THEMES

We offer four themes: Discovery Hunt, Habitats, Life Cycles, and Decomposers: Life in the Soil. While we
have developed each theme for specific age groups, each theme can be scaled up or down to
accommodate participants’ ages.

DAYS/TIMES

Field trip programs are currently offered Monday – Thursday. There are two sessions available each day,
10 am to 11 am and 11:15 am to 12:15 pm.

REGISTRATION AND AVAILABILITY

Check our availability and register at Woodend Field Trip Registration. If you are experiencing difficulties with registration, please contact [email protected].

PROGRAM COST

Each one-hour field trip program is $210 for a group of up to 16 children and $285 for 17-32 children,
which includes a $25 registration fee.

FREE PROGRAMS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Thanks to grant funding, Nature Forward is able to provide free field trip programs for all public schools for
the 2023-2024 school year. Public schools will only pay a $25 nonrefundable registration fee per field trip.
Please register at our Woodend Field Trips website and use the code WelcomebacktoWoodend. Private
and homeschool groups are not eligible.

Nature Forward reserves the right to charge for additional children who attend beyond the numbers
indicated at registration and/or cancel the scheduled program.

HOLDING DATES

We have the ability to temporarily hold your chosen dates while you secure paperwork and funding on your end. Requests must be made at least a month prior to your chosen date and submitted to [email protected].

Due to the demand for our programs, we can only reserve one set of dates for your field trips per visit. Dates can be held for up to two weeks.

RESTROOMS AND WATER FOUNTAINS

Two wheelchair-accessible, composting restroom facilities are available at the East/Jones Mill Road
Trailhead, as well as a water fountain with bottle filler. Additional restrooms are in the main building. (See
map).

ACCOMMODATIONS

Our main trail and boardwalks are wheelchair accessible. Let us know any special needs of your group
during registration so we can ensure a positive and inclusive experience for everyone.

LUNCH AND GARBAGE

We welcome you to enjoy a snack or lunch at Woodend. We encourage you to adopt waste-free lunch
goals. Please bring a bag for trash and leave it by the bathrooms at the East Trailhead (see map). Since our
facilities are used by multiple programs, please let us know ahead of time if you would like to stay so we can
direct you to the appropriate area.

FIELD TRIP SIZES 

Participants will tour in groups of up to 16 students each. Groups should be determined prior to arrival.
Groups do not have to be evenly divided but should not exceed 16. Each group should have at least one
responsible adult chaperone.
 • Programs with 16 or fewer students: Participants will tour in one group
 • Programs with 17-32 students: Divide participants into two groups of up to 16 students each.
 • Programs with 32-64 students: Register for back-to-back field trips from 10:00 – 11:00 and 11:15 – 12:15 on the same day. Divide participants into four groups of up to 16 students each. Two groups
will tour from 10:00 – 11:00 while the other two groups can enjoy a snack and a nature play “recess”
before switching to the 11:15 – 12:15 program.
 • Programs with more than 64 students: Please plan your visit across multiple days.

MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS

The maximum number of students is dependent on the group size indicated at registration (either 16 or 32
students per field trip).

We are not able to accommodate more than 32 students per field trip or 64 students per day.

For groups that exceed the numbers indicated at registration, Nature Forward reserves the right to charge
an additional $85 or cancel the scheduled program.

SAME DAY/BACK-TO-BACK PROGRAMS 

Groups that register for both the 10:00 – 11:00 and 11:15 – 12:15 programs are welcome to arrive together.
We will invite the 11:15 groups to enjoy a snack and a nature play “recess” while the 10:00 groups are on a
guided hike with our naturalists before switching. Chaperones are responsible for group management
during this time.

CHAPERONES

Groups must bring at least one responsible adult per 16 children. We do not limit the number of
chaperones but suggest no more than 6 to keep the group manageable. Teachers and chaperones are
responsible for general behavior management.

WHAT TO WEAR

Our programs are held entirely outdoors. Please dress for the weather and wear sturdy, closed-toed shoes
such as sneakers.

PARKING

Please let us know during registration how your group will arrive at Woodend Nature Sanctuary (bus/cars). All vehicles should enter from Jones Mill Rd and exit at Brierly Rd.

 • Arrival by Bus: Buses should park in the first pull off on the right (See map). Your group can get off
the bus into the adjacent open grassy area where your naturalist will meet you.
 • Arrival by Car: If your group is arriving in separate cars, please park and meet your naturalist in the
parking lot at the top of the hill on the north side of the driveway (See map).

PHOTO RELEASE

By registering for a program with Nature Forward you agree to allow us to take and use photos of the program for informational and promotional purposes, i.e. flyers, ads, website. We will not identify any individual by name. If you wish to deny access to photography, please contact [email protected].

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RISK

By registering for a field trip with Nature Forward I am consenting to the following statement of risk and acknowledgement of liability: I know and understand that there may be risks and dangers involved in the field trip, and that Nature Forward does not carry accidental injury insurance on participants. I waive and release Nature Forward and its employees from all liability for any personal injuries, illness, loss or property damage.

Sample Program: Discovery Hunt

The total distance covered is about 1/4 mile

10:00 am Welcome to Woodend Nature Sanctuary.

10:10 am We set off on a sanctuary hike and the hunt begins!

10:15 am In the forest, we listen for birds, smell native plants, and find animal tracks.

10:30 am At the pond, we look for animals that make the water their home.

10:45 am At a meadow, we search for insect life.

11:00 am Time for a picnic lunch and nature play.