Homeschool Series

(Ages 5 to 6, 7 to 8, 9 to 10, 11 to 12 and 13 to 14)

Wildwood Preserve, Metroparks Hall
Various Dates, 10:30 a.m. to Noon or 1:30 to 3 p.m.
Reservations Required, Fee: $90

Calling all homeschoolers- Discover the weird, messy, and often-misunderstood processes that help organisms survive, thrive, and keep our Metroparks ecosystems healthy. Students are grouped into classes by age and ability level (5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14 year olds) and meet once a month for the school year.

Each month focuses on a different topic and culminates with an optional project fair. All classes include group activities, nature exploration, and inquiry-based learning all while having fun and covering science concepts. Choose from the Friday morning session (10:30 am-12:00 pm) or Friday afternoon session (1:30 pm-3:00 pm). This program series meets at Wildwood Preserve Metropark. Students should dress for the weather, as the majority of the program is held outside.

• Program for Ages 5 to 6 [Register AM Session] [Register PM Session]
• Program for Ages 7 to 8 [Register AM Session] [Register PM Session]
• Program for Ages 9 to 10 [Register AM Session] [Register PM Session]
• Program for Ages 11 to 12 [Register AM Session] [Register PM Session]
• Program for Ages 13 to 14 [Register AM Session] 

*Registration Fee includes the following programs:

Schedule:

• September 4, 2026: Wacky Waste- Learn how animal scat helps scientists, plants, and other animals- and why poop is actually an important part of a healthy ecosystem
• October 2, 2026: Rot, Mold, and Mushrooms- Discover the gross-but-awesome decomposers that break down dead stuff and recycle it
• November 6, 2026: Uninvited Guests- Discover how some parasites survive by living on or in other plants and animals and how this strange relationship plays a role in keeping ecosystems balanced
• December 4, 2026: Slimy, Oozy, and Sticky- Explore how slime, mucus, sap, and goo help plants and animals protect themselves, heal, or catch food *Class held at Ward Pavilion
• January 8, 2027: Trash Raiders- Learn how scavengers and detritivores clean up leftovers and prevent disease.
• February 5, 2027: Baffling Behaviors- Discover how animals use actions we try to avoid, like spit, snot, drool, vomit, along with other baffling behaviors
• March 5, 2027: Awkward Phases- Explore messy life cycles and why growing up in nature can look strange
• April 2, 2027: Stinky Scents- Meet the plants and animals that smell bad on purpose.
• May 7, 2027: Project Fair 10 a.m. to Noon - Families are welcome to join us for an open house-style science fair where students will display their final projects at Glass City Metropark Enrichment Center. This is an optional project; students and families who choose not to complete it are still welcome to attend. 

These programs run rain or shine, dress for the weather, it is a drop-off program and bring a reusable water bottle filled with water. 

Updated: May 4, 2026