Classes & Activities at LLCC

Year-round

Fall & Spring

Winter

Downloadable PDF: Classes and Activities

Downloadable PDF: LLCC Classes and State Science Standards

Who Gives A Hoot?

An owl has special tools that make it an efficient hunter. A volunteer role plays in costume as the owl's adaptations are discussed. The activity is a favorite in which students play as owl & mice, demonstrating how an owl can capture prey without even seeing it.

Loons, Lore, and More!

The haunting call of Minnesota's state bird intrigues all who come to the north country, but what does it mean? This class teaches loon communication, basic loon biology and ecology, and enchanting stories and lore from Native American culture. Practice your loon feeding skills in an outdoor game that enforces these concepts.

The Scoop on Poop

Poop? Yes, poop. Did you know that you can discover worlds of information from poop? Many secrets, such as basic eating habits, an animal's health, population numbers, and much more can be uncovered just by examining the feces of animals. Though the topic might sound "gross," this is a class that no child will forget.

Campfire

Many schools request an indoor campfire to culminate their activities on the final night. This can help to solidify the group. We will lead the group in singing or stories, but we encourage your ideas and participation. You are welcome to lead the entire activity . . . students really enjoy seeing the "other" side of teachers and parents.

How much did we learn at LLCC?  Here’s an opportunity to reinforce the learning from other classes; in addition, we get answers to questions about how much information is actually carried away from those classes.  With the class set up like a trivia game show, students are eager to show off their knowledge and walk away champions.

"Bats get tangled in your hair, give you rabies and will even suck your blood." Naw! Uncover the truth about this much maligned night creature during a discussion and role-playing activity. Students have the opportunity to learn about the popular misconceptions and benefits of Minnesota's seven species of bats. During a predator/prey simulation activity, they experience first-hand the adaptation of echo-location.

Insects are the most common animals on the face of the Earth. Though they rarely inspire awe in the same way a wolf or deer does, a closer look at this diverse group shows insects to be incredibly beautiful and fascinating. Depending on weather, students may camouflage their own "insect" to hide in our indoor painted habitat, or they may go outside for an active game modeling insect life.

A must for all students, writing (and illustrating) is individual quiet time activity that can be scheduled for short periods after meals and during canteen. You decide the format and content of journals. Some groups prefer specific writing assignments, and others start with blank pages. A great way to work toward graduation standards.

Just for fun, these active, noncompetitive games burn off energy and establish group cohesiveness. We have games or request your own.

Food, water, shelter and space are the essential components of habitat. In this Project Wild activity, students become deer and habitat components in order to understand the importance of good habitat, limiting factors, and wildlife population fluctuations. The game is active and physical game.

Learn the "art of staying found." Orienteering teaches basic direction-finding with a compass. First indoors, then outdoors on the orienteering field, students use a compass to shoot and find bearings. The class can be expanded to include computing distances, map symbols, contour map reading, and map-and-compass orienteering.

"5­4­3­2­1­Go!" Compasses and cards in hand, the students dash to the starting clue board. "Yellow course, to your first control go 253 degrees..." The orienteerers are off in one of LLCC's most exciting activities. A race to find controls, using bearings as clues and compasses as guides, students run to beat the clock and, perhaps . . . set a new World Record!

A snowshoe hare feeding along the edge of the forest suddenly freezes when danger lurks near. In this Project Wild version of freeze tag students play the roles of lynx and hare to better understand survival in the wild, and what special adaptations help both predators and prey.

All humans consume natural resources. Concerns are growing, however, that our "wants" are depleting the earth's ability to provide for our basic needs into the future. Explore the topic of resources through a game-show format that simulates a global village and encourages students to think-and act-wisely.

Few critters carry the negative image that snakes do, yet few animals are so expert at controlling pests. Students learn about Minnesota's native snakes, how they are adapted for their roles in ecosystems, and how they are beneficial. Students are fascinated when they get to see (and touch) our live examples, including garter, bull, gopher, and fox snakes.

The nighttime sky over LLCC is unmatched for brilliance because of our distance from light pollution. We'll introduce the major circumpolar constellations plus a few of the seasonal constellations. Class contingent upon weather. (Indoors or outdoors.)

How well can you hide? Students become "predator" and "prey" in a Project Wild version of hide and seek. Students realize how easy, or challenging, it is for an animal to hide, and what adaptations are necessary. A great activity for all seasons in dry conditions.

