Each season a trail walk is part of the class garden schedule.  Students love the woodland setting of the nature trail.  On the trail, there is something to see in every direction.  The challenge is to narrow the big picture to more manageable views.  Our walks are structured to focus visual and verbal observations  so students understand the unique characteristics of our forest ecosystem.

Our Nature Trail Guidelines cover the basic rules for a walk on the nature trail. 

Fall Shape Walk - Shapes are used to focus student observations as you discuss changes in living things as summer turns to fall and fall turns to winter. Shape walk shapes - Courtesy of Cincinnati Nature Center - A template of shapes for students to carry or wear on yarn necklaces to match with items observed on the trail.  Pre-cut shapes are available for sign out in the barn.

Patterns in Nature - Students will explore the nature trail to find patterns in natural items and discuss why patterns are useful. 

Discussing Ohio Plants and Animals in Fall - The nature trail is used to identify adaptations of plants and animals in an eastern deciduous forest as summer turns to fall and fall turns to winter.

Food Chains - A nature walk is used to to discuss the flow of energy through food chains and food webs.

Decomposition, Erosion, and Deposition - Students take a nature walk to record observations of processes that shape the surface of the Earth.

Decomposing Log Study - Students record observations about a fallen log in order to understand the interdependence of plants and animals in the forest ecosystem and the importance of decomposition.