Field Trips Hands-on Environmental Education

Since 1997, the Wylde Center has been dedicated to providing outstanding hands-on environmental education experiences. Our

environmental education field trips bring students to our four greenspaces to explore the science of the natural world. Field

trips engage students in first-hand discoveries about topics from agriculture to zoology and everything in between.

Classes are led by highly trained and enthusiastic environmental

educators. As students encounter our gardens, streams, and woodlands, they learn to think critically, creatively, and

responsibly about the world around them.

Take a look inside to discover the Wylde Center’s exciting field trips. We invite you and your class to join us for a unique

hands-on environmental education experience this season!

Our Mission

The Wylde Center expands access to greenspace and creates working gardens to cultivate community

and environmental education

Introduction to the Garden all ages

Students will get a glimpse of what it’s all about as they

tour one of the Wylde Center’s gardens and learn about

our star players: the compost, the chickens, and, of

course, the plants!

Where Does My Food Come From? K-12th

This Farm to Table

class examines the

production,

processing, and

preparation of our

food. See and

taste the plants

that make our food

and learn how our

food goes from

stem to store to

stomach.

Scientific Drawing K-12th

Unleash your inner artist and scientist! Students will learn

to observe the natural world around them and draw what

they see. Even the youngest students can participate, as

they learn observation skills, colors, measuring, and more

while getting a close-up view of the garden.

Growing a Community Garden K-12th

Visit our Oakhurst Community

Garden to go behind the scenes of a

community garden. Learn how the

Wylde Center came to be, discover

the many different facets of the

garden, and work together to plan

your own community garden.

Garden Folklore 2nd-12th

The garden is a rich source of food, music, culture, and

stories. Learn some common gardening myths and hear

stories from around the world about where favorite

plants and food come from, how we use it, and what

happens when we eat it.

Down to Earth preK-5th

Dig into the fascinating world of wriggly

worms and delightful dirt! Discover

first-hand the soil, compost, worms,

and more at our gardens.

Rocks and Soils K-12th

Take a worm’s eye view to learn about rocks, soil

composition, and soil health while exploring the rocks and

soils around the garden. Older students will learn to

evaluate soil health using a variety of hands-on methods.

Lichens, Mushrooms and Yeasts, Oh My! K-12th

Discover the fungus among us at the

garden. We will take a close look at

the mushrooms, lichens, and soil

fungus that inhabit the garden, help

create healthy soil, and become key

ingredients in our favorite foods.

Wonderground 4th-12th Ever wonder what creatures lurk in the soil under your

feet? Get a firsthand look at the worms, millipedes,

fungus, and other dirt-dwellers and learn how they

interact with the garden. Older students will learn how

to classify soil organisms and navigate the nitrogen cycle.

Breaking it Down 6th-12th Learn about the chemistry and biology of decomposition

as we make our way through the compost pile. Students

will learn not only what’s in compost and how it breaks

down, but also its value to plants and humans alike.

In the Garden Dirt Dwellers

Habitat Hunt preK-6th

Even though we live in a city, there are wild plants and

animals all around us! Go on a habitat hunt to discover

who these wild neighbors are, where they live, and their

role in the local ecosystem. Habitats may include stream,

woodland, garden, soil, and more.

Birds Take Flight all ages

From chickens or chickadees, birds play an integral part in

our ecosystems and agriculture. Discover how an egg

becomes a chick, what it’s like to be a bird, and the

anatomy, habits, and ecology of birds. Trips to the

Oakhurst Garden will introduce students to the garden’s

chickens, while groups visiting Hawk Hollow will practice

birding and identifying birds by sight

and call.

Insect Investigations 2nd-12th

Get a bug’s eye view while learning

insect classification, anatomy, life

cycles, and collection techniques.

Older students will also learn to use

dichotomous keys to identify insects.

What’s the Buzz? 2nd-12th

Get the buzz on bees! Learn what life is like inside a hive,

and why bees are so important to plants and humans.

Students will also get a taste of what it takes to make

honey as they learn about beekeeping and how these

insects make such sweet treats.

*For lessons on other pollinators, see Pollination Makes it

Happen on the next page*

No Backbone, No Problem 4th-12th

Discover the wondrous world of spineless creatures!

Begin with an introduction to taxonomic classification

systems before learning all about different kinds of

invertebrates. Finally, explore our sites and discover first-

hand the hidden and amazing invertebrates in the soil,

stream, plants, and air.

