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PreK-12 Environmental Education

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Now Scheduling Summer Programs!

 

View our Environmental Ed Program Brochure

 

View available program dates

 

Spark your students’ curiosity through hands-on, experiential learning outdoors, in your classroom, or on the computer screen! Conveniently located in the Twin Cities southwest metro area, Camp Fire’s 103-acre property in Excelsior, MN provides a variety of natural habitats for students to explore and expand on in-class lessons.

Our trained staff will engage your students and staff in environmental education classes that encourage discovery and conversations about being good stewards of our natural surroundings.

We adapt to meet the needs of all educators and youth. Our 2022-2023 Environmental Education Program offerings can be customized to fit your classroom’s individual learning models.

All lessons, virtual and in-person, are tied to MN State Education Standards or focus on social-emotional learning (SEL).

Discover what inclusion looks like at our school-based programs.

 

Environmental Education delivery formats:

  • Field Trips at our 103-acre property in Excelsior (indoor and outdoor options)
  • In-Class lessons led by our naturalist at your school
  • Virtual Live lessons led by our naturalist at your school (Zoom, Google Classroom, etc.)
  • (FREE) Pre-recorded videos and PDF lessons in our My Nature Connection library – view here

View our Environmental Education Programs Brochure

Many can be adapted to each format to fit hybrid models.

Contact us below to learn more or schedule your programs with Camp Fire naturalists. Please review our most-up-to-date program availability sheet and let us know which date(s) you are interested in scheduling a program. If you do not see your date listed, then it is no longer available.

About: In-Person Field Trips

Explore our 103-acre outdoor classroom in Excelsior for an in-person, socially-distant Environmental Education Field Trip. Conveniently located in the Twin Cities southwest metro area, our property provides a variety of natural habitats for students to explore and expand on in-class learning – including:

  • Big Woods forest
  • Three habitat types – black ash swamp, wetlands, and savanna
  • Watersheds for Minnesota River and Mississippi River
  • Pollinator Garden
  • 2,000 feet of shoreline on Lake Minnewashta
  • Team-building and high ropes challenge courses

Some activities are weather-dependent. Please view the FAQs section our program brochure for weather policies.

About: In-Person / On-Site Visit at your School

In-class Environmental Ed/STEM Programs are led by our Environmental Educators in your classroom or outdoors near your school. These interactive, in-person programs engage your students in lessons like Engineering Design, Invasive Species, and Compass and Orienteering.

About: Virtual Live Lessons

Via Zoom, Google Classroom, or the video platform of your choice, our naturalists can bring the magic of our 103-acre property to your students’ computer screen. Virtual Live Lessons cover topics like aquaponics, pollinator habitats, and animal adaptations.

Transportation Funding Resources

Hennepin County: We are a pre-approved field trip location for bus funding! Learn how to apply for funding here.

We’ll continue to add resources as known.

2022-2023 Program Brochure

Lesson Descriptions, FAQs, and more

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Pricing

Pricing varies based on the delivery format (in-person and virtual).

September 2022-August 2023
  • Field Trips $0-15/student*
  • Specialty Field Trips $0-17/student* (the schedule includes the choice of archery, high ropes/rock wall climbing, canoeing or teaching kitchen)
  • In-Class (in-person) $0-125/hour*
  • Virtual (live) $0-75/session*

*Pricing is based on your school’s Free and Reduced Lunch Rate. We’ll work with you to design a program that best fits your curriculum and budget needs.

Inquire about a date or send us your questions with the contact form below; Alexis M. Murillo, Education & Digital Programs Manager will follow up with you. View our program availability sheet here — if you do not see your desired date listed, then it is no longer available.

Contact Us

  • Now booking for Summer 2023! Already have a date in mind? Check the program availability sheet above!

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