School & Group Programs

Give your classroom or community group a one-of-a-kind experience with KNC. Check out the programs below to learn more about KNC’s educational offerings. Bring your group for a field trip to KNC, or we’ll come to your location.

See the programs and details on planning your trip below. Please call or email the Registrar with any questions. We look forward to seeing you!

Only a few spots left for smaller school groups to visit KNC for a spring field trip!

Please contact the registrar via email to inquire about availability. In your message, include your group size and the dates you’re available.

Contact Us

Registrar
(269) 381-1574 ext 24

New Field Trip Opportunity: Into the Woods (Forest Ecology)

KNC is excited to introduce a brand-new field trip this fall that connects directly with our latest indoor exhibit, The Forest Mosaic.

Special Offer: Grant funding through the Harold and Grace Upjohn Foundation is available on a first-come, first-served basis to cover program costs for this new field trip. To learn more or apply for funding, contact . Once the grant funds are fully used, the trip will continue to be available at KNC’s regular field trip pricing. Grant funding does not cover add-ons.

Year-round Programs

A Sense of Nature (Grades PreK-1)

Grade: All ages, but specifically well-suited for PreK-First grade

When: Fall/Winter/Spring at KNC or anytime at your site

Investigate many of nature’s wonders with your five senses and gain a new perspective. Meet one of KNC’s ambassador animals and see how they use their 5 senses. Observe the colors, shapes, patterns and textures of natural objects and get curious about the world around you!

Learning Objectives: Living & non-living, observations, questions & patterns, senses

Incredible Insects (1st–3rd Grade)

Grade: 1st-3rd grade

When: Fall/Winter/Spring at KNC or Anytime at Your Site

Insects may be small, but they can be found thriving in diverse and amazing habitats. Learn what sets insects apart from other creepy crawlies by learning about their different characteristics and the life cycle of an insect. Meet a live insect brought by the educator. Head outside to go on a bug hunt and compare it to what you have learned about insects!

Learning Objectives: insects, insect body parts, life cycle, adaptations, metamorphosis

Michigan Mammals (3rd-5th Grade)

Grades: 3rd – 5th grade

When: Fall/Winter/Spring at KNC or Anytime at Your Site

Learn about carnivores, herbivores, and omnivores using actual animal artifacts. Meet one of KNC’s ambassador animals and figure out how to prove if they are, or are not, a mammal. Students will also get the opportunity to observe and feel various animal furs and skulls to identify and differentiate various mammals in Michigan.
Learning Objectives: carnivores, herbivores, omnivores, animal adaptations

Discovering Michigan's Natural Resources (3rd-5th Grade)

Grade: 3rd-5th grade
When: Fall/Spring at KNC.
From our water and trees to rocks and minerals, discover some of Michigan’s most important natural resources. This onsite program will help students explore the landscape around us and how these elements of nature make our state unique.
Learning Objectives: identification and human use of natural resources, renewable, non-renewable, earth materials

Onsite only at KNC: 1.5 hour indoor/outdoor program – includes a guided hike!

Into the Woods (Forest Ecology) (K-5, 2 hours)

Grade: K – 5th Grade

When: Anytime at KNC.

During Into the Woods (Forest Ecology), students will explore forest health, ecology, life cycles, and environmental stewardship. The program includes time in the Forest Mosaic exhibit and a guided journey through the trees on KNC’s beautiful trails.

Please note, this trip is 2 hours in length and cannot accommodate any add-on features.

Who Eats Whom? (1st - 5th Grade)

Grade: 1st – 5th Grade

When: Fall/Winter/Spring at KNC or anytime at your site

Build a food chain from the ground up and follow the flow of energy from producers to consumers and from sunlight into soil. Discover who eats whom in the forest by becoming a part of the food chain and meet a live animal.

Learning Objectives: Flow of energy, trophic levels, food chain components, habitat characteristics, environmental changes, animal traits & survival

Introduction to Mindfulness in Nature (All Ages)

Grade: All ages

When: Fall/Winter/Spring at KNC or Anytime at Your Site

Learn how the practice of paying attention to the present moment can train your brain to focus. Learn how nature can help you be mindful. Practice breathing and noticing outdoors. Show off your mindfulness skills while meeting one of KNC’s ambassador animals.

Learning Objectives:  Mindfulness, brain function/focus, calming techniques, benefits of nature on nervous system

Creature Features (All Ages)

Grade: All ages

When: Anytime at KNC or Anytime at Your Site

Learn about the habitats, diets, and adaptations of our animal ambassadors. Get an up-close look at different bio facts and meet a live animal handled by one of our trained educators.

