The following programs, organized by topic area, are available for selection in any season.

Natural History

Discovery Hike

Weather and time of year affect what organisms we can find at the Baker Outdoor Learning Center. This lesson allows space for students to use science practices and tools with a subject of the naturalist's choosing — potential subjects include plants, insects, fungus/lichen, and reptiles and amphibians. During this class, students practice science skills like making detailed observations, asking questions and sharing information with peers.

Flight

Explore Bernoulli's Principle and Newton's third law to explain why objects can fly. Through hands-on experiments, like pop-bottle rockets, students will be introduced to three types of flight.

Forests: Tree ID

Discover the unique natural history of the Baker Park forest during a hands-on hike. Learn about the inner workings of a tree and use a dichotomous key to identify local trees. 

Naturalist Hike

Take a guided hike through the woods and meadows of Baker Park. See what wildlife or animal signs you encounter.

Owls

View a stuffed owl and learn about the owls of Baker park. Learn about nocturnal animals, predators, adaptations and food webs. Then, dissect a sterilized owl pellet, and see what the owls have been eating!

Predator-Prey Game

This large group game of ultimate survival is a fun and exciting way for students to learn the basic needs for survival and the dynamics of a food chain by assuming the roles of various animals. Survival depends upon understanding the predator-prey relationship and overcoming limiting factors within the environment.

Skulls

Discover the identifying characteristics of skulls. Use a dichotomous key at skull stations to identify some of the animals that live in Baker Park Reserve. Learn about unique animal adaptations.

Outdoor Life Skills

Compass Basics

Start with how and why compasses work, and practice using them until everyone gets the hang of it. Then it’s off to the compass course where teams use their skills to locate special posts in the forest!

Digital Nature Photography

Discover the fun of nature photography! After a lesson on how to use our digital cameras, head into the woods and meadows of Baker Park Reserve looking for the perfect photo opportunity. Print, edit and mount a photo to take home.

Fire Techniques

Walk the long path of fire history and technique by trying various fire starting methods. Bow drills, flint and steel, and more modern techniques will be practiced. Discover which fire starting techniques work best for you.

Introduction to GPS

Discover the fun and power of Global Positioning System (GPS) technology! Through hands-on instruction learn to operate the buttons and perform basic GPS functions. Use the GPS to find hidden points throughout the park.

Map Skills

Review the basics elements of a map and how to find your location on a map. Learn how to orient the map to match the landscape and follow along as you move. Use these new skills while completing a fun, map-based scavenger hunt at Baker Outdoor Learning Center. 

Orienteering

Learn how and why compasses work and how to read a topographical map. Put the map and compass skills together to navigate your way through our orienteering course.

Survival Challenge

An active, fun and challenging way to learn about survival skills. We review such needs as shelter, water, warmth, food, and a positive attitude, then figure out our priorities and get going! Groups work together to build shelters and fires.

Cultural History

Prehistoric Skills

A hands-on experience of various aspects of prehistoric life (before written history) in North America/Minnesota skills: bow drills (fire by friction), atlatls (prehistoric spear-type hunting weapon), active games and Minnesota history.

Voyageur Life

Bonjour! In this class, students are given the opportunity to experience everyday life in an imaginary North West Company brigade in the year 1793. As recruits they will learn some skills of the colorful voyageur such as flint and steel fire making and playing voyageur games. A rowdy good time delivered in a living history format.

Team-Building

Team Building

A combination of fun obstacles and initiative games designed to challenge your group to problem solve and work together. Communicating, leading, listening and supporting one another are all critical components to working together for common goals.

Evening

Campfire

Gather around the fire for a staff-led campfire with camp songs, a story or two, and perhaps a skit. Outdoors if weather permits.

Night GPS

Discover the fun and power of Global Positioning System (GPS) technology! Through hands-on instruction learn to operate the buttons and perform basic GPS functions. Then head out to find hidden geocaches. Flashlights and glow tacks help you uncover the mystery hidden in the woods.

Night Hike

Explore the natural world at night. Hikes designed to be quiet, slow and without flashlights. Topics may include stargazing, nocturnal animals, night sounds, games and the science of the human eye.