science field trips in florida

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Educational field trips for the family, all across florida.

By Saundra Amrhein

Like many homeschooling moms, Janne LoFaro of Holly Springs, N.C., never misses an opportunity to turn an excursion into an educational adventure for her 9-year-old daughter. For instance, picking strawberries is a chance to learn about bees and pollination; road trips in the car include educational DVDs.

So when Janne was planning a family vacation , she considered her daughter’s ongoing fascination for LEGOs, and knew just the place to take her for an educational field trip in Florida - LEGOLAND .

Among the nearly two million home-educated children and their families in the United States, Florida proves to be not only a vacation destination, but also a virtual classroom – where parents combine leisure time with learning opportunities at museums, aquariums, wildlife refuges, historic sites and theme parks.

Imagination Zone is a place to build and test and expand your mind.

- Julie Fletcher for VISIT FLORIDA

LEGOLAND is a 150-acre interactive theme park with more than 50 rides, shows and attractions. This is Safari Trek at Land of Adventure.

There are many places for educational field trips in Florida that cater to homeschooling families through elaborate educational materials and programs that give students behind-the-scenes, hands-on experience, self-guided tours, and special rates on admission tickets.

“I heard they had great discounts,” LoFaro said about LEGOLAND. That’s a big bonus, she added, for homeschooling families who carry their own costs for curriculum materials at home. LoFaro started a homeschooling group five years in her home county for homeschooling families to share information on events, tours and classes. It quickly grew to 135 families.

She and her husband plan to surprise their daughter with the trip to LEGOLAND, an interactive theme park with educational programs that have a strong focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (or STEM).

“She’s all into the LEGO Friends,” Janne said.

During the Florida vacation, they also plan to seek out museums and possibly an aquarium to add to their daughter’s learning experience. Meanwhile, given her daughter’s current study of space and science, Janne was already planning their next vacation destination: the Kennedy Space Center.

“You gravitate to what their interests are,” she said.

Home-schoolers Janne and Joe LoFaro let their daughter, Sienna, 9, lead the way as they begin to explore LEGOLAND.

In the Imagination Zone, participants can build and test computers or robots and more.

Many Florida attractions cater to homeschooling families through elaborate educational materials and programs, hands-on experience, or interacting with nature itself.

The fun at LEGOLAND includes interacting with robots.

Here’s a list of some opportunities for educational field trips in Florida, organized by region of the state:

Northwest Florida

• National Naval Aviation Museum , Pensacola: This military and aerospace museum features a Flight to Excellence (FTE) educational field trip that incorporates educational IMAX movies and Teachers’ Walking Tour guides. The National Flight Academy also brings students aboard its simulated aircraft carrier to plan and carry out missions. For more information, visit: http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/    
• Apalachicola Maritime Museum , Apalachicola: This museum, providing a gateway into the rich and diverse history of the three rivers forming Florida’s largest, the Apalachicola River, offers hands-on educational programs, from sailing to boat-building and restoration to historical tours and eco-tours. For more information, visit: http://ammfl.org/

Northeast Florida

• The Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park , St. Augustine: This 15-acre waterfront park sits at the heart of the area explored by Juan Ponce de Leon in 1513 and is the original site of the settlement of explorer Pedro Menendez de Aviles in 1565 – making St. Augustine the oldest European settlement in the United States.  Visitors can explore a replica of a Timucua village and a reconstruction of the First Mission Church of Nombre de Dios, originally built in 1587 on the grounds. For more information, visit: http://www.fountainofyouthflorida.com/  
• Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park, Flagler Beach : This 150-acre park is a relic of the former prominence of sugar plantations in East Florida. Destroyed in 1836 during the Second Seminole War, the once thriving Bulow Family plantation had grown sugar cane, cotton, rice and indigo. The park holds remnants and ruins of the former plantation, spring house, wells, the crumbling foundations of the plantation house, slave cabins and sugar mill ruins, which are listed on the National Register of Historic Sites. For more information, visit: https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/Bulow-Plantation .

