science field trips in florida

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FLORIDA Field Trips

Planning for summer field trips for camp groups, scout groups or summer school groups, you can combine summer fun into an educational experience. Our lesson plans can help camp counselors, with no teaching experience, turn a recreational field trip into an educational experience for Amusement Parks, Baseball Games, Bowling, Go-Karts, Laser Tag, Ice & Roller Skating, Trampoline Parks and Waterparks. Visit the Lesson Plan section https://fieldtripdirectory.com/field-trip-lesson-plans to help enrich your field trips. For field trips to Aquariums, Botanical Gardens, Living History Sites and Museums ask if they have educational guided tours and hands-on activities. CLICK on the ACTIVITY FILTER below for activity type of field trips to learn about.  

• Financial Support
• Year-End & Team Celebrations
• Children's Museums & Indoor Fun
• Petting Zoos/Barnyard Fun
• Archaeology/Paleontology
• Government, Civics & Presidents
• Historic Places
• Historical Boat Excursions
• History Museums, Exhibits & Sites
• Lighthouses & Seaports
• Living History
• Multicultural & Heritage
• People & Notable Figures
• Transportation: Boats, Planes, Trains, & Trollies
• Nutrition, Health & Safety
• Team Building
• Overnights & Retreats
• Performing Arts School Assembly Programs
• Adventure Parks, Climbing, Ninja & Ropes Course, Ziplines
• Amusement Parks & Water Parks
• Boat Excursions
• Bowling & Bocce
• Canoeing, Kayaking, Rafting, Tubing
• Ice Skating
• Indoor Amusement & Recreation Centers
• Laser Tag/Laser Maze
• Sports/Games/Fitness & Water Wars
• Group-Friendly Restaurants
• Aquariums, Marine Life, Hatcheries
• Birds, Butterflies, Bees
• Botanical Gardens & Arboreta
• Environmental Studies, Outdoor Education, Conservation, Sustainability
• Farms, Mazes, Pick-Your-Own
• Marine Science
• Mineral & Gemstone Panning
• Planetariums & Astronomy
• Science Boat Excursions
• Science Museums & Exhibits
• STEM/STEAM Enrichment
• Zoos, Wildlife, Safari Tours, Reptiles, Animal Shows, Vertebrates
• Art Museums, Design, Exhibits, Architecture, Photography & Films
• Literature, Poetry & Shakespeare
• Theater, Dance, Music, Movies, Shows
• Early Childhood
• Elementary School
• Middle School
• High School

Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures

Escape to Nature! Discover territory that remains unaltered as our expert airboat captains take you into the breathtaking beauty of nature, including wetlands and wildlife. There’s so many ways to learn, visit our Butterfly Exhibit, Native American Village, gator pond or mine for rare gems/fossils.

Community First Igloo

The Community First Igloo is the home of the Jacksonville Icemen and the epicenter of ice sports in Northeast Florida. Learn more at Communityfirstigloo.com.

Escapology Tampa

We are Tampa’s Premium live escape-the-room experience, where you have to solve puzzles to the various themes where players are inside a themed room and must complete their mission before time runs out.

Everglades Swamp Tours

Everglades Swamp Tours can take students, campers, scouts, homeschool groups and families to places no other Airboat Tour can. Ride with us to see alligators up close in their natural habitat.

Fantasy Theatre Factory

Fantasy Theatre Factory is dedicated to creating original and quality educational theatrical programs for children, families, and the public, and to expanding access to these programs to people of all cultures and backgrounds.

FunDimension

FunDimension has numerous games, activities and attractions, including laser tag, bumper cars, virtual reality, wall climbing, duckpin bowling and classic arcade games, and a restaurant all under one roof.

IMAG History & Science Center

Archaeology, paleontology, hydrology, ecology, physics, engineering, and more come to life at the IMAG History & Science Center—a unique museum that offer immersive experiences.

Laser Ops Gaming Arcade

Learn about the inner workings of a Family Friendly Arcade and Laser Tag Center on this fun and educational Field Trip. Laser Ops is a 25,000 sf Indoor Amusement Center in Tampa Bay.

Orange County Regional History Center

Explore 14,000 years of Central Florida History at the Orange County Regional History Center! Programming includes field trips, homeschool, Scout merit badge workshops, and more!

Orange Springs Retreat Center

Orange Springs Retreat is the perfect place for your group overnight located on 100-acres on the shores of a spring-fed lake with all types of activities, games and sports.

Orlando Science Center

The Orlando Science Center has four floors of interactive exhibit halls, labs, workshops, theaters. and a STEM Discovery Center.

Pathfinder Outdoor Education St. Petersburg

Pathfinder’s mission is to deliver fun, challenging adventures that help people learn about themselves, others and the environment.

FieldTripdirectory.com offers enriching experiences for Florida school groups, scout groups, homeschool groups, camp groups and families at Florida Museums.

Florida Museums offer field trips that offer hands-on exhibits, guided tours and guided activities for early childhood through high school grades. Florida Art Museums , Science Museums , History Museums , Multicultural Museums and Children’s Museums offers educational experiences that support classroom curriculum and scout badge achievement. Beside museums, you can search for other learning experiences at Botanical Gardens, Planetariums, Living History Programs, STEM & STEAM, Planetariums, Farms, Zoos and Aquariums, Theaters and Concerts, Service Learning and more.

Can’t go on a field trip to a museum, your students, scouts, and families can still experience these fun enriching experience by scheduling a  Museum Virtual Field Trip  anywhere and at anytime.

Want the fun to come to you- book a  School Assembly Programs, Outreach Field Trips or Residency  at your school, homeschool association or scout council. They support and enhance a school’s curriculum, offers opportunities for scout badge achievement and enriches a camp program. There are mobile museum exhibits, traveling planetariums and classroom and grade level workshops and residencies.

To help fund field trips, virtual programs and school assembly programs visit our section on  Grants  and  Fundraising Programs .

FieldTripDirectory.com offers field trip ideas for class trips, scout group trips, camp group field trips, and homeschool group field trips in Florida—for early childhood through college. Search for class trips in Florida by group type, cost, activity/curriculum type, grade level, distance, and venue name or keyword. Day class trips are divided by curriculum and subject area:

• ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Find Florida art museums, theater, dance, and music concert field trips.
• EARLY CHILDHOOD Find class trips to Florida children’s museums, petting zoos, and kids’ shows.
• HISTORY/SOCIAL STUDIES View Florida history museums, government & civics, historic sites, living history museums, and multicultural field trip ideas.
• LIFE SKILLS Find Florida team building field trips, health & safety exhibits, and character education experiences.
• SCIENCE & NATURE Find Florida aquariums, botanical gardens, environmental studies & nature centers, farms & mazes, planetariums, science museums, STEAM & STEM field trips, dinosaur exhibits, and zoos.
• RECREATION Find Florida field trip ideas for adventure parks, ropes courses, ziplines, boat excursions, amusement parks, waterparks, kayaking, rafting, tubing, laser tag paintball, roller skating rinks, ice-skating rinks, mini-golf attractions, indoor amusement & recreation centers, and outdoor amusement & recreation centers.

Overnight field trips & retreats are available for environmental education, team building, and recreation. We created field trip lesson plans to help teachers, scout leaders, camp counselors, and homeschool parents provide an enriching experience for their groups. We know funds for class trips are limited, so we’ve included grants for field trips that cover admission, transportation, and more. It’s important that students and youth explore new environments, learn about other cultures, and develop an understanding of inclusivity as part of the educational process. People learn in different ways—through hearing, seeing, touching, talking, or doing. Class trips can provide a multi-dimensional learning experience. FieldTripDirectory.com can help you find the right trip for your group. A world of experiences is just a click away at FieldTripDirectory.com.

Central Florida STEM trips will create lifelong memories for your students. Educational Destinations offers a variety of Central Florida STEM trip opportunities. If your students are ready to train like an astronaut at the Kennedy Space Center, engage in hands-on STEM learning through Discovery Labs at Orlando Science Center or learn about Clearwater Bay and all of its inhabitants by conducting field activities aboard a boat with Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Educational Destinations will make your Central Florida STEM trip rewarding and memorable.

Educational destinations is the 1st choice for central florida stem trips and central florida education travel..

