Runge Nature Center

Discover Nature — Fishing (DNF) engages students in conservation and aquatic education through classroom instruction and hands-on fishing opportunities.

This program helps students gain the skills and confidence to go fishing on their own. Participants learn about aquatic ecology, fish habitat, and fish identification. They also learn about fishing equipment, casting, rigging a fishing rod, baiting a hook, and proper fish handling.

This Discover Nature School (DNS) program, Nature Revealed, is a curriculum designed for preschool students and includes engaging, hands-on outdoor learning divided into 4 seasonal units. This curriculum focuses on Missouri’s flora, fauna, and ecosystems, which can be separated by 20 different themes such as mammals, insects, trees and forests, birds, energy, and weather. It encourages discovery and a child’s natural sense of wonder.

This curriculum is just for Missouri kindergarten students! Educators will appreciate this curriculum being STEM focused and aligned to the Missouri Learning Standards (MLS) and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) including Life Science, Engineering and Technology.

DNS Unfolds Workshop held at RCNC for Prairie Home K-2nd grade teachers

Teacher Training

Teacher Workshop 

The Discover Nature Schools (DNS) program, Nature Unleashed, is a curriculum of 8 units designed for 3rd-5th grade students to promote understanding of Missouri habitats by exploring food chains and the roles of producers and consumers as well as specialized structures and biotic and abiotic factors. The curriculum supports Missouri Learning Standards (MLS) in science, particularly life science.

The Discover Nature Schools (DNS) program, Nature Unbound, is a curriculum of 9 lessons designed for 9th-12th grade students with engaging, hands-on outdoor learning that focuses on wildlife management, ecology, adaptations, populations, interactions, and biodiversity. The curriculum supports Missouri Learning Standards (MLS) in science, particularly life science. Summative assessments follow each unit.