Pines and Prairies Land Trust sponsors nature lessons for homeschooled children and their teachers. Seven talented teachers, all of whom are members of the Lost Pines Master Naturalist Chapter, prepare and teach lessons about the natural world that can be found along the Colorado River and in Bastrop County, to as many as 50 students and 20 parents at a time.
The classes consist of about an hour lesson with the students outside in the shade, usually at the CRR (located in Tahitian Village in Bastrop) or indoors if the weather is bad (usually at the PPLT office in Bastrop). After the instruction part of the lesson, everyone applies what they have learned on a nature hike or outing at the preserve. The lessons are geared for elementary aged students but the experienced and knowledgeable teachers are able to upgrade instruction in order to offer new material to more advanced students as well as to their teacher parents. Everyone learns something new and interesting about the natural world.
Because the group uses many of the same trails during all the seasons of the year, students experience the changing seasons, noticing bird and insect sounds, the fragrance of flowers, water and leaves and the views and sights along the river that are so special. The Master Naturalist teachers guide the hikes and answer the questions of bright and curious students about what they notice along the trails. Classes are being offered free of charge to the families of homeschooled children, usually on the second and fourth Thursdays of February, March, April and May, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Feb. 14--Archaeology presentation from The Gault School--Fisherman's Park Pavillion in Bastrop.
Feb. 28--Not So Creepy Critters--Bastrop Public Library Conference Room
Mar. 7--Houston Toads--Bastrop State Park
Mar. 21--Tree anatomy--CRR
Apr. 4--Daytime Astronomy--Bastrop State Park
Apr. 18--Birds 2.0, Anatomy & Field Markings--CRR
May 2--Water quality, i.e. Bug Picking/Healthy Habitat/Idea Cubes--CRR
If your children have their journals, we ask that they bring them each time.
We will have materials to create journals for those who do not have one.
Also it is important to wear appropriate clothing and closed toed shoes.
If you know other home school families that might be interested, please pass this along.
Contact PPLT for more information: info@pplt.org or 512-308-1911.