Find out why Educational Destinations is the 1st choice in educational Central Florida group tours

View our 2 minute intro video to see what Educational Destinations can do for your group.

One of our most popular destinations for STEM trips, the Orlando area boasts numerous unique attractions. From Kennedy Space Center to WonderWorks Orlando, the Orlando Science Center to SeaWorld, your students will learn in interactive environments. Save time to experience great weather, the thrills of theme parks, the serenity of nature, the satisfaction of quality family-friendly time and the rejuvenation of a quiet retreat. You can find all of this in Central Florida. Alongside the magic of Disney and the thrills of Universal Orlando, Central Florida has so much to offer your students that are ready to open their minds to STEM!

 Below are some popular options for your educational STEM trip. You can also click on the PDF icon for a download of these features.

Educational STEM Opportunities

• State Standards-Based Lab Workshops
• Future World
• Race to the Moon with Apollo/Saturn V Center
• Animal Close Encounters
• Disney Youth Education Series
• Energy and Waves Physics Lab
• The Science of Disney Imagineering with Gravity
• The Evolution of Technology Attractions
• Properties of Motion Physics Lab
• Everyday Chemistry Hands-On Experiments
• Properties of Motion®
• Spaceship Earth Experience
• Discovering Marine Life Conservation
• Exploring Careers in the Marine Sciences
• Exploring Careers in the Zoological Sciences
• Principles of Animal Behavior
• Sustainable Practices in Wildlife Conservation
• The Science Behind the Seeds
• Exhibit Hall Explorations
• Celebrate Science Nights
• Adventures in Engineering Labs
• Flight Lab Experiences
• Observatory Experiences
• Planetarium Shows
• Floating Classrooms
• Kayak and Snorkeling Explorations
• Campus Tours
• Prehistoric Interactive Exhibits
• Lego Robotics Workshops
• NeuroExplorers
• 3D Printing Workshops
• STEM Studio Jupiter
• SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Hands-On Workshops
• Mission: SPACE
• Snorkel with the Manatees

STEM Attractions

• STEM Discovery Center
• Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo
• Kennedy Space Center
• Rainbow Springs State Park
• The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature
• Florida Air Museum
• Orlando Science Center
• Island Dolphin Care
• MOSI - Museum of Science and Industry
• South Florida Science Center and Aquarium
• Exotic Animal Experience
• Clearwater Marine Aquarium
• Fort DeSoto State Park
• The Turtle Hospital
• Dinosaur World Florida
• Crystal Springs Preserve
• Clinics at University of Central Florida
• Florida Marine Science Educators Association
• WonderWorks
• Discovery Cove

Other Attractions

• Walt Disney World
• Universal Studios Florida
• Blue Man Group
• Cirque du Soleil
• Medieval Times
• Outlet Mall Shopping
• Silver Springs
• Wet ‘N Wild
• Ripley’s Believe It or Not!
• Skeletons: Museum of Osteology

The Trip Account app is offered to our groups as they travel.

Included in your trip, group leaders, staff, chaperones and travelers will use the information packed, versatile Trip Account App during their travels.

Powerful Director Tools

Interactive Checklists, Pop Up Communications, Emergency Notifications.

Tools for all travelers

Live Itineraries, Group Messaging, Photo Gallery and much more.

Everything you need for your next trip .

The Trip Account app is available for iPhone and Android.

See our difference

It’s no surprise that Educational Destinations sets and exceeds student travel standards. We aim to provide the best service, communication, experience and safety for all of our groups. When researching for your travel provider, please download this PDF checklist HERE to ensure that your group is taking advantage of all of the essential building blocks of a successful, safe, and FUN trip! If you have questions or are ready to get started on your next trip, please call 800.616.1112 or request your customized quote .

Custom Designed Trips

ED will create a custom designed trip for your group that is shaped by your priorities, goals and wishes, and powered by your passions. ED is committed to listening and working one-on-one with you to build the perfect trip for your students. There are no stock trips here - just your trip.

Group Travel Specialists

Led by award-winning teachers, ED exceeds the needs and expectations of students, teaching staff, parents and administrators. ED anticipates group needs and delivers group wishes, without surprises or hidden costs. Our experience and expertise enable us to bring the best quality trips, events, experiences and opportunities to your group.

All-Inclusive Price

ED’s custom trips are cost-effective and inclusive, without hidden costs – a great value for your travelers. Charter coaches, flights, hotels, meals, sightseeing, events, taxes and gratuities are covered for each traveler. A 24/7 Emergency Contact System is included for each traveling group.

Cutting Edge Technology

Through ED's parent company, ED is the only student travel company providing Trip Account , an internet-based program that provides you a complete trip resource center 24 hours a day. Also included in your trip is the Trip Account App: Music Directors, group leaders, staff, chaperones and travelers will use the information packed, versatile Trip Account App during their travels.

Personal Tour Director

A signature feature of every trip is the ED Tour Director , always right by the teacher’s side, managing all travel aspects of your trip: transportation, events, meals, lodging, tickets and more. Our TD’s training and management skills let the teacher focus on the students and education.

Safety is Priority #1

ED is pro-active on safety, sending the Tour Director World Aware® alerts, sharing best practices in travel safety, emergency procedures and travel hints with chaperones and staff, ensuring traveler accountability, monitoring vendor service/performance and tellng travelers of changes or emergencies with the Trip Account App .

Trusted Leader in Travel

ED is an active member of these respected travel suppliers and organizations: Walt Disney World & Disneyland, Universal Orlando, American Bus Association, National Band Association, National Tour Association, Student Youth Travel Association and more. View all ED’s partners and awards here .

Doing the right thing

ED is deeply committed to high quality educational group travel. We love what we do, and we work hard to do it better than everyone. Creating memorable performance trips that leave positive, life-changing impressions on your students and community is a privilege that we don’t take lightly. Please talk to us about your next trip.

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Check out our featured STEM destinations.

Encourage your STEM students as they participate in discovery labs, live shows, exhibits and hands-on educational experiences. learn more

Meet the ED Travel Designers

Our team is focused on creating custom trips that provide relevant, memorable and rewarding student travel experiences. learn more

Discover our featured history destinations.

Your students are ready to learn about the American Revolution and how Boston led the nation in fighting... learn more

Explore our our featured art destinations.

How about discovering a feast for the eyes with around 35,000 pieces of artwork at the Louvre... learn more

Check out our featured language immersion destinations.

Your Language Immersion students are ready to embrace the culture of France and participate in... learn more

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Imagine your students as they kayak along the stunningly scenic coastal route along the Costa Verde in Brazil... learn more

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Are your theatre students ready to participate in an actual Broadway Musical Theatre Workshop... learn more

Travel with Special Considerations or Dietary Restrictions

When a group is focused on its education, it is easy to overlook issues with accessibility. learn more

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With the world full of fascinating educational destinations, just choosing the perfect spot for your students can present quite a challenge. Here are some of our cleints' must popular top European destinations. learn more

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Having parents involved in the program it a vital piece of the puzzle to be successful. learn more

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Here’s how to get your students through security, smoothly and efficiently. learn more

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Choosing the right educational student group travel company.

When a student gets to experience to new locations, new cultures and new people with education being the focus, the revelations and the eye-opening impact that develop are priceless. learn more

Disney on Broadway with Educational Destinations.

Breathtaking! Amazing! Phenomenal! These are words you have probably heard time and time again from friends, family, and others when seeing a musical on Broadway. learn more

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Fund Raising for your educational student trip.

Time for some heavy lifting. Before your trip becomes a reality, some homework has to be done. Don’t worry, Educational Destinations is here to help... learn more

See why teachers are excited about Educational Destinations...

Hear from our valued clients throughout the world.

Since 1987, Educational Destinations, led by passionate, award-winning teachers, has become the first choice for educational student group travel. By listening to teachers, providing cutting edge technology and unmatched service, and having dedicated ED Tour Directors conduct trips, Educational Destinations has built an unmatched reputation. Focused on designing custom trips that provide educational, memorable, and rewarding student travel experiences, Educational Destinations successfully partners with customers to do just that, in destinations within the United States and worldwide. Decades of combined travel expertise, earned in dozens of countries, enables Educational Destinations to anticipate performance needs and deliver group wishes, without surprises or hidden costs.