Central Florida

• LEGOLAND Florida , Winter Haven: With more than 50 rides, shows, attractions and a water park, this interactive theme park on 150 acres has STEM-focused educational programs – from building solar-powered cars to programing LEGO robots to rescue the rover on a mission to Mars – and also offers discounted tickets for designated “Home School Days” as well as educational resource guides for self-guided tours. For more information, visit: http://florida.legoland.com/
• Walt Disney World , Orlando: The Disney parks provide a broad spectrum of educational programs and guided field studies, from Applied Sciences to Liberal Arts, Environmental Studies and Leadership Development. Students get a chance to help solve conservation challenges; explore physics through thrilling attractions; meet marine biology professionals; or participate in dancing, acting and other performance arts workshops. For more information, visit: http://www.disneyyouth.com/our-programs/
• Gatorland , Orlando: With thousands of alligators and crocodiles, a petting zoo, zip line and free-flight aviary, this park offers a bevy of hands-on educational field trip opportunities, as well as close-up encounters with alligators, snakes, tarantulas and more. For more information, visit: http://www.gatorland.com/  
• Kennedy Space Center: In addition to Camp Kennedy Space Center with its strong STEM emphasis, the center also has ongoing educational programs where students can explore the Apollo/Saturn V Center, meet astronauts, watch 3D IMAX films, strap into a Shuttle Launch Experience and see historic rockets. What’s more, the center also offers a special day for homeschooling families one day a year. For more information, visit:   https://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/
• Clearwater Marine Aquarium: The mission here is rescue, rehab and release. There are educational programs, from workshops on animal training; to science camps on ecosystems; to camps and field trips that include snorkeling in sea grass beds, kayaking through estuaries, SCUBA, and meeting the aquarium’s rescued residents. For more information, visit: http://www.seewinter.com/
• MOSI (Museum of Science and Industry) , Tampa: With its more than 450 interactive exhibits on space and astronomy, technology, robotics and gaming, MOSI lets families explore everything from the night sky in Saunders Planetarium; to what it feels like to live on the moon in Kids in Charge! – the largest children’s science center in the nation – to building anything from robots to cities in Imagination Playground, to hands-on 3D printing, and riding a bicycle on a cable 30 feet in the air. For more information, visit:   http://www.mosi.org/

Southwest Florida

• Sanibel Island : About 20 miles southwest of Ft. Myers, this island of white-sand beaches and crystal blue waters is a nature lover’s dream and a natural classroom to learn about wildlife. It is home to both the “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge and the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife, or CROW, which is a teaching hospital and visitor education center focused on saving wildlife through state-of-the-art veterinary care, research, conservation medicine and education. For more information, visit: http://www.sanibelisland.com/
• Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve , Naples: On 110,000 acres of pristine mangrove forest, uplands and protected waters, visitors can learn about some of the 150 species of birds, threatened and endangered animals that thrive in this estuarine environment. Among educational programs and opportunities are field trips that are geared to classes and students focused on marine biology, chemistry, environmental science, oceanography and general biology. For more information, visit: https://rookerybay.org/
• Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples : At this two-story, 30,000-square-foot cultural institution and hands-on learning center, children can become a weather forecaster, chef, farmer, architect, artist, and veterinarian; explore the cold of an igloo, and the sound of the sea. Educational programs include workshops for homeschooling families, on past topics such as the science of snow; investigating the brain and the science of emotion; and an entertaining look at Newton’s Laws of Motion. For more information, visit: http://www.cmon.org/

Southeast Florida

• Deering Estate at Cutler , near Miami: This 444-acre preserve and historic site holds a prehistoric burial mound, a three-story wooden house dating to 1900 known as the Richmond Cottage and a three-story stone mansion. Home to what is considered the largest virgin coastal tropical hardwood hammock in the continental United States, Deering Estate is known as an environmental, archeological and historical preserve offering everything from canoe tours, butterfly walks and guided nature hikes. For more information, visit: http://www.deeringestate.com/
• Miramar Cultural Center, Miramar: Revolving around an 800-seat theater, this complex includes two art galleries, banquet facilities, rehearsal halls, botanical gardens, classrooms and more. Educational programming includes behind-the-scenes tours, performances, summer camps, and past master classes on everything from dance techniques to the fusion of Afro-Peruvian music and jazz. For more information, visit: http://www.miramarculturalcenter.org/
• Big Cypress Seminole Reservation, Florida Everglades near Miami: Visitors can learn the history of the Florida Seminoles’ resistance of U.S. government displacement and survival in the Everglades; take in the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum; follow nature trails throughout the 60-acre cypress dome to a living village; explore 2,200 acres of untamed Everglades on airboat and swamp buggy rides during the Billie Swamp Safari; or attend rodeos and reenactments of the Second Seminole War. For more information, visit: http://www.floridaseminoletourism.com/

PLACES TO REMEMBER

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Clearwater Marine Aquarium

• 249 Windward Passage
• (727) 441-1790

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Field trips 

Florida Oceanographic Society offers a variety of standards-based field trip and virtual field trip options for your students. These fun, interactive field trips make use of the Coastal Center property and our “Conservation Ambassador” animals to teach children from pre-K through grade 12 about marine biology and the environment. All K-5 field trips are designed to address Next Generation Sunshine State Standards for Science.

