Field Trips: Come Visit Eco

These hands-on field trips are customized to meet your educational needs.  Your students will not only learn but EXPERIENCE the sights, sounds, and hands-on interactions and activities in our themed Rainforest.  Journey through different themed stations and meet animals from each layer of the rainforest such as an armadillo, python, sun conure and caiman in our Rainforest Adventures station. Then get your hands dirty and go fossil hunting for some real Chesapeake Bay fossils, shark teeth and gems! OR, meet some rescued animals such as our new Screech Owls in what's in your Backyard, terrapins, and more! Choose from a variety of themes including NEW labs this year such as owl pellet lab, animal defense lab, shark lab and more! Finish your field trip with a picnic lunch in our Pixie Hollow forest.  This is a unique field trip they will never forget so go ahead and book it early as we SELL OUT our dates!!

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Pricing:

* A 5% discount is given if the ECO field trip or outreach is in Sept-Dec. Must mention code: DISC-FALL in the booking form to get the discount at the time of booking. This discount does not apply to Title 1 Schools
*For ECO field trips: MAX amount of people is 80 adults and children combined during these months
  • School Year:
    • $19 per student/ $14 per chaperones
    • $380 minimum price (20 students)
  • Title 1:
    • $15 per person (must meet minimum price) 

**Classroom teachers are free. One homeschool organizer is free. 

Fossil Dig 2
Feeding Hedgie

How to Book a Program

Ready to book? Our expert staff will guide you through the best options for your organization or school. Need anything? Just ask-

Step 1:  See options for Field trips and Outreaches.  Fill out the program form completely. Make sure you include, # kids, grades, theme, option, and address if we are going to you!

Step 2: Once you submit the information, we will contact you to confirm the dates and times that we are available for your program within 24hrs-48hrs. If you need immediate confirmation, please call 410-987-1300.

Step 3: Receive a contract via email. Sign it and return to our admin team via email. Voila! No deposit needed!

Book a Date
A group of people sitting around in the middle of an indoor area.

NEW PACKAGES!

Imagination Station

Recommended for PreK-2nd Grade

Embark on a wild adventure where imagination meets education! Students will journey through three thrilling themes—Swashbuckling Pirates, Animal Superheroes, and a Wild West Fossil Dig. Along the way, they'll meet amazing animals that bring each story to life, uncover hidden treasures, and discover the superpowers of the animal kingdom. It’s a hands-on, interactive experience where learning comes alive!

SWASHBUCKLING Adventure!

Ahoy ‘ye pirates and mermaids! Join the Eco Captain and swashbuckling pirate crew on an exciting quest to find thy stolen pirate treasure!   First, you must pass the tests of bravery,  Are ‘ye brave enough to swallow a mealworm during our “Fear Factor” challenge? OR would you rather touch a slithery snake?  If the challenges are too treacherous ye may… walk the plank!! Test ‘ye teamwork skills with 'ye mateys while working together to wrestle alligators and encounter live island animals. Along the way, stumble upon some animals and learn all the ins and outs of these important creatures, and the why and how they call these amazing habitats and oceans their home.  Join us for the ultimate adventure  ‘ye will never forget!

Swashbuckling Pirate Adventure!

* good for Pre-K-2nd but can be modified to any age

Which animal has the strongest bite?…can climb walls, or virtually disappear, or even can stretch like a rubber band? Spectators beware: are you brave enough to volunteer and let a tarantula crawl up your belly, wrestle a giant snake or a gator? Get all the answers In this fascinating exploration of the super powers of some of natures' most amazing animals. Live animals will be on hand to demonstrate their super powers up close and personal.
NOTE: Super Villains unwelcome at this presentation! Capes are optional

Animal Superpowers

Fossils everywhere...Dig It (literally)!  

The Chesapeake Bay is 35 million years old.  Learn about the different marine invertebrates and vertebrates that roamed the earth millions of years ago. How different are they from today?  Put on your paleontologist hat and discover some fossils, and gems in our fossil troughs. From sharks and marine mammals to crinoids, snails, scallop shells, and more!  Junior paleontologists will dig in, find, and identify various fossils and gems. 

