FALL, WINTER, SPRING AND SUMMER-- Rancocas programming is perfect for any season.

Childhood and the outdoors are a natural fit.  Take advantage of a child's natural curiosity about the outdoors while building on basic early environmental education themes. Engaging youngsters in outdoor discovery ensures that they are exposed to the natural world at a young age.  It's never too early to begin to develop an understanding of the environment around us. Rancocas programs are a great supplement to your traditional classroom curriculum.

Meet the Rancocas Reptiles--The Rancocas State Park is home to thirteen species of reptiles.  They are year-round residents that are readily seen spring to fall, and they hibernate in the park during the colder months.  A visit to our center offers children the chance to explore reptile habitats and learn about their characteristics.  In addition, this interactive program gives children the opportunity to "meet" several of the species that live in our Visitors Center and are part of our educational presentations.

Museum Madness--The Rancocas Visitors Center is the centerpiece of our preserve.  In addition to our colorful classroom with its seasonal displays, the center features a New Jersey live native reptile room, a wildlife viewing area, and an interactive museum.  With a wealth of environmental education materials as a hands-on stimulus, students will learn about the animals of Rancocas, their skulls, nests, nutritional needs, and how they adjust to the changing seasons.  This program includes a live animal demonstration.

Making "Sense" of Nature--Children are aware of their five senses at an early age.  Using touch, taste, sight, smell and hearing as central themes, this program introduces students to the fascinating world of nature and animals.  Children will get to use each of their five senses during hands-on activities that teach them about how animals sense the world around them through their eyes, ears, nose, mouth/tongue, and body covering.  And students will learn how the senses are important for survival in the wild.

Nature Scavenger Hunt--The wonders of the natural world are all around us.  While looking for clues along the trail, students will learn about the Food Chain, metamorphosis, animal homes, and the decomposition process as we explore our meadow, dragonfly pond, streams, deciduous/coniferous woodland, and the forest floor.  At each stop along the trail, children will stamp their scavenger hunt booklet as a record of all they've seen.

A Froggin' We Will Go!--Join us on a frog expedition.  Children will visit six stations as they hike through several Rancocas habitats looking, listening, and sampling for this elusive amphibian. Each station features an interactive activity focusing on different aspects of a frog's biology, life cycle, and interesting characteristics.

The Fabulous World of Insects--Will we find a caterpillar, a butterfly, a chrysalis, or an egg?  Is it a beetle or a fly, a dragonfly or a moth?  Young learners are naturally curious about the critters we find hinding in fields, nectaring on flowers, crawling on the ground, and burrowing under a log.  Insects and their relatives are an amazingly diverse and important component of our environment.  Through hands-on discovery, students will also learn basic concepts about the cycle of life, plant/insect associations, and decomposition while having fun exploring the Rancocas preserve.

 All programs include a trail hike.  Field trips are designed to meet the New Jersey Core curriculum Content Standards.  In addition to the math and science standards, all programs incorporate language arts components.  For details regarding individual programs, please speak with a Rancocas staff person.