in-person field trips at The Grove

Log Cabin

Students learn first-hand about pioneer life in The Grove’s circa 1850s log cabin. Activities may include grinding corn, chopping apples and drawing water from the well to wash clothes. Older students use antique tools to saw wood and drill holes. This program includes an introduction to cabin construction techniques with a model set of giant “Lincoln Logs.” Old time fun is included with pioneer toys and games and each student will make a tin-punch craft to take home.

Grade Level: 1-6
Program Length: 1.5 hours
Common Core Standards: SS.H.3.1; SS.H.2.2; SS.H.1.3; SS.H.2.4; SS.H.3.5; SS.H.2.6.LC
Min/Max: 12/30
Availability: Year round

Log Cabin Focus

A shorter version of our Log Cabin program geared to a younger audience. This charming program introduces students to pioneer family life and features hands-on activities inside and outside our circa 1850s log cabin.

Grade Level: pre K-1
Program Length: 1 hour
Common Core Standards: SS.H.1.K; SS.H.3.1
Min/Max: 12/30
Availability: Year round

Native North Americans

Students take part in hands-on activities in our own replica of a Native American longhouse. The Potawatomi Indians used The Grove environs prior to the arrival of the Kennicott family. This unique program explores how this group of people lived and impacted the land, and looks closely at their culture and heritage. Topics include the importance of communal living, procurement and processing of foods and medicine, tool use, singing and dancing, handiwork and games.

Grade Level: 2-6
Program Length: 1.5 hours
Common Core Standards: SS.H.2.2; SS.H.1.3; SS.H.2.4; SS.H.3.5; SS.H.2.6.LC
Min/Max: 12/30
Availability: Year round

Native American Focus

A shorter version of our Native North Americans program geared to a younger audience. This delightful program introduces students to Native American family life and features hands-on activities inside and outside our Native American longhouse.

Grade Level: pre K-1
Program Length: 1 hour
Common Core Standards: SS.H.1.K; SS.H.3.1
Min/Max: 12/30
Availability: Year round

Early Glenview

Take a “walk through time” to explore the changes in population and land usage in our area and specifically at The Grove. Students will learn about the Potawatomi Indians, early Illinois settlers, farmers of yesteryear, and people of today through visits to our Native American longhouse, log cabin, Kennicott House and Milwaukee plank road. Artifacts and activities will illustrate how different groups lived and changed the land over the ages.

Grade Level: 2-4
Program Length: 1.5 hours
Common Core Standards: SS.H.1.2; SS.H.2.3; SS.H.1.4
Min/Max: 12/30
Availability: Year round

Schoolhouse

Students travel back in time to a school day in 1856 at The Grove’s reconstructed one room schoolhouse. A costumed schoolmarm or schoolmaster leads “scholars” through geography, history, spelling and math lessons. Activities may include reading from McGuffey Readers, writing on slate boards and using quill pens. Recess in the schoolyard features pioneer toys and old time games.

Grade Level: 2-8
Program Length: 1.5 hours
Common Core Standards: SS.H.2.2; SS.H.1.3; SS.H.2.4; SS.H.3.5; SS.H.1.6.LC; SS.H.1.7.LC; SS.H.1.8.LC
Min/Max: 12/30
Availability: Year round

Pack Your Wagon

Westward Ho! What items were necessary for a family to go west to settle a new homestead? Students will learn about life in the 1800s and the reasons for westward expansion. Math, logic and problem solving skills will be utilized to determine what will be taken on the journey and what will be left behind. Students will actually pack their supplies into our covered wagon as they learn some of the hardships the pioneers faced during their migration.

Grade Level: 4-6
Program Length: 1.5 hours
Common Core Standards: SS.H.1.4; SS.H.3.5; SS.H.2.6.LC
Min/Max: 12/30
Availability: Fall or spring

Modified Pioneer Skills

This program takes place in the historic Kennicott House. Emphasis is on the Kennicott family, the first pioneer settlers of The Grove, and their contributions to natural science, medicine, education and agriculture. Family life is explored through hands-on activities such as weaving, rope making, tin punching and candle dipping. NOTE: Due to COVID-19 restrictions, this is a modified version that has no food prep/eating.

Grade Level: 5-8
Program Length:  2 hours
Common Core Standards: SS.H.3.5; SS.H.2.6-8.LC
Min/Max: 12/30
Availability: Year round

Seasonal Changes

Students delight in this opportunity to observe nature and explore the world around them. A guided walk through the woods will focus on plants, animals and the change of seasons. A visit to The Grove’s Interpretive Center includes an up-close experience with our animals and hands-on activities with natural artifacts. Many classes come for this program once in the fall and again in the spring to compare and contrast seasonal differences.