*Keep one shark tooth to keep as a reminder of how amazing the Chesapeake is!   *extra $.50 per person

*Outside: Only available from March-November.

Wild West Gem Quest

Wild Worlds

Can be modified for all ages

Get ready to travel the globe without leaving the classroom! In Wild Worlds, students will explore the unique adaptations of animals across three incredible biomes. Trek through the desert in Survival in the Sand, where they’ll discover how creatures thrive in extreme heat. Dive into the tropical rainforest during Jungle Safari to uncover the secrets of this lush, lively habitat. Then, jump into action with Marine Animal Rescue, an interactive experience where students become wildlife heroes in a mock ocean rescue mission. It’s a wild journey through the wonders of animal design and survival!

Package includes: Survival in the Sand, Jungle Safari and choose between Marine Animal Rescue (1st-5th) OR Education Game/Fossil Dig (Prek-5th)

Have you ever wondered why animals are so hard to find in nature? They just seem to have a special skill at hiding from us, and for good reason... it's eat or be eaten! Colors in the wild matter and camouflage is everything in the ultimate game of hide and seek!  Join our expert Camo Specialist as you help us find clues that decipher how each animal uses colors in the wild.  Once you find the clues, you will take a closer look at how certain animals can change color, hide themselves, make themselves known they are dangerous, or are masters of illusion and mimicry! How do they do it? You will get all the answers as you see various live animal examples -- from camo to albino animals to colorful warnings of poison. Find out who is the friend or the foe and how animals are dependent on colors to survive!

Survival in the Sand

Embark on a journey into the rainforest!  Your safari guides will help you use all your senses, from smell to sounds and sights of the mysterious endangered habitat!   Did you know that 50% of all biodiversity comes from the rainforest among medicines, spices and fruits and so much more! Join us in a quest to learn about the importance of saving our rainforests.  Meet an animal from each layer of the rainforest and learn a fun and interactive game to remember the layers!

Jungle Safari!

Who do  you call when you find a dolphin beached on the sand??...Ghostbusters, no that's another program!! In this program, participants will see exactly what it's like to be a marine animal rescuer. When an animal is in distress it's an emergency that has to be addressed, time is of the essence, and it's up to the experts to come to the rescue, and this is exactly what this program is all about.   Sometimes it's a sea turtle, other times a shark, maybe even a manatee, and hold on, sometimes a giant jaw snapping crocodile! Each and every rescue requires different expertise. Learn all about why animals need rescuing- or even not! Participants will meet and interact with some of Eco Adventures' own rescued animals, and learn about their amazing rescue stories! Walle is our alligator that was rescued from the icy waters of Lake Michigan, and our terrapins were discovered taped to the body of an apprehended smuggler! Whoa! These amazing animal stories are living, breathing examples of animal rescues in action, resulting from a myriad of reasons, like poaching to pollution, net entanglement, beaching, irresponsible pet ownership, and many more. It’s all hands-on as you learn how to make a difference with the power of knowledge...and Marine Animal Rescue 911!

 
Marine Animal Rescue!

Students will play animal population game and see how food, shelter, water and natural circumstances affect a deer population in a fun game!  

OR

Have a blast and explore our fossil digs! Search for fossils, shark teeth, gems and artifacts! Use ID charts to see what you have discovered.

Ed Game OR Fossil Dig

Wild by Design

Can be modified for all ages

Discover the incredible ways animals are built to survive! In this adaptation-focused adventure, students will explore how wildlife thrives in different environments. At Built for the Biome, they’ll meet real animals and learn how their unique traits help them conquer their habitats. Then, they’ll step into the shadows with Masters of the Night to uncover the secrets of nocturnal creatures. Finally, in the hands-on lab Eat or Be Eaten, students will dive into the fascinating world of animal defense and survival strategies. It’s a wild exploration of nature’s most clever designs!