If you are looking to book a Coastal Center visit for your summer camp or summer school group, please visit our  Group Visits webpage . 

Field trips are offered Wednesday through Friday during the school year only. All field trip programs begin at 9:00 a.m.

To request information about field trip availability, please fill out the form at the bottom of this page, or contact Director of Education & Exhibits, Dr. Zack Jud at (772)225-0505 ext. 113 or  [email protected] .

Pre-K & K Programs

Preschool & Kindergarten Programs

• 90-minute program (9:00-10:30 a.m., Wed.-Fri.)
• Guided field trip includes: grade-specific interactive lessons at various Coastal Center exhibits (group size will dictate which exhibits are visited).
• Student limit: 15 min./ 30 max.
• Program fee: $15.00 per student

One teacher per 15 students is admitted free of charge (limit 2 per trip). Additional teachers and all adult chaperones pay the designated program fee. Please limit total adult chaperone count to no more than 6 per trip.

Title I Schools

If you teach at a Title I school, please email us about discounts and scholarship opportunities.

Kindergarten Field Trip Information Sheet 

• Kindergarten Standards Information Sheet 

Elementary (1-5) Level Programs

Elementary (1-5th) Level Programs

• Student limit: 15 min./ 35 max.

 1-5th Grade Field Trip Information Sheets  

• 1st Grade Standards Information Sheet
• 2nd Grade Standards Information Sheet 
• 3rd Grade Standards Information Sheet 
• 4th Grade Standards Information Sheet
• 5th Grade Standards Information Sheet 

Secondary (6-12) Level Programs

Secondary (6-12th) Level Programs

• 3-hour program
• Guided field trip includes: Lesson in the Florida Oceanographic Society classroom, followed by an interactive activity designed to further emphasize the lesson’s focus.
• Oyster Reefs as Habitat: Identify the organisms that use oyster reefs as a home.
• Mingling with Mangroves: Explore the mangrove swamp to dig deeper into food webs.
• Focusing on Fishes: Identify how the characteristics of fishes influence their life history.
• Student limit: 15 min./ 25 max.
• Program fee: $20.00 per student

Coastal Center Experience Secondary Level Field Trip

A guided educational tour through various exhibits and the nature trail at the Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center.

• Secondary level (6th-12th) program ;
• Price: $15.00 per student/adult

Seining Adventure

Seining Adventure 

A classroom lesson about fish morphology and adaptations, followed by seine netting in the Indian River Lagoon (this is an in-water field trip).

• 3-hour water-based program
• Appropriate for 5-12th grade classes
• We do not hold seining field trips January through March as water temperatures are uncomfortably cold
• Requires a signed Seining Program Waiver from each student and chaperone (waiver link below)
• Program fee: $24.00 per student

Virtual Field Trip Program

Virtual Field Trip Program 

Visit Florida Oceanographic without leaving your school. Stream a live, interactive lesson directly into your classroom using Zoom, Skype, or your school district's required platform.

For more information about our virtual field trips please visit our virtual field trip page . 

Homeschool Groups

Florida Oceanographic Society does not offer specific field trip programming for homeschool families and groups. However, if you lead a single-grade homeschool group (i.e., all students in the group are at the same grade level) that meets the above requirements for group size, you can book a regular grade-specific field trip for your students. If your homeschool group consists of more than one grade level, please visit our Self-Guided Group page to book a self-guided visit for your students.

field trip details and policies 

• Field Trip Registration and Policies
• Seining Program Waiver  
• Secondary Oyster Programs Waiver

REQUEST A FIELD TRIP

Please fill out the below form to initiate the field trip booking process. Field trip availability is not guaranteed. You will receive scheduling confirmation from Florida Oceanographic Society if a field trip is available on your requested date. If your group is larger than the size limits outlined above and you cannot split the field trip across multiple days, please make note below. We will try our best to accommodate your needs.

Have the BEST. SUMMER. EVER with Mad Science!

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Birthday parties.

We’re here to make sure that your child’s birthday is everything they’ve dreamed of! Our chemical reaction experiments, rocket launches, hovercraft rides, cotton candy making, and ready-to-go Goody Bags, loaded with multiple science-themed toys, are sure to make their day extra special!

Field-Trip Workshops

Our In-Class Field Trip Workshop programs are as fun as they are educational. Our hands-on Science programs cover different science topics including electricity, magnetism, optics, biology, and more. They are a perfect way to get hands-on with what you're teaching in the classroom! Virtual Options Available-with or without supplies!

Programs in our Mad Science Laboratory!

Limited Public Programs and Private Programs are available for small groups in our Lab! Contact us to set up a program for YOUR group today!

