Programs for School Groups

School class in front of EIC

Science, Nature, and Sustainability...Outdoors!

The EIC currently offers a variety of pre-K-12 educational programs to schools and community groups in southeastern Michigan. These programs utilize the 120+ acre Environmental Study Area outdoor classroom, EIC classroom and/or teaching laboratories.

Our educational programs emphasize interdisciplinary, inquiry-based learning opportunities that connect to the Michigan K-12 and Next Generation Science Standards.

*Length of all programs can be adapted to fit the teacher's needs.*

ProgramGradeLength*SeasonDescriptions
Maple Syrup SciencePre K- 121.5 hrs.MarchExplore the process of how Maple sap is taken from trees to create syrup, and taste the final result! 
Plant Identification & Ecology 3-121.5 hrs.year-roundExplore a forest community using the tools and concepts of plant identification, classification and ecology.
Pollination Partnerships 3-81.5 hrs.May- mid OctoberExplore the fascinating adaptations and interconnections among flowering plants and their insect pollinators through observation, and identifications.
Pond ExplorationsK-121.5-2 hrs.late- April to late- OctoberHands-on exploration of an aquatic environment, introduces students to concepts of metamorphosis, adaptations, and ecological interactions.
Seasonal Nature ExplorationsPre K-81.5-2 hrs.year-roundParticipants to explore natural habitats and to discover how different plants and animals respond to the seasons.  
Trip of a Drip5-122 hrs.year-roundExplore the concept of a watershed and explores the interconnections between human activity, watershed health, and the plant and animal communities in the Rouge River watershed.
Understanding Insects & Spiders3-122 hrs.June- OctoberCapture and release of live insects and spiders in their natural habitats and connect their findings to ecological terms and concepts such as adaptation, biological diversity, indications of habitat health, and insect biomass. 

General program information