Package includes: Built for the Biome, Masters of the Night and choose between Eat or be Eaten Lab (3rd-5th) OR Education Game/Fossil Dig (Prek-5th)

Survival of the fittest is what this world is all about and what other way to learn about survival than to see what are the coolest adaptations animals have to offer!  From glow-in-the-dark animals to quills, and spines, poison and venom, and slime. What are the best adaptations for each habitat? Desert, rainforests, aquatic, wetlands, -Meet and touch and a chameleon change color right in front of your very eyes- or touch a spiny hedgehog!  This world keeps ever-changing and only the animals that can adapt can survive.

Built for the Biome

What animals are wide awake when we are fast asleep? Which creatures go bump in the night? How do nocturnal animals survive in the dark? Learn all this and more in the Masters of the Night field trip rotation! In this rotation, you will meet and learn about Eco’s very own animals of the night! Students will learn about and interact with various nocturnal animals that call Eco home including our newest animals: the owls!  

Masters of the Night

In the wild, there’s only one rule: eat or be eaten. From predators on the hunt to prey fighting to stay alive, every creature is armed with extraordinary adaptations. In this hands-on lab, junior scientists will dive into the thrilling science of survival and uncover what it really takes to win nature’s ultimate challenge. Students will rotate through action-packed stations, discovering the secrets of camouflage, warning colors, and venom. They’ll get up close with live animals and animal artifacts to see the art of self-defense in action. At another station, they’ll examine real skulls to reveal how teeth and jaws are shaped by what (and how) an animal eats. And in the finale, they’ll become predators themselves, testing their skills in a fast-paced challenge to “hunt like a hawk.” From stealthy disguises to crushing jaws, students will come face-to-face with the strategies that mean the difference between survival and extinction. Grab your curiosity and get ready to explore the science of survival!

Eat or Be Eaten Lab

Students will play animal population game and see how food, shelter, water and natural circumstances affect a deer population in a fun game!  

OR

Have a blast and explore our fossil digs! Search for fossils, shark teeth, gems and artifacts! Use ID charts to see what you have discovered.

Ed Game OR Fossil Dig

Secrets of the Jungle

Can be modified for all ages

Secrets of the Jungle is a thrilling, hands-on field trip that takes students deep into the heart of the rainforest. At Jungle Safari, they’ll walk through a lush jungle setting, meet live animals, and explore the incredible biodiversity that makes rainforests so unique. In Color Me Crazy, students will discover how animals use color and camouflage to hide, hunt, or stand out. Finally, in the Rainforest Adventure Lab, students will dive into interactive experiments that reveal the vital connections between plants and animals in this complex ecosystem. It’s a fun, educational adventure where science comes alive!

Package includes: Jungle Safari, Color Me Crazy and choose between Rainforest Adventure Lab (2nd-5th) OR Education Game/Fossil Dig (Prek-5th)

Embark on a journey into the rainforest!  Your safari guides will help you use all your senses, from smell to sounds and sights of the mysterious endangered habitat!   Did you know that 50% of all biodiversity comes from the rainforest among medicines, spices and fruits and so much more! Join us in a quest to learn about the importance of saving our rainforests.  Meet an animal from each layer of the rainforest and learn a fun and interactive game to remember the layers!

Jungle Safari!

The animal kingdom has more colors than you can even imagine...it's crazy cool! Lots of colors you've never even heard of! Some animals even CHANGE color.   In this very dynamic presentation full of sights, lights, sounds, animals…and COLOR, students will  meet live animals and investigate how certain animals can change color, hide themselves, stand out with bright dangerous warnings, or are masters of illusion and mimicry!  Craziness!   In our natural world, art is everywhere- there are also some beautiful colors and patterns in nature!  See the Northern Lights, beautiful flowers, and colorful animals as our Eco Adventures' very own “Colorologist” will guide you through the crazy world of colors!   Color me crazy if you don't sign up for this brand new program right now!

Color Me Crazy!

