Mazon Creek
Outdoor Educational
Center

Where young learners discover nature, history, and themselves

300M

Years of geological history

60+

Years of outdoor education and youth development

K-12

All grades welcome

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In 2026, the Mazon Creek Outdoor Educational Center was created to ensure that all youth — not just Scouts — can learn from this remarkable landscape. The program gives students a chance to set aside their electronics, disconnect from the outside world, and immerse themselves in nature and our shared history.

EXPLORE

NATURE

NAVIGATE

DISCOVER

GROW

OBSERVE

WATER

Our Mission

Through hands-on exploration in an outdoor classroom, the center aims to spark a lifelong appreciation for the outdoors and the sense of adventure it inspires.

Built on the historic Rainbow Council Scout Reservation — land with a 300-million-year geological story — we bring learning to life in ways no classroom can replicate.

"Through hands-on exploration in an outdoor classroom, we aim to spark a lifelong appreciation for the outdoors and the sense of adventure it inspires."

A Typical Day

Each visit features two curriculum-aligned courses selected by teachers to complement and enhance their school program. Because the curriculum is grade-specific, teachers choose the activities that best align with their students' learning goals.

Environmental Science Curriculum

KINDERGARTEN

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Recycling at Lunch
Students learn to sort waste and recycling to reduce human impact on the environment.
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Interpretive Hike
A guided hike where naturalists help students explore and interpret discoveries based on group needs.
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Animals in Illinois
Students compare wild vs. domestic and native vs. nonnative animals and explore how animal structures support survival.
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Animals in Illinois Ecosystem Hike
Students search for evidence of how plants and animals modify their environment and identify woodland ecosystem components.
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Weather: Design Shade
Students investigate how the sun warms different surfaces and design shade structures to reduce heating.

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Forces in Motion
Students experiment with pushes and pulls using outdoor materials to understand how forces affect motion.

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First Grade

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Insects and Life Cycles
Students collect insects, identify true insects, and explore life stages and roles in food chains.
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Animals
Students explore inherited traits and survival behaviors by matching parents to offspring and using animal "tricks."

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Plants
Students compare same-species plants at different stages and explore plant defenses and survival strategies.

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Seasonal Cycles
Students observe sun and moon patterns to understand how Earth's movement creates seasons.

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Observation Skills Hike
Students practice scientific observation using senses, tools, and comparative language.

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Light and Sound
Students investigate how light and sound work in nature through hands-on experiments with natural materials.

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second Grade

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Animal Habitats: Hike and Games
Students identify habitat components, explore food webs, and play games illustrating survival challenges.
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Water on Earth
Students map water bodies, explore the water cycle, and investigate how water shapes land.

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Plants and Seed Dispersal
Students collect data on plant needs, explore pollination and dispersal, and present findings through skits.

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Recycling: Natural Systems
Students compare human recycling to natural decomposition and investigate decomposers outdoors.

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THIRD Grade

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Environmental Changes
Students study fossils, environmental change, and plant survival strategies through games and hikes.
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Traits
Students explore inherited and environmental traits by comparing trees and discussing natural selection.

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Plant and Seed Studies / Wildflowers
Students dissect seeds, learn plant life cycles, and research seasonal wildflowers.

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Animal Habitats and Ecosystems
Students examine how animals live in groups, respond to habitat changes, and interpret fossil evidence.

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FOURTH Grade

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Landforms: Weathering and Erosion
Students use topographic maps and field observations to study erosion and Earth changes.
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Animal Survival
Students investigate animal structures and behaviors using pelts, outdoor observations, and presentations.

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FIFTH Grade

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Ecosystems
Students model food chains, explore matter cycling, and evaluate ecosystem health during a woodland hike.
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STEM – Scientific Method
Students practice the scientific method by designing and conducting outdoor investigations.

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Decomposers
Students explore how energy from the sun moves through plants and into organisms that release it through digestion.

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SIXTH Grade

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Biodiversity
Students conduct a woodland plot study to analyze populations, interactions, and ecosystem balance.
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Energy in Ecosystems
Students experiment with photosynthesis and respiration concepts to model matter and energy transfer.

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Human Impact
Students compare renewable and nonrenewable resources and argue how human activity affects Earth's systems.

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Climate Science
Students learn about Earth's spheres and measure trees to understand carbon sequestration and climate change.

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MAP & COMPASS SKILLS

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Map Symbols — Grades 1–2
Students learn map types, symbols, and basic compass orientation while hiking local landforms.
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Map Skills with Compass — Grade 3
Students practice map keys, distance scales, and compasses to navigate as a group and review local history.

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Landmark Navigation — Grade 4
Students navigate using topography, landmarks, and compass bearings in small groups.

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Compass Skills — Grade 5
Students learn bearings, triangulation, decoding, and pacing. Winter option: Iditarod compass-based sled race.

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Orienteering — Grade 6 & up
Students run timed orienteering courses of increasing difficulty using maps and compasses.

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TEAMBUILDING

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Kindergarten – Third Grade
Students practice cooperation, communication, and respect through age-appropriate team games.
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Fourth – Sixth Grade
Students solve physical and mental challenges that build trust, communication, and personal responsibility.

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Seventh – Twelfth Grade
Students engage in progressively challenging activities that build leadership, risk-taking, and confidence.

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For Additional Information

Program costs typically range from $20–$50 per student for a half-day experience. Complete the form below and we will be in touch to discuss how your students or organization can benefit from participating.