Browsing Bliss Awaits You

It appears you're using Internet Explorer or an early version of Edge, which is a bit like watching a black-and-white TV with "rabbit ears." You're missing symmetry, joy and actual knowledge — not only here on my website but across the internet. I suggest you upgrade to Chrome or Firefox. You’ll discover a lot more nature, maybe even actual rabbit ears.

— Bryan

School Programs

Helping students and school communities build lasting connections to the natural world through hands–on STEAM experiences, creative and imaginative play, and interdisciplinary opportunities.

Contact Susie to Schedule a Program
Susie Spikol with copies of her book The Animal Adventurer's Guide

Writing from the Wild Side

  • Grade K-2, 30 minutes
  • Grade 3-6, 45 minutes
  • Virtual $150 per program with 3 classroom limit/program
  • In-Person $500 / auditorium program
Come along on the wild ride with Susie as she shares her journey from worm-wrangler and gnome home builder in Brooklyn, New York, to naturalist, slug fan, scat expert, and author in rural New Hampshire. Through an engaging slideshow with ample opportunity for participant input, students will feel encouraged to follow their dreams, do what they love, and see how hard work can pay off!
A mouse perched in stalks of grain

Wee Mice with Mighty Powers

  • Grade K-2, 30 minutes, 2 classroom limit
  • Grades 3-5, 45 minutes, 2 classroom limit
  • Virtual $150 per program with 2 classroom limit/program
  • In-Person $500 for half-a-day and $1000 for full-day
Whether it's Beatrix Potter’s naughty mice or Kate DiCamillo’s big-hearted Despreaux, mice have been nibbling away at children’s hearts through literature from the beginning. Discover how mouse characters in the children books of your choice, stack up against the real rodents. This combination of literature meets science gives students a chance to fall in love with the magic and the science of mice. Using conversation, discussion, and observation, let your students burrow into the wild and charming world of mice.
A mermaid maid of seashells

From Real to Mythical: How Wild Animals Inspired the Legends and Lore of Mythological Creatures

  • Grades 3-6, 45 minutes
  • Virtual $150 per program with 2 classroom limit/program
  • In-Person $500 for half-a-day and $1000 for full-day
See how, throughout history, wild animals have inspired mythical creatures. Discover the mammal behind mermaids, the fossils that made the griffin, and how the narwhal’s horn might have given rise to the legend of the unicorn. With images of wildlife and ancient artifacts, this slideshow and discussion will reveal how the natural world can inspire stories, myths, and legends. Students will create their own mythical creatures based on wild animals.
Statue of a fairy with books

The Wild Side of Fairy Tales

  • Grade K-2, 30 minutes
  • Grade 3-6, 45 minutes
  • In-Person $500 for half-a-day and $1000 for full-day
Step into the magical world of fairy tales from around the world and hear stories and legends from long ago. Meet mischievous fairies, talking animals, and naughty trolls and discover where nature and story meet. Let your imagination go on an adventure with these stories from the wildside of once upon a time and happily ever after.
Susie Spikol with homeschoolers under a yew tree in winter

How to Be an Animal Adventurer

  • Grade PreK-2, 30 minutes
  • Grades 3-5, 60 minutes
  • In-Person $500 for half-a-day and $1000 for full-day
Join award-winning naturalist and author Susie and learn the art and skills of becoming an animal adventurer! Sharpen your observation skills through games and activities that will prepare you for a lifetime of wildlife experiences! Hear how watching wild animals, no matter where you live, can help you feel more connected to the natural world and each other and deepen your scientific understanding of everyday nature. Outdoor space requested but not necessary.
Susie Spikol with a gnome friend

Gnome Makers Space

  • Grade K-3, 60 minutes
  • In-Person $600 for half-a-day and $1500 for full-day with 1 classroom limit/program
Enter the world of gnomes! Hear stories of these wee little folk from around the world and explore storybooks that star these little imps. Play a few traditional gnome games and then create a class of these charming characters. Let your students’ imaginations run wild as they make their own little beings with names and characteristics—a perfect way to open the doors to writing, art, and storytelling. Tips on how to make a gnome home are included!
Yellow patches mushroom

Mysterious Mushrooms

  • Grade 2-5, 60 minutes
  • In-Person $500 for half-a-day and $1000 for full-day with 1 classroom limit/program
Discover the fascinating world of fungi! From dissecting mushrooms to discovering what wild creatures depend on mushrooms, this program will bring the mysterious world of these decomposers to life. One student will even be temporarily transformed into a giant mushroom! Keep an accordion journal filled with written and drawn observations. Optional mushroom scavenger hunt included. Outdoor space requested but not necessary.
Nature journal

Nature Journals, Field Notebooks, and Wild Diaries

  • Grade 3-6, 60 minutes
  • Journals provided
  • In-Person $500 for half-a-day and $1000 for full-day with 1 classroom limit/program
Help students build their observational skills through the use of nature journals, field notebooks, and wild diaries. Practice different observational techniques, from drawing and sketching to writing and mapping. Susie will provide natural history artifacts, including shells, bones, and feathers, for children to handle and observe during this program. Learn how nature journaling and field notes have helped scientists like Jane Goodall make discoveries and how writers and artists like Rachel Carson used their nature notebooks to create. Outdoor space requested but not necessary.
Contact Susie to Schedule a Program

A Note About Travel Expenses

In addition to the fee associated with the programs, please note if I’m traveling:

  • More than 25 miles from Hancock, NH, please add mileage.
  • More than 75  miles from Hancock, NH, please add mileage, meals, and hotel.
  • More than 100 miles from Hancock, NH, please add mileage, meals, hotel and airfare (if needed). A multi-day visit is required. Consider coordinating with other schools, libraries, and community centers in your area to split the cost, or check with Susie to see when your location might fit into her travel schedule.