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Say goodbye to boring school assemblies and events! Grab your students' attention while providing your entire school with educational and entertaining science shows and fun stations. Perfect for your science nights!

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Amaze your students with a Mad Science after-school program. Our interactive programs cover science topics in a hands-on way, that is sure to get every child’s attention, and help them grasp foundational scientific concepts without them even knowing that they're learning.

In Class Field-Trip Workshops

Would you like to enhance your Science curriculum? Mad Science offers educational and fun Science workshops for kids that reinforce concepts taught in class! All workshops are curriculum correlated to state standards!

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Foster a love for science in your community! Our interactive, engaging camp programs allow kids to explore the different fields of science in a fun, hands-on way!

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Our stage shows and fun stations will captivate all your guests on any occasion. Our children's events are hassle-free, adaptable, and action-packed! They are perfect for library programs, company parties, community center events, conventions, children's programs, parks and recs, and much more!

Mad Science offers educational and fun science workshops for kids that allow them to experience Science hands-on! Best for groups of 30 kids or less.

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Orlando Science Center

FIELD TRIPS

Orlando Science Center’s school programs tackle science concepts from textbooks and put them into context with hands-on, minds-on experiences that make a lasting impression! During a day or overnight Field Trip to Orlando Science Center, your students will enjoy experiences like state standards-based lab workshops, live shows, exhibit hall exploration, films, and more.

supports classroom learning in: Astronomy, Biology, Earth Science, Environmental Studies, Dinosaurs

topics covered: Animal Behavior, Biosphere, Climate, Conservation, Dinosaurs, Earth Science, Geosphere, Hydrosphere, Nutrition, Kinetic Motion, Plant studies

contact info Name: Reservation Dept Phone: 407-514-2112 Email: [email protected]

• More info on educational programs

OUTREACH PROGRAMS

Let us bring the Science Center to you! Our Educators can lead hands-on STEM workshops, perform live science shows, and more at your school or organization. Our programs are designed to supplement and enhance your science curriculum for Pre-K through high school. Students love experiencing hands-on fun, and caregivers and educators love that they are innovative and in line with Florida State Standards.

• More info on outreach programs

Orlando Science Center is an award-winning, hands-on science museum. For more than 60 years, their exhibits and programming have brought science to life for all ages. With four floors of interactive exhibit halls, labs and workshops, theaters, an observatory, and experiences that change with the seasons, there is always something exciting for all ages. The Science Center offers onsite field trips at the Science Center and offsite at schools and community organizations.

contact info

Hrs: Varies

HELPFUL LESSON PLAN(S)

Prepared by fieldtripdirectory.com.

Science Museum Lesson Plan

There are a wide variety of science museums out there. From archaeological artifacts to galactic adventures in museum planetarium domes, there’s something for just about everyone!

Many science museums offer interactive experiences for youth groups such as labs and simulated space missions. Find a science museum with offerings that align with your curriculum goals for a field trip that’ll be worth while.

Put on those lab coats and goggles! Students step into the shoes of scientists. Gear up for an exploration of science and all it has to offer.

During a Field Trip to the Orlando Science Center, your scouts will explore four floors of interactive exhibit halls, labs and workshops, theaters, an observatory, and experiences that change with the seasons. The Stem Discovery Center is the educational hub of the Science Center.

supports scout badges in: Environmental Studies, STEM

During a Field Trip to the Orlando Science Center, your campers will explore four floors of interactive exhibit halls, labs and workshops, theaters, an observatory, and experiences that change with the seasons. The Stem Discovery Center is the educational hub of the Science Center.

• More info on programs

Orlando Science Center hosts themed homeschool days for Grades K–8 each month during the academic year, September through May. Our monthly homeschool program exposes students in Grades K–8 to a variety of topics, offering them the opportunity to engage with their peers and encounter resources they may not have at home!

FAMILY OUTINGS

Orlando Science Center is an award-winning, hands-on science museum for a fun and enriching family outing. For more than 60 years, their exhibits and programming have brought science to life for all ages. With four floors of interactive exhibit halls, labs and workshops, theaters, an observatory, and experiences that change with the seasons, there is always something exciting for all ages.

contact info Phone: 407-514-2112 Email: [email protected]

• See calendar of events
• Info on exhibits

BIRTHDAY PARTIES

Orlando Science Center’s all-inclusive party packages are designed to take the hassle out of planning your child’s party, so you can relax and celebrate too! This fun interactive celebration sparks interest in science, technology, engineering, and math through exciting hands-on experiences, exhibits and programs.

• More info on birthday parties

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Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex offers education focused learning specializing in STEM at its best, as only NASA can. Through exciting and educational adventures, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex invites students to experience field trips, private educational programs, Overnight Adventures, Camp KSC ® , and so much more.

