Environmental Education

MMSD/MSCR Groups (must be logged in with MMSD email): Outdoor Programs Request Form
Non-MMSD/MSCR Groups: MSCR Outdoor Programs Request Form
Teambuilding is best suited for ages 10+

We book non MMSD/MSCR groups according to the following timeline:
Fall, Sept-Nov reservations open July 1
Winter, Dec-Feb reservations open October 1
Spring, Mar-May reservations open January 1
Summer, June-Aug reservations open April 1

Custom Environmental Education Programs

Combine aspects of any MSCR Environmental Education program into your very own program. Pick and choose which activities you like and build your own fun day outside!

Guided Nature Hikes

Guided Nature Hikes allow groups to tailor their hiking experience to their interests. Come with a specific topic in mind or let our staff highlight unique natural features and nature sightings based on the season.

Introduction to Birding

MSCR staff teach participants how to use binoculars, identify species, recognize bird habitat and observe bird behaviors.

Night Experience

MSCR Staff offer various night time activities including fire building, star gazing, night hike and night vision activities. These programs can include using MSCRs telescope and/or observatory.

Orienteering/ Map & Compass Programs

Orienteering is an activity in which participants find their way to various checkpoints with the aid of a map and compass. Orienteering can be competitive (groups compete to finish finding all the check-points with the lowest time) or a fun leisure activity. MSCR has three “courses” located at the Madison School Forest.

Additionally MSCR offers basic Map and Compass Skills programs in which we teach participants how to use a compass to follow a bearing.

Pond Dipping

Discover critters through pond dipping, an activity using nets, buckets, spoons and other investigative tools to uncover all there is below the surface of the water. Only available in spring and summer.

Snowshoeing

Get outside this winter with MSCR’s snowshoes! We provide snowshoes and teach basic snowshoe instruction.

Survival Skills

Learn skills to survive outdoors such as fire and shelter building, knot tying, easy plant identification and/or specific survival techniques based on the season.

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Madison School Forest

Located in the driftless area south of Verona, the Madison School Forest encompasses over 300 acres of beautiful hilly forest.

Madison Parks and Madison Schools

MSCR Environmental Education programs are mobile! We can bring our program to a variety of parks and conservation areas around Madison. Popular sites include Olin-Turville Conservation area, Owen Park and Cherokee Marsh North Unit.