I wanted to write and tell you what a terrific job you did with our trip. I’ve been traveling since 1980 and this was the easiest trip ever for me. I simply had to do nothing but teach! It’s hard to believe it’s taken me this long to get it right, slow learner! The students and parents have had nothing to say but wonderful things…

Nan Moore Male High School

You have been so wonderful with our parents and students throughout the entire course of this tour. I am so glad we signed on with Music Travel Consultants/Educational Destinations as you gave our group the red carpet treatment every step of the way.

Janis Stackhouse Bloomington High School North

Music Travel Consultants/Educational Destinations is top-notch. The professionalism of the staff and their attention to detail is a director’s dream come true. My students and I have traveled with them four times over the past several years and I can say that “I won’t leave home without them!

Jena Adrianson Lawrence Central High School

I can’t say enough good things about Educational Destinations. They had everything covered and it was a relaxing and fun trip. My students and parents commented that it was the best trip we have ever taken. I’m ready to plan another trip with this company.

Brenda Bergman Jay County School Corporation

I recently had the pleasure of going on a Disney Trip with our band from Eastern High School in Greentown, IN. I was skeptical about going but am so glad I did. My Grandson and I came in rather late and had no problems whatsoever in getting onto your site, paying for our trip, and having confirmation that we were good to go.

Dianna Workinger Greentown, IN

Being able to trust implicitly the people who are planning what we will see, the timing of the itinerary, and the traveling arrangements is comforting not only to our staff but also to our parents. For our parents to know that this is a company that we use year after year with great results gives them the peace of mind that their children will experience the safest trip possible.

Mrs. Kathy Schubel Principal, St. Bartholomew Catholic School

I wanted to thank you so much for such a great trip! Our kids had a wonderful time and I could not imagine how we would have seen all that we were able to see without having you organize this trip for us.

Angie Remington Madison-Grant Elementary Students

I have worked with Educational Destinations on a yearly basis since 2001 and ED is the best educational travel group our school has ever worked with. It is refreshing to know that during the course of a trip that if any questions or problems arise, we have the consultant, whom we have worked with all year, right there with us to answer all questions and take care of the tickets and timing. It makes the trip very relaxing and enjoyable and a trip our kids never forget.

Darrin Russell 8th Grade U.S. History, Mitchell High School

I have been coordinating educational field trips for my school for the past 10 years and could not be happier with Educational Destinations. From the very first brainstorming session to the moment we return home from our trip, Educational Destinations works tirelessly to make sure our trips are memorable and successful. They are always quick to answer my questions, which I truly appreciate. Michael, Robin, and Ryan have been fantastic to work with over the years and I highly recommend them!

Kris Samick Spencer-Owen Community School Corporation

Educational Destinations has taken the stress out of planning and traveling with a large group. As a teacher, I am now able to actually enjoy the time I have with my students instead of worrying about all of the necessary details. From the very first contact made to the last moment of the trip and beyond, each and every person we have interacted with from Educational Destinations has been professional, concerned about fulfilling our needs, and exceptionally conscientious.

Linda Crady History Teacher, Sycamore School

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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.

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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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IMAG Field Trips

Choose the IMAG for that special field trip sure to inspire creativity and wonder as your young visitors experience hands-on fun and innovative activities!

Science – Explore our various science exhibits!

History – Discover the rich history of Southwest Florida!

Live Animals – Learn about our animal residents!

Aquariums – Experience the wonders of aquatic life!

Planning Your Field Trip

Discover your inspiration at the IMAG History and Science Center through our Field Trips. IMAG Field Trips offer an engaging two to four-hour experience for students every weekday.

Planning your field trip at the IMAG is an easy experience! First, look over all the experiences we offer; then decide what works best for your and your group. Then fill out our Field Trip Request Form at the bottom of the page. Once the date you request for your field trip has been approved by our Director of Education, we will get in touch with you to confirm the trip! 

Field Trip Options

*All prices are per student (excluding 3D movie, all paid chaperones are charged for a movie.) Please note that the museum requires a ratio of 1 adult per every 10 students, including teachers. Any chaperones needed to meet this ratio are free of charge. Additional chaperones are welcome and will be charged the applicable General admission price. IMAG memberships or other discounts may not be used by chaperones or students in connection with a field trip and group rates.

**Price is per show; shows are capped at 100 total participants. The first show is $200, and the subsequent is $150.

Field Trip Attendance

The maximum number of students and chaperones permitted in one group is 180. 

One chaperone is required and free for every 10 student s. Groups should be sub-divided into groups of no more than 20 per group.

Groups may not combine while touring the IMAG to ensure timely visits to each exhibit space. 

IMAG floor exhibits are self-guided experiences, with staff guiding certain activities such as the Touch Tank and Fossil Hunt. 

Chaperone Requirements

One chaperone is required for every ten students. Each required chaperone will receive complimentary admission. The 10:1 of student/chaperone is a minimum requirement of all field trips.

Teachers and IMAG members are considered chaperones, included in the total chaperone count, and subject to pricing guidelines.

Chaperone pricing:

Additional chaperones are the same per person rate as students. IMAG memberships and other discounts or coupons are not valid for school field trip admission.

You have a choice of three 3D movies to pick from:

Science Shows

Science Shows are a large format show with one of our trained educators demonstrating experiments and scientific tricks from a theme of your choosing!

Science Show Themes

• Fire and Ice : Chill out with cool dry ice and liquid nitrogen demonstrations and then heat things up with fire tornadoes, Whoosh tubes, and a rainbow assortment of fireballs as you learn about the chemistry behind some of our most chilling and fiery demonstrations! (recommended for grades 3-6)
• The Wright Stuff:  Take flight with us as we explore the forces of motion, principles of flight, and history of flight! We will slingshot gliders and make them float in mid-air. We’ll use leaf blowers to make beach balls hover over our heads and giant vortex cannons to shoot massive smoke rings! Be sure to duck as rockets zip towards the ceiling, drones swoop over your heads, and rolls of toilet paper are unraveled and launched into the audience! (recommended for grades K-6)
• The Glow Show:  We’re turning out the lights and turning up the glow! Learn about bioluminescence, fluorescence, phosphorescence, and chemiluminescence through glow-in-the-dark experiments and demonstrations! Discover what makes glow sticks light up! Watch glowing Mentos fountains erupt! (recommended for grades 2-6)
• Blockbuster Science:  Discover the science behind some of Hollywood’s special effects, explosions, and magical moments and be amazed by science demonstrations inspired by some of your favorite films! From making fireballs to shattering props with liquid nitrogen to creating creepy fog with dry ice, learn some of Hollywood’s movie tips and tricks in this fun show! (recommended for grades 3-6)
• Wheel of STEAM:  Spin the Wheel of STEAM to determine what we do! The Wheel will be filled with all kinds of big, fun science, technology, engineering, art, and math experiments and demonstrations! This is an interactive show that focuses on the importance of STEAM! (recommended for grades K-6)
• Don’t Try This At Home:  Get ready for a messy, hair-raising, explosive, freezing and dangerous show! Watch us create colorful fireballs, ignite giant Whoosh Tubes, light bubbles on fire in our hands, erupt a giant bubbling Nitrogen cloud, make paint cans explode, create arcs of lightning with our Van de Graff Machine and more! Each show will be a unique mix of some of our craziest demonstrations! Just remember: Don’t try this at home! Try it with us at The IMAG instead! (recommended for grades 3-6)

Enhance your IMAG Field Trip Experience with one of our Workshops! Created following the Florida Sunshine State Standards, our workshops will inspire your students in the field of STEM. Our workshop offerings are split between grade levels from Preschool-8th grade. 

Learn more about various Workshop offerings and prices by clicking the link below. 

Caloosahatchee Fossil Hunt

Sift through your very own fossil or beach bag and uncover the hidden treasures in our “Caloosahatchee Fossil Hunt” experience.

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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.

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PKFMSC offers a variety of marine programs, giving your students a solid and multi-faceted understanding of the marine world around them. Our programs provide everyone with a unique learning experience, captivating not only the students but teachers as well!

