We offer fun, educational field trips led by volunteer naturalists that get kids learning outdoors. Themes for elementary school trips include:
Kindergarten: Curious Cottontails
Students will explore themes of animal needs by learning about cottontail rabbits and how they survive in our backyard.
First Grade: Magpie Mysteries
Students will investigate what makes a magpie such a special bird and learn about its local neighbors.
Second Grade: Powerful Plants and Pollinators
Students will learn about pollinators, seed dispersal, and their role in natural ecosystems.
Third Grade: Riparian Investigations
Students will learn about water ecosystems and their importance in the natural community.
Fourth Grade: A Slice of Prairie Pie
Students will learn about the connections between multiple parts of local prairie ecosystems.
Fourth Grade: Past Lives on the Prairie
Students will learn about local Colorado history and how people’s lives were shaped by the land around them.
Fifth Grade: Energy Flows in Nature
Students will learn about where energy is stored in nature and how it shapes the land.
Can’t make it to a natural area? These lessons can be adapted for your schoolyard or classroom! To get detailed lesson plans by grade level or ask questions, email naturalareas@fortcollins.gov.
Once you’ve reviewed the lesson plans, you can book your field trip through Engage. Field trips are available for elementary school groups in the months of April, May, September and October.