Education Programs

Ages 3-5

In Nature School, children discover local nature and experience the outdoors at their pre-school through hands-on exploration.  Nature School is a one-hour, once-a-week program that runs for five weeks, with an optional culminating visit to Frick Environmental Center. Students touch, interact and play with dirt, leaves, sticks and seeds to learn about the world around them. Lessons that include songs, stories, walks and snacks teach respect and excitement for the outdoors. 

Grade 1

The Habitat Explorers program introduces students to plant and animal communities. Students visit Frick Park three times throughout the school year to learn what makes meadow, woodland, and stream habitats unique. Through guided and independent exploration activities, students observe the organisms that live in these three unique habitats, and then get the opportunity to improve each habitat through group stewardship projects. Through these experiences, they observe first-hand the necessary elements habitats provide the organisms that live there.

Grade 4

The Park Explorers program engages students in comprehensive exploration of specific habitats in Frick Park. Three sessions of guided, hands-on inquiry and nature journaling help students gain a deeper understanding of how the changing seasons affect the plants and animals that call Frick Park home.

Middle School

In Ecosystem Investigators, students study forest and stream ecosystems and the services they provide. They employ tools and sampling methods used by scientists in the field, collecting data to gain a deeper understanding of healthy ecosystems, their benefits, and how humans impact ecosystems both positively and negatively.

Grades 9-12

High School Urban EcoStewards (HSUE) are groups or classes of students who visit Frick Park three times throughout the year to perform stewardship activities and engage in active outdoor learning. Topics covered include biodiversity, adaptation, sustainability, and the importance of stewardship in our parks.

Grades 9-12 and Beyond 

Young Naturalists are high school students who want to learn more about nature and love spending time outdoors. They accept the challenge to work hard in conditions that are at times harsh and physically demanding to improve the health of the park. Young Naturalists are also interested in pursuing a degree or career related to environmental science, ecology, education, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) or sustainability.

The Young Naturalists program is a fun, paid opportunity for students to get outdoors and learn about the environment, gain unique work and leadership experience, and meet other teenagers who are interested in the environment. Students spend their summer outdoors learning about environmental STEM content alongside expert naturalists, scientists, and nature enthusiasts while working to improve the health of our parks by controlling erosion, managing and monitoring invasive species, repairing trails, and caring for trees.  

Learn more about the Young Naturalists program. 

Programs like Neighborhood Roots provide year-round nature-based enrichment for students in Homewood, the South Hilltop, the Mon Valley, and Hazelwood. Offered after school, during summer months, and in partnership with schools and community-based organizations, Neighborhood Roots connects youth to local ecosystems and outdoor learning experiences proven to support both mental and physical well-being.

Our annual summer camps welcome more than 250 curious and enthusiastic campers who spend their days discovering the wonders of nature through themed, outdoor adventures in Frick Park. Campers build friendships, explore ecosystems, and grow their love for the environment through hands-on play, exploration, and creativity.

Learn more about our summer camp programs.