More than 1100 groups come to the Tenafly Nature Center each year. With their boundless curiosity, they touch, observe and listen to the natural world. Join our professional educators this year, as they bring classroom concepts to life and lead your students in hands-on learning and close observations in our 380-acre living museum.
Utilize skulls to identify how an animals external parts are used to help them survive and grow. Meet four different live animals and discover how different organisms survive and thrive in specific habitats while others cannot. Discover what happens to those species when a habitat changes.
Over 60 Years of Community Service
Programs for 6th-8th Grade groups |
TNC programs have been developed for students in 6th-8th grade and are designed to help educators meet Next Generation Science Standards, and the New Jersey Student Learning Standards. If a subject of interest to you does not appear below, please contact the Field Trip and TNC to Go Manager for more information on how we can design programs to reinforce your curriculum. |
Field Trip Programs
| TNC to Go Programs
| Gifted & Talented Programs (at TNC and at your location) | TNC Remote Learning (through a computer) |
|
Sample Schedule |
Half Day |
Full Day |
|---|---|---|
| 9:15 am | Arrive at TNC | Arrive at TNC |
| 9:30 am-11:00 am |
Program Option #1 (ex. Maple Sugaring) |
Program Option #1 (ex. Maple Sugaring) |
| 11:00 am-11:45 am | Lunch Time in reserved space | Lunch Time in reserved space |
| 11:45 am-1:15 pm | Depart TNC | Program Option #2 (ex. Forest Ecology) |
| 1:15 pm | Depart TNC |
Seasonal Field Trip Programs(All programs are 90 minutes) Click title to view description
Field Trip Add-OnsClick title to view description
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Through problem-solving challenges and group work, this program will help your class recognize their strengths and practice their listening skills. Using their physical and mental abilities, students will learn how to communicate effectively with each other and cultivate cooperative skills.
Learn about the major factors that threaten animals with endangerment and extinction worldwide. Discover how people both directly and indirectly affect the Earth's biodiversity and meet 4-5 living examples of species whose populations are being affected by human actions today. Gain an awareness of New Jersey’s 60+ endangered species, and develop solutions to help prevent threats to our local wildlife. Explore what happens to a species when most of the population is gone and how easily the remaining animals can perish.
Students explore the local forest to learn about the ecology of the plants and animals that live there. Learning to deduce the history of a woodland by “reading the landscape”, students uncover some of the differences between deciduous and coniferous forests by field-testing forest plots, studying the flora and fauna, and making field observations. Students will discover the cultural and natural history of plants, particularly trees, as we examine a tree’s life stages, following it’s growth from seed to maturity, finally, to decomposition.
Develop an understanding of why scientists classified reptiles and amphibians as herps and how their internal and external structures support their growth and survival. Learn about the special adaptations that make each of these groups unique and meet several live reptiles and amphibians. Dive in for an in depth look at amphibian life cycles.
Students learn the different parts of a compass, and how to use it to locate directions. After they learn about pacing classes will apply this knowledge outdoors on the trails on a pre-set course that runs students through different combinations of paces and degrees.
Students are instructed in map reading and wayfinding techniques as they learn about orienteering, a competitive international sport that combines racing with navigation. It is a timed race in which individual participants use a specially created, highly detailed map to select routes and navigate through diverse and often unfamiliar terrain. Classes will apply this knowledge outdoors on the trails as they use their map-reading skills to follow pre-set courses to find control points in sequence hidden outdoors.
If your students were lost in the woods, would they know what to do? We will teach them to prepare for survival outdoors, using the “rules of three”. Students will have to cooperate and exercise group skills to construct a survival shelter.
Meet a live hawk and owl and discover how amazing birds of prey (Raptors) are. Discover what specifically makes a bird a raptor while learning about both diurnal and nocturnal adaptations and how they utilize their senses to locate and obtain their prey. Field trip programs (90 minutes) feature a pellet dissection and learning how scientists are able to study and learn more about these winged wonders without direct contact.
Discover how the structure of plants aide in survival and growth, what elements are needed for survival, and how the environment can affect a plants growth. Learn how animals assist in seed dispersal and about the history of apple cider and the tools and solutions people developed to solve extraction problems. Then use an old-fashioned screw press to make and sample fresh apple cider.