Each trip includes a snorkel adventure aboard a 35-foot catamaran to the third-largest barrier coral reef system in the world, Sombrero Reef. Through creative programs and activities, all participants experience an environment that works for their individual learning styles making a stay on Pigeon Key a lifetime memory! Our most popular all-inclusive 3 days, 2-night marine science field trips start at just $540 per person.

Nestled in the heart of the Florida Keys, accessible by boat and the Pigeon Key train, Pigeon Key operates a Marine Science Center (PKFMSC) on its private five-acre island. The center gravitates towards hands-on learning, turning the island and surrounding ecosystem into the classroom.

Students are provided with a pivotal, one-of-a-kind experience that is invaluable to them for the rest of their lives. PKFMSC only hosts one group at a time, allowing for an individualized experience targeted at your specific curriculum requirements.

For over 20 years, PKFMSC has provided private, customized programs to more than 30,000 participants from more than 1,000 schools throughout the United States. Programs are tailored for all ages—elementary school to postgraduate—and are designed and endorsed by some of the most respected marine scientists in the United States.

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10 best Educational field trips in Florida for families

School has resumed — at least for Orange County children — and many students are continuing to study from home because to COVID-19’s presence in the Sunshine State. While some Central Florida students may return to school, many parents have chosen to keep their children at home to continue their education via virtual learning. In Orange County, just 29% of students have signed up for face-to-face classes for the first semester of the 2020-2021 school year. If you want to have a quality family time with loved ones, you need to take a look at educational field trips Florida. Continue to read and we will share details with you on the best educational field trips that you can go on while you are in Florida.

Why should you go on educational field trips?

While some families in the Orlando region continue to homeschool, mothers and fathers are undoubtedly asking how to keep their children motivated while remote learning continues.

An educational field excursion is an option on a day when virtual homework and classes are completed.

There are a variety of methods to get out of the home while still studying in Central Florida.

Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Read: Is Traveling A Hobby? The Ultimate Guide To An Exciting Way Of Life Learn about the Downsides Of Traveling As A Hobby

1. The Enchanted Fairy Doors

The Enchanted Fairy Doors have returned to Leu Gardens for the enjoyment of children and their parents.

The 50-acre Leu Gardens in Orlando is teeming with biodiverse plant, insect, and animal life.

While touring the grounds, teach the youngsters about azaleas or learn about dwarf powder puff plants.

Discuss where food originates from in the vegetable garden, or watch butterflies fly while explaining how the bug was once a caterpillar and chrysalis.

Leu Gardens also provides Zoom homeschool sessions with hands-on activities for kids to learn from home in an engaging manner ($20 per family, $15 per member household).

Pollinators, botany, birds, and dinosaurs are just a few of the themes covered .

Two free access permits to the gardens are included in each lesson.

Alternatively, visit Bok Tower Gardens near Lake Wales for comparable plant offers as well as the opportunity to view the 205-foot Singing Tower and learn more about Central Florida history.

Take a stroll through Mead Botanical Garden or stop to paint flowers and fauna for a free , local choice.

This is one of the best places available in Florida to spend a quality time with your loved ones while enjoying nature.

Therefore, we strongly recommend it to all people who are looking for a great place to spend time in Florida.

Read: When Is Jellyfish Season In Florida Keys?

2. Loch Haven Cultural Park

Face covers, temperature checks, and social separation are now needed at the Orlando Science Center.

Inside, children of all ages may learn about animals , STEM subjects, aviation, dinosaurs, the Earth, and other themes.

Some of the center’s areas are temporarily closed in order to adhere to social distancing requirements.

For grades K-8, OSC’s STEM Discovery Center offers homeschool programs.

Those interested may learn more by calling 407-514-2112 or emailing [email protected] .

Visiting Loch Haven Cultural Park is not all about having a quality family time.

Apart from having a quality family time, you will get the opportunity to learn a lot along with your kids .

Lessons learnt can surely contribute positively towards the knowledge enhancement of kids.

Hence, we encourage anyone interested to take a look at Loch Haven Cultural Park tours.

Read: 4 Best Waterfalls In Florida That You Can Swim In

3. Exploring time at the gardens in Florida

For families that like spending time in the sun, the outdoors may provide a variety of nature-based learning possibilities.

Go for a spring run in Blue Spring State Park, but don’t forget to talk about the manatees, turtles, fish, and alligators that live in the area.

Visit De Leon Springs for a history lesson about the Mayaca Indians and early explorers in Florida.

Alternatively, visit Orlando Wetlands Park or one of Seminole County’s hiking destinations, like as Black Bear Wilderness Area or Little Big Econ State Forest.

Read: Where To Kayak In Florida Without Alligators

4. Wildlife exploration in Florida

Emus, giraffes, camels, antelopes, water buffalo, and other exotic species may be seen at the Wild Florida Drive-thru Safari, which is located approximately an hour south of Orlando.

Unless they want to feed the giraffes, visitors stay in their automobiles during the encounter.

This may be converted into a zebra or cattle lesson, or an opportunity to discuss how some of those species aren’t native to Florida but can still thrive here.

Alternatively, go to Gatorland, a renowned Central Florida destination.

There are alligator-related teaching possibilities there, as well as an off-road swamp buggy experience.

Read: 9 Fun Things To Do In Siesta Key For Families

5. Visiting museums in Florida

There are several museums dedicated to art and history in the City Beautiful.

Visit the Orlando Museum of Art to see the Highwaymen show before it closes or visit the neighboring Mennello Museum of American Art to see work by Miami artist Mira Lehr.

The Morse Museum of American Art and the Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens are two of Winter Park’s attractions .

This is one of the best options that we can recommend for the people who are looking for educational field trips Florida.

You can get an enjoyable experience with it, and you don’t have to worry too much about the results.

Visit the Orange County Regional History Center for a history-themed field trip, which features 12,000 years of Central Florida history .

Homeschool days for K-5 students are also available at the facility.

Read: Best Mammoth Cave Tours For Families 2024 Learn about the Tour of Discovery

6. Wildlife Drive on Lake Apopka

Take the youngsters for a journey on the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive on a Friday or Saturday.

There are many birds other Florida creatures to see and discuss on the lake’s north coast.

What is the diet of a swallow-tailed kite?

What are the effects of phosphorus and pesticides on water quality and algal blooms?

To convert the journey into an educational excursion, a self-guided audio tour accessible online may assist give knowledge about the lake, its history, and current restoration works.

7. Cafe for Cats

While a trip to one of Orlando’s cat cafés is likely to be more entertaining than instructive, it may help to break up the monotony of being stuck indoors all day.

Play with adoptable cats while enjoying cocktails and light nibbles at The Kitty Beautiful in downtown Orlando.

Alternatively, visit the Orlando Cat Café in Clermont, which offers comparable services .

A journey like this may be used to teach about pet ownership or feline behavior.

There are a variety of activities that might help make distance learning exciting for homeschooling families that are particularly concerned about coronaviruses and want to remain indoors.

Allow the children to take the initiative and come up with their own ideas .

Alternatively, recommend activities like as backyard science classes, producing homemade slime to teach chemistry, or cooking together in the kitchen.

Make a daily project to take your mind off of math or language arts.

8. State Park John Gorrie Museum

John Gorrie was a physician who also happened to be an inventor.

He invented a refrigeration equipment that was used to keep yellow fever sufferers’ rooms cold.

The foundation for refrigeration and air conditioning was laid by his equipment.

He is the inventor of the first ice machine and retains the patent for it.

The museum honors his innovations while also providing insight into the culture and history of the Apalachicola region.

There is an interactive center and picnic spaces at the museum.

9. House of Orman

The Orman House is an antebellum residence constructed in the federal and Greek revival styles.

It was completed in 1838.

Wooden mantelpieces, molded plaster cornices, and broad heart-pine flooring are all features of these designs .

When the park is open, guided tours are available, as well as ranger programs for children.

Gardens, informational displays, excursions, and picnics are available at the park.

10. State Park of Cayo Costa

Cayo Costa can only be reached by private boat or ferry.

Manatees and dolphin pods draw crowds to this spot.

Educational events about the island’s environment and history are held in an amphitheater.