Journey into the magical world of the rainforest! In this hands-on adventure, you’ll explore from the very top of the trees all the way down to the forest floor- literally in our own Rainforest! Learn how this endangered habitat is interconnected through the animals, plants and its unique ecosystems that allow them all to flow all together. Find out what happens when people cut down trees, when fires spread, or when new animals move in. You’ll see how one small change can shake up the whole forest!
In this lab, students will:

  • Meet tropical birds- like a Macaw or sun conure and discover how these bright parrots help the forest grow by spreading seeds. Their awesome beaks aren’t just cool-looking—they’re perfect tools for cracking nuts, munching fruit, and helping the rainforest thrive!
  • Build a Food Web – From giant trees to jaguars, you’ll connect the rainforest “who eats who” activity and see how every living thing plays a part in keeping the jungle alive and balanced.
  • Smell the Rainforest – Visit our mystery smell station to sniff out some of the amazing foods and medicinal plants from the rainforest that benefit humans every day.

Pack your explorer hat—this rainforest adventure is full of discoveries waiting for you!

Rainforest Adventure Lab

Students will play animal population game and see how food, shelter, water and natural circumstances affect a deer population in a fun game!  

OR

Have a blast and explore our fossil digs! Search for fossils, shark teeth, gems and artifacts! Use ID charts to see what you have discovered.

Ed Game OR Fossil Dig

Dr. B's "Dangerous" Encounters

Can be modified for all ages

Inspired by Dr. Brady Barr’s thrilling TV show, this field trip dives into the wild world of nature’s most fearsome creatures! Students will step into the “Danger Zone” where they will get an up-close encounter with alligators and snakes where they will learn all about their incredible strength, test their courage in a fun and fearless game of Fear Factor, and explore the science of survival in a hands-on lab called Eat or Be Eaten. It's an action-packed adventure where bravery meets biology!

Package includes: Welcome to the Danger Zone, Fear Factor and choose between Eat or Be Eaten Lab (3rd+) OR Education Game/Fossil Dig (Prek-5th)

Get ready for an interactive adventure where YOU step into the shoes of real animal experts! Find out just how fast and far a snake can really strike, and how to keep a safe distance to keep to avoid a bite. See how professionals safely hold and move snakes, and try out some safe techniques yourself. Learn important croc-catching secrets like where the “danger zone” is when working with crocodiles, and watch how experts carefully catch and restrain them for important research. It’s hands-on learning packed with fun, excitement, and real-life animal science. Step up, face the challenge, and find out if YOU are ready to enter the Danger Zone!

Welcome to the Danger Zone

Fear Factor

Don’t make eye contact…Please, please, please, not the spider. They’re all thoughts that might run through your mind as the crowd is searched for brave volunteers. It's Fear Factor! You won't be disappointed with this high energy, excitement packed, hair raising test of wills where guests will compete in a series of challenges and dares to probe their fears and put their determination to the test! Hold a giant spider, wrangle a croc, or eat a bug??…YIKES, they’re all tests that each contestant might face. cockroaches, snakes, and slimy creatures, you never know what it’s going to be. It’s all random, so keep your fingers crossed when you flip over a coconut and find out what challenge awaits you.

Fear Factor

It's a jungle out there, full of so many dangers just how do animals defend themselves? From camouflage to poison,  to extraordinary armor and mimicry, animals are ingenious at protecting themselves and staying alive. In this hands-on lab, students will investigate these defenses for themselves with live animals to look at their mini stations covering defenses from camouflage to mimicry to looking at amazing shark adaptations. Students will rotate from table to table with opportunities to examine the armor of animals using a microscope, see live scorpions, touch sea turtles' carapaces, and get challenged to hunt like a hawk!  Many discoveries await. Junior scientists grab a microscope, it's time to get curious! 

Eat or Be Eaten Lab

Students will play animal population game and see how food, shelter, water and natural circumstances affect a deer population in a fun game!  

OR

Have a blast and explore our fossil digs! Search for fossils, shark teeth, gems and artifacts! Use ID charts to see what you have discovered.

Ed Game OR Fossil Dig

Maryland: From Forests to Shores

Can be modified for all ages

Discover the wonders of Maryland’s diverse ecosystems with our Maryland: From Forests to Shores field trip package! Students will start by exploring native wildlife at the Native Neighbors station, learning about the unique animals that call Maryland home. Next, they'll meet a live Eastern Screech Owl and investigate its diet through a hands-on owl pellet dissection in Owls: Inside and Out. Finally, they’ll race to see who can tong for the most oysters in the exciting Tonging for Treasure activity, where they’ll learn about Maryland's historic waterman tradition. A dynamic journey through the forests, shores, and rich heritage of Maryland’s natural world!