Your group can come nose to nose with the space shuttle Atlantis, tour areas of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, and meet a veteran astronaut to discover firsthand how a trip to the visitor complex can enrich every student’s education. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex encourages teachers and students to check out the vast resources made available by NASA for continued study, as we seek to nurture and train the next generation of space explorers.

For information on your group visit, please call 1.855.433.4210.

Please Note: Special launches and events may require a separately priced ticket. Group visits and educational programs scheduled on that day are subject to change or may be cancelled. Terms and conditions are subject to change.

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Category: Science + STEM Field Trips

Stem field trips near you: lakeland + polk county.

Looking for somewhere to take a field trip? These local attractions offer field trip packages and can host your next school trip or homeschool group.

Don’t miss our full Education Guide – it includes information on Polk County public schools, tutoring and test prep, colleges, scholarship programs, and more.

HELPFUL TIP: Use the filter button (3 horizontal lines) to narrow down the list by city and/or category. All city filters are a general geographic area, check each listing address for a specific location. Use the map at the bottom to find Science + STEM Field Trips Near You.

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Bricks 4 Kidz offers engaging classes, camps and in-school workshops that engage children ages 3-13+ with an emphasis on STEM education using LEGO® Bricks. AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS – at local schools CAMPS – locations vary PRE-SCHOOL CLASSES – at your location PARTIES – at your home or location of your choice LEGO® BUDDIES for Children with Special Needs

As Florida’s “Official Aviation Museum and Education Center,” the Florida Air Museum features a dynamic display of unique designs, classics, ultra-lights, antiques, and warbirds. More than a collection of airplanes; it stands as a tribute to the history and joy of flight. Exhibits educate about pioneers like Howard Hughes, early air racers, Floridians, and others who have influenced the world of aviation.

The Aerospace Center for Excellence also offers a variety of year-round educational experiences for all ages including field trips, storytime, camps, tours, workshops, and speaker presentations. ACE and the Museum continue to grow and meet the challenge of showcasing aviation history through exhibits, restoration and preservation, education and outreach, and sharing a passion for flight with visitors of all ages.

Learn more:

7 Things to Do on Your Next Visit to the Aerospace Center for Excellence + Florida Air Museum

Adventure is in the Air: Book an Interactive Field Trip with the Aerospace Center for Excellence .

Snapology provides children’s enrichment at its best with year-round STEAM learning programs that engage children from ages 4 to 14. Snapology instructors use fun, hands-on activities to teach Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics. While children are exploring robotics, coding, and design challenges using LEGO® bricks, K’Nex, and technology, they’re building skills that will help them throughout school and their careers. To kids, it’s just fun! Our programs are offered as after-school programs, summer camps, workshops, field trips, birthday parties, assemblies, and custom events.

The Florida Children’s Museum {formerly Explorations V Children’s Museum} opens in November 2022 at Bonnet Springs Park.

Learn more about the Florida Children’s Museum.

Bok Tower Gardens is a Polk County Gem. With over 50 acres of beautiful gardens, a variety of plants, trees, and flowers, 205 foot Singing Tower carillon, and a fantastic children’s garden play area, it is one of our favorite places to be outdoors. Learn more and see photos in our article on Hammock Hollow Children’s Garden at Bok Tower Gardens .

School assemblies and live shows for kids based on STEM Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics + A for Art. Academic entertainment with Dr. Reacto and DJ Dan. The only live program to combine music, laughter, theatrics, high technology, video, and dance in Florida elementary schools. Serving Tampa, Lakeland, and Orlando areas.

Skate World Lakeland is known for birthday parties for all ages, roller skating lessons, the Friday night hang out for preteens and teens, and a fun summer activity for camps, daycares and family get-togethers! No one can pass up Skate World’s $2 Tuesday, which includes $2 admission, $2 rentals, and $2 specials in the snack bar. Skate World also offers Christian Skate Nights throughout the year and hosts numerous church and school fundraisers.

THE MUSEUM WILL BE CLOSED ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3.

In an abundance of caution, the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science has decided to suspend museum operations starting Tuesday, September 3 , in order ensure the safety of our visitors, staff and animals. Please monitor our website and social channels for all updates regarding the museum.

Field Trips

Bring classroom science lessons to life by exploring the many exhibitions Frost Science has to offer!

Students and chaperones will be able to explore the museum on their own, in a self-guided experience.

Admission Costs

Field trip admission ranges from $14.95-$16.95 depending on the day of the week and season. Please review our 2023-2024 Field Trip Admission Calendar to check the field trip admission cost for the day you’re interested in visiting us.

