Educational Programs



As a cultural and educational facility of the Milwaukee County Park System, "The Domes" offers programming for school groups from grade K-5 through college, scouts, and adult clubs or groups.

Programs for School Groups
Students will focus on rainforest and desert ecology, and plant and animal adaptations. Discussions will be appropriate for the grade level. To help you prepare for the program, a Teacher Information Packet and student worksheets will be sent to you. Each discussion/hands-on session will last 30–45 minutes. Afterwards, students will complete worksheets during their exploration of the domes. Allow a minimum of 1-1/2 hours for this program. Programs meet state DPI standards, and MPS standards for science content. One adult chaperone is required for every 8 students.

  • Grade K5
    Children discover plant life through this sensory/hands-on introduction.
    Registration Information


  • Grade 1–2
    Children will study what plants and animals need to survive and how they obtain these necessities from their environment. Hands-on activities with plants found in the Tropical and Arid domes will guide students in this early discovery of plant adaptations.
    Registration Information


  • Grade 3–7
    Students will focus on plants as producers of oxygen and how life on earth depends on plants for survival. Students will learn how plants adapt to survive in desert and rainforest environments. Hands-on activities with plants found in the Tropical and Arid domes will lead students to a better understanding of plant adaptations.
    Registration Information


  • Grade 8–9
    Students will discuss photosynthesis as well as limiting factors such as sunlight and water in contrasting biomes. Students will also explore the effects of these factors on plant and animal adaptations. Hands-on activities with plants found in the Tropical and Arid domes along with a visit with a live animal will enhance student understanding of plant and animal adaptations.
    Registration Information


  • Grade 10–College
    Student discussions will focus on ecology and the limiting factors of desert and rainforest biomes. Hands-on activities with plants found in the Tropical and Arid domes, and the handling of an animal during classroom discussion will further strengthen student understanding of plant and animal adaptations.
    Registration Information


Registration for Field Trips
Reserve your field-trip program year round.

Programs are available
Tues.–Fri., 9am–2pm

Group Size
Up to 60 students may attend a session of your field-trip program. Groups of more than 60 students will be split into two or more sessions. While the first group is in the education center learning about rainforest and desert environments, the second group explores the current exhibit in the Floral Show Dome. After the first group has completed the program, those students may visit the three domes in any order while the second group attends the program in the education center. When the second group has completed the program in the education center, those students may visit the Arid and Tropical domes in any order.


2008 Educational Program Fees
The following fees are for groups led by a Horticultural Conservatory Educator. Program fees include admission.
Teacher/Leader Information Packet $4.00
Student Age 5 $1
Student Age 6–17 $4
Student Age 18+ $6
Teacher, Free
One Adult Chaperone per 8 students is admitted free 
Additional Adult Chaperone $6

For more information on Field Trip Programs, contact the Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory.
Please note: you must make your final program registration by calling (414) 649-8375.


Teacher/Leader Information Packet
When you reserve your program at least 2 weeks in advance, the Education Department of the Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory will send you its "Field Trip Handbook." Make copies of the student worksheets for your chaperones and students attending the field trip. Bring these copies and pencils with you on the field trip. The fee for the handbook will be collected at the time of your program.

The handbook contains
  • Confirmation Letter
  • Etiquette Guidelines
  • Directions to the Domes
  • Instructor Sheets
    • Introduction
    • Comparison of Communities
    • Rainforest Ecology
    • Desert Ecology
    • Outside Resources
    • Take-home Worksheets
  • Student Worksheets
    • Plant ID and Use, age-appropriate
    • Scavenger Hunt, Grade 5K–1
    • Bingo, All ages

Adult Programs
For more information on adult programs, contact the Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory.

 


 

Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory (The Domes)
524 S. Layton Blvd., Milwaukee, WI 53215
(414) 649-9830

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