Ecology 101 K-12th

What is “ecology”, and

how do people study

it? Experience first-

hand how organisms,

populations, and

communities interact with each other and their

environments. Topics include niches, competition, food

webs, nutrient cycles, and more. The experience will

culminate with an in-depth examination of your choice of

habitat (Garden, Stream, or Woodland) using professional

ecological sampling methods.

Going Green K-12th

Everyone is talking about sustainability these days, but

what exactly does it mean? Learn what sustainability is

and how it helps us keep the earth healthy. Experience

some of the ways the Wylde Center promotes

sustainability, then work together to develop sustainable

solutions for local communities and families.

Streams and Faucets 2nd-12th

Dive into the water cycle and get

ready to get wet while learning

about where water comes from,

where it goes, and why it’s

important. Explore our streams

and pond to discover the

fascinating creatures that live in

the water! Students will then

learn how to determine if our

streams are healthy or not using

biological and chemical tests.

Invasion of the Habitat Snatchers! 4th-12th

Everyone knows about kudzu, the vine that ate the South.

Investigate the ecology and impact of invasive plants and

animals while learning how they spread and what we can

do to restore our ecosystems. Students will learn to

conduct biodiversity surveys to assess the prevalence of

invasive plants and guide their native restoration efforts at

our Hawk Hollow site.

Amazing Animals Ecology and Environment

Beginner’s Botany preK-12th

Explore the garden while learning plant life cycles, plant parts,

and how to identify plants around the garden. Students will also discover why we need plants and how we can work together to preserve this precious resource.

Seed Story preK-12th

Journey from seed to sprout to silver maple as we explore the

life cycle of plants and where seeds come from. Learn about seeds’ adaptations for travel, growth, and defense, then design your own seeds! If seasonally appropriate, students will get to

plant their own seeds to take home.

Meet the Trees K-12th

Meet the many trees of the garden! Become a tree to learn what trees are made of and how they work, then learn how to measure and age trees like a forester. Students will work

together to use their new-found knowledge to identify the types of trees in the garden.

Pollination Makes it Happen 2nd-12th

Here in Atlanta, we know our pollen well – but what is it for? Discover why plants have pollen, why pollination is important,

and how it happens. After learning how flowers attract animals to pollinate them, students will also get to design their own flowers. Optional focus on Monarch butterflies.

Leafing Out 2nd-12th

Discover the many different kinds of leaves in our greenspaces,

and learn all about leaf anatomy and classification. Fall classes will collect leaves and learn how leaves change color.

It’s Not Easy Being Green 4th-12th

While we delight in tasty vegetables, most plants are trying to avoid or survive being eaten. Learn who’s trying to eat them and

how plants defend themselves using everything from thorns to poisons to fast growth, and how these defenses make some of our favorite foods taste the way they do.

Poison Controls 4th-12th

From onions to tomatoes to bees, plants and animals use potent

chemicals to fend off competitors, predators, and disease. Learn about the venomous, the poisonous, and the bad-tasting plants and animals in the garden and why they use this chemical

warfare. Optional focus on organic chemistry for grades 8-12.

Bringing Mendel Back 4th-12th

Bring genetics back to its garden roots! In addition to garden-based Mendelian genetics, students will learn about plant reproduction, selective plant breeding, and genetically modified

organisms.

Plant Science

Field Trip FAQ’s and Booking Who can participate in a field trip?

We offer field trips year-round for school groups, summer camps,

afterschool groups, homeschool groups, and more. For groups larger

than 30 students, we may ask you to come in separate groups to maintain

small class size.

When can we come?

Field trips are offered Monday through Friday, 8am-5pm.

What does it cost?

1 hour field trip (recommended for 2 years to K): $4/student

1.5 hour field trip (grades K-12): $6/student

2 hour field trip (grades 6-12): $8/student

Teachers and chaperones attend for free. Minimum field trip cost is $50.

How do I book a field trip or request more information?

Contact Melanie Heckman (Education Program Manager) at

404-371-1920 or melanie@wyldecenter.org

Time slots fill quickly, so we suggest booking at least 2 months in advance.

435 Oakview Rd.

Decatur, GA 30030

404-371-1920

To learn more about our

programs, sites, and

membership, visit:

www.wyldecenter.org