Discover what plants need, and how their main parts function to help with their survival. Explore how daylight affects a plants seasonal cycle and what that has to do with Maple Syrup. Learn how to identify a Maple tree and discover how to make maple syrup as we journey through the entire process of sap to syrup. Find out how those processes have changed over time and take the syrup challenge where participants taste and try to distinguish 100% maple from other syrup.
Examine the living macro-invertebrates found in a freshwater pond system and discover how each animals external parts help it to meet their needs. Learn about the diverse life cycles found within TNC's freshwater habitats, the interrelationships found within, and how human activity impacts these.
Help support the animal ambassadors that live at TNC, in conjunction with a scheduled field trip. Enjoy a 30 minute up close visit and Q&A session with your sponsored animal. All school & summer group sponsorship's receive a thank you package which includes: a group photo with the animal, certificate, photograph of sponsored animal, recognition in our newsletter, species information and animal's biography.
Come visit our beloved seasonal exhibit filled with live native butterflies. This add-on showcases beautifully colored butterflies sipping nectar and taking flight, offering students the opportunity to better understand and appreciate their life cycle and importance to the ecosystem. Inside you will be welcome to chat with staff or volunteers, ask questions, and enjoy the space while butterflies flit and fly about. Observe butterfly chrysalis in the chrysalis box. Maybe you will be lucky enough to see a butterfly emerge!
Before or after your scheduled programs, enjoy a guided trail walk along one of our trails, led by a TNC staff member.
Before or after your scheduled programs, grab a trail map and guide your students along one of our trails.
Half Day (1 90-minute program) |
Full Day (2 90-minute programs)
| |
| Per student | $15 | $25 |
| Minimum | $225 | $375 |
- No additional charge for teachers and aides.
- Maximum 1st-12th grade group size is 30 children per TNC educator.
- A maximum of 120 students can be accommodated at TNC at one time. Larger groups can be divided between morning and afternoon, or scheduled over several days.
- Programs require one teacher per class who may attend for free.
- In order to obtain adequate staff, advance notice of additional students and adults is required. We reserve the right to limit the number of non-registered participants on the trail to the number originally registered on the confirmation form.
- Please separate students into groups of 30 max (or one class) prior to arrival.
- Groups choosing the full day option have bathroom/lunch time included (total field trip time 3.5 hours)
- If your funds are limited, please consider applying for a scholarship (we strive to make nature accessible to everyone).
Accessibility at TNC
Many TNC programs can be altered to accommodate participants with special needs. We ask that you disclose pertinent information with a minimum of two weeks notice about any needs (educational requirements resulting from learning difficulties, physical abilities, or emotional and behavioral difficulties). This enables us to make accommodations to meet your groups needs.
|
Sample Schedule |
Multiple Classes (<4) |
Multiple Classes (>3) |
|---|---|---|
| 9:20 am | TNC Educator arrives at your location | 2 TNC Educators arrive at your location |
| 9:30 am-10:30 am |
Class A: Program (ex. Remarkable Raptors) |
Class A: Program (ex. Remarkable Raptors) |
| 10:30 am-11:30 am | Class B: Program (ex. Remarkable Raptors) |
Class C: Program (ex. Remarkable Raptors)
And in separate classroom |
| 12:20 am-12:30 pm | Lunch Break | Lunch Break |
| 12:30 pm-1:30 pm | Class C: Program (ex. Remarkable Raptors) |
Class E: Program (ex. Remarkable Raptors)
And in separate classroom |
| 1:30 pm | TNC Educator departs | 2 TNC Educators depart |
TNC To Go Programs Available All Year(All programs are 45-60 minutes, unless otherwise noted) @ = Program that can be done as an assembly (more than 30 students at one time) Click title to view description
TNC To Go Add-OnsAnimal Sponsorship Enjoy an additional 15-30 minute up close visit and Q & A session with your sponsored animal. All school & summer group sponsorship's receive a thank you package which includes: sponsored animal sticker or collectible trading card for every student, a certificate, photograph of sponsored animal, recognition in our newsletter, species information and animal's biography.
| TNC to Go Pricing |
Discover what really makes an animal nocturnal and what they need to survive. Meet several live animals who are most active at dawn, dusk, or night. Learn how light affects these creatures and about the amazing adaptations some of these animals possess to thrive as they roam the nighttime landscape.
