Kansas City Field Trips

• Please plan to arrive 10 minutes before your scheduled program. Late arrivals will shorten your program. If you will not be able to attend, or if your group is running late, please contact us as soon as possible with an update.
• Programs are designed for Missouri groups. All programs include ample time outdoors, so please help children prepare accordingly with appropriate clothing, sunscreen, and insect repellant as needed for the season.
• In case of inclement weather, we may substitute an indoor program during the time normally spent outdoors.
• Let us know in advance if anyone in your group needs special accommodations.

To schedule a program, send an email to dcprograms@mdc.mo.gov.

The Discovery Center will begin booking fall programs on July 15 and spring programs on Nov. 1.

Booking for summer programs will begin Friday, April 1, for programs from June 14 to Aug. 4, 2022. Summer programs are available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays.

To ensure quality programs, please arrange to be at the Discovery Center for the full length of the program, plus lunch. Please add 30 minutes to program times for lunch.

Note: Kindergarten classes are limited to one workshop per day.

Self-Guided Visits

The Discovery Center is a great place to visit even if you aren’t able to schedule a program with our naturalists. We have a few resources we would love to share with you if you think you’d like to bring a group on an adventure at our site. Call for details: 816-759-7300.

At the Discovery Center

Pre-K (ages 3-5)

Discover Trees

45 minutes

Discover the value of trees for wildlife and people. Through a story, hands on activities and an outdoor hike students will learn all about the characteristics of trees and how wildlife and people benefit from trees.

Missouri Learning Standards: VI.B.1.b; VI.B.2.b and VI.B.4.c

Grade K

Becoming Bears

2 hours

Discover one of Missouri’s largest mammals, the black bear. Students learn the characteristics of bears and how they are able to thrive in Missouri. Through hands-on activities, students discover everything bears need in their habitat for survival.

Missouri Learning Standards: K.PS1.A.1, K.PS3.B.1, K.LS1.C.1, K.ESS1.B.1, K.ESS2.E.1, K.ESS3.A.1, 1.LS3.A.1

Grades K–2

Outdoor Sensations

2 hours

The natural world is filled with sights, sounds, textures, and smells. Students will see live animals and learn how wild animals rely on their senses to survive. Outside, hands-on activities will let students focus their senses of eyesight, hearing, touch, and smell to better experience the natural world.

Missouri Learning Standards: K.PS3.A.1, K.LS1.C.1, K.ESS1.B.1, K.ESS2.E.1, K.ESS3.A.1, K.ESS3.C.1, K.ETS1.A.1, 1.PS3.A.1, 1.LS3.A.1, 1.ETS1.A.1, 2.ESS2.C.1, 2.ETS1.A.1

Grades 1–2

Seeds to Trees

2 hours

From seed to sapling to mighty oak, trees change through the seasons and the years. Through this hands-on interactive program, students will understand the life cycle of a tree and learn the different resources trees provide. They will explore different ways to identify trees; from nuts to fruits to leaves. The program concludes with students making their own tree art.

Missouri Learning Standards: K.PS1.A.1, K.LS1.C.1, K.ESS1.B.1, K.ESS2.E.1, K.ESS3.A.1, 1.LS3.A.1, 1.ETS1.A.1,1.ETS1.B.1, 2.ETS1.A.1, 2.ETS1.B1

Grades 3–4

No Place Like MISSOURI

3 hours, not available December 1 through March 8

Ecosystems provide organisms with everything they need to survive. Through hands-on investigation, students will explore and learn about the plants and animals living in Missouri ecosystems including ponds, prairies, and forests. This program is designed to be completely outdoors.

Missouri Learning Standards: 3LS3.B.1, 3.LS3.C.1, 3.LS3.D.1, 4.LS1.A.1, 5.PS3.D.1

Grades 4–5

Staying Alive

3 hours

Through investigations of skulls, beaks, pelts, and live animals, students identify specialized structures and how plants and animals use them to survive. This program culminates as students create an artistic expression of their own species and identify how they survive in their habitat.

