Students at Foley's Environmental Education Center take home with them new knowledge of their environment and themselves--valuable knowledge that can help shape their lives and complement any school program. The Center has planned activities that provide the best in environmental understanding, education and fun.

Many of our courses can be adapted to fit any age group, below are suggested courses for each age group.

The following classes are done in either 1 or 2 hour increments.

Primary (K-4)

Detective Hike - While hiking along a trail, discover the hidden "creatures" and find all of the items for mysterious soup.

Campfires - Join you classmates around the campfire singing songs and other interactive games!  Be prepared to be a little silly and bring a big smile!

Whitefish Lake Adventure - Weather permitting this adventure will take the group out on a pontoon boat ride on beautiful Whitefish Lake.  Look for Bald Eagles, find fox dens and sneak up on the Minnesota state bird...the Loon.

Tracking - Make your very own animal-tracking book.  Learn to identify some different animal tracks and where you might find those tracks.  Information about the individual animals is also included in the lesson.

Bats - Become batty about bats!  Our bat adventure begins with a story and then a discovery about bats by looking at a bat skeleton, a bat house, and playing a game that teaches us how bats find their food.

Rocks - Students will go on a rock hunt and draft their findings.  After learning about the minerals in granite, students will “make” their own piece of granite.

Magnificient Mammals - Learn about basic mammal anatomy while handling skulls, bones, and pelts of various mammals.  Details of the animal’s skull will be discussed and investigated to determine the animal’s place in the food chain.  The importance and relevance of teeth will also be discussed and observed.  Interactive games will be played to help students better understand specific concepts.

Sensational Senses - Using your senses explore the natural world - taste a wild edible, put your hand in a "feely" box, smell to connect a "mom" with her "baby", wiggle your toes in mud, and more...

Middle Level (5-7)

Marine Biology - Get a crash course in Marine Biology with topics covering some popular myths, cool animals and what we can do here in Minnesota to help our world's oceans.

Critters - Observation combined with hands-on experience will help students gain a better understanding of these misunderstood creatures.  Various snakes and turtles will be available for students to observes as they learn about the important characteristics and differences of this specific class – The Reptiles.

Wildlife Viewing - Using binoculars sit quietly or hike and view the bald eagles nesting in a tree, turtles on logs, and other wildlife.

Fish Survival - After being assigned a fish, figure out if your fish can survive in the lake.  Using chemicals and charts, you will figure this out.  Basic information about oxygenation, pollutants and run-off are also included.

Solos - Spend 35 to 40 minutes in the woods drawing, journalizing, or just being in nature.  Each student is assigned an area to sit and enjoy nature.  After the experience, the group will share their experiences.

Blind Hike - Take away your vision, walk blind folded, and discover a tree.

Micros - Explore microscopic organisms with a microscope - draw what you see!  Can you find a Cyclops or a Paramecium?

Aquatics - Explore a pond in a canoe.  Will groups see some of the numerous painted turtles or a great blue heron? Lots of wildlife has been spotted in this hidden pond including fox, muskrat, beaver, bald eagles, and more.

Climbing/Team Games - Challenge yourself on our 37 foot climbing wall.  Helmets, harnesses and belaying techniques are used.  Participate in group team building games while not climbing.

Acclimitization - spend time in the woods using senses other than

Woodskills - Learn a little about the skills of the Voyageurs, Pioneers, and Lumberjacks while starting fires with flint and steel, throwing tomahawks, using sling shots, peeling logs and learning basic survival skills.

Muck Adventure - Roll up your pants, take off your shoes and socks and you are off exploring the muck through various senses.  There is also a beautiful hike through the woods with plenty of opportunities for wildlife sightings

Geocaching - Using Garmin handheld GPS units, students learn basics of electronic orienteering and geocaching.  Follow specific preset courses, look for hidden "treasure" in the woods and pace your steps.  Find out why many are calling this the "next great outdoor sport"!

High School Courses (9-12)

All of the courses offered for Middle Level students are available for High School students, however they would be adapted to fit the group.

In addition, our high school program focuses around Leadership training with emphasis on allowing kids to create and lead their own programs, giving them hands on experience with teaching to peers.

Other Topics Available

We have several other classes that we have done in the past and can be implemented upon request:

Raptors - Students will learn about various raptors’ habits, distinguishing physical characteristics, habitats and their importance in the food chain.  By dissecting owl pellets, students will discover for themselves what an owl’s diet consists of.  See and feel a stuffed Wolf, Great-Horned Owl and Red-Tailed Hawk

Wolves - Learn about the Minnesota timber wolf through an interactive class.  See first hand skulls, bones, feces, a stuffed wolf and many pelts. Learn about diet, range, pack behavior and how to tell the difference between wolves, coyotes and dogs.

Native American Studies - As you gather in a rustic campsite, learn a little about the Sioux or Dakota Native Americans, listen to the story of the dream catcher and make a dream catcher to take home with you.

Enviro Crafts - Several crafts projects both individual and group are available that use a variety of recycled products (old tshirts, CDs, etc).