PRESCHOOL
Nature Adventures, 10:00 - 11:00 am (1 hour)
Preschoolers will take a short nature walk, search for butterflies and meet some animal friends.

KINDERGARTEN
Finding Florida, 10:00 - 11:30 am (1.5 hours)
Students will explore our native pine flatwood forest with special focus on the Florida State tree (sabal/cabbage palm), Florida State bird (mockingbird) and Florida State butterfly (zebra longwing). Students will get a close-up look at the zebra butterfly with discussion about butterfly characteristics and life cycle. Before departing, the students will meet our resident Florida State reptile (alligator!).

FIRST GRADE / SECOND GRADE
Animal Homes and Habitats,10:00 am - 12:00 pm (2 hours)
What makes a good animal home? Students find out as they explore pine flatwood forest and wetland habitats and discuss what most animals need to survive (food, water, shelter and space). Students will search for nests, tree cavities, webs and burrows; examine a gopher tortoise burrow and some of our resident animals.

SECOND GRADE / THIRD GRADE
Nature Detectives, 10:00 am- 12:00 pm (2 hours)
Find the clues that animals leave behind. Students will become familiar with our pine flatwood and wetland habitats as they search for "clues" (snake skins, burrows, scat, tree cavities, footprints, feathers, etc.). Students will use magnifying lenses and tweezers to inspect and deductive reasoning to sort out clues. After the activity, students will meet some native animals (the "clue" makers) up close.

Also available - Reptile, Insect and Marine Programs

FOURTH GRADE
SWAMP ** Wednesday only **, 10:00 am- 1:00 pm (there will be a lunch break) (3 hours)
This program introduces students to one of Florida's most valuable resources - wetlands. Students learn the ecological concept of food chains/webs using a wetland habitat to demonstrate the roles of producers and consumers. Students will use dip nets to collect wetland organisms and use microscopes to make closer observations. Students will play a game that helps to illustrate the roles of predator, prey and environment in a food web.

FOURTH GRADE / FIFTH GRADE
Raptor Mania (Birds of Prey), 10:00 am- 12:00 pm (2 hours)
Students will walk in our pine flatwood forest and wetland areas to observe raptor habitats. They will meet several live raptor species up close and personal, while learning about their adaptations, behavior, ecological importance, and natural history. Students will dissect an owl pellet to find the skeleton inside.

We are adaptable! We will tailor our program to fit your needs. Please let us know if you have a particular interest or concept that you would like us to focus on. Our programs are designed to meet Sunshine State Standards.

ALSO AVAILABLE
Programs for Middle School / High School

• Marine Biology
• Raptors
• Adaptations
• Reptiles
• Fire Ecology program

Outreach Programs
We can come to your school and present programs to larger groups. The following programs are available; please call us for scheduling and fees.

• Raptors
• Reptiles
• Florida Native Animals program
  
  

Please call the Nature Center to request a field trip reservation form. (561) 233-1400
Program fee - $1 per student, no fee for supervising adults