Learning Labs (weekdays only) and Frost Planetarium Shows are available as an add-on from August 19 – May 16. Learning Labs are $5 per student. Frost Planetarium shows are $2 per student.

For further questions, please view our Field Trip FAQs and Reservations Guide here .

*All prices are per student. Please note that the museum requires a ratio of 1 chaperone per every 10 students. These chaperones are free of charge. Additional chaperones pay the same rate as the students . Frost Science Museum membership or other discounts may not be used in conjunction with field trip and group rates. For questions regarding special needs groups, please email [email protected] .

Journey to Space Special Exhibition

Summer groups will be allowed entry to the Journey to Space special exhibition. However, groups will not be allowed admittance to the rotating Destiny Lab inside the exhibition due to the sensitivity of the experience.

Due to limited capacity, school year field trips are permitted entry at a rate of one chaperone and ten students at a time. Please note that there may be a waiting period before entry is allowed.

Summer field trips (May 16 – Aug 19) will not be permitted entry to this exhibition.

Science Store Add-On

Students can now bring science home with surprise science boxes from the Science Store! Each box contains a mini-STEM experiment to do at home.

To purchase, indicate that you would like the surprise science box add-on while filling out the Field Trip Request Form.

Planetarium Shows

Informed by leading edge science, the Frost Planetarium shows carry you to the far reaches of known existence, and spark the wonderment at the core of scientific exploration.

Learning Labs

You and your students can dive deeper into science with a 45-minute facilitated, hands-on learning experience in our Knight Learning Center.

Educator Resources

Educators can explore free, standards-aligned curriculum resources and exhibition guides to connect your visit to the classroom.

Bring hands-on, STEM-focused learning directly to your school, library, or community center!

Frost Science STEM Challenge

A new challenge-based STEM program for M-DCPS high school students.

Title I Opportunities

During the 2023 – 2024 academic year, Frost Science is providing opportunities for Title I schools to visit the museum and participate in Learning Labs at no cost.

• INJURED TURTLE OR BIRD DROP-OFF
• STAFF INFORMATION
• BIRD HOSPITAL
• SEA TURTLE HOSPITAL
• CATALOG OF MARINE INHABITANTS

DAILY PRESENTATIONS

Field trips, florida master naturalist program, turtle tots.

• BIRD BOARDWALK
• CLASSROOM LAB
• MEET OUR RESIDENTS
• NATURE TRAIL
• TURTLE TERRACE
• CALENDAR OF EVENTS
• MEDIA CENTER
• CORPORATE GIVING
• DIRECTIONS AND PARKING
• EXPLORE THE AREA
• HOURS AND ADMISSION
• CONSERVATION
• EXPLORE MSC
• NEWS AND EVENTS

EDUCATION PROGRAMS

The Marine Science Center offers a wide variety of programs and activities for children and adults throughout the year. Students young and old can discover the many wonders of marine life in environmentally rich Volusia County.

We've gone VIRTUAL!

The Marine Science Center (MSC) is offering some unique virtual programs:

Rescue Rehab and Release (RRR)

During the "RRR" program, your group will learn about the MSC's mission, meet a permanent resident ambassador, watch a sea turtle medical procedure and a release video, ask questions, and discover a call-to-action on how to protect our local ecosystems. (Standards can be requested when scheduling this virtual program)

Each program is $35.00

This price is per group, not per person, with a recommendation of up to 36 guests per program.

Post-program resources and other great educational videos are available on the Marine Science Center YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9d2HAkoGmW4_5fKGWroZSQ

For more information about booking, email Shell Webster, the Education Coordinator, at [email protected] or call 386-304-5529.

Live animal presentations are held daily. Upon your arrival, please check the scheduled daily feeding times of the Stingrays and the Seahorses. Feeding times may vary due to animal availability and behavior.

View more information on daily presentations .

When school starts, our facility get busy with school trips. We offer six programs that can accommodate students in grades K-12 and are coordinated with Next Generation Standards. Field trips are offered August 15th through May 31st and not offered during the summer months when summer camp is in session.

Read more on about field trip programs .

The mission of the Florida Master Naturalist Program ( FMNP ) is to promote awareness, understanding and respect of Florida's natural world among Florida's residents and visitors. The Marine Science Center proudly sponsors the Coastal Systems of this program.

Read more on the Florida Master Naturalist Program .

SUMMER CAMPS

The Marine Science Center hosts camps each summer for children ages 6-14 and are centered on coastal animals and the natural environment. Summer programs provide campers with an amazing experience and focus on environmental science topics. Camp includes animal encounters, crafts, science experiments, canoeing, and of course, time in the water! Summer camps are posted in March.

