Students investigating aquatic macroinvertebratesOur programs are designed to immerse students in inquiry, exploration, and problem solving while experiencing the Missouri landscape. Just 45 minutes from St. Louis, but a world away for young minds…

Shaw Nature Reserve classes vary in duration from 1 to 2 hours, but all include hands-on learning and active discovery of nature and the great outdoors. We encourage you to schedule two classes with a lunch in between to make the most out of your Shaw Nature Reserve experience.

Required Chaperones:
Required chaperones attend free of charge. For grades PreK–3, 1 adult per 8 students is required. Admission fees for additional adults ($5 each) will be added to the school invoice.

Classes cost $3 per student.

Important: All groups, whether led by a Reserve Instructor or self-guided by a teacher, must make reservations for their visit.

To schedule a program, call (314) 577-9523 or email kbryan@mobot.org.

Registration begins:

  • November 1 for Spring Classes
  • May 1 for Fall Classes

Information needed when you call:

  • School name, address and phone number
  • Contact person’s name for confirmation
  • Program choice(s)—make sure program is available for the month that you request
  • Date and time (please have alternates)
  • Grade, age and number of participants (students and adults)
  • Teacher’s name and home phone number
  • Will you be having lunch at our picnic area?

One month prior to your visit, you will receive a confirmation packet containing important information about your visit, a suggested “Chaperone Letter” and an invoice. Carefully review the confirmation information and call (314) 577-9523  if corrections need to be made. The program fee is due on the day of the class.

Cancellations:

  • If you must cancel your trip, please let us know as soon as possible. Other school groups are on a waiting list and are willing to fill your place if they are given enough time to make the necessary arrangements.
  • If it is raining, we suggest that you call and cancel the class, as most classes are extremely difficult to conduct in this situation.

Click on a class title below to expand its description. Please note we cannot accommodate groups over 40 on rainy days due to lack of a building.

Available Classes

Earthwalks (Grades PreK–3)

Earthwalks (Grades PreK–3)
Offered September–November and March–May
Capacity: 40 students
Length of program: 60 minutes
Fee: $3 per student
  Examining a rotting logStudents will explore the wonders of the natural world by using their 5 senses. Instructors will lead your students on a walk through diverse ecosystems, and they will use their sense of touch to identify natural objects, sense of hearing to identify birds, and sense of sight to simulate how animals see. This light and comfortable approach to nature can be adapted for different ages.

Little Houses on the Prairie (Grades 1–3)

Little House on the Prairie (Grades 1–3)
Offered October
Capacity: 40 students
Length of class:120 minutes
Fee: $3 per student
  Sod house and tipiExperience what life was like for early prairie settlers through activities based on Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Excerpts from the book will be matched with hands-on activities, so that students get a glimpse into the lives of early Missouri residents.

Water's Edge (Grades 1–3)

Water's Edge (Grades 1–3)
Offered September
Capacity: 40 students
Length of class: 120 minutes
Fee: $3 per student
  Students and chaperones at the water's edgeExplore aquatic and terrestrial communities through hands-on activities based on Around the Pond: Who’s Been Here by Lindsay Barrett George. Students will compare and contrast aquatic and terrestrial turtles, birds, and insects.

Our Forest Neighbors (Grades 1–3)

Our Forest Neighbors (Grades 1–3)
Offered April
Capacity: 40 students
Length of class: 120 minutes
Fee: $3 per student
  LeafWho lives in Missouri’s forests? Explore the forest ecosystem and learn about the native residents. Students will learn about the unique adaptations of forest animals and how they survive in this special habitat.

Animal Adaptations (Grades 1–3)

Animal Adaptations (Grades 1–3)
Offered November & March
Capacity: 40 students
Length of class: 120 minutes
Fee: $3 per student
  Cricket Frog How does camouflaging with their environment help some animals? Why do birds have different types of beaks? Why do animals have different eye placements? Students will discover how different adaptations help animals to survive.

Nature Walkabout (Grades 1–3)

Nature Walkabout (Grades 1–3)
Offered September–November & March–May
Capacity: 40 students
Length of class: 60 minutes
Fee: $3 per student
  Kids exploring the forestJoin us as we explore and discover what the season at Shaw Nature Reserve has to offer. We might discover what lives under a log, frost flowers, tadpoles in a pond, or find some interesting tracks out in the prairie. Different seasons bring about so many different possibilities.

Wows of Wetlands (Grades 1-3)

Wows of Wetlands (Grades 1-3)
Offered May
Capacity: 40 students
Length of class: 120 minutes
Fee: $3 per student
  Female mallard with ducklingsMay is American Wetlands Month and a perfect time to explore the wetlands at Shaw Nature Reserve! Did you know wetlands are an important resting spot for migratory birds? What animals use the wetlands as a nursery? You never know what you might see during a walk in the along the wetlands!

The Sticky Science of Maple Syrup (Grades 3-8)

The Sticky Science of Maple Syrup
(Grades 1-3)
Offered January–early February
Capacity: 40 students
Length of class: 120 minutes
Fee: $3 per student
  Person tapping maple treeCelebrate the coming of spring! Learn about maple syrup by exploring the 2 processes that make it all possible: photosynthesis and the water cycle. Students will investigate the annual cycle of sap movement and the importance of sap to trees. Winter Tree ID is included in this class. Students will help with sap collection and observe the evaporation process.