homeschool
days
nature is the classroom. discovery is the lesson!
Step outside and dive into science with our monthly homeschool days —an outdoor education series designed for curious minds of all ages. Each session offers hands-on experiences that bring science to life in the wild, inspiring exploration, creativity, and a deeper connection to the natural world.
Learn together. Explore together. Grow together—all year long.
upcoming programs
Check out our Fall 2026-2027 school year program themes and activities below. If you encounter any issues please email programs@snco.org for assistance.
program details & logistics
Programs are geared toward homeschool students in kindergarten through fifth grade.
At least one adult chaperone is required per group. There is no fee for adult chaperones to attend but adults must have a free adult ticket.
All tools and materials for program activities are provided.
This program takes place both outdoors and indoors. Students should wear sturdy footwear such as boots or sneakers, and dress for the weather.
Please bring snacks and refillable water bottles.
Registration
$15/child; $10/additional child (ages 4+) in family
Adult chaperones and children 3 and under are free with a ticket
If a desired program is sold out please email programs@snco.org or call 458-292-9995 to be added to the waitlist.
September 2026: River Systems
Tuesday September 16th, September 17 | 10am – 12pm
Learn all about the importance of rivers to wildlife and humans with Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory! This is an outdoor, activity and experimental based field trip focusing on salmon migration, river food webs, and engineering design with our favorite ecosystem engineers- beavers! Students will love going on a nature walk, building a river food web, learning about human impacts on salmon migration through our obstacle course, and putting their engineering skills to the test by designing and refining a beaver dam. This lesson is NGSS aligned and addresses the following concepts:
Relationship between physical traits and survival strategies of animals
Cycles of matter and energy transfer in ecosystems
Relationship between habitat and food web structure
Biodiversity and humans: human impacts on habitat and organism survival
Ecosystem preservation and best practices for nature stewardship
Engineering design: defining a problem, developing solutions, optimizing the design solution
October 2026: Scales, Tails, & Claws
Tuesday October 6th; Wednesday October 7th | 10am – 12pm
Learn all about animal adaptations, survival strategies and habitats using reptiles, amphibians, birds and mammals as model organisms. The program will combine focused study and illustration of live animals with outdoor exploration of their habitats. This lesson is NGSS aligned and addresses the following concepts:
Relationship between physical traits and survival strategies
Relationship between habitat and food web structure
Observation and categorization of animals based on appearance and behavior
Human impacts on habitat and organism survival
Ecosystem preservation and best practices for nature stewardship
November 2026: Secrets in the Soil
Tuesday November 10th, Wednesday November 11th | 10am – 12pm
Discover the world of decomposers as we explore mushrooms, fungi, and learn how nature’s recyclers move energy. Together we will go on a mushroom walk, learn how energy moves in an ecosystem, and learn about decomposition and mushrooms in hand-on dissections. This lesson is NGSS aligned and addresses the following concepts:
Structure and Function of fungi
Growth and Development of Fungi
Cycles of Matter and Energy Transfer in Ecosystems
Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems
December 2026: Space Science
Tuesday December 8th, Wednesday December 9th | 10am – 12pm
Let your student explore the wonders of Space with the Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory. Together we will create a scale model of our solar system, explore the life cycle of a star, see how black holes form, learn more about our own sun and moon, and meet with some space experts at the Observatory! This lesson is NGSS aligned and addresses the following concepts:
ESS1:A The Universe and Its Stars
Earth and the Solar System
Types of Interactions: Gravity