The challenge: given one match, build an environmentally sound fire and cook a simple meal leaving minimum impact on the environment. This success-oriented activity is an opportunity to learn the necessary life skills of teamwork and cooperation. (3 hours, lunch of second day)

Savage, blood-thirsty, hyperactive, and with a nose for trouble. . . who could we be talking about? The weasel family is one of the most interesting and mysterious of our native neighbors. Facts and stories about the biology of these fascinating critters will entertain and educate students. An outdoor game will simulate the challenge weasels face in feeding their extraordinary metabolisms while evading predators themselves.

The student slowly draws the bow, takes aim and lets the arrow fly. Archery is the oldest form of hunting in the world, and students quickly learn the skills required to be a successful archer. Safety is our number one concern!

What Minnesota mammal is equally at home on land or in water, eats birch branches like corn-on-the-cob, and closes its nose and ears when swimming? Students explore the world of the beaver through props, a volunteer who "dresses" as a beaver, and a visit to an active lodge.

Situated in the center of glacial Lake Aitkin, LLCC is an ideal location to investigate the exciting environment of the bog. See unusual plants including the carnivorous pitcher plant and tamarack tree. Be prepared to trek through water and peat­tall rubber boots are best for this walk, but old tennis shoes will do in warmer weather.

The waters of Long Lake provide the perfect setting for the beginning canoeist. Because we strongly emphasize safety, canoeing is available from about late April through October. Safety and basic paddling strokes are first taught on land. Life vests must be worn at all times. All canoeing is done with adult supervision.

An excellent team-builder for any group, CCC presents a series of challenging tasks designed to make students work cooperatively and think "outside the box." Venture through the "Lava Flow," "Bird on a Wire," and others.

Find out why frogs are considered an indicator species for environmental health. By viewing live specimens (including tadpoles in spring and summer), students explore frog biology and habitat requirements. An active outdoor game enlivens indoor learning.

The littoral zone around the lake's edge teems with life, from microscopic plankton to crawdads and minnows. Using dissecting microscopes, students are introduced to the complex and diverse world of aquatic life.

Enjoy a hike through upland woods, pine plantation, and bogs while learning the names of some of Minnesota's trees. Trees will be identified by leaves and other characteristics.

Just because the sun goes down doesn't mean we have to stay indoors. Students find that the night forest isn't really a scary place, but rather a wonderful time to observe and study our environment.

"Peent...peent...peent," the call of the woodcock is a prelude to one of the most unusual courtship rituals of the spring sky. Male woodcocks come to LLCC's meadow to strut, peent, and perform a unique sky dance. This is a show that must be seen to be believed.

The Timber Wolf. Perhaps no other creature evokes as much fear, emotion, and misunderstanding in people. In this, one of LLCC's most popular activities, students examine the natural history of wolves to gain an understanding of their role in the ecosystem. The alpha wolf activity is a game in which wolf sociology and communication are played out in the woods, as sub-packs try to locate their leader by howling.

Students learn the basic equipment and elements of cross country skiing­kick and glide, climbing up hills and, perhaps the most important, falling down! Each student skis on our closed loop trail, at his or her own pace.

Just how does the white-tailed deer survive Minnesota's harsh winter? Students discover that the deer's life is not an easy one; feeding almost constantly and always on guard for predators. Students browse on preferred plants, snipping off buds and collecting them in a "rumen." All the time, they are vigilant for the "wolves" in the area. At the end of the activity we weigh the browse collected by each deer. Did they survive or starve?

Hypothermia, killer of the unprepared, can strike anyone, anywhere. Students learn how to prevent hypothermia, recognize its symptoms, and treat the condition. Included are tips to be prepared for winter survival, especially on the road in a car.

Even with less than a foot of snow, it is possible to build a snow shelter that will keep one warm and comfortable. In the morning, students pile snow. In the afternoon they dig snow caves. Students then learn the insulating capabilities of snow by measuring temperature, and learn how wildlife use this feature of snow.

Introduce your students to a traditional winter pastime with cultural significance. After learning how and why Native Americans made "snow snakes" (carved and decorated tapered sticks), we'll venture outdoors to a packed snow track. There, students will hone their skills at gliding the "snakes" accurately and swiftly down the track, avoiding obstacles and striving for distance. We provide the "snakes".

After a brief instruction, students venture out to explore the breathtaking beauty of LLCC's winter forests and bogs. An outstanding experience for all! Note: A minimum of 12 inches of snow is required to make this a successful activity. Check with LLCC staff when scheduling.