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Education Programs

Education is at the heart of Aullwood’s mission. We provide activities and programs that enrich lives through education and stewardship of birds and ecosystems. Aullwood's dedicated education team teaches programs that tie to the Ohio Learning Standards and support classroom concepts. We teach about the interconnectedness of life and explaining the importance of our role in the preservation and conservation of our planet.    

Aullwood ̽����ѡ conducts business according to our conservation education beliefs and values regarding stewardship, scientific study, and people. We value and believe in:  

• the inquiring minds of children and their innate desire to learn
• natural history learning through hands-on and field experiences
• the idea that everyone is a teacher and everyone is a learner  
• enhancing lives by developing a sense of wonder and providing close contact with nature
• empowering experiences which foster appreciation, understanding, and stewardship of the Earth
• environmental education promoting lifelong behaviors which protect the natural environment
• teaching stewardship by example
• respecting and protecting the Earth's diversity
• the intrinsic value of green space, agricultural land, and wilderness
• sound scientific principles underlying quality environmental education
• the importance of understanding ecological concepts and processes
• advancing our mission by maintaining a welcoming and friendly atmosphere  

Scheduling a Field Trip  

If your school or group is interested in one of our naturalist-led or self-guided programs, please review our . All requests must be submitted online — 

Please note: Aullwood does not provide general tours of our property or our Thomas Dambo troll exhibition.

Guided programs must be booked three weeks in advance. Please book early as available dates fill quickly. Naturalist led groups are limited to 70 students per day per group. Please book multiple days for larger groups!  All programs are held as scheduled, rain or shine. In case of severe weather that prevents outdoor exploration, hands-on indoor activities will be conducted. Cancellations must be made 14 days in advance of the program; otherwise the school will be billed for the cancelled program.  

Outreach Programs 

Outreach programs provide exciting, entertaining and educational assemblies for elementary students and organizations. Our assemblies feature the musical and artistic talents of Program Manager, Environmental Arts Chris Rowlands, a nationally recognized performer teaching children about nature through innovative programs. Chris creatively blends music, art, comedy and education to create high energy, fast paced shows which teach and inspire young people. The Environment Magazine honored Chris by awarding him its first E Award for his environmental education programs. Details on Music and Art Residencies, as well as assemblies are found in the . All requests for programs must be

Scouting Programs 

Take advantage of the natural resources at Aullwood through our Scout programs. Scouts are sure to have a blast as they learn from our environmental educators and explore the great outdoors.

Aullwood ̽����ѡ’s 200 acre sanctuary is the perfect place for Scouts to learn all about the natural world. Programs at our nature center include a hike through our diverse variety of ecosystems, meeting our animals, and other fun activities. Programs at our farm include walking around the farm meeting and learning about our animals, and exploring our gardens. 
  
Programs must be scheduled ahead of time by contacting us at AskUs@aullwood.org. The fee is $6 per scout and $7 per attending adult. Siblings of scouts over the age of five can also participate for $6. These fees are paid upon your arrival. There is a maximum of 16 youth participants, with a $50 minimum fee. For reasons other than extreme weather, there is a $25 cancellation fee. All programs include a hike or outdoor exploration, and we will plan to go outside unless there’s pouring rain, thunder/lightning, or extreme snow. We can support a variety of badge/advancement programs; please ask when you inquire about available dates. There is an additional fee if your group would like to visit the “Troll that Hatched an Egg” exhibit.  
  
Aullwood is only twenty minutes from downtown Dayton and a five-minute drive from the Dayton airport. To get started planning your programs, please call (937) 890-7360 or email AskUs@aullwood.org. Please have three dates or months in mind, so we can check our schedule and get back to you with our availability. We look forward to working with your group!  

Find out more about our scout programs on the Scouting Programs page.

Homeschool Programs 

Aullwood can be a valuable resource for homeschool groups. Students gain a better understanding of science, conservation, natural history and agriculture through unique hands-on and discovery experiences. Many of our preK-12 school programs can be tailored to mixed grade groups. A $75 minimum program fee applies. To review our formal school program offerings, see our . All requests for programs must be submitted online — .

Resources of the Earth and Agriculture Discovered and Shared (R.E.A.D.S.) 

Aullwood READS is an innovative program for elementary students enrolled in an after-school program. This model initiative, for 15-20 children in 2nd-4th grades, integrates reading and writing skills with hands-on experiences in nature and farming. The students visit Aullwood once a week for 90-minute sessions for 10 weeks. Aullwood naturalists and volunteers provide hands-on learning experiences for the children at Aullwood’s nature center and sustainable farm. Caring adult volunteers tutor children, helping them read books on nature and farming that relate to that day’s hands-on, outdoor activities to improve their reading skills and attitudes toward reading, nature and agriculture. This is a grant-funded program for schools within a 45-minute drive from Aullwood ̽����ѡ. If you would like us to consider collaborating with your school, please contact Nenita Lapitan, Senior Manager, Center & Farm, at nenita.lapitan@audubon.org or 937-890-7360 x214.

Avian Art Program 

The Aullwood Avian Art program brings Outreach Environmental Educator and artist Chris Rowlands into your classroom to teach students about birds and art. This program covers the cost of art supplies and instruction about bird biology, the importance of birds, why they should be protected and various artistic methods to create a dramatic picture that tells a story about the bird’s natural history. The Aullwood Avian Art Program would not be possible without the generous support of its sponsors, Robert and Annette Marquardt. This program is sponsored in memory of Robert’s mother Enid Marquardt, a teacher who taught for 30 years in the Dayton school system and loved birds. If you are an art teacher interested in having your school participate in the Avian Art Program, contact Nenita Lapitan, Senior Manager, Center & Farm, at nenita.lapitan@audubon.org or 937-890-7360 x214.

Aullwood's Head Start Nature / Farm Preschool 

Aullwood ̽����ѡ Farm is the site of Miami Valley Child Development Centers' farm-based preschool. Please contact the Miami Valley CDC directly for more information at 937-236-7655 or visit their web page at http://www.mvcdc.org