Examine live insects and learn how diverse invertebrate life can be in a forest habitat. Discover how each animals structure help it to survive and how insects are similar yet different from other invertebrates. Learn about insect life stages and how some insects provide for their young. Learn how invertebrates contribute to human survival and what we can do to reduce our negative impacts on their populations.
Meet a live owl and learn about their unique adaptations. Discover how as one owl species habitat changes it affects other species across the United States. Identify how these nocturnal utilize their senses to locate and obtain their prey and what similarities we share with these powerful and efficient predators.
A hole in the ground is always mysterious as it invites curiosity and wonder. Discover why some animals are fossorial (live underground) and what adaptations they need to survive this underfoot habitat. Meet four live animals whose survival depends on the time they spend within the soil and discover why subterranean ecosystems are diverse, balanced, and much more active than you may think.
| 1st Hour | Consec. Hour | ||
| Bergen County | |||
| <30 participants | $275 | $150 | |
| >30 participants @ | $400 | $300 | |
| Up to 1-Hour Away | |||
| <30 participants | $300 | $150 | |
| >30 participants @ | $425 | $300 | |
| NYC Boroughs | |||
| <30 participants | $400* | $150 | |
| >30 participants @ | $500* |
$300 |
- No additional charge for teachers and aides.
- *Additional fee is included to the first program fee for all New York City boroughs visits to cover NYC permit requirements.
- A mileage charge of the current IRS rate per mile round trip is added to the program fee.
- One parking space must be provided near the entrance of your location (if no parking is available at your site then a fee will be added to cover any associated garage fees).
- Consecutive classes are programs held one right after another, for different classes, in the same school with no more than a 60 minute break between two of the programs.
- Maximum Pre-school & Kindergarten group size is 25 children per TNC educator.
- If your funds are limited, please consider applying for a scholarship (we strive to make nature accessible to everyone).
@ = Program that can be done as an assembly (more than 30 students at one time)
6th-8th Gifted & Talented ProgramsWhether you have an entire class of students who are academically gifted and talented or you have a smaller group of students brought together to cover curriculum as the schedule allows, we have programs developed to meet both needs. The following programs were developed with the gifted and talented program in mind. |
Gifted & Talented Programs Available All YearClick title to view description Discover the intricate world of this aquatic ecosystem. Students explore the characteristics and adaptations of inhabitants found in a pond environment. Starting with the smallest organisms and working your way up you will get an up close perspective of life under the surface.
Get your hands dirty and dig into the field of botany! Discover and identify plants as we explore growth, defense and niches of various local and global species. Outdoor excursions will give us a chance to put our knowledge into practice and support local ecosystems.
Loosely based on The Hunger Games series, this two-day program enables students to explore their surroundings while gaining survival skills. During this 2-full day course students will prepare snares, discover shelter building techniques, practice cooking outdoors, learn how to tie knots, identify edible plants, determine how to use a GPS unit to find their way, locate fresh water and learn how to purify it for drinking purposes. During this one day course students learn how a compass and map can be useful tools to find your way in the woods and what other wayfinding techniques an help them in everyday activities. After they learn basic compass skills students will apply this knowledge outdoors on the trails on a pre-set course that combines racing with navigation. It is a timed race in which individual participants use a specially created, highly detailed map to select routes and navigate through diverse and often unfamiliar terrain to find control points in sequence hidden outdoors.
| Gifted & Talented Pricing |
1-Full Day |
2-Full Day |
G&T Outreach Series Per Session* |
|
| Bergen County | |||
| Per student |
$25 | $50 | $250 |
- No additional charge for teachers and aides.
-
Maximum G&T group size is 15 children per TNC educator.
-
Programs require one teacher per class who may attend for free.
In order to obtain adequate staff, advance notice of additional students and adults is required. We reserve the right to limit the number of non-registered participants on the trail to the number originally registered on the confirmation form.
Please separate students into groups of 15 students prior to arrival.
- For all in school portions of the series:
-
- A mileage charge of the current IRS rate per mile round trip is added to the program fee for all in school program dates.
- One parking space must be provided near the entrance of your location (if no parking is available at your site then a fee will be added to cover any associated garage fees).
- If your funds are limited, please consider applying for a scholarship (we strive to make nature accessible to everyone).
- *
Remote Learning Available All Year(All programs consist of two-three 30 minute sessions) Click title to view description
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~Grace Wuertz |
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