Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock () or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Return to Fergus Falls Wetland Management District

For Educators

Updated November 9, 2026
"The objective is to teach the student to see the land, to understand what he sees, and enjoy what he understands."  -- Aldo Leopold

 

 

The Fergus Falls Wetland Management District offers quality environmental education opportunities for students and teachers through the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center.   

Preschool through 5th grade class visits at the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center with outdoor, seasonal curriculum (21 lessons) supporting Minnesota academic standards in science and language arts.  Most lessons are structured as inquiry-based scientific investigations using the outdoors as our classroom.  Some are mini-lessons.  View a detailed listing.

We also offer visits for 6th-12th grades, home school families, as well as residential experiences for 5th grade and older.  View a detailed listing. 

Reservations for class visits are being accepted for the 2026-2027 school year. Learn more.

The Prairie Science Class, an award-winning, internationally recognized partnership with Fergus Falls Public Schools.

Watch a short video about the collaboration between the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center and Fergus Falls Public Schools. Discover more about nature-based education! To learn more, read our Guide to the Prairie Science Class.

The Compass to Nature, our innovative approach to using the outdoors as a classroom.

Thanks to our Prairie Science Class partnership, together we developed an innovative approach to teaching in the outdoor classroom.  We call it The Compass to Nature, and we want to share it with you!  You can view and download The Compass to Nature booklet.

The Compass to Nature is free for anyone to use.  It works for children.  It works for adults.  It works anywhere, any time of year.  

Just as a navigational compass enables us to guide our way outside, the four points of the Compass to Nature provide unfailing direction for all who seek to lead others in the development of a connected, caring relationship with the world we live in.  The four cardinal Compass points are Place, Phenology, Naturalists, and Journals, unified by the magnetic Sense of Wonder.

Professional development opportunities for educators, such as workshops, webinars, and in-service training.

June 21-24, 2027, Teaching in the Outdoor Classroom Workshop.  Monday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, Tuesday and Wednesday, 9:00 am - 3:30 pm, and Thursday, 7:00 am - 11:00 am.  Acquire skills for teaching outside, anywhere, any time of year, any age.  Held concurrently with the Summer Explorers Biology Camp so you can observe professionals in action with children outside.  Receive a certificate for 23 hours of continuing education credits.  $40 cost. Limited dorm availability $125/week. Registration will take place through the Friends of the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center. A wealth of resources to enhance your class visits and to advance the fields of education and environmental education. 

Our Environmental Education Strategy, outlining our education framework and vision.  

Contact us via email or call 218-998-4480 for more information.

Explore more:

You are leaving the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Destination:

We do not guarantee that the websites we link to comply with Section 508 (accessibility requirements) of the Rehabilitation Act. Links also do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Continue to External Site