Field Trips

NPS Photo

 

Education is a primary mission of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. A variety of opportunities are available to visiting educational groups, including self-guided, ranger-led, and classroom activities.

Field trips to Sleeping Bear Dunes are free! However, you must schedule your field trip at least two weeks in advance. Our calendar fills up fast, so please plan ahead.

If you are interested in scheduling a guided field trip, please review logistical information and fill out the Field Trip Request Form at the bottom of our Field Trip Planning page.

The following is a list of all ranger-led field trip program offerings. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.

Spring & Fall Field Trips

Pre-K - 1st Grade

Dunes Survival

Students will learn that all living things need food, water, shelter, air and space to survive. They will discover the special plants and animals that live in the dunes, and the adaptations they have to get what they need to survive. Students will understand that national parks like Sleeping Bear Dunes take care of the places where plants and animals get what they need to survive.

This program can be faciliated in two locations:

1. One-way along the Cottonwood Trail. The bus drops the students off at the Picnic Mountain location on the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive and then picks up students at the Dune Climb. Requires advanced planning to shuttle chaperone vehicles.
2. The Heritage Trail along the base of the Dune Climb.

Maritime Museum Exploration

Step back in time on a tour of the Maritime Museum. Complete a scavenger hunt and participate in a mock water rescue.

 

NPS Photo / T. Withers

2nd - 3rd Grade

Habitat Needs

Students will discover what plant and animal species live in or travel through the dunes here at Sleeping Bear, what factors make the dunes a challenge, and learn about the ways they adapt to survive in this harsh environment. Students will also understand that animals and plants use their adaptations to find food, water, shelter, air and space to survive.

This program can be faciliated in two locations:

1. One-way along the Cottonwood Trail. The bus drops the students off at the Picnic Mountain location on the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive and then picks up students at the Dune Climb. Requires advanced planning to shuttle chaperone vehicles.
2. The Heritage Trail along the base of the Dune Climb.

Maritime Museum Exploration

Step back in time on a tour of the Maritime Museum. Complete a scavenger hunt and participate in a mock water rescue.

4th Grade

Geology

Students will learn that wind, water, and ice are the forces that drive weathering, erosion, and deposition. They will discover that some of these processes occurred long ago, and some are still occurring today. Students will make observations about the rocks and minerals that make up our sand. Students will understand that the dunes at Sleeping Bear are special and that plants that grow on them can change them, too.

This program can be faciliated in two locations:

1. One-way along the Cottonwood Trail. The bus drops the students off at the Picnic Mountain location on the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive and then picks up students at the Dune Climb. Requires advanced planning to shuttle chaperone vehicles.
2. The Heritage Trail along the base of the Dune Climb.

Maritime Museum Exploration

Step back in time on a tour of the Maritime Museum. Complete a scavenger hunt and participate in a mock water rescue.

 

Middle school students ID a tree while on a field trip.

NPS Photo / R. Klammer

5th Grade

Dunes Food Web

Students will understand the components of a food web and how they interact. They will create a food web based off a “mini ecosystem” that was marked out along the trail. They will define “invasive species” and identify common invasive species in our area.
This program can be faciliated in two locations:

1. One-way along the Cottonwood Trail. The bus drops the students off at the Picnic Mountain location on the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive and then picks up students at the Dune Climb. Requires advanced planning to shuttle chaperone vehicles.

2. The Heritage Trail along the base of the Dune Climb.

Maritime Museum Exploration

Step back in time on a tour of the Maritime Museum. Complete a scavenger hunt and participate in a mock water rescue.

Middle School

Ecosystem Comparison

Students will compare the biotic and abiotic factors of a forest and a dune ecosystem, enabling them to discover why the dunes are a challenging, yet unique ecosystem. Students will also learn that animals and plants have developed adaptations that help them live or travel through the dunes.

This program is facilitated along a section of the Sleeping Bear Point Trail.

High School

Succession Data Collection

Succession is an important ecological process. It provides information about particular communities at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The dunes provide a wealth of information regarding succession, the health of the dunes and the apex forest.

This program is facilitated along a section of the Sleeping Bear Point Trail.

 

If conditions allow, students may snowshoe during a field trip.

NPS Photo

Winter Field Trips

3rd Grade - High School

Winter Experience

Students will take advantage of the winter weather, and will explore Sleeping Bear Dunes while learning about watersheds, winter ecology, climate change, and other related topics. If weather conditions allow, students may explore the park on snowshoes during this program.

Prepare for your visit by watching our snowshoe trip preparation video, or by scheduling a pre-visit distance learning program with your class!