Find out more information about summer camps .

Children ages 2-5 can learn about local marine life through stories, crafts and activities at the Marine Science Center. The Turtle Tots program is offered August 15th through May 31st, and not offered during the summer months when summer camp is in session.

Learn more about the Turtle Tots Program .

Watch our video

Event Calendar

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Science Fun

We provide In-school and Virtual (NEW) science field trips that allow kids to become a “Scientist For the Day” and learn by doing REAL experiments. Programs are engaging, fun and meet the Science Standards.  Please call (919) 460-5800 for more information about our new programming options.

We will deliver your Science Supplies to you (FREE SHIPPING)!

Our true passion is to provide teachers and students with FUN, educational, and convenient science programs. 

We will transform your experience into a Living Laboratory!

Quick questions:.

WHAT IS INCLUDED?

How do i reserve a program & what info should i have ready.

Art inspired by science: students researchers unleash their creative side

By Gisela Valencia

June 17, 2024 at 12:09pm

Can art and science really be interconnected?

Scientists collect data, conduct experiments and make discoveries. Artists tell stories and tap into life's intangible spaces to shed light on the human condition. The two roles seem light years apart.

A group of FIU student researchers are bursting through stereotypes and showing us that art and science are actually two sides of the same coin. These students are using their love of nature and scientific inquiry to fuel their creation of art in a variety of mediums from drawings to crafts to photography.

The student researchers are part of the Florida Coastal Everglades Long Term Ecological Research (FCE LTER) program , which is based at FIU’s Institute of Environment. The program has collected the most comprehensive, long-term data instrumental to understanding how the Everglades is changing over time. 

While conducting research in the Everglades, the students are often moved to wonder as they stare at the sun glimmering through the trees or as they observe the patterns and properties of the wildlife and organisms they are studying.

This awe has led them to create. It has propelled them to embrace the arts, or in some cases, to renew their artistic activities with science in mind.

Paige Kleindl, a Ph.D. candidate in biology, is one of these students.

“Creativity is at the heart of science and art,” Kleindl says. "Illustration and visual depiction have always been an integral part of understanding science." 

Two years ago, Kleindl and several of her colleagues began meeting informally to talk about their artistic endeavors. The group was composed of their networks — students who were also researchers from the FCE LTER program. The meetings eventually became FCE LTER student group activities, and the crafty scientists became prolific artists.

Fast forward to today, and the group has presented two annual photography competitions, a one-day art showcase and, most recently, a two-month-long art exhibit at the Glenn Gallery at FIU’s Biscayne Bay Campus. The exhibit ended in May, but its beauty left a lasting impression on fans and artists alike.

“It was so much fun,” says Kleindl, who organized the exhibit. “It was great to see the pride on the artists' faces at the exhibit opening. We create art for fun. It’s something we do because we love it, and we love depicting nature. Being able to present these creative depictions of the Everglades to other people was amazing.”

“The name of the exhibit was 'More Than a Scientist’ because it highlighted the multifaceted nature of scientists," Kleindl adds. "People may see us as solely analytical. But scientists are so much more. What we do takes so much passion. That's what motivates us to wake up at four in the morning and travel to the wilderness in 100-degree weather just to take samples. We are passionate about our research, and we are passionate about understanding and preserving the natural world. And that feeds our creative side.”

The exhibit featured 50 pieces of art created by 10 students and one staff member. It showcased a diverse range of artwork, including black ink drawings, photography, traditional scientific illustration, linoleum prints, watercolors and embroidery, among others.

Check out a few of the works created by some of the scientist-artists in the group.

Snail prints

Carlos Pulido, a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Earth and Environment, says that art became a way to re-energize and re-focus on science. He enjoys creating nature-inspired linoleum prints (like the one pictured above). 

“I began creating linoleum prints as a way to unwind from the rigorous demands of my Ph.D.,” he says. “This artistic expression unexpectedly enhanced my research, offering a tactile, hands-on counterbalance to my digitally-heavy routine. I've found that the entire intricate process — from sketching to carving and printing — not only helps with my mental clarity, but also enriches my approach to problem-solving in my scientific work.”

He adds, “I didn't anticipate discovering a community of artists within our own research working groups. Connecting with fellow researchers who also engage in artistic pursuits inspires me and broadens my perspective[s], both personally and professionally.”

Embroidering micro-algae 

When Hanna Innocent was in elementary school, her grandmother taught her the art of embroidery.  

"[She] would buy me embroidery kits when we'd visit during the summer," Innocent recalls. "During COVID, I picked it up again and it was like muscle memory."

