Educational Programming

We have our programs available to bring to schools and libraries until we can address the mold issues at the Center. DONATE NOW TO HELP US GET THE PROGRAMS IN SCHOOLS FOR FREE!
New Exhibits and Old Favorites
The programs at the Mary E. Fristch Nature Center at the Rockcastle River Wilderness Site were rejuvenated to align with the Next Generation Science Standards – grades K – 12! Exhibits emphasize the content and problem-solving skills of the new standards. We still have the beautiful collections of birds and insects that visitors love to see – and of course we have all the signs of nature that we collect on the grounds – fossils, nests, rocks, minerals, shells, and more!
Outdoor, Real-World Experience- Temporarily Unavailable
Nature Center programming was developed with the new education standards. Field Trips will include exploring the natural systems surrounding the Center with our Ecologist Educators. During the visit, students will have real-world experience collecting, measuring, evaluating, designing. We also incorporate the sustainable technologies used on-site, including solar water heating, solar cell electricity, composting toilets, cordwood building materials, and cistern water collection.
Grade Level Specific
Each Field Trip is adapted to be specific to the grade level of the students.
If there is a science subject you would like to explore with students, please let us know! We may have a program not listed here - or be able to design a program to meet your needs.
New Exhibits and Old Favorites
The programs at the Mary E. Fristch Nature Center at the Rockcastle River Wilderness Site were rejuvenated to align with the Next Generation Science Standards – grades K – 12! Exhibits emphasize the content and problem-solving skills of the new standards. We still have the beautiful collections of birds and insects that visitors love to see – and of course we have all the signs of nature that we collect on the grounds – fossils, nests, rocks, minerals, shells, and more!
Outdoor, Real-World Experience- Temporarily Unavailable
Nature Center programming was developed with the new education standards. Field Trips will include exploring the natural systems surrounding the Center with our Ecologist Educators. During the visit, students will have real-world experience collecting, measuring, evaluating, designing. We also incorporate the sustainable technologies used on-site, including solar water heating, solar cell electricity, composting toilets, cordwood building materials, and cistern water collection.
Grade Level Specific
Each Field Trip is adapted to be specific to the grade level of the students.
If there is a science subject you would like to explore with students, please let us know! We may have a program not listed here - or be able to design a program to meet your needs.
Field Trips and Scheduled Group Visits
Elementary Programs
Sensing the Forest and Exploring Patterns Smell like an insect, taste a wild plant, listen for bird territories, feel the work of millions of bacteria, see the effects of gravity. find and create patterns in the field - from where squirrels build their nests to seasonal changes. Adaptations and Ecosystems Students complete challenges to find how organisms big and small, fast and slow survive in a very specific environment - their ecosystem. From the eyesight of a bee to the colors of petals, all organisms are built to survive! Middle and High School Programs Adaptations by Natural Selection Everywhere you look in the forest, there is evidence of natural selection. Students collect evidence, find patterns, and create hypothesis to explore the tenets of natural selection and explore the relationships that evolved for survival. Design Your Impact ASPI's research and technology focuses on sustainable living. Students measure aspects of passive and active solar systems, insulation, home orientation, types of water consumption, food systems, and waste management, design their own home or town, and critique current standards, laws, and ordinances. Program adapted for Physics, AP Environmental, or Middle School Science. Contact: Tisha Weaver, Education Coordinator 606-256-0077 E-mail: [email protected], or fill out the form below: |
Availability
Field trips are three hours long (plus 20-30 minutes for lunch), unless otherwise arranged*. Cost $5.00/participant School employees are free. ![]() Where is the Mary E. Fritsch Nature Center located?
From I-75, take exit #49 (Livingston), and go east on Hwy 909 to US 25. Turn left (north) at the stop sign, and proceed 1 mile across the bridge to the first road (Hwy 1329). Turn left on Hwy 1329 (Lower River Road.) and proceed 1 mile to the Rockcastle River Wilderness Site. We’ll have a sign out for you! |