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NatureFest

NatureFest is an environmental education field day for 5th grade classes offered by Hennepin County and Three Rivers Park District. The goal of this field trip is to provide environmental and outdoor education experiences to students from area schools.

NatureFest is offered for free with the goal of reaching students who do not normally get such opportunities. The next NatureFest is October 1, 2 or 3, 2019, at the Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park in Brooklyn Park.

See below to learn more about the upcoming events, activities, guidelines, and priorities.

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Activities, standards and guidelines

Upcoming NatureFest events

Dates

October 1, 2 or 3, 2019 (schools attend one day)

Location

Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park in Brooklyn Park

Times

This is a full-day field trip; classes will be on-site for about 4 hours. Exact timing will be determined once schools are selected to accommodate school start and end times.

Costs

The cost of the field trip is free.

Hennepin County has funding available to cover the costs of bus transportation to this event. Information about applying for bus funding and arranging transportation will be sent if your school is selected to participate in this event.

Activities and standards

Education station topics include ecology, biology, collecting environmental data, assessing water quality, recycling and more. Activities may include wading in the river to collect aquatic insects and small fish, catching insects with nets, fishing, playing educational games to learn about water and waste issues, and discussing actions that can be taken to protect the environment.

NatureFest helps meet the following 5th grade education standards:

  • Science: 4.1.1.1, 4.1.2.1.1, 4.1.2.2.1, 4.3.4.1.1, 5.3.4.1.3, 5.1.1.1, 5.1.1.2, 5.3.4.1.3, 5.4.1.1.1, 5.4.2.1, 5.4.2.1.2, 5.4.4.1, 6.1.3.1
  • Social Studies: 4.3.4.9.1, 5.1.1.1.2
  • Physical Education: 4.5, 4.6.1, 5.1, 5.2, 5.5

Priorities

Schools are selected to participate in NatureFest based on the priorities below and to ensure maximum attendance at each day of NatureFest.

NatureFest aims to work with schools that:

  • Are located close to the Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park
  • Are not active participants in Three Rivers Park District or Hennepin County environmental education programs
  • Have a student population who don't typically get such opportunities, including those schools with high diversity and high percentage of free- and reduced-lunch students
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NatureFest application

Fill out this application form by May 20, 2019, to apply to attend the fall NatureFest. Schools will be selected based on the best fit with NatureFest priorities and to ensure maximum attendance at each day of NatureFest.

* = required field

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Dates your school could attend NatureFest (select all that apply):


Select all dates that your school could attend. If your school is selected for NatureFest, you would only attend one day.
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What time could your school be at Coon Rapids Dam for NatureFest (select all that you are available for);



This is the timeframe your school could be onsite for the day and does not include travel to and from the park.
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This is the timeframe your school could be onsite for the day and does not include travel to and from the park.
Has your school attended NatureFest before?
Have your school's 5th grade classes participated in Three Rivers Park District or Hennepin County environmental education programming in the past three years?
How are your field trips typically funded (select all that apply):
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