Nature Education for Homeschool Students and Teachers (NEHST)
Nature Education for Homeschool Students and Teachers (NEHST) curriculum is divided into 3 semesters – Autumn, Winter and Spring. Each semester includes 3 monthly lessons that build upon the semester’s theme. The monthly lessons are offered on the third Thursday of every month from 10:00am – 1:30pm. Lessons begin with the Autumn Semester on September 19, 2024 and continue until the end of the Spring Semester on May 15, 2025.
Each monthly lesson includes classroom instruction, outdoor activities, scientific experiments and exploration, and related at-home extension activities that can be completed and explored together by the whole family. We use hands-on methods to reinforce students’ abilities in not only science, but also math, language arts, and social studies.
During the lessons students ages 5-13+ and parents are taught together emphasizing multi-age learning and peer assistantship. Students experiencing a lesson for the first time learn the basics of the topic, and students with some previous experience build upon their knowledge and solidify their understanding through more in-depth exposure to the topic.
2024-2025 Monthly Curriculum
Autumn Semester: The Great Migration
Join us on a great migration this fall as we explore what it takes to fly! Students will discover the importance of Cape May County to butterflies and hawks and learn how scientists use tagging to help conserve and protect them.
Thursday, September 19
Topic: The Magical World of Butterflies
Location: The Wetlands Institute
The migration of any species is an awesome phenomenon, but the migration of the Monarch Butterfly is truly unique, unmatched by any other species. Explore the life cycle of this marvelous creature and learn about other fascinating butterflies that share the skies with them.
Thursday, October 17
Topic: Raptors on the Wing
Location: Cape May Point State Park
Thousands of hawks and other birds of prey migrate through the southern tip of New Jersey at this time of year. How are they suited to flying? Why do they travel so far? What does it take to get from one place to the next? Get the answers to these questions and more while exploring the high-flying life of these amazing birds.
Thursday, November 21
Topic: Tagged, You’re it!
Location: The Wetlands Institute
From butterflies to fish, terrapins to whales, and birds to horseshoe crabs, tracking animal movements not only helps us learn about their behaviors, but also allows us to find out about the health of our environment. So, what are you waiting for?! Tagged, You’re It!
Winter Semester: Geology 101
We’ve lived on this planet all our lives, but how much do we really know about the changing Earth beneath our feet? This winter students will dig deep into Geology 101 to unlock the mysteries of the rocks, fossils, soil, and sand that create the silent foundation of their lives.
Thursday, December 19
Topic: Rock It Science
Location: The Wetlands Institute
Rocks have a lot to tell us about their journey on this planet, from getting heaved up and ground down, heated and squeezed, cooled and melted, and even eaten. These silent storytellers give us a glimpse into their lives and those of ancient plants and animals. You’ll find out that rocks Rock!
Thursday, January 16
Topic: Great Growing Ground Stuff
Location: The Wetlands Institute
We eat, breathe, live on, and are even clothed in soil. Let’s shake, shake, shake to see how soil is made, explore how the land has changed wildlife, and discover how wildlife has changed the land. When was the last time you thanked the dirt you stand on?
Thursday, February 20
Topic: Life’s Sand-tastic
Location: The Wetlands Institute
It’s great for making castles and gets stuck between our toes, but sand is so much more. Sand grain size, weight, shape, and composition can make beaches behave differently and can make or break habitat for certain plants and animals. Did you know you never step onto the same beach twice?
Spring Semester: Explore Outdoors
Spring has sprung and it’s time to venture outdoors. Students will hit the trail exploring in unique and unexpected ways, using all the senses of sight, sound, hearing, smell, and taste as they sharpen their intellect and instinct to become one with the outdoors.
Thursday, March 20
Topic: Geocaching and Letterboxing
Location: The Wetlands Institute
These worldwide games are great ways of exploring the wide world around us. They’re like a scavenger hunt or a treasure hunt, requiring keen observation and deciphering skills. Along the way, we will learn how animals use caches in the wild and create a few of our very own!
Thursday, April 17
Topic: Hiking and Trailblazing
Location: Estell Manor Park
A hike is more than just a walk in the woods, it’s an outdoor adventure that requires the use of all our senses! Learning the ins and outs of how to hike, as well as learning about the ecology of the area, is just as important as knowing where to hike. And we’ll get a taste for it all.
Thursday, May 15
Topic: Outdoor Living
Location: Belleplain State Forest
Wildlife does it all the time and boy do they make it look easy! But living outdoors for humans takes a few tricks and a little know-how. From shelter building and fire making to wild edibles and everything in between, we’ll learn the basics and try to mimic the strategies of some of Mother Nature’s best outdoor survivalists.
Discounted Semester Pricing: Each semester includes 3 monthly, 3-hour lessons and costs $36/per participating student. Advanced registration is required. Please call (609) 368-1211 to register at least 48 hours in advance. Payment is required in full at the time of registration and payment is nonrefundable. Monthly lessons will not be cancelled due to low enrollment, but may be rescheduled due to inclement weather.
Regular Monthly Pricing: Although each lesson tends to build on its predecessors, you can pick and choose the monthly lessons best suited to your child. The price of each monthly 3-hour lesson is $15/per participating student. Advanced registration is required. Please call (609) 368-1211 to register at least 48 hours in advance. Payment is required in full at the time of registration and payment is nonrefundable. Monthly lessons will not be cancelled due to low enrollment, but may be rescheduled due to inclement weather.
Program Length and Time: Programs occur from 10:00am – 1:30pm and include 3 hours of active lesson and a 30 minute break. Lessons start promptly at 10:00am and will occur rain or shine, hot or cold! Please have children dress for the weather, be prepared to go outside rain, snow or shine and wear clothes that can get wet and/or muddy!
Special COVID-19 Considerations: As you prepare for your visit, please know that masking is optional at The Wetlands Institute and we respect individual choice related to mask wearing. For the safety of others, please do not visit The Wetlands Institute if you are feeling ill.
Traveling from a farther distance? Consider planning “A Day at The Wetlands Institute” – pack snacks or a picnic lunch and use the afternoon time after the homeschool lesson has been conducted with your child(ren) to explore the exhibits and the outdoor trails. The marsh is an ever-changing ecosystem and our elevated walkway and dock provide countless opportunities for self-exploration and learning!
Please Note: To make the most out of the experience and to minimize distractions for registered children, we ask that siblings under 5 be cared for separately from the rest of the class. It is the accompanying adult’s responsibility to monitor their behavior during the program. This is not a drop-off program. Adults responsible for the registered children must stay in the area in case of emergencies or behavioral issues.
Interested in a special homeschool program for your group? We can accommodate homeschool groups of a minimum of 10 students per program. Please email or call our Environmental Educator, Francesca Jacobs, at fjacobs@wetlandsinstitute.org with any questions or to schedule a special time and date for your group.
Looking for more than a 3 hour experience?
We now offer full immersion overnight programs for your homeschool group of 10 or more children.
Complete program description: Overnight Program