Programs:

30 Minutes: Meet an ambassador animal
60 Minutes: Meet two ambassador animals
90 Minutes: Meet three ambassador animals (Onsite only)

Ambassadors to choose from:

Snakes: Corn snake, Milk snake
Turtles: Eastern box turtle, Painted turtle, Map turtle
Amphibians: Gray tree frog, American toad
Invertebrates: Dubia roaches, Curlyhair tarantula
Check out more information about our ambassador animals here: Ambassador Animals

Birds of a Feather (All Ages, 60 minutes)

Grade: All ages

When: Anytime at KNC

Get an up-close look at each bird as you hike to each of their enclosure locations. Learn about the habitats, diets, and adaptations of our ambassador birds. During this program you will meet Gary the American Kestrel, Tukey the Turkey Vulture, Barred the Barred Owl, and the Pigeons Henry, Parmesan, and Gorgonzola.

Please note, this program is entirely outdoors and requires hiking around KNC’s campus. Please dress for the weather. This program is only available onsite at KNC.

Seasonal Programs

Maple Sugaring (All Ages, 1 hour)

Grade: All Ages

Where: at KNC

When: March

Discover about the rich history of Maple Sugaring on this walking tour of our Fern Valley trail. Learn about the life cycle and how to identify Michigan’s sweetest tree, Acer Saccharum, also known as the Sugar Maple. End your time at the Sugar Shack with syrup tasting!

Please note, this program is held outdoors and requires hiking on KNC’s trails. Please dress for the weather. This program is only available onsite at KNC.

Stream Ecology (6th-12th Grade, 2 hours)

Grades: 6th – 12th

When: September – October, May

Wade into the waters at the Kalamazoo Nature Center and search for the macroinvertebrate residents living beneath the surface. Explore KNC’s Trout Run stream’s aquatic health through analysis of the creatures found.

Please note, this trip is 2 hours in length and cannot accommodate any add-on features.

Life on a Historic Homestead (All Ages, 2 hours)

Grades: All ages

When: Fall and Spring at KNC

Program Location: Delano Farm 555 West E Avenue

Travel back in time to the Delano homestead to learn how people lived here in Kalamazoo Michigan before the 1900s. Discuss Pottawatomi history, learn about the Delano family, and participate in farm chores of the 1850s in this blast from the past field trip!

Please note, this trip is 2 hours in length and cannot accommodate any add-on features.

On-site Program Fees

Financial assistance may be available for schools/programs with a high percentage of free and reduced lunch students. Please contact us at for more information.

On-site programs last for approximately 1 ½ hours and usually include an outdoor component. Groups are welcome to stay on KNC’s campus after their program to take a self-guided hike, play or eat lunch. Please let us know your plans.

Program Fees

$200 fee per program, with a maximum of 30 student participants in each
$60 non-refundable deposit required to hold date
Trips are 90 minutes unless otherwise noted.
Extended length trips are $265.00
One chaperone for every 5 students is recommended. A minimum of 2 chaperones per trip is required (teacher included).
Teacher and recommended chaperones are free.  
Additional adults (beyond recommended number) are $5/person. 10 chaperones maximum per program. Exceptions can be made for preschools and licensing requirements.
Discounted rates available for group size of 12 or fewer
Schedule your on-site program to start at 1:00 PM to receive a discount.

On-site Program Add-ons 

Self-guided Scavenger Hunt materials ($10/program)
15 minutes with an Animal Ambassador ($30/Program)
- Snakes: Corn snake, Milk snake
- Turtles: Eastern box turtle, Painted turtle, Map turtle
- Amphibians: Gray tree frog, American toad
- Invertebrates: Dubia roaches, Curly hair tarantula
- Check out more information about our ambassador animals here: Ambassador Animals

10% discount will be applied if you book 2 or more class/programs for the same day. A maximum of 4 classes/programs can be accommodated in one day (dependent on arrival and departure times, as well as program choice). 

Most programs are held outside or have an outdoor component so please come prepared for the weather! 

Off-site Program Fees

Off-site programs are approximately 1 hour and can be held indoors or outdoors. Please dress for the weather.

Financial assistance may be available for schools/programs with a high percentage of free and reduced lunch students. Please contact us at for more information.

Off-site program fees:   

Within a 20-mile radius: 
- $200.00 for up to 30 students (includes mileage)

Outside 20-mile radius: 
- Add $15 for each additional 10 miles outside the radius

Off-site Program Add-ons

Self-guided Scavenger Hunt materials: $10/program  (suitable for schoolyard environment)
15 minutes with an Animal Ambassador ($30/Program)
- Snakes: Corn snake, Milk snake
- Turtles: Eastern box turtle
- Amphibians: Gray tree frog, American toad
- Invertebrates: Dubia roaches, Curly hair tarantula
- Check out more information about our ambassador animals here: Ambassador Animals