Investigate real animal homes and the various habitats of Tifft. Through hands-on explorations and a guided tour, students discuss interdependent relationships between animals and plants while working together to match animals to their proper habitats and construct animal homes from natural materials.

NYSP12SL Standards: K-LS1-1, K-ESS3-1, 1-LS1-1, 2-LS4-1

Explore the needs of seeds, plus plant parts, life cycles, and species diversity. Through hands-on activities and a guided tour, students investigate the shape and function of real plant seeds, create an imaginary seed designed for dispersal, and plant seeds in pots to take back for observation.

NYSP12SL Standards: K-LS1-1, 2-LS2-1, 2-LS2-1, 3-LS4-3, 4-LS1-1

Compare winter animal survival adaptations. Students use weather monitoring instruments, conduct an experiment, and search for evidence of animal survival on an outdoor hike. Indoor activity alternatives to the tour may be offered in the event of inclement weather. Snowshoeing may be requested ($2 per person), weather permitting.

NYSP12SL Standards: 3-LS4-2, 3-ESS2-1, 3-LS4-3, 4-LS1-1, MS-LS1-4

Examine the physical features and living organisms of our local ecosystem on a guided tour of the Preserve. Inside, students investigate bird biofacts to learn about adaptations up-close and work in groups to design their own imaginary species and how it can survive.

NYSP12SL Standards: 3-LS4-2, 3-LS4-3, 4-LS1-1, MS-LS1-4

Discover our essential connection to water of the Great Lakes region. Through hands-on water quality testing and macroinvertebrate sampling, students discuss watersheds, aquatic biodiversity, and human impact. To include fishing, add $2 per student. This informative program is ideal for older students interested in an immersive study of the Great Lakes region.

NYSP12SL Standards: 3-LS4-3, 4-LS1-1, 5-ESS2-2, MS-ESS2-4, HS-LS4-6

Embark on a journey of our past to our present through a guided outdoor scavenger hunt and simulated indoor archeological dig to reveal relics of the past. We’ll explore early settlement, industrial heritage, and the environmental movement that inspired the Preserve’s creation.

NYSP12SL Standards: 3-LS4-4, MS-PS1-3, MS-LS2-5, HS-LS2-7

Discuss survival needs and venture on a guided journey indoors and outdoors in search of shelter, water, food, and fire building materials. Students can implement team-building skills while constructing a survival shelter, as well as learning knot-tying, the importance of fire and wayfinding techniques.

NYSP12SL Standards: 3-ESS3-1, 4-ESS3-2, HS-ESS3-1

Compete in a guided bioblitz on the trails in search of different wildlife species, from invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, fish, mammals, and birds. While indoors, students observe distinguishing traits and model classification skills and survival strategies.

NYSP12SL Standards: 3-LS3-1, 3-LS4-2, MS-LS4-4, HS-LS4-3

Witness the food web in action! Search the preserve for real world evidence of how energy flows through different trophic levels. While indoors, students simulate the food web of local ecosystems through hands-on investigations.

NYSP12SL Standards: 5-LS1-1, 5-LS2-1, 5-PS3-1, MS-LS2-1, HS-LS2-5