Beaches, biking, boating, cabins, camping, canoeing and kayaking, concessions and restaurants, fishing, hiking and nature paths, interpretive displays, pets, picnicking, scuba diving, snorkeling, swimming, and wildlife watching are just a few of the activities available at the park .

Final words

Like many other homeschooling parents, never misses a chance to turn an outing into an educational experience for her 9-year-old daughter. Picking strawberries, for example, is an opportunity to learn about bees and pollination, while road trips in the vehicle include instructional DVDs. Florida proves to be a virtual classroom for the almost two million home-educated children and their families in the United States, where parents mix leisure time with learning opportunities at museums, aquariums, wildlife refuges, historic sites, and amusement parks. You can take a look at the educational field trips in Florida and make your plans to go ahead with getting an enjoyable experience.

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• INJURED TURTLE OR BIRD DROP-OFF
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By planning a field trip to the MSC, you are giving your students an opportunity to learn about and ultimately protect their environment.

Our Mission

To provide an innovative learning experience where visitors can discover, enjoy and appreciate the many wonders that embody the world of marine science in Volusia County.

Our Programs

Our school field trips offer five programs that can accommodate students in grades K-12 and are coordinated with Next Generation Standards.  Field trips are not offered June 1st through August 14th when Summer Camp is in session.  Our school field trip programs are listed below. Click the following link for the Field Trip Packet [PDF].

Marine Science Center Exhibit Tour

Students and Groups will be guided on a tour of the Marine Science Center (MSC) focusing on Volusia County's ecosystems and MSC’s rehabilitation efforts. Your field trip will be led by educators to explore and learn about the reptiles in the classroom.  You will also journey through the Florida ecosystems in the gallery and have an interactive hands on experience at the touch tank. You will then venture onto the turtle terrace and get an insight into how we rescue, rehabilitate, and release the sick and injured sea turtles who come into our hospital.  Finally, you will meet the raptors and walk through our bird sanctuary to learn the many fascinating facts about birds of prey. You can have gift shop time, if your group picks that option, to take home a keepsake and memory of your visit.

Marine Science Center Exhibit Tour plus Eco Walk

Your students or group will enjoy the Exhibit Tour outlined above. Then your group can choose to have lunch (not provided) on our side deck, in the amphitheater, or in the park next to the lighthouse (size of group and weather are determining factors for location). If your school has a parking fee waiver for Lighthouse Point Park (LPP) or chooses to pay to go into the park for their eco walk then your group can have lunch at the pavilion overlooking the inlet. After lunch our educator’s will meet your group and take them on an interpretive journey to explore the Coastal Hammock, Dune, and Beach Ecosystems, walking over raised wooden boardwalks for amazing views in hopes of spying some native animals and plants. Groups in LPP will experience the Jetty.

Raptors Live

This interpretive program offers inspiring ways to learn about birds of prey and the MSC Rehabilitation Hospital. A live Raptor presentation will be given to your group showcasing one of the MSC’s live non releasable raptors. With this up-close and personal experience, the group will learn about the birds’   unique attributes and ways they have adapted to hunting prey and surviving in their natural habitats. Students will also learn about habit loss and other environmental issues affecting birds. Afterwards, your group will complete a hands-on owl pellet dissection lab on the side deck. Students will see if they have all the bones to re-construct a complete skeleton of the owls prey. Then students will explore the MSC gallery, stingray touch tank, and sea turtle rehabilitation hospital from the viewing platform and visit the gift shop (optional).

Marine Cephalopod Encounter/Squid Dissection

Squid dissection allows students to examine structural adaptations and observe the relationship between form and function. Squid are complex, intelligent invertebrates that allow comparison to higher and lower-level animals. Students will work in pairs to dissect a freshly thawed squid while investigating the squid's external and internal anatomy, exploring the many adaptations needed for survival in the marine environment. Students are introduced to laboratory skills and even get to write with the squid's pen and ink! Students will then explore the MSC gallery, Octopus Exhibit (dependent on animal availability), and the Stingray Touch Tank. They will then view and learn about our sea turtle rehabilitation hospital on the turtle terrace and an optional visit to the gift shop.

Estuary Program (Including Seine Netting)

With outdoor hands-on and in water activities in the estuary, students will study and learn about the fish, animals, and plants that live in this habitat. They will gain an understanding of their important role in our environment. Your students will practice the ancient art of seine netting, a technique used by the Native American Indians, and pull seine nets to collect and study the inhabitants of this brackish water system. Students will learn the definition of an ecosystem, including the abiotic and biotic components and processes. They will understand that ecosystems have no specific scale and can change when biotic or abiotic components, or processes within the ecosystem change.  They will even discover the wonders of things they can’t see, microscopic plankton exploration, and may also conduct some water quality tests to help assess the health of the water they are immersed in. Students are welcome to explore the MSC after the outdoor program and visit the gift shop, time permitting. 

• Field Trip Packet [PDF]
• Location and directions   [PDF]
• School Trip Frequently Asked Questions [PDF]

Field Trip questions can be addressed to Shell Webster: [email protected] .

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Word Traveling

The Best Florida Field Trips by Region

Florida is an amazing place to live as a homeschooling family. Even during a pandemic, homeschooling families can find plenty of places to visit where they can learn while they stay safe and socially distanced. We’ve gathered up some of the best Florida field trip opportunities in every area and collected them for you.

Best Field Trips in Florida

Seriously, despite what the movies may say, Florida is not all tourist traps, theme parks, and retirement communities. Our home state of Florida has an incredible amount of educational, fun, and historic places to visit for field trips. There are so many amazing field trip locations in Florida, we’ve decided to create an entire series on Word Traveling about educational activities across the Sunshine State. No matter what kind of homeschooler you consider yourself, there’s no better way to experience learning than field trips.

This post contains affiliate links which help support this blog. Read our  disclosures.

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Homeschooling In Florida

In fact, there are so many great places to visit for field trips across Florida, it’s hard to keep track of everything, so Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau, a homeschooling mom, Florida resident, and educational coach, did all of the legwork for you and wrote a book, “ The Ultimate Guide to Florida Homeschooling ,” filled with everything you could possibly want or need to know about homeschooling in Florida. An advocate for home education, Marie-Claire has big dreams for Florida homeschoolers. “My goal is to put a copy of this book into the hands of every homeschooler (or would-be homeschooler) in the state of Florida,” she states. “This one simple guide is enough to get a family started, and provide enough ideas and content to jumpstart learning in the Sunshine State.” Moreau, who holds a doctorate in education continues, “The book is about Florida home education, what we all call ‘homeschooling’, but truly it appeals to unschoolers and everyone else on the continuum of methods and styles.”

Included in her beautiful book are hundreds of locations that families, co-ops, and umbrella schools can visit on field trips. I also highly recommend the book for new Florida families taking their first plunge into the world of homeschooling. Jen, the founder of Word Traveling had a high-school phone consultation with Dr. Moreau which helpfully helped shape her son’s final four years in the “high school.” track.

Best Florida Educational Field Trips

In this article, I’m going to provide an abbreviated list of field trip locations by region, which I will follow up with detailed regional articles that will provide a complete list of field trips by county. If you want to get all of the detailed information that Moreau has already compiled in her book, you can check it out at Amazon.

I’ve divided Florida into six regions,  Southeast, Southwest, Northeast, Northwest, Central, and the Panhandle, and will list some of the top field trip locations in each region, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg for places to visit! Do you have any suggestions we should add to this list?

