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Nature at School

An owl sits on a signpost reading Virtual pointing to a sign reading Nature at School

Nature at School

A sample virtual lesson for Nature at School

Nature at School offers a slate of free, live, interactive, virtual lessons with DNR educators that are developed for formal classroom teachers.

Sessions are free, but we require a minimum of 10 students. For smaller groups, or homeschool students, our recorded webinar series allows any student, parent or teacher to participate and can be seen in this YouTube playlist.

A wide variety of topics await you

Live virtual programs are available from after Thanksgiving through spring break each year. Check back this fall for 2025-2026 school year programs. 

Homeschoolers, co-ops, pods, scouts and families - want to enjoy these great lessons? We have several recorded for you to enjoy! Check out recordings on YouTube. 

Birds Are My Peeps

Live from southeast Michigan: Learn to observe, identify and record birds in your neighborhood and why biologists use these skills, from downtown Detroit to the wilds of the Upper Peninsula. This session is for third through 12th grade.

A bird perched on a branch with purple flowers

Birds of Fire: The Kirtland's Warbler Story

Join DNR educator Craig Kasmer and explore the world of the Kirtland's warbler and the unique jack pine forest habitat it needs to survive. This session is for kindergarten through 12th grade.

Bird of Fire Nature at School lesson kirtlands warbler

Fungi of the Forest

Join us from Hoffmaster State Park to learn all about fungi of the forest! We will take a closer look at how these organisms are classified and what makes them so unique. This session is for fourth through fifth grade.

A mushroom

Hatchery to Habitat: A Michigan Fish Story

Live from Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery: Learn about fish biology and how the DNR raises fish to release into Michigan waters. This session is for third through 12th grade. 

hatcheries to habitat chinook salmon sac fry

History of Ludington State Park

Your eighth through 12th grade students can discover how the New Deal shaped Ludington State Park through the Civilian Conservation Corps in this program. 

Learn more and register for the History of Ludington State Park

Michigan's Dunes: Like No Place on Earth

Join us from Hoffmaster State Park in Muskegon, which is part of the largest freshwater coastal dune ecosystem in the world. Discover the greatest freshwater sand dunes in the world and their role as host to a vast diversity of plants and wildlife. This session is for third through 12th grade.

Learn more and register for Michigan's Dunes

Michigan Mammals

Why do mammals have different types of fur? How can you tell what a mammal eats by looking at its teeth? How does a skull tell you about the bite strength? Find out in this session for third through 12th grade.

A close-up of bear fur

Scales and Scutes of the Dunes

Join us from Hoffmaster State Park in Muskegon to learn about a few reptiles that call the dunes their home. This session is for third through 12th grade.

scales and scutes turtle on a sand dune

Seeing the Forest From the Trees

As an area that escaped the axes of Michigan's white pine logging era, Hartwick Pines boasts stands of enormous white pines and is the perfect setting to learn about how trees grow, what benefits they provide us and wildlife, and how forests are managed in Michigan. This session is for kindergarten through 12th grade.

Old growth forest at Hartwick Pines State Park

Supervillains of the Outdoors

We will discuss the difference between these troublemaker species and the native species whose spaces they invade and what you can do to help. This session is for sixth through eighth grade.

Invasive plant removal

Watershed Awareness

What is a watershed? Why are they important and how do they impact me and where I live? Find out in this session for kindergarten through 12th grade.

A river.

Wetland Mechanics

Discover the unique world of Michigan’s wetland habitat through an interactive virtual classroom visit! This session is for kindergarten through 12th grade.

A marsh with lily pads

Winter Adaptations

In this program, your kindergarten through 12th grade students will explore how Michigan’s plants and animals survive the cold winter months.

A bobcat in winter

Find out what teachers think about the programs

The Nature at School programs have been well-received by teachers all over the state. See which programs are most popular, what teachers had to say and program statistics below.

2022-2023 Nature at School summary report

2021-2022 Nature at School summary report

2020-2021 Nature at School summary report