Hands-On Learning
Outdoor classrooms at Hackberry Flat Wildlife Management Area are intended to provide students with unique, hands-on experiences that foster curiosity about the natural world. When integrated into an academic curriculum, these programs can enhance an educator’s classroom instruction. Outdoor classrooms at Hackberry Flat offer students the opportunity to visit the area and learn about local habitat types, and various taxonomic groups.
ODWC staff offer outdoor experiences over topics such as:
- Habitat specific investigations (e.g. wetland and prairie adventures)
- Taxonomic group investigations (e.g. birds, pollinators)
Our programs are available for registration from September through March for educators with students in 3rd grade and up. To ensure a quality outdoor classroom experience, the maximum number of students per visit cannot exceed 30 students.
- If there are concerns regarding student number restrictions, please let us know and we can discuss options to allow for larger groups.
Facility Information
The outdoor classroom experience begins inside the William H. “Bill” Crawford Building on Hackberry Flat WMA. Handicap-accessible restrooms and drinking fountains are available indoors. While the building is handicap accessible, we appreciate being informed of any additional requirements your group may need prior to your visit. We will do our best to adjust the schedule and lesson plan to fit any special educational or mobility requirements.
We are equipped with numerous pairs of rubber boots in various sizes. These can be used by students without proper footwear OR for wetland-associated programs.
Please be aware...
Ticks and mosquitoes are present on the area, so consider the following items:
- Wear the correct clothing: pants and closed-toed shoes.
- Pant bottoms can be tucked into your socks to help prevent ticks from gaining access to your skin.
- Insect repellant will help ward off unwanted insects.
Lunch
Lunch is not provided. However, groups are welcomed to bring sack lunches and eat at the pavilion, which is furnished with four large picnic tables, or the covered patio located on the east side of the building. If weather is unfavorable, we can discuss the possibility of allowing guests to have lunch indoors.
Outdoor Classroom Field Trip Grants
The Hackberry Flat Foundation is a nonprofit organization with a goal in promoting continued excellence in conservation, education and recreation. As a part of this mission, they graciously provide field trip grants for educators.
Each year, the Foundation awards a total of 20 grants to help alleviate transportation costs to and from Hackberry Flat.
Grants are each $100 in value and limited to one application per grade, per school. These grants are only available from September through March.
Scheduling Your Visit to Hackberry Flat
- Click the button below and fill out an online application.
- If interested in applying for a field trip grant, please ensure that you check ‘yes’ on the application.
- Once your application has been received and reviewed, you will be contacted by our Outdoor Classroom Coordinator Tammi Schrick to discuss your visit.
- After your visit has been scheduled, a confirmation email will be sent containing:
- Field trip specific information
- Visit agenda
- Educator and student checklist
- Directions to the William H. “Bill” Crawford Building at Hackberry Flat
- You must contact us two weeks prior to your field trip to confirm that all information in the confirmation email is correct.
- If there is a change in plans, please let us know so we can discuss rescheduling OR cancellation.
Directions
Outdoor classrooms are held at the William H. “Bill” Crawford Building on Hackberry Flat WMA.
To get to the William H. “Bill” Crawford Building from the south side of Frederick, take US 183 south for one mile, then go east on Airport Road for three miles. Follow the blacktop road south and continue six miles. Watch for signs.