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Homeschool/Family Programs
Cincinnati Nature Center offers a variety of programs at Rowe Woods and Long Branch Farm & Trails designed specifically for homeschool families. Programs list age restrictions that have been developed due to the physical and mental demands of the program.
All programs require preregistration and follow Cincinnati Nature Center's COVID Program Safety Protocol. Programs are carefully designed for children who have reached specific developmental milestones. Please see Homeschool Frequently Asked Questions to assist you with decisions regarding the registration of your child/children for homeschool events.
Homeschool Programs
Cincinnati Nature Center offers a variety of programs at Rowe Woods and Long Branch Farm & Trails designed specifically for homeschool families. All programs require preregistration for all participants and follow Cincinnati Nature Center's COVID Program Safety Protocol. Masks are required.
Programs are carefully designed for children who have reached specific developmental milestones. Please note the age/grade restrictions that have been developed due to the physical and mental demands of the program. Please see Homeschool Frequently Asked Questions below to assist you with decisions regarding the registration of your child/children for homeschool events.
To receive occasional updates and emails about homeschool and other family-focused programs at Cincinnati Nature Center, please CLICK HERE to be added to the Homeschool Program notification list.
The following list includes our current homeschool offerings. If you are interested in a program that is full, please register for the waiting list. For sold out programs without a waiting list, contact our registrar at registrar@cincynature.org to request to be added to a waiting list. For more details or to register, please click on the links below:
Family Field Trip: Spring Treasures
Monday, March 22, 9:30-11:30 am
Families will hike with a naturalist in search of seasonal wonders, looking for signs of adaptations that animals and plants have made to use temporary phenomena to their advantage. Members $7; nonmembers $11 (includes daily admission.)
Family Field Trip: Busy Spring Birds
Monday, April 12, 9:30-11:30 am
As we hike with a naturalist, we will search for signs of nesting and clues to what birds are eating as we learn about how birds build nests and find food for their young. Members $7; nonmembers $11 (includes daily admission.)
Family Field Trip: Aquatic Adaptations
Trekking with a naturalist to the stream and pond is one way to find out what makes some animals better adapted to pond life when others can make the stream a perfect home. Members $7; nonmembers $11 (includes daily admission).
Family Field Trip: Constructive Mud
Searching in diverse habitats with a naturalist, families will explore the ways that animals have adapted to use mud, from construction material to source of nutrition. Members $7; nonmembers $11 (includes daily admission).
Additional Programs for Children
From weekdays to weekends, we’re offering a lot of new and exciting programs for school-age children to connect with nature. Click here for for more information!
Cincinnati Nature Center's amazing grounds offer families and children a beautiful place to learn and discover the natural world. Whether you are exploring on your own or letting us be your guide, we have you covered! Check out our Fun For All program listing which offers wonderful opportunities for families to grow in their knowledge while enjoying the beauty of nature. CLICK HERE to view our guided program offerings with a family focus. Homeschool families can also independently explore our grounds. CLICK HERE for more information about our great self-guided opportunities.
Homeschool Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to register and pay for my child that is underage?
- Underage participants: All students ages 3 and up have to register and pay. If the program is age specific, we ask you to respect the age parameters.
- Underage observers: If you have a younger sibling (below age 3) who will attend a program as an observer only, please do not register that child. We welcome younger siblings as observers under the care of a parent/caregiver, but they may not participate in the program. Please be sure children who are not registered for the program are not a distraction to those attending the program. Please read the program description carefully to help you decide whether or not your younger child could observe the program without hindering the program.
As a parent/caregiver, do I need to register myself for the program?
- Yes, parents/caregivers need to register for homeschool programs at Cincinnati Nature Center. Group size is limited for homeschool programs to provide a safe atmosphere for learning. Parents/caregivers should register and pay for the spot that they are taking in the program.
Do I need to stay with my child?
- Parents/Caregivers are mentors: Cincinnati Nature Center is all about empowering parents/caregivers and other adults to help young people develop an interest in and passion for the natural world. For all homeschool programs at the Nature Center, parents/caregivers are viewed as teachers and are asked to participate in the experience with their children. Many programs will be partially led by homeschool parents/caregivers.
- Designated overseer: If a parent/caregiver is unable to attend an event, the child may attend a program with an adult designated to oversee the experience of the child (for example: grandparent, another homeschool parent/caregiver, etc.). We request that one adult oversee no more than six children.
Do you require masks?
- Please bring your own mask. Whether indoors or outdoors, masks are required for all adults and children in Kindergarten through 12th grade at all Cincinnati Nature Center programs. Masks are to be worn outside when one cannot consistently be spaced 6 feet apart. Masks are also required to be worn while inside all facilities (for example, Rowe Visitor Center, restroom, etc.).
May I arrive late for the program?
- Out of respect for other participants, we ask that you arrive before the listed program start time.
How do I register for Cincinnati Nature Center programs?
- A listing of current programs can be found below. All registrations for programs are taken online by registering using the link below or by registering using our online calendar on our website.