Package includes: Native Neighbors, Owls: Inside and Out Lab and choose between Tonging for Treasure (3rd+) OR Education Game/Fossil Dig (Prek-5th)

This rotation will open the eyes and ears of students as we introduce them to “near nature”, things they can find in their very own back yards.  Learn how to safely interact and what to do if you encounter one of these backyard beasts. See a snake hooking demo and meet terrapins and even one of our Screech owls! Our instructors will explain what to look for, animal signs, clues, and ecosystem indicators.  What is the difference between invasive, exotic, and native species?  How are our local terrestrial animals related to the Bay?  These are all questions that will be answered as they see and interact with some examples of local creatures for hands-on inquiry-based learning. 

 
Native Neighbors

Owls, the ultimate nocturnal hunters. Using their sharp eyes and silent flight, owls catch creatures hidden in the dark. This gives the owl a tasty meal, but what can we learn from the way they hunt? In this hands-on rotation, students will dissect owl pellets, identify the bones they find, and work together to create a snapshot of the nocturnal world and its diversity. Many discoveries await, as we step into the shoes of real ecologists to learn about all the creatures we don’t see. It's time to get curious, and dive into the night! 

*EXTRA FEE: $25 more for every 50 students for owl pellets

Owls: Inside and Out
Young marine biologists will learn all about oysters, the historic Maryland waterman and the health of the Chesapeake Bay.  Students will hop on their boat, put on their waterman waders and tong for Oysters at the Eco Oyster Reef!  Utilizing age-old techniques and tools, students will work as a team to test their skill at bringing up oysters, measuring and finding viable oysters to "sell" at the docks!  
Tonging For Treasure

Students will play animal population game and see how food, shelter, water and natural circumstances affect a deer population in a fun game!  

OR

Have a blast and explore our fossil digs! Search for fossils, shark teeth, gems and artifacts! Use ID charts to see what you have discovered.

Ed Game OR Fossil Dig

Creature Careers

Can be modified for all ages

Embark on an unforgettable adventure with our Creature Careers field trip package! Students will experience a live animal training demo with Creature Coaches, where expert trainers showcase real-time techniques. They’ll then dive into an interactive mock activity on how zookeepers prepare to survive venomous snake bites in Fang Fest: Survive the Strike, and wrap up with a hands-on lab, InvestiGATORS: Gators, Guts and Graphs, where they'll investigate the diet of American alligators through data analysis and fun experiments. A thrilling, educational journey into the world of wildlife care and conservation!

Package includes: Creature Coaches: Live Training Demo, Fang Fest: Survive the Strike and choose between InvestiGATORS: Gators, Guts & Graphs (5th+) OR Education Game/Fossil Dig (PreK-5th)

Animal Training/Feeding Demonstration

In this exciting rotation, students will learn what it takes to be an animal trainer.  What are some animals that we didn’t know could be trained? Learn about the pros and cons about working with animals along with the basics of positive reinforcement by “training” a volunteer.  Do you like to touch worms, mice, and fish? Are you patient? Do you like psychology? If you said YES to all of these- then move on to assist in a real animal training and perhaps train a dragon, gator, or a mammal…Get your target pole and clicker ready to train away!

  • Recommended for grades 3rd and up
Creature Coaches

Think fast—what would you do if someone was bitten by a venomous snake? In this thrilling role-play adventure, students become part of the action as one teammate is “bitten” and the rest of the group must work together to get them to safety. Guided by their instructor, kids will learn the right moves to make in a real emergency, building teamwork and critical thinking skills along the way. Once the rescue mission is complete, the adventure continues with a close-up encounter with a real animal. Students will discover fascinating facts about how these creatures live and how to stay safe if they ever cross paths with one in the wild. Exciting, educational, and unforgettable, Fang Fest: Survive the Strike lets kids step into the shoes of real-life animal caretakers and explore just how high-stakes this job can be.

