Class Descriptions
Limnology (Aquatic Study):
Become “immersed” in Limnology, the study of freshwater. Spend time in our Limnology Center investigating
water quality, the water web, life cycles, learned and inherited traits. Observe aquatic animals in our aquariums
and hold a live turtle from out touch tank. Conduct water quality measurements using genuine scientific
equipment. Make field collections of aquatic plans and animals at Sky Lake.
Challenges:
Learn the value of good communication, trust, and cooperation in an atmosphere fostering creativity, problem
solving, and experiential learning. Be a part of a team to solve problems and accomplish goals. Put critical
thinking skills into action.
Forces in Nature:
Explore the Forces in Nature which shape our Environment. Learn about gravity and friction while using our four
story zip line. Discover gases and pressure during the building and launching of air rockets. Take a one hour
nature hike and observe the real life effects of weathering agents, erosion, and deposition on the landscape.
Orienteering:
Try to find the way to the hidden base camp. Learn the different parts of the compass, basic compass skills, and
the difference between Magnetic North and True North. Venture out in teams and practice orienteering skills.
Step into the future of orienteering by learning Geometrics, which combines Orienteering with new age
technology of GPS mapping. Calculate tree heights and diameters, identify tree species, and build a map using
handheld GPS units.
Sky Ranch Expeditions:
Become a part of an expedition team exploring terrestrial ecology. Travel to Sky Ranch Expeditions’ base camp
to learn about animal characteristics, animal behavior, anatomy, physiology and taxonomy. Observe live
animals such as a boa constrictor, green iguana, sugar gliders, ferrets, tarantula, hedgehog, and many others.
Discover predator/prey relationships, habitats, food web, and learned and inherited traits. Travel into the woods
and meadows of Sky Ranch to collect insects and study forest dynamics including carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle,
ecological niche, plant succession, and tree rings.
Fishing:
Let your students discover the fun of fishing will they learn basic fishing skills such as hook safety, how to tie
knots, casting, and what type of bait works best for different fish. They will also identify some of the fish located
in East Texas such as bass, catfish, sunfish, and carp. With any luck, they may even catch a few!
Native Americans:
Traveling back in time, your students will become young braves and squaws in our tribe. They will learn skills
which will make them assets as members of our tribes. These skills will include hunting with bows and arrows,
cooking as the grind corn and make corn cakes to be cooked over a fire, how Native Americans stored food and
water so they make pottery, and how the tribe made fire for cooking and warmth. This class is a great hands-on
class and your students will not only learn, but have fun while they are learning. View our video and pictures!
Ranch Life:
Experience life on a real Texas ranch! Spend time in the organic garden discovering natural farming methods,
as well as decomposition and nitrogen fixation. Tend ranch animals, such as cows, goats, pigs, horses, and
even llamas in our petting zoo. Learn to ride a horse and participate in an actual trail ride. Chaperones can even
choose the option to participate in a real cattle drive! Ranch Life is an additional $6.00 charge per student and
the cattle drive for the Chaperones is an additional $12.00.
Texas History:
Travel back to the year 1843 and take part in a living history lesson. Trace the development of Peter’s Colony in
the Republic of Texas into our present-day Dallas. Help pioneer settlers practice woodworking skills, and learn
what it takes to build a real log cabin. Experience life as it was in Texas' Republic days, learn valuable skills
such as rope-making, candle making, and cook over an open fire.