Available Year-Round -- Student Hikes and Non-Student Groups
With your students' needs and your teaching objectives in mind, we will custom-design your classroom's or group's visit to our Nature Center.
Participants can explore the biology, botany, ethnobotany and geology of Modesta Canyon where intrusive and extrusive igneous rock meet, or hike to the top of Clayton's Overlook to experience a 360 degree view of the region and take in the geology exhibit.
All hikes can be scheduled with an interpretive guide.
The Nature Center also offers a Mining Exhibit presentation as well as a guided tour of the Botanical Gardens and Cactus & Succulent Greenhouse.
Participants can explore the biology, botany, ethnobotany and geology of Modesta Canyon where intrusive and extrusive igneous rock meet, or hike to the top of Clayton's Overlook to experience a 360 degree view of the region and take in the geology exhibit.
All hikes can be scheduled with an interpretive guide.
The Nature Center also offers a Mining Exhibit presentation as well as a guided tour of the Botanical Gardens and Cactus & Succulent Greenhouse.
Classroom Field Days In addition to our student and group hikes, we offer special student field days throughout the year for area school children. These are created for various grade levels and each tailored to the TEKS for that grade level. Each event day offers 6-8 unique learning stations or activities which are divided into either a morning or an afternoon session. A description of CDRI's current program portfolio is listed below: Bugs, Bugs, Bugs--April 27, 2017 Students in 2nd & 3rd grades find out what makes an arthropod an arthropod, create "bug" models, find out about deadly and poisonous insects, observe insects up close in the garden, and best of all--taste insects while answering the age-old question: "Which is better? Spicy? Or chocolate covered? Living Things--May 4, 2017 First grade students will explore the natural world of living things from a guided hike, to learning about the life cycles of frogs and birds, the basics of what makes up a food chain, and the parts of a flower. These are all items covered in the TEKS, making this program a great review and culmination of what students have learned throughout the year. Bird Sleuth--May 18, 2017 New this year, this exciting program was created for 7th/8th grade students. Students will learn about bills & beaks, why birds are able to fly long distances, the evolution of birds, what makes bird songs distinctive, hummingbirds, and they'll learn all about birding from the Bird Blind. . |
Critter Camp--June 26-29, 2017 In partnership with Marfa ISD's Summer ShakeUp, we offer Critter Camp for children between the ages of 4-6. Children learn about animals from A-Z in the Chihuahuan Desert through games and projects. They hike two different trails discovering plants and animals along the way. There are also art projects, story time and of course, cookies. The Earth Rocks--October 12, 2017 Celebrating National Earth Science Week, 5th grade students learn about renewable energy resources; the effects of weathering, erosion and deposition; groundwater; rocks and minerals mined in the region; levers and pulleys used in mining; and they get to hike to the Geology Exhibit at the top of Clayton's Overlook. Herp Day--November 9, 2017 Designed for 4th graders, students will discover the world of Herpetology which includes the study of amphibians and reptiles. They will examine venomous specimens (non-living, of course) while finding out about non-venomous snakes, including getting an individual photo taken with a snake. Students will also learn about first aid for pets and humans in case of a snakebite. |
Geo Cache for All Ages!
Bring the family and enjoy a fun desert exploration activity. Geo Cache is a treasure hunt designed for children, parents or grandparents to share in the adventure. You'll receive an activity sheet with instructions. Download the Geo Positioning App onto your phone or use the coordinate guide provided at the Information Desk, and set off to find hidden "treasures." At each found location, you will get to leave a trinket in the treasure box and take one that is waiting for you in the treasure box. At the end of hunt, bring the completed activity sheet back to the Information Desk at the Powell Visitor Center for a prize. Two "advanced" GeoCache sites have been recently added for the more "serious" adult Geo Cache-er in the family. Junior Explorer We will provide you and your family with an activity booklet that sets you off on a scavenger hunt through the garden area. When you have completed the activities, bring the activity booklet back to the Information Desk at the Powell Visitor Center, and your child will receive a Certificate of Completion and a prize. Both Geo Cache and Junior Explorer are year-round activities, free of charge. 
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