Fang Fest: Survive the Strike

In this one-of-a-kind EcoAdventure Lab, students will step into the boots of real wildlife researchers. Get ready to capture, weigh, measure, and study actual alligators (yes, real gators!) as part of a thrilling hands-on experience.  Ever wonder what a top predator eats? You’re about to find out — the messy, fascinating way! In this wild class, students will meet and work with a real crocodilian expert, interact with and safely practice to catch live alligators, and learn how we induce gator regurgitation (yep, gator vomit!) to discover what's inside

Once the gator "gives up" its lunch, students will head to the lab, where they’ll:

  • Sort through the "stomach contents" of the alligator, 
  • Use scientific instruments 
  • Apply animal classification skills
  • Practice data collection, graphing, and analysis and practice scientific methods— all through exciting, STEM-focused, hands-on learning.

This is science like you’ve never seen it — messy, wild, and unforgettable. Want to know if gators eat birds, fish, reptiles… maybe even people? There's only one way to find out.

InvestiGATORS Lab

Students will play animal population game and see how food, shelter, water and natural circumstances affect a deer population in a fun game!  

OR

Have a blast and explore our fossil digs! Search for fossils, shark teeth, gems and artifacts! Use ID charts to see what you have discovered.

Ed Game OR Fossil Dig

Additional Themes

If field trip groups will be larger than ..... students Eco's Admin Team will reach out with additional themes to add to your package. If you would like to swap a theme in your pack with on of these please mark so in the notes of the booking form.

Have you ever wondered why animals are so hard to find in nature? They just seem to have a special skill at hiding from us, and for good reason... it's eat or be eaten! Colors in the wild matter and camouflage is everything in the ultimate game of hide and seek!  Join our expert Camo Specialist as you help us find clues that decipher how each animal uses colors in the wild.  Once you find the clues, you will take a closer look at how certain animals can change color, hide themselves, make themselves known they are dangerous, or are masters of illusion and mimicry! How do they do it? You will get all the answers as you see various live animal examples -- from camo to albino animals to colorful warnings of poison. Find out who is the friend or the foe and how animals are dependent on colors to survive!

Animal Hide & Seek

Cute is in the eye of the beholder! Whether it's scaly or furry, slithery or creepy....you’ll be sure to meet some lovable creatures. From Baby turtles, baby gators, hedgehog, a tarantula named "Fuzzy Wuzzy" or even a flying squirrel... You'll be sure to eventually...FALL IN LOVE these cute and cuddly animals!

Cute and Cuddly

Join our Eco-Explorers on an adventure to track down the elusive rainbow lizard! Along the way, we are relying upon your explorer skills to help us make critical decisions all along the way. The group will be faced with a series of choices at every turn.  Make the right choice and proceed, but make the wrong choice...and mayhem ensues! Anything and everything is fair game on this adventure! Will participants get hopelessly lost?  Stumble upon an angry snake?  Wander into quicksand, or will they successfully navigate all that we throw at them and find the elusive lizard?  Participants are sure to meet some cool live animals, learn survival skills, and especially the value of making the right decision and choosing wisely.  It's all fun and games in this amazing adventure...as long as the right choices are made along the way!  Choose wisely...or else!! 

Ultimate Animal Adventure!

Embark on a journey into the rainforest!  Your safari guides will help you use all your senses, from smell to sounds and sights of the mysterious endangered habitat!   Did you know that 50% of all biodiversity comes from the rainforest among medicines, spices and fruits and so much more! Join us in a quest to learn about the importance of saving our rainforests.  Meet an animal from each layer of the rainforest and learn a fun and interactive game to remember the layers!

Jungle Safari!

Fear Factor

Don’t make eye contact…Please, please, please, not the spider. They’re all thoughts that might run through your mind as the crowd is searched for brave volunteers. It's Fear Factor! You won't be disappointed with this high energy, excitement packed, hair raising test of wills where guests will compete in a series of challenges and dares to probe their fears and put their determination to the test! Hold a giant spider, wrangle a croc, or eat a bug??…YIKES, they’re all tests that each contestant might face. cockroaches, snakes, and slimy creatures, you never know what it’s going to be. It’s all random, so keep your fingers crossed when you flip over a coconut and find out what challenge awaits you.

