Ecology Bus Programs
Ecology Bus programs are hands-on, outdoor classes held at natural areas near the participating school. Students use scientific equipment and their
observation skills to learn about the natural wonders of their "backyard." These programs are designed to run three hours, including travel time. Upon request, we can offer longer or shorter programs. Most classes require some kind of natural area to work in. Details of programs will vary with the site, season, and age of participants. General descriptions of Ecology Bus classes are below.

Questions about what you need for an upcoming Bus program? Check out our student information page to help you get ready for the Bus coming to your school.

If you have recently had an Ecology Bus Program
for your school or organization, please complete
an on-line evaluation so we can better meet your needs! On-Line Evaluation

Water Quality
Grades 4-12

Become an aquatic scientist for a day! Find out what “water quality” means and how do we measure it? Does water quality really affect us? Do we affect water health? Use scientific observation, testing tools, chemical kits and biological indicators to assess the water quality of a lake or streams in your region. Rubber boots and tools provided. (Requires a pond, lake or stream with safe student access.)

Stream and Lake Ecology
Grades 4-12

Discover the life in and around your local streams and lakes through mapping, searching for animals and their signs, using aquatic dip nets, and more! Participants will learn about the food chain and how insects play an important role in this ecosystem. Rubber boots and tools provided. (Requires a lake or stream with safe student access.)

Wetland Wildlife
Grades K-12

Amazing animals, big and small, call the watery environment of marshes and swamps home. Wetland diversity is comparable with the richness of tropical ecosystems! Observe and learn how animals are specially suited to these wild and watery worlds and how they are interconnected to the surrounding environments. Rubber boots and tools provided. (Requires a wetland site with safe student access.)

Benthic Macros Investigation
Grades 6-12

Benthic (bottom dwelling) macros are excellent indicators of water health. Macros (short for macroinvertebrates) are those creatures without a backbone such as insect larvae, crayfish, leeches, snails, etc. Students will improve their skills in the areas of analysis, classification, observation, computation, as well as dexterity and confidence in the use of water sampling equipment. Students will learn about the adaptations, niches and the life cycles of common stream insects to find the water quality index and diversity of creeks or streams. Rubber boots and tools provided. (Requires a pond, lake or stream with safe student access.)

Prairie Ecology
Grades K-12

Immigrants settling in this region had to cross two oceans. One was of water, the other of six-foot tall prairie grasses! Participants will explore prairie plants using various senses to better understand their unique adaptations. Searching for & identifying prairie animals and their signs will help students determine how both plants and animals have adapted to this hot, dry environment. Studying remnant and restored prairies enables students to better understand why this region is part of the nation’s “bread basket”. Good walking shoes are a must in this class - no sandals, please. Long pants are recommended.

** Note: This program is best conducted in the summer or fall as these two seasons are optimal when working with prairie plants.

Prairie Plants
Grades 4-12

Discover the rich world of texture, pattern, size, and smell of the prairie landscape. Prairies can be harsh environments with recurring fires and hot, dry, windy weather. But through this harshness you'll find beauty and awe-inspiring life - both big and small. Observe how prairie plants survive and thrive in this landscape. Learn how their diverse life forms and habits make them well-suited to the prairie environment and how they built the rich soil we depend upon today!

** Note: This program is best conducted in the summer or fall as these two seasons are optimal when working with prairie plants.

Avian Adventure (Bird Ecology)
Grades K-12

Our feathered friends are as varied as the environments in which they live. Discover what makes the bird such a unique animal and the adaptations that enable them to live in Minnesota. Participants will learn common bird calls and what identifying characteristics will help to recognize them in the field. Using binoculars (for older students) and newly aquired skills, participants will take a bird trek in search of our feathered neighbors.

Introduction to Microscopes
Grades 4-8

Microscopes are truly spectacular tools! They open up a whole new world in front of our eyes! Working in pairs with their own microscopes, students will learn the basics of the micro-world from the parts of a microscope to studying prepared slides. Participants will have the opportunity to collect samples from nature for further study and create their own slide mounts for study and diagramming. Anything is fair game, from bug guts to feathers, soil to plant parts and more - as long as it can fit under the microscope lens!

Nature Interpretation Through Art
Grades 3-8

Explore the realms of nature with a different eye–an artists eye! Students learn techniques for both drawing and observing their surroundings. A focused hike in the outdoors will help participants select their artists tools. Using what nature provides, students utilize their “tools” collected to create painted works of art. Since we work with paint, students should wear “paint” clothes and expect to return a bit more colorful!

Winter Animal Adaptations
Grades 6-12

Winter is an awesome time to explore the outdoors! If you're dressed well and are prepared for colder temperatures, spending time outside is a terrific experience and rather fun! Students will learn first-hand how animals cope with sub-zero temperatures and do quite well in winter months. Simulations and experiments will teach students how animals are physically and behaviorally adapted to Minnesota winters. Students will observe which animals are active during winter months and learn what clues to look for if the critters aren’t present at the time. If sufficient snow is on the ground, we'll conduct the class via snowshoes.

Winter Birding
Grades K-8

Not all birds have flown south for the winter! How do birds survive the cold and snow? Where do they hang out and how can we attract them to our yards and school grounds? Learn how birds make a living during our crisp winters and how to identify these winter neighbors through hikes and activities. Students will learn how to bird by sight, by ear and learn what clues we can find that tells us who is in the neighborhood!

Water Quality
Grades 6-12

Even in the depths of winter, water quality is a subject for study. How does water quality change in lakes and streams during our colder months? Learn what water quality is and how it’s measured with chemical and physical tests. Draw samples from local water bodies and test these samples yourselves! (Note: Availability of a nearby, suitable location for sampling is not always possible during winter months. Please call PEBC to discuss this option.)