Child/Family Programs

All of these programs meet requirements for the Ohio Academic Content Standards. Please contact Mrs. Van for more information.

Animals We Love to Hate

This program features the animals that are most often feared and disliked: bats, spiders, snakes, and opossums. We will dispell myths and include natural history facts which show how beneficial these animals are. Includes live animals.

Astronomy

Ohio Nature Education is part of the Astronomy From the Ground Up (AFGU) network and we offer astronomy programs for different ages that can be conducted inside. From activities such as “Worlds in Comparison” that explores planet sizes by utilizing a 3 pound ball of Play doh or using mini Oreo cookies to study Moon phases, we can offer your venue a self-led static display with take home activities or lead group activities Please contact us to discuss the different options. Great for library SRC programs.

Bats - "Shadows of Night"

Activity-based program that dispels myths about bats. Includes interesting facts and tells why bats are beneficial. Includes "Test your Bat IQ," live bats and predators.

Birding by Ear

Teaches how to identify birds through song. Can include live birds and study skins and outdoor activities.

Birds in Folklore & Native American Life

This program discusses how Native Americans used bird feathers in every day life and how colors were a representation of different attributes. We'll discuss the significance of "coup" feathers, rewarded for acts of bravery and what these symbols represented. The use of bird study skins will demonstrate the roll that birds have played in many cultures. Live animals included.

Birds of Prey

Activity-based program which teaches about Ohio's hawks and owls. Includes live birds and study skins.

Birds - Our Flying Jewels

Teaches about the diversity of birds. Includes live birds, study skins, and other visuals.

Birdwatching

Offers a brief introduction to birds before going outdoors (on school property or other site) for birdwatching. Can include live birds and study skins. Binoculars provided.

Elementary Insects

Designed for children in primary grades as an introduction or review for the insect unit of your curriculum, we'll turn a member of the audience into an insect to study the physical characteristics of this amazing group of animals. Many visuals which include live predators included.

Flutter By Butterfly

Activity-based program which teaches about lifecycles and physiology of butterflies and moths.

Wildlife Throughout the Seasons

This program demonstrates how wildlife adapts to the changing seasons. We discuss migration, hibernation, and adaptation. Study skins and live animals included.

Nature Detectives

Children look at a display of nine wildlife "clues" and write their observations. We then discuss the clues and view some live animals which leave us these nature signs. Pelts, skulls, tracks, scat , pellets also included.

Nocturnal Animals

Activity-based program which teaches the physical characteristics that distinguish nocturnal animals from diurnal (daytime) animals and enable nocturnal animals to survive. Includes live animals.

Owls

Activity-based program which teaches about Ohio's eight owl species. Includes live bird and study skins. Can include an owl prowl. Please contact us if you would like to add an owl pellet dissection activity to this program OR if you would simply like to purchase owl pellets for your own use.

Project Wild

Activity-based program which includes games that teach children about all aspects of nature.

Those Bee-Utiful Bees

An interactive program that takes you into the life of the honey bee and discover why they are so beneficial. Find out how Mrs. Van became a beekeeper (sort of!) not by her choice, but because the bees showed up on her porch one day -- all 2-3 pounds of them! Study skins and live animals.

We Need Nature

From the food we eat to the medications that we take, WE ALL NEED NATURE! Join us as we explore all the ways that wild animals help us. Ages 6 and up.

Weird, Wonderful, Wacky Wildlife

Sure to be a hit with kids! Join us as we explore the stranger side of wildlife, from animals that eat their mates to those who use vomit as a defense mechanism. We'll take a look at the darker side of nature and, of course, give you a close up view of some live animals. This program is recommended for ages 7 and up.

Who Are the Critters in Your Neighborhood

Think you know the common backyard mammals? Think again. We'll share with you some little known facts about common Ohio mammals and TEST your knowledge. Live animals and study skins included.

Wildlife 200 Years Ago

This program takes us back to Ohio 200+ years ago when Ohio was more than 90% forested. Discover what animals wandered in the woods and prairies. Live animals, study skins, pelts, and skulls.

Wildlife Displays

4-5 wild animals and other visuals are set up for your patrons to view at their own leisure. Can be combined with quizzes and other self led activities.

Wildlife Tails & Tales

Looks at animal tails & how they are adapted to every day life while also dispelling wildlife myths & old wives tales.

Young Artists

Participants ages 6 and up will have an opportunity to sketch live birds of prey in a relaxed setting. Bring your favorite media to sketch, paint, or photograph birds that are staged out on perches for you.