Southeast Florida Field Trip Locations

• Butterfly World – Fort Lauderdale, Florida
• Miami Children’s Museum – Miami, Florida
• Loggerhead Marine Life Center- Juno Beach, Florida
• Jupiter Lighthouse- Jupiter, Florida
• Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum – Key West, Florida
• Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens – Delray Beach, Florida
• National Navy Seal Museum – Fort Pierce, Florida

Southwest Florida Field Trip Locations

• Florida Aquarium – Tampa, Florida
• Busch Gardens- Tampa, Florida
• Lowry Park Zoo – Tampa, Florida
• South Florida Museum and Planetarium – Bradenton, Florida 
• The Ringling Circus Museum – Sarasota, Florida
• Mote Marine Laboratory – Sarasota, Florida 
• The Edison and Ford Winter Estate- Ft. Myers, Florida

Northeast Florida Field Trip Locations

• Reptile Discovery Center – Deland, Florida
• Brevard Zoo- Melbourne, Florida
• St. Augustine Lighthouse- St. Augustine, Florida
• Cummer Museum – Jacksonville, Florida 
• Fountain of Youth – St. Augustine, Florida

Northwest Florida Field Trip Locations

• Crystal River Preserve State Park – Crystal River, Florida 
• Peacock Springs State Park – Live Oak, Florida
• Suwannee River State Park – Live Oak, Florida
• Blue Spring State Park – Orange City, Florida
• Ray Charles’ Childhood Home – Greenville, Florida

Central Florida Field Trip Locations

• Orlando Science Center – Orlando, Florida
• Gatorland- Orlando, Florida
• Silver River State Park- Silver Springs, Florida
• Florida Museum of Natural History – Gainesville, Florida
• Morse Museum of American Art- Orlando, Florida
• Legoland- Lake Wales, Florida

Florida Panhandle Field Trip Locations

• Florida Governor’s Mansion – Tallahassee, Florida
• Florida Historic Capitol Museum – Tallahassee, Florida 
• National Naval Aviation Museum – Pensacola, Florida
• Water Planet – Panama City Beach, Florida
• Museum of Florida History – Tallahassee, Florida 
• Shard Shop- Destin, Florida

Article by Elizabeth Vale, a writer and classical homeschooling mom of 4 based in South Florida

Elizabeth Vale

3 responses to “The Best Florida Field Trips by Region”

GREAT POST! THANK YOU FOR SHARING……

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Best article! Thank you for sharing. Very Helpful. 🙂

130+ Amazing Florida Field Trip Ideas

Going on field trips is the highlight of any family’s life, especially if you homeschool your kids. There aren’t a lot of crowds, during the school year, and it’s just plain fun for the whole family. You can consider the day family time, but also know that they’re learning at the same time. Here are a few Florida field trip ideas the whole family will love also keep in mind Disney makes a great field trip option.

Table of Contents

Everyone always thinks of Disney and Universal Theme Parks when they think of Florida. But Florida is such a big state (trust me when you are driving north to south you will understand!).

Florida has so much more to offer than just theme parks! 

Related: 10 Ways to Take a Disney Vacation on a Budget  

Field Trip Ideas Tampa Bay Area

Orlando tour passes.

There are so many options for bundling attractions at a fraction of the cost to get more bang for your buck. In the Orlando area, these are your best options:

Orlando City Pass – Save on tickets to famous theme parks

Orlando GoCity Explorer Pass – Choose from 2-5 attractions. You will have 60 days to use the pass.

Orlando Sightseeing Pass – Entry to 2-5 attractions. Over 25 attractions to choose from.

Orlando Tours – 25+ tours and excursions to choose from.

Visiting Winter and Hope at Clearwater Marine Aquarium – If you have seen the Dolphin Tale movies then you know all bout the story of Winter and Hope and you can see them in person. 

You can also learn all about their journey and the recovery efforts at CMA. Get discount admission with the Tampa Bay CityPASS .

Related:  Top 28 Free Things to do in Tampa Florida

Dinosaur World – Do your kids love dinosaurs? Taking them to Dinosaur World is going to open up their world. The interactive shows, prehistoric museum, and the dino activities are going to have everyone excited. 

Busch Gardens Tampa – Come on, if you haven’t visited Busch Gardens, then you’re missing out. This is the perfect family-friendly place to visit, plus a great way to spend time as a family learning.

Busch Gardens has a lot of history, so make sure you check it out! Get discount admission with the Tampa Bay CityPASS .

Related: Top 8 Reasons to Visit Busch Gardens Tampa Florida

Raymond James Stadium Tour – Your tour will include a luxury suite, the Hall of Fame Club, the famous pirate ship, the ALL-NEW West Club, the University of South Florida Home Team locker room, the field, and more!

Tour of the Pinellas County Heritage Village Largo Florida – This is a free open-air museum of buildings from all over Pinellas County and it brings the history of the area to life. 

From a sponge company to an old firehouse, and an old grocery store. Around the property, there are a lot of hands-on activities for kids to learn how things used to be done. Things like laundry and how they put out a fire. 

Related:  Ultimate Guide to the Bay Area Renaissance Festival

MOSI (Museum of Science and Industry) –  Located in Tampa, I remember several field trips here as a child. It's a hands-on science museum for kids that they will love. Get discount admission with the Tampa Bay CityPASS .

Manatee Viewing Center – Apollo Beach Florida – Just south of Tampa is one of my favorite places to spot Manatees in the winter. They are there from January until April and it's a free activity!

Make sure to go on a sunny day. The more daylight the easier they are to see! 

Related:  The Florida State Fair – Tampa Florida

11 of the Absolute Best Places to View Manatees in Florida – If manatees are your thing then make sure to check out the top spots across the state to spot them in the wild! 

Weeki Wachee State Park – The Home of the Mermaids – This is a state park just north of Tampa and it was one of the first roadside attractions in Florida in the 1940s. These women train and swim underwater for the 30-minute show.

There is also a water park, animal attractions, and a boat ride down the river. 

Related:  21 Weeki Wachee Mermaids Facts You Never Knew!

Florida State Parks – You already know how much my family enjoys state parks. Visiting Florida State Parks as a special field trip is always so much fun.

Utilizing the park as an outdoor classroom, the exploring opportunities are endless. You may even be able to get into the park for free if you can prove the park trip is related to educational purposes. 

Historic Sunken Gardens St Petersburg Florida – This is such a great relaxing getaway in the city. Not only can you take in the gardens but they make a great place for family photos too! 

Related:  St Armands Circle – Sarasota Florida

Mote Marine Aquarium – Just south of Tampa right on the water of the Gulf of Mexico is Mote Marine Aquarium. They do a lot of animal rescue but also have a fun interactive aquarium to visit as well. 

Fort De Soto Park, Historic Fort, and Museum  St. Petersburg Florida – This is a historic park right on the water with an old fort and museum along with camping, fishing, hiking, beaches, and more. 

Related:  Venice Florida Shopping – Venice Ave Shops

Florida Botanical Gardens – Another free activity you can explore is the gardens full of local plants and beautiful relaxing settings. YOu never know what you might see from alligators to beautiful butterflies. 

Guide to Hunsader Farms Pumpkin Festival and Events – Hunsaders Farms is just east of Tampa and they have a great Pumpkin Festival and Christmas lights show. But all year long they have petting zoos events and Upick fruits and veggies. 

Related:  Legoland Resort – 6 Reasons Why the Legoland Hotel is Totally Worth Your Stay

The Florida Aquarium – With their 500,000-gallon coral reef tank you can see over 2,000 different animals who call the coral reef home. They also have a rainforest-themed splash pad and a 2-acre outdoor water play area. Get discount admission with the Tampa Bay CityPASS .

LEGOLAND Amusement Park, Winter Haven Florida – An entire amusement park and waterpark based on Legos. Everything that can be made out of legos and you can find anything lego-related here.

This is built on the old Cypress gardens grounds so it's just as beautiful as it is fun. Get discount admission with the Orlando GoCity Explorer Pass . 

Related:  7 Little-Known Legoland Secrets

ZooTampa at Lowry Park – They have a manatee hospital and lots of animals and plants native to Florida. They have a safari and a down under section as well. Get discount admission with the Tampa Bay CityPASS .

Field Trips in Orlando and Central Florida

There is so much to do in the Orlando area outside of Disney and the theme parks. The Orlando GoCity Explorer Pass can save you up to 20% on admission. 

Gaylord Palms Resort  Check out this destination hotel in Kissimmee with a four-acre glass-enclosed atrium, home to a microcosm of Florida habitats including an alligator-filled swamp, Spanish style fort, 60-foot sailboat, and more.

Related:  25 Free Things To Do in Orlando Fl

Bok Tower Gardens  – Take an educational spin on your visit to Florida by checking out Bok Tower Gardens. The gardens are a beautiful ode to Frederick Law Olmsted Jr.

You can consider this place a historic landmark. Make sure you check out the Singing Tower while here. Located in Lake Wales Florida. 