Missouri Learning Standards: 4.LS1.A.1, 5.PS3.D.1, 5.LS1.A.1, 5.LS1.C.1, 5.LS2.B.1

Grades 5–8

Exploring Your Watershed

4 hours (Not available December 1 through March 8)

We all live in a watershed and depend on clean water. Examine how our actions shape the waterways around us. Interact with the stream table and go on a hike to see firsthand some of the challenging water-quality issues in an urban setting. Students will assess water quality using live macro-invertebrates to determine the health of an ecosystem.

Missouri Learning Standards: 6-8.LS1.B.2, 6-8.ESS3.A, 6-8.LS2.A.1, 6-8.LS2.C.1, 6-8.LS2.C.2

Grades 3–8

Lewis and Clark-Themed Program — Crossing Missouri

2 to 4 hours depending on group size. Not available December 1 through March 8.

The Lewis and Clark expedition crossed Missouri in 1804. Through hands-on experiences, students will learn how they survived. Participants will engage in skills the group would have used and learn about the land that provided for the expedition’s needs.

This course is taught for a minimum of 25 students and a maximum of 125 students. This program includes various activities that students rotate through.

When scheduling a virtual program, please indicate if you will send a virtual link to us or want the Discovery Center to send a link to you.

Grades K–2

Seeds to Trees

25-minute pre-recorded video followed by a 30-minute live virtual program with a naturalist

From seed to sapling to shade, trees change through the seasons and the years. Through live outdoor visuals
explore life stages and parts of a tree. Students will learn trees are a living thing, providing much to the world; and mimic the lifecycle through movement. Program concludes with a virtual question and answer with a naturalist and an animal ambassador that uses trees.

Missouri Learning Standards: K.PS1.A.1, K.LS1.C.1, K.ESS1.B.1, K.ESS2.E.1

Grades 3–5

All About Snakes

45-minute live virtual program with a naturalist

Snakes have elicited more misunderstanding and apprehension than almost any other group of animals. Once you learn some interesting facts about snakes, you will discover most of them are harmless and even beneficial. Join us as we explore several different snakes living in the prairies, ponds, swamps, and forests of Missouri. You will also have an opportunity to meet the snake ambassadors living at the Discovery Center!

Missouri Learning Standards: 3LS3.B1, 3LS3.C.1, 4.LS1.A.1, 5.LS1.A.1, 6-8.LS1.B.1

Owls Are a Hoot

45-minute live virtual program with a naturalist

Owls are without a doubt some of the most fascinating raptors in Missouri! This naturalist-led program will focus on the specialized structures and behavioral adaptations that make these regal birds a favorite to learn about. Whoooo knows, you too may learn to speak their language! It’ll be a hoot!

Missouri Learning Standards: 3.LS3.B.1, 3.LS3.C.1, 4.LS1.A.1

For Missouri schools within the Kansas City Metro area.

Grades K-2

What Kind of Animal Are You?

60 minute program time, allow extra time for set up and tear down.

There are a variety of animal families in Missouri. The differences between them make each family unique. Hands-on interactive activities in this program will highlight those characteristics. Students will also have a chance to get up close and personal with a Discovery Center animal ambassador!

Missouri Learning Standards: K.PS1.A.1, 1.LS3.A.1

Seeds to Trees!

(60 minute program time, allow extra time for set up and tear down)

From seed to sapling to mighty oak, trees change through the seasons and the years. Through this hands-on interactive program, students will understand the lifecycle of a tree and will explore different ways to identify trees; from nuts to fruits to leaves and the different resources they provide. 

Missouri Learning Standards: K.PS1.A.1, K.LS1.C.1, K.ESS1.B.1, K.ESS2.E.1, K.ESS3.A.1, 1.LS3.A.1, 1.ETS1.A.1,1. ETS1.B.1, 2.ETS1.A.1, 2.ETS1.B1

Grades 3-5

M.A.D. Wildlife

Migratory, Active, Dormant

60 minute program time, allow extra time for set up and tear down.

Winter is coming, but first there is fall
The year is full of changes, but that is not all
With cues, specialized structures and survival traits, too
We all have something special to help us survive, what about you?