Adult Programs

All My Garden Guests Are Wild!

Join us on a visual adventure of 30 years of creating a wildlife habitat in Mrs. Van's yard. We'll discuss the different flowers, trees and shrubs, water features, and shelter which you can incorporate into your landscape to make your yard "wildlife friendly." Specimens and live animals included.

Animals We Love to Hate

This program features the animals that are most often feared and disliked: bats, spiders, snakes, and opossums. We will dispell myths and include natural history facts which show how beneficial these animals are. Includes live animals.

Attracting Butterflies and Hummingbirds

Teaches the "ingredients" you'll need in order to attract butterflies and hummingbirds to your yard.

Attracting the Four B's While Keeping Bambi Out!

The four B's are Butterflies, Bats, Birds, and Beneficial Bugs. This is an all inclusive nature education and gardening program.

Bats - "Shadows of Night"

Activity-based program that dispels myths about bats. Includes interesting facts and tells why bats are beneficial. Includes "Test your Bat IQ," live bats and predators.

Birding by Ear

Teaches how to identify birds through song. Can include live birds and study skins and outdoor activities.

Birds in Art

Bring your favorite media to sketch, paint, or photograph some of our birds in a relaxed setting. Birds will be staged out on perches for you.

Birds in Folklore & Native American Life

This program discusses how Native Americans used bird feathers in every day life and how colors were a representation of different attributes. We'll discuss the significance of "coup" feathers, rewarded for acts of bravery and what these symbols represented. The use of bird study skins will demonstrate the roll that birds have played in many cultures. Live animals included.

Birds of Prey

Activity-based program which teaches about Ohio's hawks and owls. Includes live birds and study skins.

Birds - Our Flying Jewels

Teaches about the diversity of birds. Includes live birds, study skins, and other visuals.

Birdwatching

Offers a brief introduction to birds before going outdoors (on school property or other site) for birdwatching. Can include live birds and study skins. Binoculars provided.

Growing Up in a Wildlife Friendly Home

A sense of humor is required for this look at Mrs. Van’s 32+ years working with wildlife. Live animals included.

Landscaping for Wildlife

Teaches you how to turn your yard into a wildlife heaven, no matter how small your yard is!

Nocturnal Animals

Activity-based program which teaches the physical characteristics that distinguish nocturnal animals from diurnal (daytime) animals and enable nocturnal animals to survive. Includes live animals.

Owls

Activity-based program which teaches about Ohio's eight owl species. Includes live bird and study skins. Can include an owl prowl. Please contact us if you would like to add an owl pellet dissection activity to this program OR if you would simply like to purchase owl pellets for your own use.

Those Bee-Utiful Bees

An interactive program that takes you into the life of the honey bee and discover why they are so beneficial. Find out how Mrs. Van became a beekeeper (sort of!) not by her choice, but because the bees showed up on her porch one day -- all 2-3 pounds of them! Study skins and live animals.

Who Are the Critters in Your Neighborhood

Think you know the common backyard mammals? Think again. We'll share with you some little known facts about common Ohio mammals and TEST your knowledge. Live animals and study skins included.

Wildlife as Meteorologists

Activity-based program which looks at weather lore as fact or fiction while exploring how wild animals deal with the changing seasons. Includes your choice of live animals.

Wildlife 200 Years Ago

This program takes us back to Ohio 200+ years ago when Ohio was more than 90% forested. Discover what animals wandered in the woods and prairies. Live animals, study skins, pelts, and skulls.

Wildlife Displays

4-5 wild animals and other visuals are set up for your patrons to view at their own leisure. Can be combined with quizzes and other self led activities.

Wildlife Thru Fairytales & Myths

This program dispels myths that surround wildlife.

Wildlife Tails & Tales

Looks at animal tails & how they are adapted to every day life while also dispelling wildlife myths & old wives tales.

Photography Workshops

If you are an aspiring amateur or professional photographer, this is for you. Several times each year, Ohio Nature Education offers photography workshops where we bring our animals out to be photographed.

Occasionally we will also have a special guest photographer on hand to help you best capture the beauty of wildlife.

Registration is typically capped at 25 participants and we've sold out every time we've offered this unique opportunity. Keep an eye on our web site for information on our next scheduled workshop!

WILD Birthday Parties

Are you looking to mix in the educational value of our programs in a more informal, relaxed setting? Consider throwing a WILD birthday party, where we come out with some critters to make it a special day for all. Please contact Mrs. Van for more details.