Fear Factor

Students will play animal population game and see how food, shelter, water and natural circumstances affect a deer population in a fun game!  

OR

Have a blast and explore our fossil digs! Search for fossils, shark teeth, gems and artifacts! Use ID charts to see what you have discovered.

Ed Game OR Fossil Dig

Outdoor Trip to Sandy Point State Park (60 students or less)  Bigger groups can be broken down into 2 days

*Recommended age 3rd grade and up

Fee: $22/student and $15/chaperone, teachers no charge

Meet at Sandy Point State Park where students will participate in activities including hiking/scavenger hunt, seining, have a picnic lunch and they will meet some amazing animals they might find in their own backyards! 
We will rotate from station to station:  Scavenger hunt/hike, seining, animals in your backyard/Chesapeake Bay.
 
Sample schedule:  9-noon  plus lunch     * Can start 9:30am
Welcome/rules
Station 1 Seining (beach walk/cleanup on your way to next station)
Station 2 Meet animals in your backyard/Chesapeake Bay
Station 3  Scavenger Hunt/hike through forest
Picnic Lunch on your own
 
Fee: Depending on # of kids, please email ecoadventuresmd@gmail.com 
*Sandy Point Park Charges $4 per person for ages 8 and over
Outdoor Trip to Sandy Point State Park

Outdoor Turtle-tacular Research Trip to Kinder Farm Park (50 Students or Less)

*Recommended age 3rd grade and up

Fee: $22/student and $15/chaperone, teachers no charge

This day is for the serious turtle lovers! Help naturalists find Painted turtles,  Snapping turtles, Mud turtles, and maybe even Box turtles while collecting data such as tagging, weighing, and measuring animals.  See the difference first hand between aquatic and terrestrial turtles.  Learn about threats to all turtles including our very own Diamondback terrapins and sea turtles.  Then get ready, set, …Go!  Who will win in a box turtle race…  It’s everything you need to know…so to speak…about those critters with a shell and a beak!

Sample Schedule:

9:30-9:40:  Intro/Rules, 10 minutes
9:40-9:55:  Nature Hike, 15 minutes
9:55-10:55:  Rotation 1 as a whole group: Intro to Field Research and Turtles. Check turtle traps together., 1 hour
Split into two groups for Lab stations with 5 mins to switch:  Stations are Turtle ID/Tagging and Weighing/Measuring.
11:00-11:20, Rotation 2, 20 minutes  
11:25-11:45:  Rotation 3, 20 minutes
11:50-12:00:  Rotation 4 -- come back together as whole group to release turtles,10 minutes
Bathrooms/wash hands.  Eco Adventures field trip ends.
Then your team can have a picnic lunch and time to explore Kinder Farm Park.
Outdoor Research Trip Turtle-tacular

SAMPLE FIELD TRIP SCHEDULE BELOW

10:00am - Arrival 
10:00 – 10:10 am Introduction in the Rainforest
10:15 – 10:40 am 1st Rotation: Rainforest
10:45 – 11:15 am 2nd Rotation: Africa 
11:20 – 11:45 pm 3rd Rotation: Underwater Discovery Room
11:50– 12:15 pm Optional Lunch - picnic tables outside (inside Rainforest Room for bad weather)

*4th & 5th stations depending on number of children

Click Here for Sample Schedule

“Take it from someone on the front lines, a recent visiting teacher from Annapolis Area Christian School, who proclaimed: “The best field trip ever and I have been teaching over 20 years .“ Please move forward and plan a visit on The WILD SIDE, where you can touch, see, and “Experience the Extraordinary” at Eco Adventures!”

“WOW! My son had the opportunity to come through Eco Adventures this morning with his class from Woods Memorial. I am a teacher and absolutely was impressed with the smooth way your team ran their adventure today. The presentations were easy to understand and we knew we were dealing with professionals as soon as our program began, so thank you, on this rainy, rainy day. (and I read the Baltimore Sun article from a while ago and, again, wow-80 countries-your training and hard work to bring this location to life is inspiring)”