Seasonal changes affect the behavior of plants and animals, including people. Winter is
one of the most stressful times of the year for most organisms and where we see the most
adaptations. Students will participate in activities to learn how plants and animals survive
during these major changes and why organisms behave the way that they do in their
specific ecosystem.

Missouri Learning Standards: 3.LS3.B.1, 3.LS3.C.1, 3.LS3.D.1, 4.LS1.A.1, 5.LS1.A.1, 5.LS2.B.1, 5.ESS1.B.1

Dissect and Discover!

60 minute program time, allow extra time for set up and tear down.

Owls are a unique nocturnal bird. Through hands-on activities, students will learn about owls and the specialized structures they use for survival. Students will become wildlife biologists as they dissect and examine regurgitated sanitized owl pellets, discovering the diet of this predaceous raptor!

Missouri Learning Standards: 3.LS3.B.1, 3.LS3.C.1, 4.LS1.A.1, 5.PS3.D.1

• Please arrive 10 minutes before your scheduled program. Late arrivals will shorten your program time.
• Let us know in advance if anyone in your group needs special accommodations.
• Picnic areas are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Burr Oak Woods has a trash-in/trash-out policy; please bring trash bags for your group.
• Most programs contain an outdoor component. In case of inclement weather, we may substitute an indoor program. If Blue Springs Schools are closed due to weather, all programs will be canceled.
• Your group is important to us. Contact us with your topic of interest and we will strive to meet your needs for a presentation on your topic of choice.

Special Needs Groups

Programs are designed to meet the needs of emotionally, physically, or educationally challenged groups and will focus on a variety of sensory experiences. Flexible, hands-on programs offer a nurturing developmental approach to the study of nature.

Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center has a variety of programs developed for school-age children. Each program incorporates hands-on and minds-on learning opportunities in the outdoors. Programs are designed specifically to enhance science-based subjects, but many are cross-curricular.

For more information or to schedule your free program, call 816-228-3766 or email Burr.Oak@mdc.mo.gov.

Registration begins July 1 for the school year and Jan. 1 for the summer season.

Naturalist-led programs at Burr Oak Woods CNC.

Grade Pre-K

Walking Wild

We all need to get from one place to another, but different animals move in very different ways. Learn the secrets of how animals walk, swim, fly, and slither. This program includes live animals and an outdoor hike.

Naturally Sense-Sational

Pack your sensing toolkit and head out to the trails at Burr Oak Woods as we discover how to see, smell, touch, taste, and hear just like our animal friends. This program includes a puppet show and a trail hike.

Nature’s Hide & Seek

“Now you see me! Now you don’t!” Discover the strategies animals use to avoid predators or search for prey. Observation skills will be put to the test as we play interactive games and hike down a secret trail.

Wild Moms!

Can you help match a wild animal baby with its mother? Discover how we use clues such as fur, feathers, and scales, shapes, and special features to learn what group each animal belongs to. We will explore different animal groups and match babies to their mothers with hands-on activities. This program provides children the opportunity to see live animals up close.

Grade K

Micro-Hike

Sometimes the most interesting things in nature are found right beneath our feet! We will use hand lenses and other simple equipment to investigate the structures and behaviors of tiny plants and animals on the forest floor. As we explore these miniature worlds, we will discover patterns that help us understand how these animals are all connected and how they survive in their environment.

That Makes Perfect Sense

Just like we do, wild animals use their five senses to survive. This interactive program helps students understand how animals use their senses to meet their needs in their environments. We also head outdoors to investigate and use our own senses as we search for evidence of wildlife along the trail.

Nature’s Neighborhoods

Burr Oak Woods is home to many plants and animals, but they don’t all live in the same place. We will visit a forest, a prairie, and a pond to find out who lives there and what makes each habitat unique. Discover how plants and animals can use and change their habitat to meet their survival needs.

Grades 1–2

Missouri’s Creepiest Residents

Missouri is home to many amazing animals, including some that many people think are “creepy.” During this game show-style program, we will discover how their creepy adaptations help them survive, grow, and meet their needs. We will then explore outside to search for Missouri’s creepiest residents in their natural habitat.

