This fall the fifth graders at Hillendale will go on a field trip to the Ashland Nature Center near Hockessin, Delaware. Mrs. Robinson's class and Mrs. Patton's class went on their trip October 10 and October 11. The other fifth grade classes will go to Ashland on dates scheduled throughout the months of September, October and November.
The Ashland site has a beautiful modern lodge where students sleep overnight and eat their meals. Students participate in different programs lead by guides from Ashland. In the aquatic ecology program, students use nets to collect from the pond, marsh or stream plant and animal life. Later, they return to the nature center lab and use microscopes to look at microorganisms. The Lenape Indian program provides an opportunity for students to learn about the Lenni Lenape culture and how they used the environment around them for everyday needs. Students particularly enjoy nature photography. During this program students work in small groups to take pictures of nature with Polaroid cameras. Each student frames one of his/her favorite pictures and writes an accompanying haiku. Another program offered is Insect Study. Students are taught about the identification and classification of insects and then have the opportunity to catch and classify them in a variety of outdoor environments. The "Cycle of Life" program investigates the relationship between producers, consumers, and decomposers in different environments. All of these programs enrich our fifth grade curriculum.Ashland Nature Programs
- Aquatic Study
- Nature Photography
- Insect Study
- Cycle of Life
- Native Americans
Additional Features
- Ashland Lodge
- Ashland Panoramic Views - See if you can figure out where these panoramic views were taken.
Check out some pictures of Mrs. Swisher's and Mrs. Bowman's classes on their Ashland Adventure.
Click HERETo learn more about the
Ashland Nature Center.
