe Hare as you put on your “big feet” and explore the snowy-scapes of Prairie Woods. Along the way discover the joy of traveling across deep snow as we look for evidence of how animals adapt to winter and search out tracks to identify.
Season: Winter
Location: Prairie Woods ELC
Team Building Initiative Games
Description:
Team Building Initiative Games teach communication, creative problem solving, cooperation and critical thinking while playing games and working to complete tasks! Activities illustrate the complexity of human interaction and provide a fun way to prepare for meeting the challenges of daily life.
Season: All Seasons
Location:
Tree-tectives
Description:
Trees surround us, but how well do we know them? Act out the parts of a tree, then get personally acquainted with a tree here at Prairie Woods. Upper elementary students will use a map to find their way on our Tree-Trail, and practice using a dichotomous key to identify them.
Season: All Seasons
Location:
Water Cycle
Description:
Water takes many shapes in Minnesota, from ice in the winter to gaseous vapor in the summer. Become a water molecule and explore how water transforms and travels around the world through fun activities. Join us on water’s Incredible Journey!
Season: All Seasons
Location:
Wilderness Survival
Description:
Do you have what it takes? In this survival simulation, groups will discuss their basic needs and the rules of 3’s before journeying into the woods to practice their skills! Teamwork will be key to form a survival plan and build an overnight shelter.
Season: All Seasons
Location:
Animal Signs Year-round—Pre-K to 6th gr.
Join our adventure in the woods, wetlands, and prairies, where we’ll search for signs left behind by our animal neighbors. Along the way, we’ll learn how animals move, what they eat, where they live, and much more
Archery Year-round—4th gr & up.
Anchor, aim. . . release! Learn the basics of Olympic-style target archery and experience the challenge of trying just one more time to hit the bull’s eye. All-weather activity.
Birds on the Wing Year-round—all ages.
Birds provide a colorful, engaging look into nature. We’ll explore first-hand the concepts of diversity, adaptation, and habitat, while seeking a view of the colorful birds of Prairie Woods using binoculars and field guides.
Canoeing Spring, Summer, Fall—5th gr & up.
You’ll have fun experiencing this historic form of transportation. After a lesson in canoeing skills and safety, students will set off over the water to witness the wildlife of wetlands at Prairie Woods.
Climbing Wall: Indoor Year-round—all ages.
No matter what the weather, stretch your arms, legs, and courage on our indoor climbing wall. Nine different climbs suit a wide range of skill levels.
Climbing Wall: Outdoor Spring, Summer, Fall—all ages.
Our 40 foot, three-sided tower offers six climbs for people of all skill-levels and ages. Participants learn courage, determination, self worth, and mutual encouragement through climbing activities.
Compass Year-round—4th gr & up.
Let’s stay found! Students will learn the basics of how to find and shoot bearings using a compass, as well as how to navigate in a straight line. Got it? Test your skills in outdoor activities, games, and a compass course.
Cross-country skiing Winter—1st gr & up.
Explore the wonders of winter while gliding across the snow. Students will enjoy the opportunity to have a new experience and learn the history of cross country skiing
Eco-Voyager, Spring, Summer, Fall – All Ages (typically 3rd & up)
When it comes to water, we’re all in the same boat! With Prairie Woods’ outreach education program, you can explore a lake or river near your school in our 34-foot voyageur canoe. You and your students can explore a lake or river near your school and learn about water. The Eco-Voyageur program is open to individual classes (15-30 students) or entire grade levels.
Fat tire biking Spring, Summer, Fall —5th grade & up.
Take your biking skills off road. This class will cover bicycle safety, body position, pedaling, and shifting as we explore the trails through the prairies.This class is for particpants who are already comfortable riding a bike on flat and even terrain.
Initiative Games Year-round—all ages.
Initiative Games teach communication, creative problem solving, cooperation and critical thinking skills. Activities illustrate the complexity and interrelatedness of natural systems and provide a fun way to prepare for meeting the challenges of daily life.
Insect Safari Spring, Summer, Fall—Pre-K & up.
Creepy, crawly, and crucial: insects are among the most abundant. . . and necessary. . . critters on earth. Investigate the importance of insects, learn about their roles in ecosystems, and search for insects here at Prairie Woods.
Kick Sledding Winter —5th grade & up.
Think dog sled but smaller and without the dogs – a snow scooter. Know as a spark in Scandinavian countries. The sled is propelled by kicking (sparka in the Scandinavian languages) the ground by foot. This is a great way to get our and explore PWELC in the winter.
Lorax Puppet Show Year-round – All Ages
Watch Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax come to life in a live puppet show. Students will learn the lessons of the Lorax, the Onceler, the Truffala Trees and all the other friends that lived in the “grickle grass”. A short discussion will be held after the performance. Can be done for a classroom or large audience.
Minnesota Mammals Year-round—1st gr & up.
Through studying pelts and skulls, students learn about adaptations among our native mammals. Then, join us outdoors for detective search, where we’ll use observation skills to track mammals and learn about their behavior.
Pond Study Spring, Summer, Fall—all ages.
Mysterious and fascinating creatures live in our wetlands. Search the pond’s edge to collect and observe living things in many shapes and sizes. Learn about wetland formation, the importance of wetlands, and what that means for us.
Prairies Spring, Summer, Fall—2nd gr & up.
Just 1% of Minnesota’s original tall-grass prairie remains today. Explore the significance of this remarkable ecosystem through hands-on activities in our native and restored prairies.
Prairie Woods Pinnacle (26.5 ft. mobile climbing wall), Spring, Summer, Fall –Â All Ages
Predator & Prey Year-round—1st to 6th gr.
The complex relationships between predators and prey are made fun and interesting through simulation games. Students have their own roles to play as we learn about population dynamics and survival strategies.
Snowshoe Tracking Winter—4th gr & up.
Put on your big feet and discover the joy of traveling across deep snow. Along the way, we’ll look for evidence of how animals adapt to winter, and search out tracks to identify.
Survival Year-round—4th gr & up.
Prepare to survive outdoors, Consider the possibility. What are the rules of 3? What are your basic needs? Teamwork is key as your group builds a shelter using survival basics.
Tree-Tectives Year-round—K to 6th gr.
Trees surround us, but how well do we know them? Act out the parts of a tree, then get personally acquainted with a tree here at Prairie Woods. Upper elementary students will use a map to find their way on our Tree-Trail, and practice using a dichotomous key to identify them.
Time Travel: Year-round—1st gr. & up.
Travel back to 1888 for a hour, half day, or a full day! This experience is like no other. Travel back, back, back. . . back in time to the Danielson homestead. There is much that can be done, churning butter, washing clothes, making toys, wood working, singing, dancing and much more. The options for this program are almost endless.
- Are you looking for an activity on a particular topic?
- Do you have a specific goal in mind for your group?
- Would you like activities adapted for another age group?
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