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School and Group Programs
 Nursery School Naturalists
Nursery School Naturalists is an enrichment program for three and four year olds. It meets once a week, for 30 weeks, from fall through spring. Many of the children who come attend other preschool programs on the other weekdays. Our mission is to encourage young children to enjoy and explore the outdoors through games and other learning experiences. We want to facilitate their natural curiosity and joy in the world around them and help them to establish a sense of ownership of this sanctuary. Children in the program have the freedom to play and interact with their environment, learning to appreciate the variety and scope of the natural world.
For more information on Habitat's Nursery School Naturalists program contact Fran Hutchinson, Preschool Director, at 617-489-5050 x207.
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 Guided Walks/Field Trips
Habitat welcomes school classes and other groups that want to visit the sanctuary, explore its trails, and learn about the plants, animals, ecology, and habitats that can be found here. Our guided walks are designed to cultivate a sense of stewardship for our natural world through outdoor exploration and activities that are educational, fun and appropriate for all ages.
Habitat provides trained instructors to lead groups of 7-9 on walks through the sanctuary. These walks generally last one and a half hours. Instructors involve children in activities designed to teach information and awareness about the natural environment. If a group is studying a specific theme in the classroom, teachers may request that the walk relate to that topic.
Habitat welcomes and encourages groups to visit in every season. Many important changes take place in the natural environment throughout the year, providing interesting opportunities for study.
Suggested walks: Life Under a Log, Maple Sugaring, Ponding/Vernal Pools, Habitats, Tree ID, Letterboxing, Meadow Life.
For more information download the Guided Walk brochure (PDF 235K) or contact Dan McCullough at: 617- 489-5050 x206 or dmccullough@massaudubon.org.
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 Scout Programs
Come and learn about nature and the environment by participating in hands-on activities, games, and exploring the Habitat Wildlife Sanctuary. For each program we will complete the required number of activities to receive a badge. For more information download our Girl Scout/Brownie Programs flyer (PDF 45K) or contact Jane Higgins, 617-489-5050 x203.
Brownie Try-It Workshops are 2 hours, with a fee of $8.50 per girl (no fee for adults), and include: Earth & Sky, Space Explorers, Numbers & Shapes, Listening to the Past, Eco-Explorer, and Watching Wildlife.
Junior Badge Workshops are 3.5 hours, with a fee of $14 per girl and include: Sky Search, Wildlife, Oil Up, Frosty Fun, and Rocks Rock.
Interest Projects for Girls 11-17 are 3.5 hours, with a fee of $14 per girl and include: Eco-Action, Wildlife, and All about Birds.
Habitat also offers afterschool programs for scouts. These programs are either 1.5 or 1.75 hours with a fee of $7.50 per child (no fee for adults), and include: Let's Go Letterboxing!, Maple Sugaring, and Vernal Pools. Times are flexible and include early-release days. For more information on afterschool scout programs download our Girl Scout/Brownie Programs flyer (PDF 45K) or contact Dan McCullough, 617-489-5050 x206.
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Habitat Comes to You!
 In-School Programs
We come to you with customized Habitat programs designed to support the science curriculum in your classroom. Our programs can be ongoing, multi-visit experiences on a specific topic, a seasonal program, or a one-time event. Some of our programs are in-class presentations and others involve field trips to local green spaces—or your schoolyard. Many of our programs are "institutional legends" that children and parents alike anticipate.
We work with teachers to provide expertise and resources to give students first-hand experience with nature. Most of our programs involve real props (animal skulls, natural materials, or one of our small animal visitors—salamander, toad, snake, turtle, insects). Students come to a deeper understanding of the science they are learning in school through our hands-on approach and knowledgeable instructors. Programs are funded in a variety of ways. We are happy to work with you to find a way to bring our programs into your classroom. Popular topics: School-yard Ecology, Life cycles, Insects, Habitats, Soil and Decomposition, Trees and Forests, Watersheds.
Give us a call at 617-489-5050 to talk about your specific program needs. Our programs support MA Science Curriculum Framework.
 After-School Programs
After-school, Habitat brings active, exciting 6 or 8 week programs on natural history topics to schools as elective enrichment classes held at the end of the school day. After-school programs are typically run as weekly one-hour classes and are designed for students in grades K-5. Many of our classes seek to get children outdoors exploring their schoolyard.
Classes emphasize hands-on learning in a playful, fun atmosphere. All programs can be adapted in duration, subject matter, or age group, to the needs of your school.
Beyond-School Programs
Presentations and multi-visit Habitat programs bring nature to senior centers, assisted living sites, youth groups, community organizations, libraries, and others. Find out about our customized programs... we've been a hit with a wide variety of audiences. Get in touch with the natural world!
For more information download the Outreach Program Brochure (PDF 320K) or contact Marian Miller, 617-489-5050 x208.
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