Creating Habitats

Creating Habitats - Class Description

Each student will have the opportunity to:

• Play games to help them understand the interdependencies of native plants and local wildlife throughout the seasons.

• Do wildlife counts in Depot Park, at home, and in nearby wild areas, to see with their own eyes how plant communities affect wildlife numbers. 

• Choose 1 out of 8 local species of wildlife, and add native plants to Depot Park that will support their chosen bug or bird. They can also take home chosen wildflowers to plant at home! 

• Learn to use plant ID apps on smartphones to distinguish between invasive, introduced, and native plants.  

• Participate in garden preparation, planting, and maintenance. 

• Take home exercises to help families explore their local bioregion, and have the option to share their discoveries via a Discord chat. 

• Design the layout of the new garden

• Create unique signs for Depot Park.

Students will steer their own educational experience, unschooling-style. Activities and roles designed for different ages and proclivities will be offered. 

Note: This class is going to evolve according to the inspiration and leadership of the kids and families. This will be a co-created class.

Who is this class for?

Creating Habitats is optimally designed for kids 5–10 years old. However, we can find ways for kids of all ages to be involved in the class with some support from you. We request that students are accompanied by a parent, chaperone, or teenage sibling, in order to help this mixed-age class run smoothly and integrate the knowledge into the family life. Parents/chaperones are free to wander around the park with younger kids.

Wholeschoolers classes are for holistic homeschoolers, unschoolers, and other families who are looking for accessible ways to nurture their kids’ wholeness and aliveness. You don’t have to eat organic food, and you don’t have to be a full-time homeschooling family. Our content is designed to be flexibly helpful for people of all backgrounds, faiths, and income levels.

What are the dates?

Spring through fall, Wednesdays. You're welcome to stay afterwards and picnic in the park.

• June 7th 10-11am

• July 12th 10-11am

• (Skipping August due to heat.)

• Sep 13th 9am-12pm (planting day) 

• Oct 18th 10-11am (with celebratory picnic afterwords)

Where will the class take place?

Depot Prairie Park, Englewood, CO

Directions: https://goo.gl/maps/DiVDmXDzS2raaUig7 

How much does it cost?

We want Wholeschoolers to grow from everyone contributing resources whole-heartedly, including families in diverse financial situations. So payment for each class is pay-what-you-can. More concretely, we ask you to contribute an amount per class that reflects your desire for this kind of experience in your family. We trust your gut-based/prayer-based choice. If free is best for your family, that's fine.

If you're stumped, here are suggestions:

• If your family is always able to meet basic needs (food, housing, transport), consider contributing $50-150 per class.

• If your family is usually able to meet basic needs, consider contributing $10-50 per class.

• If your family is sometimes unable to meet basic needs, consider contributing $0-10 per class.

Payment covers all members of your family. For example, multiple siblings can take the kids-only classes without you paying more.