Gatorland  – Located in the Orlando area this is an Alligator rescue. They had their own TV show for a while and this is where now they do alligator wrestling and educational shows here daily. Get discount admission with the Go Orlando® Card . 

Related:  What to do at Epcot – 25 Bucket List Items

Chocolate Kingdom Factory Tour   – If anyone is going to talk about spending time with chocolate, I’m going to be there. The kids are going to love a Florida field trip to the Chocolate Kingdom. This factory tour will show you an amazing time! Located in Orlando. 

Kennedy Space Center – This is where they launch the space shuttles into space. Growing up in Florida we lived close enough (still hundreds of miles away) that I could sit on my grandpa's back porch and see the shuttles being launched.

They offer tours and other great info now. Get discount admission with the Go Orlando® Card . 

Related:  The New Disney World Pandora at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Regal Marine Industries Boat Factory Tour – Learn how boats are made in this fun factory tour. You can then visit their showroom floor to see the finished products. You do need to make reservations for this tour. 

Davidson of Dundee Factory Tour – Learn about Florida's produce and how it is processed from the grove and even get some free samples to taste. They not only have jams but also citrus chocolate! 

Titanic Orlando Museum – See thousands of Titanic artifacts and walk through replicas of rooms from the ship including the grand staircase. Get discount admission with the Go Orlando® Card . 

Field Trips in South Florida

A large part of southern Florida is covered in the Everglades but southern Florida also has the Florida Keys! 

Edison Ford Winter Estates – Thomas Edison and Henry Ford had winter estates on the water in Fort Myers Florida. They were also neighbors now you can tour not only their homes and the grounds but also Thomas Edison Florida laboratory. 

Related:  Planning a Trip to Key West on a Budget

Barrier Island Sanctuary – Located down near Miami you can experience Brevard’s barrier island ecosystem firsthand. Topics include sea turtles and soil and water analysis. 

Biscayne National Park – This National Park is located just off the coast of Miami . It's really an underwater National Park that protects coral reefs, pirate ships, and other shipwrecks. 

Related:  The Ultimate Guide to The National Park Service Junior Ranger Program

Big Cypress Seminole Reservation –  Located in the Everglades near Miami is this Native American Reservation. It's a great place to see a lot of the untamed parts of the Everglades and learn how the Natives adapted to survive in the area. 

Everglades National Park – The Everglades is the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States. This National Park is home to several endangered animals all of which can be quite deadly so make sure to listen to the rangers! 

Related:  15 Must-See Free Things to do in Key West Florida

AH-TAH-THI-KI Museum – This museum includes a Seminole Village. The Seminole Indians are native to Florida and so much of the heritage is still found in the state. The museum offers tours, crafts, demonstrations, and more. 

Dry Tortugas National Park – located off the coast of Key West, this is the home to Fort Jefferson and it's only accessible by boat or seaplane. But once there the beauty is unmatched! Make sure to go snorkeling off the island too! 

Related:  24 Free Things to do in Naples, Florida

The Children’s Museum in Naples – If you and the kids love spending time together and exploring, then this may be a good field trip option.

This museum allows kids to play, learn, and dream. There are hands-on exhibit galleries that the kids can enjoy for hours.   

Florida Field Trip Ideas for the Rest of the State

As you head to the northern part of the state you hit the panhandle to the west and the historic shore of St Augustine to your east and all have so much to offer! 

Must-Sees When Visiting Amelia Island, Florida With Your Homeschoolers – Amelia Island is a great vacation beach town but a small town that has so much history being to close to St Augustine. 

Related:  What to Expect When Visiting Amelia Island, Florida

Fort Menendez at Old Florida Museum – What if you could see history as it once was? Fort Menendez is such a fun way for kids to have a field trip and a history lesson at the same time. 

National Naval Aviation Museum – With Pensacola being the home of the Navy's Blue Angels there is a lot of aviation history here and the kids will love being able to see some of the planes up close. 

Related: What to do While in Panama City Beach

Ancient City Tours – If you’ve ever wanted to see the historical part of Florida, then you’ll want to head to St. Augustine for Ancient City Tours.

This company will take you on a historical guide, showing you things you didn’t even know! You can take tours in other cities too. 

Daytona International Speedway – Do your kids have a need for speed? If so, they may just love a field trip to the Daytona International Speedway! The kids get a first-hand experience with the world of racing.

They’ll love everything this field trip has to offer from visiting the start/finish line to having their picture taken with a Champion DAYTONA 500 car. 

So now I want to know what are some of your favorite Florida Field Trips ?

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Orlando Field Trips for Kids

I am homeschooling my kids this year, and as such, I have decided to make Friday our field trip day. It gives us all a chance to get out of the house and go somewhere educational and hopefully fun. Since we are going on a Friday, I am hopeful that crowds will be less than what they would be if we went during the weekend.

While we all know that the Orlando area has a lot of fun activities, that’s why we are the vacation capital of the world, but what is there to do in terms of educational activities in Orlando for kids? Turns out there is a lot.

Here are fun Orlando field trips to take with the kids this year.

Albin Polasek Museum

Take the kids to learn about art at the Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Garden . The museum has over 200 works on display both inside and outside. At the museum kids can learn about Albin Polasek and his work and learn about sculpture as an art medium.

While in the sculpture garden, kids can participate in a fun scavenger hunt. The face of the Greek God Pan is hidden in 26 places around the property. Kids will definitely love searching for him.

Glass Bottom Boats at Silver Springs State Park

The Glass Bottom Boats at Siver Springs State Park is a great option for an Orlando field trip. This is where the Glass Bottoms Boats were first developed. On the Glass Bottom Boats kid will enjoy looking at and learning about the different species of fish in the springs. You will also see different artifacts and even some movie props down below.

30-minute tours are offered everyday and don’t require a reservation. 90 minutes tours are offered Friday, Saturday and Sunday and do require reservations.

Kennedy Space Center

At Kennedy Space Center , kids can learn about rockets, NASA and space exploration. At Kennedy Space Center, kids will be able to take a look at a model of the Hubble Space Telescope, explore an international space station, see different rockets and capsules, and so much more. There might be too much to do in one day, that you might have to return for a second visit.

Leu Gardens

We visited Leu Gardens earlier this year, and while the day was hot (I recommend visiting at a cooler time of year or early morning) we had a good time walking around and exploring. Leu Gardens has a variety of flower gardens, a vegetable garden (with giant vegetables), a butterfly garden and a pond.

Kids can learn about plant life, the migration patterns of butterflies (my son taught me about this one), pollination and more.

Right now, Leu Gardens has an exhibit on Fairy Doors, which will add a fun element to the garden.

Tip: Leu Gardens offers a free day the first Monday of the month

Looking for a way to keep kids occupied at home? Click here to discover 100’s of kids subscription boxes. My son loves getting his boxes in the mail.

LunaSea Alpaca Farm

LunaSea Alpaca Farm is a great alternative to the zoo or a traditional farm. At LunaSea, they only have alpacas and a couple of llamas. Kids will learn all about these animals and be able to go into the pens to interact with the alpacas and to feed them. All tours are help by the owner of the farm, who is every knowledgeable about alpacas. Kids can ask any questions about alpacas or llamas that they want during the tour and get them answered .

Marine Discovery Center

Kids can learn about different animals that live in the Indian River Lagoon at Marine Discovery Center . While there is a small museum that you can explore at no cost, you will definitely want to join one of the tours that takes you out into the lagoon. The Marine Discover Center offers both boat tours and kayak tours last two hours and they are offered at various times of day. Tours are guided by a naturalists. On the tours, kids will learn about conservation efforts while spotting dolphins, sea turtles, birds and more.

Please note that for kayak tours, kids 6-12 must ride with an adult. Children under 6 are not allowed in a kayak.

Murals of Mills 50

Take the kids to Mills 50 and do a walking tour of the murals in the area. Walking the murals and discussing what the kids like or dislike about the murals makes for a fun morning out. We started at 1336 North Mills and made our way down to 730 North Mills and then back up the other side. There are some great places to grab coffee, breakfast or lunch along your walk.

Outschool has over 10,000 classes that will delight kids of all ages. Kids can take cooking classes, music classes, art classes, Harry Potter classes, math, science and much more!