Mammal Mysteries

We have a mystery to solve! We have some mammals who have been using their special adaptations to get into some mischief at Burr Oak Woods. We will become detectives and study the clues left behind while learning what makes mammals unique animals in Missouri.

The Plant and the Pollinator

Plants and pollinators have relied on each other for a long time. This special relationship comes with rewards for both plants and animals. Join us as we explore a plant’s needs plus investigate how plants and pollinators trade services to survive.

Grades 3–5

Riddle of the Woods

How can we find out what animals live at Burr Oak Woods? We can discover evidence they leave behind like scat and tracks. Students will learn about some of the specialized structures that herbivores, omnivores, and carnivores need to survive. We will hike to find clues to understand who lives here, what special adaptations they have, and how they fit into the food web.

Giants of the Forest

Some of the largest living things on earth are trees! Students will learn about the life cycles of trees, how trees produce food using air, water, and photosynthesis, and how trees fit into the forest food web. We will head outside to investigate trees and collect data by measuring a tree to help estimate its age. We will also play a game using specialized tree structures to learn to identify different trees growing here.

Grades 6–12

Reptiles Rock!

Reptiles move about their world exploring with senses very different than our own. Discover their amazing adaptations.

Incredible Mammals of Missouri

What makes a mammal a mammal? If you don’t see them when you explore out in nature, how do you know they were there? Discover their incredible story through the signs they leave behind.

Mixed Ages

Fur, Feathers, and Scales

Whether it is furry, feathered, or scaly, an animal’s body helps it survive. We will discover more about the mammals, birds, and reptiles that live in Missouri. Students will meet a Naturalist and get an up-close visit with some of our live animals.

Backyard Neighbors

You might think you already know your neighbors, but do you really know everyone who lives nearby? There are many wild animals that visit our backyards when we are not looking. Join us as we search for clues that help us discover and appreciate the remarkable animals that call your neighborhood home.

Cold-Blooded Critters

Slither, crawl, hop, or swim into the exciting world of Missouri’s reptiles and amphibians. These cold-blooded animals are unique, diverse, and very important to our ecosystems. Join us as we learn about these wonderful creatures and get an up-close look at some of them!

Insect-a-Mania

Enter a fantastic new world! Become an entomologist and marvel at the incredible adaptations of insects. We will venture into a prairie and a forest to closely examine these unique and wonderful creatures.

Discovery Hike

Explore the trails with a Naturalist and discover some of the wildlife secrets of Burr Oak Woods. Every hike leads us on a new adventure! We will also meet a live animal and learn about the unique adaptations it uses to survive.

Naturalist-led programs via Webex or meeting platform of your choice.

Grade Pre-K

Wild Moms!

Can you help match a wild animal baby with its mother? Discover how we use clues such as fur, feathers, and scales, shapes, and special features to learn what group each animal belongs to. We will explore different animal groups and match babies to their mothers with hands-on activities. This program provides children the opportunity to see live animals up close.

Grade K

Nature’s Neighborhoods

Burr Oak Woods is home to many plants and animals, but they don’t all live in the same place. We will visit a forest, a prairie, and a pond to find out who lives there and what makes each habitat unique. Discover how plants and animals can use and change their habitat to meet their survival needs.

Grades 1–2

Missouri’s Creepiest Residents

Missouri is home to many amazing animals, including some that many people think are “creepy.” During this game show-style program, we will discover how their creepy adaptations help them survive, grow, and meet their needs. We will then explore outside to search for Missouri’s creepiest residents in their natural habitat.

Grades 3–5

The Cycle of Life

Discover the transfer of energy and relationships between organisms that make up food webs. We will investigate the traits of producers, consumers, and decomposers and the special structures they need to survive. We will find out about our role in the food web and how our actions impact the cycles of life.

Mixed Ages

Fur, Feathers, and Scales

Whether it is furry, feathered, or scaly, an animal’s body helps it survive. We will discover more about the mammals, birds, and reptiles that live in Missouri. Students will meet a Naturalist and get an up-close visit with some of our live animals.

