Potato Hill Farm (OEC) « Potato Hill Farm

Potato Hill Farm (OEC)

The Potato Hill Farm Outdoor Education Center is the main campus and houses offices for the operation center. The OEC campus is the entry level campus for all students. This campus provides seven miles of well maintained trails.

At the OEC, we engage in the following activities:

Nature hikes that includes: A farm animal tour; a botany tour (with tree and plant identification); a dragonfly program along with a discussion on local history and geology.

Mountain Biking

Cross country skiing

Snow shoeing

Horse Drawn Carriage or sleigh rides (weather dependant)

Curriculum Mapping by Grade Download complete curriculum map here

GRADE	OBJECTIVE	VOCABULARY	LEARNING STANDARDS
2nd	Recognize a glacial erratic and its effects Identify one form of vegetation Identify animal tracks/scat Recognize differences between coniferous & deciduous trees Identify man-made forms of pollution Compare/contrast the different structures in two plant types (i.e. trees, flowers) Observe pond life & discuss (i.e. insects, amphibians, birds)	Deciduous Coniferous Glacial erratic Pollution Seasonal Changes Scat	PE Standard 1, 2, 3 Health Standard 2 MST Standard 4

GRADE

OBJECTIVE

VOCABULARY

LEARNING STANDARDS

2nd

Recognize a glacial erratic and its effects
Identify one form of vegetation
Identify animal tracks/scat
Recognize differences between coniferous & deciduous trees
Identify man-made forms of pollution
Compare/contrast the different structures in two plant types (i.e. trees, flowers)
Observe pond life & discuss (i.e. insects, amphibians, birds)

Deciduous

Coniferous

Glacial erratic

Pollution

Seasonal Changes

Scat

PE Standard 1, 2, 3

Health Standard 2

MST Standard 4

GRADE	OBJECTIVE	VOCABULARY	LEARNING STANDARDS
3rd	Identify two forms of flora Identify fungus Identify moss Compare and contrast pond habitat vs field or wood Identify a lichen Discuss seasonal changes Identify one sign of erosion	Photosynthesis Fungus Decomposer Lichen Moss Algae Symbiosis Erosion Flora Migration	PE Standard 1, 2, 3 Health Standard 2 MST Standard 4

GRADE	OBJECTIVE	VOCABULARY	LEARNING STANDARDS
4th	Identify 3 forms of flora Explain the difference between indigenous and invasive species Describe the interdependence of flora and fauna Investigate a positive and negative effect of humans on habitat Classify selected animals into their phyla	Erosion Watershed Predator/prey Indigenous species Invasive species	PE Standard 1, 2, 3 Health Standard 2 MST Standard 4

GRADE	OBJECTIVE	VOCABULARY	LEARNING STANDARDS
5th / 6th	Identify 4 forms of flora Compare and contrast different habitats Discuss characteristics of different metamorphic, igneous & sedimentary rock formations Compare and contrast the canopy and understory Recognize the difference	Metamorphic Igneous Sedimentary Understory Canopy Microenvironment Fen Bog pH	PE Standard 1, 2, 3 Health Standard 2 MST Standard 4

GRADE	OBJECTIVE	VOCABULARY	LEARNING STANDARDS
7th / 8th	Describe the interrelationships between different populations Describe human interference in an ecosystem and its effects on the environment Compare aquatic vegetation Recognize how topography affects the watershed Recognize the importance	Ecosystem Carbon Footprint Topography Sedge Reed	PE Standard 1, 2, 3 Health Standard 2 MST Standard 4

GRADE	OBJECTIVE	VOCABULARY	LEARNING STANDARDS
Earth Science	Recognize and explain glacial erratics and their impact on the environment Classify sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous rock types Deduce which features were caused by glacial action or erosion Analyze what effect glacial action still has on humans today Discuss how glaciers impacted animal life in the past Discuss how glacial features	Outwash U-shaped valley V-shaped valley Terrain Fossils Trilobite Arthropod Crinoid Echinoderm	PE Standard 1, 2, 3 Health Standard 2 MST Standard 4

Trail Guides

These helpful instructor guides contain hints about all the things to look for on the hikes. Including the overview of flora, fauna, and the history of the land, the guides help students enrich their experience.

Stella Trail Guide	Little Pond Trail Guide

Directions: 11904 Potato Hill Road, Boonville NY 13309

From North:
Route 12 south to Potato Hill Rd. Turn right onto Potato Hill Rd. Proceed 2.3 miles to the entrance of Potato Hill Farm on left side of road.

From South (Utica and points east):
Route 12 north to Potato Hill Rd. Turn left onto Potato Hill Rd. Proceed 2.3 miles to entrance of Potato Hill Farm on left side of road.

From South (Rome and points west):
Route 26 north to West Leyden turn right onto Route 294. Take all the way into Boonville and turn left onto Post St. (Route 46). Go to traffic light and turn right onto Schuyler St. stay to the right of the fork in the road (Main St.) and take to Route 12. Turn right on Route 12 and go to Potato Hill Rd. Turn right onto Potato Hill Rd. Proceed 2.3 miles to entrance of Potato Hill Farm on left side of road.

View Gallery »

Lansing Kill Hike

Following the Leader

Alpacas

View Video

One Fall Day at the OEC