Today, Innocent is a master's degree student in biological sciences -- and she weaves science into her artistry. Recently, she created her own embroidery patterns to celebrate the organisms she researches: micro-algae.

"Micro-algae and diatoms are such tiny, beautiful organisms that tend to be overlooked by everyone," she says. "The more I learn about them in my career the more I fall in love with them, not only with how important they are to life on earth, but also with how complex and intricate they can be. I started off drawing them as a way to better understand what they look like, but it turned into depicting them in several different art forms that I enjoy creating in. I see micro-algae as an array of beautiful colors and rainbows, and I want the rest of the world to see them too."

Tiny beauty

Graduate biology student Anne Sabol believes photography can help expand the reach of science. " I work in the conservation realm, and a captivating photo can draw in a new audience and get them to care about the animals we study and are trying to save in a way that traditional science publications cannot."

The result? Sabol snaps away photos of the beauty she witnesses in the Everglades. Recently, one of her photos of a cormorant earned second place in the student group's photography competition this year. 

In the photogoraph above, she captured a unique view of a tiny, intriguing animal that is usually about an inch or two long: a lettuce sea slug. " I chose this picture because it helps everyone appreciate the tiny creatures we might overlook."

Sabol will graduate with her Ph.D. this summer. 

The mangrove forest

Tommy Shannon, a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Biological Sciences, began his journey into photography while taking pictures under the microscope and in the field. His goal was to photo-document the algae research he was conducting. But things began to change as he realized the beauty of the visual medium.

“Photography took on a second life as an art form when I discovered I could use my photos to share the wonder I see in the natural world,” he says. “In my research I get the privilege to see and experience amazing things that are inaccessible to most people. I feel like photography enables me to make these experiences accessible to a much larger group of people and to share the 'wow' I feel. For me, science and photography are two paths to the same place of discovery and understanding.”

The photo above was taken at one of the long-term ecological research sites that scientists at FIU have been visiting for over two decades.

"It's a place where the land meets the sea in a maze of mangroves and tidal rivers," Shannon explains. He says the photo "illustrates the structure and function of the mangrove forest, from the skyward leaves to the knotty tangle of roots that hold the forest steady in high winds and floods." 

Taking a closer look

At a very young age, Michelle Yi began creating art. Currently a junior marine biology major, Yi is happy to use her artistic skills to spotlight animals she's encountered in the field.  

"I chose to illustrate these pieces in particular to bring awareness to the beauty of predatory species [alligator and dragon/damselflies]," she says. "While all wild animals should be treated and respected as such, always with knowledge and caution, acknowledging their critical role in their home environments and seeing the beauty of their capabilities was a very big inspiration [for me]."

The alligator painting is a white pen piece on a wooden board that was painted black using acrylic paint. Yi then highlighted the alligator with white pen through stippling, a technique that creates an art piece by repeatedly marking the piece with small marks or spots. Yi created the damselfly drawing using colored pencils on canvas papers. 

Tangled roots

Rosario Vidales enjoys designing T-shirts. Vidales is also a Ph.D. student in the Natural Resource Science and Management program. She combined both of her interests to create a shirt design reminiscent of a band T-shirt, with a scientific twist. 

"Since my research involves red mangroves, I thought a design showcasing their tangled prop-roots would be very cool," Vidales says. "I created my design with a picture of red mangrove roots I took while out in the Everglades. I screen-printed the design onto black paper for the ['More Than a Scientist'] exhibit and have also screen printed the design onto a few shirts (which is always a fun conversation starter). I hope to create more nature inspired designs in the future."

Vidales adds that " Carbon   Sequestration, " refers to one of the ecosystem services provided by mangroves through their uptake of  carbon  dioxide from the atmosphere. Red mangroves store the carbon dioxide in their roots, branches and leaves.

Sparkling water

This is what algae looks like under a microscope. This painting features a group of algae called diatoms that are found by the trillions in the Everglades but are invisible to the naked eye.

Kleindl created this piece as a way to illuminate the tiny organisms that have captured her attention and ground her research. "I love algae," Kleindl says. "Diatoms are visually showstopping because of their symmetrical, ornate and complex design. I have seen only a few artists creating algae art, and I wanted to explore my study species from a different perspective. I told myself, 'I’m a creative scientist, let’s see what I can do.'"

This piece showcases the variety of growth forms, shapes and morphological features of diatoms captured in a collage of communities found in a single drop of water. 

“Diatom cell walls are made of glass that reflect light when we view them under the microscope," Kleindl says. "I used glitter paint to create the diatoms as a way to convey a question -  when light glimmers off the waves and water, isn't it reflecting off the cells of diatoms too?”

That's just one more way to explore science through art.