Backyard Neighbors

You might think you already know your neighbors, but do you really know everyone who lives nearby? There are many wild animals that visit our backyards when we are not looking. Join us as we search for clues that help us discover and appreciate the remarkable animals that call your neighborhood home.

Cold-Blooded Critters

Slither, crawl, hop, or swim into the exciting world of Missouri’s reptiles and amphibians. These cold-blooded animals are unique, diverse, and very important to our ecosystems. Join us as we learn about these wonderful creatures and get an up-close look at some of them!

Naturalist-led programs at your school or education center.

Grade Pre-K

Wild Moms!

Can you help match a wild animal baby with its mother? Discover how we use clues such as fur, feathers, and scales, shapes, and special features to learn what group each animal belongs to. We will explore different animal groups and match babies to their mothers with hands-on activities. This program provides children the opportunity to see live animals up close.

Grade K

Nature’s Naming Game

Patterns can be found everywhere we look - at home, at school and in nature. We use patterns to classify and group objects together. We can also use patterns to classify the natural world. Participate in hands-on activities to learn exactly what classification is and how scientists use it to study animals in their natural environments.

Grades 1–2

That’s My Baby!

Most babies do not look exactly like their parents. So how does a baby know its parent from other animals? During this interactive program we will investigate the similarities and differences between animals and their offspring to discover just how much they have in common.

The Cycle of Life

Discover the transfer of energy and relationships between organisms that make up food webs. We will investigate the traits of producers, consumers, and decomposers and the special structures they need to survive. We will find out about our role in the food web and how our actions impact the cycles of life.

Grades 6–12

Reptiles Rock!

Reptiles move about their world exploring with senses very different than our own. Discover their amazing adaptations.

Incredible Mammals of Missouri

What makes a mammal a mammal? If you don’t see them when you explore out in nature, how do you know they were there? Discover their incredible story through the signs they leave behind.

Mixed Ages

Fur, Feathers, and Scales

Whether it is furry, feathered, or scaly, an animal’s body helps it survive. We will discover more about the mammals, birds, and reptiles that live in Missouri. Students will meet a Naturalist and get an up-close visit with some of our live animals.

Backyard Neighbors

You might think you already know your neighbors, but do you really know everyone who lives nearby? There are many wild animals that visit our backyards when we are not looking. Join us as we search for clues that help us discover and appreciate the remarkable animals that call your neighborhood home.

Cold-Blooded Critters

Slither, crawl, hop, or swim into the exciting world of Missouri’s reptiles and amphibians. These cold-blooded animals are unique, diverse, and very important to our ecosystems. Join us as we learn about these wonderful creatures and get an up-close look at some of them!

Option 1: Teacher-led tours at Burr Oak Woods with accompanying activity guide or scavenger hunt.

Option 2: Request a thumb drive with select pre-recorded grade-level programs.

Grade Pre-K

Wild Moms!

Can you help match a wild animal baby with its mother? Discover how we use clues such as fur, feathers, and scales, shapes, and special features to learn what group each animal belongs to. We will explore different animal groups and match babies to their mothers with hands-on activities. This program provides children the opportunity to see live animals up close.

Grade K

Nature’s Neighborhoods

Burr Oak Woods is home to many plants and animals, but they don’t all live in the same place. We will visit a forest, a prairie, and a pond to find out who lives there and what makes each habitat unique. Discover how plants and animals can use and change their habitat to meet their survival needs.

Grades 1–2

Missouri’s Creepiest Residents

Missouri is home to many amazing animals, including some that many people think are “creepy.” During this game show-style program, we will discover how their creepy adaptations help them survive, grow, and meet their needs. We will then explore outside to search for Missouri’s creepiest residents in their natural habitat.

Grades 3–5

The Cycle of Life

Discover the transfer of energy and relationships between organisms that make up food webs. We will investigate the traits of producers, consumers, and decomposers and the special structures they need to survive. We will find out about our role in the food web and how our actions impact the cycles of life.