Education Committee

Learn more about citizen science opportunities in the Conservancy, including monarch butterfly tagging and our frog and toad survey, here.

This bimonthly speaker series covers a variety of topics related to the Conservancy, including natural history and environmental science. Conservancy Days are held at 6pm the third Thursday of the month at the Middleton Public Library, 7425 Hubbard Ave. See the Conservancy Days schedule here.

The events are free, but registration is preferred—attendees can sign up at middleton.recdesk.com.

We offer elementary level field trips directly linked to the Middleton Cross Plains Area School District (MCPASD) science curriculum. Topics include trees, soils, plants, groundwater, web of life, and landforms. We will work with any teacher or group leader to develop a custom curriculum to fit their needs. In recent years, unique curricula have been created for all of the sixth graders in the school district. We are able to develop service learning opportunities for students that leave a lasting impact on the Conservancy and provide a meaningful experience for students. Programs have been developed for high school students in biology, photography, and advanced composition.

All of the field trip offerings are free for MCPASD groups. The Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy cover expenses. The school district pays for transportation expenses. For other groups, transportation is on your own and we accept donations for the field trip itself.

A set of lessons that educators can use on their own are available for download. Materials for many of these hands-on activities can be borrowed from the education program.

Contact our Education Coordinator, Tim Hansel, at [email protected] to learn more.

FIELD TRIP OPTIONS

• Kindergarten Trees (1.75-2 hours in the Conservancy)
• Kindergarten shapes and colors hunt (1.5 hours in the Conservancy)
• 1st grade Magic Bus Trip Into The Soil (1 hour and 35 mins in the Conservancy)
• 2nd grade Plants (2 hours in the Conservancy)
• 3rd grade Water (2.5-2.75 hours in the Conservancy) This is the only trip with rain dates.
• 4th grade Web of Life (1.75 hours in the Conservancy)
• 5th grade Landforms
• Seed collecting

The Madison Chapter of Friends of Urban Nature (FUN) works with the Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy and the Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance to host a series of free educational programs every month.

The Conservancy’s FUN programming takes place from 1:30 to 3pm on the fourth Saturday of every month. Registration is not required. Find more details on FUN events here.