Story by Jennifer Ruyle, Outdoor Education Specialist
Photos by Jenny Nguyen-Wheatley
Every third Wednesday and Thursday of each month — except in June and July — a group of homeschool families assemble in the lobby of Schramm Education Center near Gretna to prepare for a guided hike. Led by a Nebraska Game and Parks naturalist, the Homeschool Hikes program welcomes a different group each week. Participants might be just two moms and their kids or a crowd of 80 people.
The hike invites strangers and friends to meet. Kids who know each other hang back and walk together. Babies in chest carriers come along, too. It seems like there’s always one curious 6-year-old who finds their way to the front of the pack to hike alongside the naturalist, chatting about their favorite animal or their dog or their weekend plans.
In fall and winter, we may hike in rain, single-digit temperatures or several inches of snow. Sometimes we are blessed with the most gorgeous “false-spring” with clear blue skies and 70-degree days. Unsurprisingly, our spring and summer programs usually draw big groups, when the park is green and in full bloom. Whatever the conditions, we hit the trails for adventure and fun.
The program offers opportunities for learning about local plants, animals, ecosystems and natural phenomena. Families who attend throughout the year are able to witness and appreciate the phenology of the park, from the first snow geese that pass overhead in February to the last monarchs that leave in October. It’s also become an opportunity for homeschool families to find nature-loving community. Many parents and caregivers specifically join the Homeschool Hikes program to meet other outdoorsy homeschool families.
Each month’s hike features a different topic, which is planned around the happenings at Schramm Park at different times of the year. Our naturalists keep a close eye on what wildlife is doing. For example, in March, we noticed the sudden reappearance of red-winged blackbirds the same week we held Homeschool Hikes, so it became that month’s theme. One November, we had a hike that focused on turkeys, and we were rewarded with the chorus of our resident wild turkeys gobbling during our excursion.
We also lean on the strengths of our seasonal naturalists to determine topics for the year ahead. Some naturalists are knowledgeable about wildflowers and grasses, while others are lifelong birders. Several have been avid anglers and can share information about all the fish in the area and the aquatic creatures that coexist within the ponds in our park. Past themes have included “Frogs and Toads,” “Wetlands,” “Lichen” and less tangible themes, such as “Relationships in Nature.”
While we do prepare a lesson plan for each month, we allow room for “rabbit holes” and fully embrace being in nature without a rigid schedule. One day, while hiking in December, we noticed bullfrog tadpoles swimming underneath the ice. Of course we had to stop and investigate. This random encounter allowed an opportunity for great questions: Aren’t the tadpoles cold? What do they eat when the pond is frozen over? Why haven’t they turned into frogs yet?
Even on days when we only see “ordinary” things, time spent in the park with our homeschool hikers always feels well spent. With that said, we have had some spectacular moments during hikes simply because we took the time to be outside in the right place, at the right time, with people who are observant. A few of my favorite Homeschool Hikes moments include:
- While walking on the river trail in January, we witnessed two bald eagles locking their talons and cartwheeling through the sky in a mating ritual.
- Discovering an alien-like orange, spiky caterpillar crawling on the underside of a leaf while looking for snails and slugs.
- Spotting bright yellow chicken of the woods mushrooms growing on a tree and sharing the excitement of my first find with the homeschool students.
- Looking for animal scat and instead finding a huge owl pellet on the trail. We dissected it on the trail and found it contained the skull of a squirrel.
- “Borrowing” horse poop from the stables at Platte River State Park to bait dung beetles for students to observe, and then successfully finding dung beetles in it during our hike!
Through the program, we hope to create space for families to make memories and find community, and to learn new information and practice their science skills at the park.
Learning in nature allows for deep, meaningful connections to take place. As any “ologist” will tell you, observing nature in the field makes concepts much more memorable and understandable than reading about them in a textbook.
Science is all about asking and investigating your own questions, letting your curiosity lead the way, and the pleasure of making conclusions through observation and trial and error.
Homeschool Hikes are open to everyone. To view upcoming events, visit Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov and search “Homeschool Hikes.”
Join Us
Homeschool Hikes is a monthly nature exploration program hosted by Schramm Education Center geared toward homeschool families. During the program, participants are encouraged to ask questions, draw, observe and make discoveries in nature.
The cost to participate is $5 per person per program. This includes admission to the Schramm Education Center after the hike. Schramm Family Pass members participate free.
Homeschool Hikes are recommended for ages 5 and up. Participants should dress in season-appropriate layers and wear closed-toed shoes that can get dirty.
Register in advance so naturalists can estimate attendance at Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov. Note that there are no Homeschool Hikes in June and July for summer break.