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 Nature’s Academy provides a diversity of field, overnight and outreach programs and customizes these programs to meet any of your needs. We can combine multiple programs to design a custom itinerary that spans from six hours to six days. We work closely with several partners throughout the state and can facilitate the logistics of travel, overnight programs and meals.
Our Florida "edventures" are focused on science conservation and cater to school, family and group organizations. Participants are exposed to a variety of experiences, such as snorkeling, kayaking, canoeing, guided nature walks and hands-on discovery at parks and science facilities throughout the state.
All Nature’s Academy programs are aligned to both National and Sunshine State Standards.
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One Day Field Excursions
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Island Adventures |
Location: Fort De Soto Park, Pinellas County & Coquina Beach, Manatee County
Come and explore the history and natural beauty of these barrier islands. Situated within the Tampa Bay watershed and estuary, students learn about the ecological and economic importance of critically sensitive coastal habitats. Participants engage in a series of nature walks, kayak tours, snorkel adventures, critter collections, water quality investigations, and coastal clean-ups in order to construct an ecological cross section of Florida, its wildlife and the human impacts to the state’s largest estuary. Traveling from the islands highest elevation, down through the mangrove forest and plunging into the seagrass beds that thrive below sea level, the concept of biodiversity and keystone species are introduced while causes of habitat loss and fragmentation are examined. Students explore the importance of fire throughout Florida’s habitats, search for endangered species and identify negative impacts of invasive exotic plants and animals as they navigate the barrier island by foot. Next, they embark on a kayak tour of the mangroves where they will unlock the mysteries of these enchanted forests. Participants then fully immerse themselves as they snorkel the seagrass beds searching for invertebrates to collect while performing water quality tests to assess the overall ecological health of this important estuarine habitat. Scientific taxonomy and the ecological concept of “form fits function” are then explored through a hands-on shark dissection. Our day concludes with a coastal clean-up to remove and properly dispose of trash thus completing this ecological experience.
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Myakka Mysteries
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Location: Myakka River State Park, Manatee and Sarasota Counties
The “Florida Wild and Scenic” Myakka River meanders through over fifty-eight square miles of wetlands, prairies, hammocks and pinelands. Students explore the unique floodplain forest up close along the canopy walkway suspended twenty-five feet above the forest floor! Discover the bird’s eye view from the seventy-five foot tower. Participants discover this blackwater river and lakes bordered by hammock and marsh communities by canoe or airboat. Travel through the serene wetlands as the Native American Indians once did in search of the endangered woodstork, the sandhill crane, the roseate spoonbill and the bald eagle. Students may even catch a glimpse of the rarely seen “salsa” mating dance of the sandhill crane. Finally, participants will meet some of the oldest denizens of the Myakka River up close and personal – the American alligator!
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Organic Earth
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Location: Sweetwater Organic Farm, Hillsborough County
This hands-on interactive tour of a working organic farm teaches students to know what it truly means to “go green”. Immersed in a series of activities, participants discover how humans have altered the Earth and impacted its natural systems. Students conduct an in depth investigation of the water cycle and the natural filtration of ground and surface water as they identify the causes and impacts of acid rain, industrial agriculture and oil spills on the environment. Organic Earth challenges its participants to identify solutions to these problems and discover ways to become greener and promote sustainability- both locally and globally.
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Loggerhead Lessons
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Location: Various State and County Parks
Florida supports approximately 90% of all sea turtle nests in North America. Students will discover the plight of the endangered sea turtle by engaging in a mock turtle stranding recovery. The life history of turtles will be explored and major threats to their populations identified. Participants will be trained in the techniques of the Sea Turtle Standing and Salvage Network and future conservation measures explored. Finally, students will study astronomy with telescopes while taking a night hike along the beach in search of turtle nests.
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Overnight Field Excursions
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Water's Journey ~ Central Florida
 Students discover the vital role of water in our state by canoe, kayak and snorkel. The first day begins at Myakka River State Park with our Myakka Mysteries program. Participants investigate the ecology of a floodplain forest through a series of canoe adventures and nature hikes. Later that day, students arrive to dormitory-style lodging on a beautiful, natural self-contained campus. The evening concludes with a water quality investigation and lastly, a campfire complete with s’mores. The following day, students experience historical Fort De Soto through our Island Adventures program. Participants discover the wonders of barrier island ecology through kayak adventures, snorkeling, dipnetting…. and dissecting a shark! Later that evening, students travel to Crystal River where the day concludes with a Floridan Aquifer activity and a quick peek at the stars, weather permitting. The final day begins with an incredible snorkel interaction with manatees and finishes with a drift snorkel down the Rainbow River, one of Florida's premiere spring fed rivers. The main difference between the Myakka and Rainbow River systems – Myakka is purely rain fed so the water is very murky and dark – lots of alligators! The Rainbow River is mostly spring fed – the water is crystal clear – so a completely different habitat although they are both freshwater. By visiting multiple habitats, participants complete the cycle of water– from rain, to runoff, to infiltration into groundwater and discharge into the Tampa Bay estuary, the Gulf of Mexico and beyond! A truly comprehensive program about the hydrology of Florida!!
Have a few more days? Then add a physical science component to your edventure and discover more of Florida's unique treasures. Participants explore space first-hand through the Student Astronaut Training experience, sleep under the Saturn V Rocket at Kennedy Space Center, put physics to the test on roller coasters at Busch Gardens and snooze with the tigers!
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Outreach Programs
Budget and time tight this year? Let us come to you! Listed below are several of our outreach programs – call or email for more information!
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Loggerhead Lessons
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Florida supports approximately 90% of all sea turtle nests in North America. Students discover the plight of the endangered sea turtle by engaging in a mock turtle stranding recovery. The life history of turtles is explored and major threats to their populations identified. Participants are trained in the techniques of the Sea Turtle Standing and Salvage Network and future conservation measures are explored.
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Flight Academy
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Climb on board a journey beyond the boundaries of Earth! Be an aerospace engineer, airline pilot, astronaut and astronomer in this exciting program that allows you to try it all! First, the history and evolution of flight is explored. Next, students grasp Bernoulli’s principle as they master the physics of flight using kites and radio-controlled aircraft. Participants soar out of this universe as they discover life beyond Earth’s atmosphere. The challenges of space exploration is discussed. Students use their previous flight training to understand the physics of flight in outer space. Students launch rockets, build comets and gaze at the stars and planets though telescopes to conclude this out of the universe experience!
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Organic Earth
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Immersed in a series of activities, participants discover how humans have altered the Earth and impacted its natural systems. Students conduct an in depth investigation of the water cycle and the natural filtration of ground and surface water as they identify the causes and impacts of acid rain, industrial agriculture and oil spills on the environment. Organic Earth challenges its participants to identify solutions to these problems and discover ways to become greener and promote sustainability- both locally and globally.
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Reservation Instructions
- Minimum group size 15
- Prices vary per program; please inquire via email to
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- A non-refundable deposit of 20% is required at the time of reservation
- Upon receipt of the deposit, all groups will receive written confirmation of their program. Please review very carefully to ensure that all information is correct
- Payment and all paperwork in full is due 30 days prior to your scheduled program
- Cancellations prior to two weeks of program date receive 50% refund, all cancellations within 14 days of program date forfeit full program cost
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Reservations
941-538-6829
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