Orlando Science Center

The Orlando Science Center is a great place for a field trip, maybe more than one. At the Science Center, kids can learn about Dinosaurs, weather in Florida, engineering and more.

The Science Center has rotating exhibits that come through every year. The exhibits are usually focused on something that kids can relate to, but incorporate science. We have seen exhibits on Super Heroes and on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The kids loved both. Later this year, the Science Center will have an exhibit on Pompeii and how it was destroyed.

Orange County Regional History Center

In the Orange County Regional History Center , kids can learn about the history of Central Florida. Kids can learn about early life in Florida and florida peoples, including Florida’s indigenous people, first contact between the Spanish and Native Americans living in Florida, Florida pioneer life and Afircan Americans in Central Florida history. Kids can also learn about the region’s natural environment and cattle and citrus, the two main economic drivers of the region in the past. The museum also has an exhibit on how Orlando became the theme park capital of the world and how people have been traveling to Orlando for 100 years.

If you are looking for a structured activity, the museum holds a homeschool day every month with a 2- hour activity. The program is mainly geared towards elementary aged children.

Scavenger Hunt Lake Eola

A great option for a field trip is a scavenger hunt around Lake Eola with Let’s Roam. I did this activity recently with my kids. The scavenger hunt takes you around downtown and Lake Eola and to view different works of art that are in the area. There are questions about the art to answer that helps kids learn more about the different pieces. Even better, kids are getting exercise as you race from one location to the next. As the scavenger hunt is a private hunt, you can stop partway through the hunt to take a ride on the swan boats, have a picnic or have lunch at World of Beer (they have outdoor seating) located in the park.

Central Florida Zoo and Brevard Zoo are great options for a field trip. Kids can learn about and interact with different kinds of animals. At the Brevard Zoo , kids can learn about animals that live in Florida, as well as about animals from the Caribbean and the Rainforest. Kids can also learn about Kangaroos and different kinds of birds.

At the Central Florida Zoo , kids can interact with barn animals, feed giraffes and have visit with the rhinos. They can also learn about invertebrates, amphibians and reptiles.

If you want to add on some fun to your educations field trip, both zoos offer tree top treks.

Which one of theses Orlando field trips are you looking forward to taking with your kids this year?

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Florida Biology & Science School Trip

Our tours to Florida can be tailored to place an emphasis on biology or science depending on your thematic requirements and can include diverse visits including the Everglades National Park and the NASA Space Centre, along with famous theme parks such as Universal Studios, and Miami's famous beaches.

School Biology & Science Trip to Florida

A tour to Florida provides the perfect blend of biology and science study with the option to combine your tour with some of the State's most famous theme parks and beaches. Florida is famous for the Everglades National Park, for its population of alligators and manatees and for the wonderful marine life of the Florida Keys.  It is also the home of NASA and a variety of excellent museums dedicated to the pursuit of science. Our tours can be tailored to place emphasis on biology or science depending on your thematic requirements, or can be devised to provide a broad recreational experience encompassing many strands.

Suggested Itinerary

The itinerary featured here is intended to give you inspiration and an idea of what you could do on your tour. Your trip will be created individually by one of our travel advisors to match your requirements and budget.

Flight to Orlando

Flight to Orlando: On arrival you are met by a private coach and transfer to a hotel in the International Drive area. Dinner can be arranged either at the hotel or at a nearby city restaurant, depending on the flight arrival time.

Orlando Science Centre

Orlando Science Centre: This morning you have a 30-minute transfer to the Orlando Science Centre. The centre has four floors of exciting exhibits, amazing giant screen movies and engaging science-based activities. There are hands-on exhibits & planetarium shows, plus giant-screen & 3-D films. They also have an excellent education programme, and we will organize a structured full day learning experience in consultation with you. The programme will be educator-led and will include lunch and a film.

In the evening your private coach will transfer you back to your hotel and dinner will be at a city restaurant.

Full day at the Kennedy Space Centre, home of NASA and the SpaceX Launch Site

Kennedy Space Center: This morning you travel to the Kennedy Space Center on the Florida coast at Cape Canaveral. You visit the permanent indoor exhibits and Rocket Garden where various parts of the Space Programme of the past 50 years are on display. You see the Astronaut Hall of Fame and the Space Shuttle Atlantis.

Launch Pad 39A: If permitted, you may also be able to see the launch pad 39A from where the Saturn V rockets were launched during the Apollo missions which put the first men on the moon. The tour follows the same route as the astronauts would have taken to the launch pad and as you approach the tower you can imagine what being an astronaut must have felt like with the anticipation of the launch. Subject to scheduling, if there is likely to be an opportunity to view a SpaceX launch during the tour, we may be able to adjust your visit accordingly.

In the late afternoon you return to the hotel in Orlando and dinner will be at a city restaurant.

Full Day at Universal Studios

Universal Studios:   In the morning you transfer to Universal Studios, a huge theme park based on famous films and TV shows. There are numerous attractions and rides including many virtual reality experiences. One of the highlights of the Park is probably the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, while others include The Incredible Hulk, Simpson’s Ride, Spider Man and Transformers. You have a full day at Universal Studios and in the afternoon or early evening your private coach will transfer you back to your hotel for dinner.

Morning at Gatorland then travel to Miami

Gatorland: This morning you visit Gatorland where an expert guide will escort you on a tour which introduces you to these fearsome creatures which are native to Florida. There are up-close encounters with baby alligators and periodic shows where the experienced handlers give a ‘hands-on’ feeding show with some of the alligators. There is also other varied wildlife in the park including giant Galapagos Tortoise that are over 100 years old.

Travel to Miami: After lunch we make the 3-hour journey south to Miami. We stay at a hotel in the South Beach area and after dinner can enjoy a walk along Ocean Drive with its iconic art deco buildings. Make sure you stop for a cappuccino at the legendary News Café.

Full Days in the Everglades

The Everglades:  Today you explore the Everglades, a unique area of wetland and lakes and home to a wide range of wildlife, including numerous alligators, for which the region is famous. You are accompanied throughout the day by an experienced naturalist guide and begin with an amazing airboat ride in the marshes and pond apple swamps of the Western Everglades where there are more alligators per acre than anywhere in the world. The air boats reach speeds of over 45 miles per hour! There is also a boat cruise into the Ten Thousand Islands mangrove forest, and a walk through an ancient forest of cypress trees. The day includes lunch in Everglades City.

You return to Miami in the evening and dinner will be at a restaurant local to your hotel.

Florida Keys Marine Lab

Florida Keys Marine Lab: This morning you travel to Key Largo where you visit the Marine Lab, a dedicated educational establishment which introduces students to the wonderful diversity of marine life and the ecology of the region. The programme includes two field trips to the mangroves and to a coral reef. The programme is a full day, commencing at 8.30 am and finishing at 8pm, with lunch and evening meal included. At the conclusion, you return to your hotel in Miami.

Frost Science Museum and Miami Harbour Cruise

Frost Science Museum: Today you visit the new Frost Science Museum, opened in 2017, which incorporates a planetarium, aquarium and interactive science exhibitions. Situated in Museum Park on the Biscayne Bay waterfront, the futuristic modern building provides a state-of-the-art experience and offers a series of interactive exhibits. There is sufficient to see to occupy most of the day.

Miami Harbour Boat Cruise: In the afternoon you go to the harbour at Biscayne Bay and do a 90-minute boat cruise on which you see the sights of Miami from the water, including the homes of many millionaires and celebrities. You then have some free time at the Bayside Market Place, an open-air shopping and restaurant area before transferring to the airport for your homeward flight.

Flight Home:  In the evening you transfer to the airport for your flight back home.

Arrive Home

Arrive Home:  Your flight arrives back home today

Florida Science Gallery

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Inspection Trips

If you are planning a tour with us, we can arrange an inspection trip so you are able to familiarise yourself with the destination and conduct any risk assessments your school may require.

Support on Tour

Many tours travel with a full-time guide who will look after your group in the destination, and you will always be able to contact our UK office which is manned 24/7.

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Our specialist subject brochures feature a wide range of our varied educational and thematic tours intended to give you helpful ideas and inspiration when planning your school’s next tour.

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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!

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