Grade Level: pre K-1
Program Length: 1.5 hours
Common Core and NGSS: K-LS1-1; K-ESS2-1; K-ESS2-2; 1-LS1-1
Min/Max: 12/30
Availability: Fall and/or spring

Habitats and Life Cycles

Countless animals and plants make The Grove their home. This program introduces students to the basic needs of all living things and how a habitat meets these needs. An overview of the cycles of life includes seasonal changes, day vs. night and plant and animal life cycles. A guided trail walk explores woodland, wetland and prairie habitats and a close look at soil creatures allows the class to investigate a fascinating world of life just below their feet.

Grade Level: 1-4
Program Length: 1.5 hours
Common Core and NGSS: 1-LS1-1; 2-LS4-1; 3-LS1-1; 4LS1-1
Min/Max: 12/30Availability: Fall or spring

Animal Adaptations

In this program, students take a close look at our furred and feathered friends to learn about adaptations for survival. First we explore the world of birds to discover beak and foot diversity and the unique characteristics of feathers. Then hands-on activities with mammal artifacts include investigating fur types, as well as carnivore, herbivore and omnivore skulls. A tracking activity and trail walk are included.

Grade Level: 2-6
Program Length: 1.5 hours
Common Core and NGSS: 2-LS4-1; 3LS2-1; 3-LS4-2; 3LS4-3; 4-LS1-1; MS-LS1-4
Min/Max: 12/30
Availability: Year round

Ecosystems

The Grove’s natural areas are a haven for wildlife and native plants. In this program, students learn about the dynamics of various ecosystems and look closely at one of the many wetlands on the site. Field investigation includes collection of water samples and wetland organisms to observe more closely in the science classroom. Here, students use magnifying glasses, field guides and a dissecting microscope and record their observations of the rich wetland ecosystem.

Grade Level: 3-8
Program Length: 1.5 hours
Common Core and NGSS: 3-LS4-4; 4LS1-1; 5-LS2-1; 5-ESS2-2; MS-LS2-1; MS-LS2-2
Min/Max: 12/30
Availability: Early fall or late spring

Dynamic Earth

What forces have shaped the earth we live on? Students learn the basic concepts of geology including land formation, plate tectonics and soil make-up. Hands-on activities include rock, mineral and fossil investigation and a demonstration using a real frozen “glacier.” A guided trail walk focuses on some unique geologic features of The Grove, which sits atop the Park Ridge Moraine.

Grade Level: 3-8
Program Length: 1.5 hours
Common Core and NGSS: 4-ESS1-1; 4-ESS2-2; 5-ESS2-1; MS-ESS2-1; MS-ESS2-2
Min/Max: 12/30
Availability: Year round

GSI: Grove Scene Investigations

A mystery needs to be solved at The Grove – and your students are the detectives on the case! We’ll use forensic problem solving skills to gather clues, examine evidence, and draw conclusions about predator/prey relationships to solve the crime. Hands-on activities include owl pellet dissection and artifact examination.

Grade Level: 4-8
Program Length: 1.5 hours
Common Core and NGSS: 4-LS1-1; 5-PS3-1; 5-LS2-1; MS-LS1-4; MS-LS2-2
Min/Max: 12/30
Availability: Year round

Grove Traveling Trunks

Our outreach educational programs will visit your school for a one hour presentation led by our trained staff. Topics include animal ambassadors, Native Americans, and pioneer life.

Grade Level: pre K-adult
Program Length: 1 hour
Min/Max: 20/30
Availability: Year round

Pumpkin Trail

What better way to celebrate fall? This program features a hayride, festive games, a decorated tipi and a visit with the animals in our Interpretive Center. Refreshments are included and each student will select and bring home his very own pumpkin!

Grade Level: pre K-1
Program Length: 1.5 hours
Min/Max: 12/30 children and adults per time slot
Availability: Mid-October

• Program content and activities are geared for the specific grade level registering. All programs can be adapted for a particular focus, special needs or a diverse audience. Homeschool groups are always welcome.
• Please call for pricing. Fees are subject to change without notice.
• Schools within Glenview Park District boundaries are eligible for discounted fees based on the Glenview Park District Annual Recommendations.
• For all programs, teachers and aides may participate free of charge. In addition, one chaperone per 15 students may participate free of charge. We recommend bringing one adult for every 10 students. Because many program activities take place outdoors, students should arrive dressed for the weather. Closed-toed shoes are recommended. Nametags are helpful to us to identify your children. Please allow time for students to pick up a souvenir of their visit at The Grove Museum Store.
• Photos and videos are periodically taken of people participating in Glenview Park District programs and activities. All persons registering for park district programs/activities or using park district property thereby agree that any photograph or videotape taken by the part district may be used by the park district for promotional purposes including its electronic media, videotapes, brochures, flyers and other publications without additional prior notice or permission and without compensation to the participant.
• Upon booking, you will receive a confirmation with specific information about your program and any pre-trip or post-trip activities that may apply.

To register for Grove field trips or for more information, please call The Grove at 847-299-6096 or fill out and submit the form below.