Recommended Field Trips
Hillsborough County
Florida's Freshwater Wetlands at Lettuce Lake Park
Audubon Resource Center (ARC at the Park)
P.O. Box 320025
Tampa, FL 33679
(813) 983-0258
Rusty Sholtz (no outside email) 813-987-6204
www.hillsboroughcounty.org/parks/parkservices/regionalparks.cfm
This park offers a four-story observation tower and boardwalks along the Hillsborough River. The park
also features paved and off-road hiking trails, picnic areas, playgrounds and the "Arc at the Park"
Environmental Education Center staffed by the Tampa Audubon Society.
Camp Bayou Outdoor Learning Center
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4140 24 St SE
Ruskin, FL 33570
(813) 641-8545
Dolly [email protected]
http://campbayou.org/
This 160-acre nature preserve is located in the middle of the Little Manatee River system and proximate
to the Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve and Tampa Bay. The Ruskin Community Development
Foundation and Hillsborough County government operate this environmental education and hands-on
learning center. The center hosts mostly Grades K–6 students. While at the center, students learn about
wetlands, look for water quality indicators, explore biodiversity and assist with center cleanups. The
center hosts approximately 1,000 students per year. The site also is home to a fossil museum, which has
a simulated fossil pit from which kids can dig for and keep fossils. The fossil museum hosts approximately
3,000 students annually. Admission is free, but some activities do have a fee.
The Florida Aquarium, Inc.
701 Channelside Drive
Tampa, FL 33602
(813) 273-4000
Education Dept 813-273-4015
www.flaaquarium.org
The Florida Aquarium has many educational programs, including several on-site and off-site outreach
programs, teacher training programs and summer camps. Most programs explore aquatic animals and
aquatic communities. Most of the 80,000 annual student visitors come from Grades K–5 from
Hillsborough, Pinellas and Manatee counties. They also have a water wheels program that will come to
you if you have between 15 and 150 participants.
Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful  PO Box 2104  Tampa, FL 33601  813-221-8733
www.KeepTampaBayBeautiful.org
Hillsborough Community College (HCC)
Institute of Florida Studies
1206 North Park Rd.
Plant City, FL 33566
(813) 757-2104
Environmental Studies Center [email protected]
www.hccfl.edu/departments/ifs/esc-expeditions.aspx
HCC’s three field trip programs target primarily elementary students from Polk, Hillsborough and Pinellas
counties, although some students in Grades 6–12 do attend the programs. Approximately 5,000 students
go through the programs each year. The three field trips programs include the following locations:

Cockroach Bay: Situated on the southeastern shore of Tampa Bay (just south of Ruskin) the
center features a 1,000-foot boardwalk, nature trails, field and lab equipment, several boats for
marine exploration and two buildings for lectures, labs or workshops.

English Creek: This 380-acre site, which opened in the summer of 1995, is located in eastern
Hillsborough County, just east of Plant City. The center features elevated boardwalks and
footpaths. Field trips to this site can include a host of activities ranging from aquatic insect
collection and identification to botanical hikes to fire ecology. Custom-designed field studies are
also available.

Upper Tampa Bay Park: Located just west of Tampa's Town and Country area, this 600-acre
park is operated by the Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation Department. A classroom/lab
building allows for on-site study, as does the interpretive building with its exhibits and
displays. Nature trails, boardwalks, canoes and field and lab equipment are also available for field
activities here.
Hillsborough River State Park
15402 U.S. 301 North
Thonotosassa, FL 33592
(813) 987-6771
www.floridastateparks.org/hillsboroughriver/
The park features canoeing, hiking and Fort Foster, a re-created 1830s fort located across the street from
the park entrance. Volunteers clad in period dress reenact the lives of the soldiers stationed at the fort,
whose role was to protect a military road during the Indian wars. Call the park for information on tour
availability and times. Currently, the Park staff sees six to seven groups of students per year
(approximately 30 kids per group). Most student groups are in Grades 4 and 5. The program for student
groups mirrors the curricula from Nature’s Classroom.
Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful  PO Box 2104  Tampa, FL 33601  813-221-8733
www.KeepTampaBayBeautiful.org
Lowry Park Zoo
1101 West Sligh Ave.
Tampa, FL 33604
(813) 935-8552
Craig Anderson (youth programs coord.) [email protected]
www.lowryparkzoo.com
The Lowry Park Zoo features both on-site and off-site programs to educate students in grades Pre-K
through 12 about animals, the environment and careers in animal care. Environmental education
programs include “Native Florida,” which examines native Florida wildlife, and the “Green Swamp
Wilderness Preserve Outdoor Classroom,” which provides programming to teach students about Florida’s
water story, natural habitats and endangered species. The zoo also offers an ecotour down the
Hillsborough River. This provides an opportunity for visitors to explore various wildlife species in their
natural habitat in and along the Hillsborough River. The zoo also features a 15,000-square-foot hands-on
learning facility that houses a lecture hall, 11 classrooms and a resource center. Approximately 80,000
visitors utilize programs offered by the zoo each year. You can register for field trips and programs
online.
Manatee Viewing Center
6990 Dickman Rd
Apollo Beach, FL 33572
(813) 228-4289
www.tampaelectric.com/manatee/
Owned and operated by Tampa Electric Company, the Manatee Viewing Center was opened in 1986.
The center features an environmental education building where visitors can learn about the manatee's
biological characteristics and habitat. Each year, the Manatee Viewing Center works with local
elementary, middle and high school students to increase awareness of the Florida manatee.
Approximately 270,000 people visit the center each year. Group reservations can be made online. The
st
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viewing center is open 10am-5pm daily (some holiday restrictions) from Nov 1 -Apr 15 .
Mosaic Coastal Education Center @ Fiddler's Cove
8813 Hwy. 41
Riverview, FL 33569
(813) 671-6144
www.mosaicco.com/sustainability/report/social/education_center/html
The Mosaic Coastal Education Center at Fiddler's Cove was recently completed and Mosaic began
teaching environmental education to fourth-grade students in April 2006. The curriculum teaches 100
percent to the FCAT. Participating schools come from the immediate area surrounding the center.
Students explore Tampa Bay, its natural communities and the importance of coastal systems.
Approximately 500 students go through programming each year. The education committee for the center
is exploring ways to expand the program.
Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful  PO Box 2104  Tampa, FL 33601  813-221-8733
www.KeepTampaBayBeautiful.org
MOSI
4801 E. Fowler Avenue
Tampa, FL 33617
(813) 987-6000
Anthonette Carregal [email protected]
www.mosi.org/education.aspx
MOSI offers both on-site and off-site education programs to children and students of all ages. Teacher
training programs and summer programs are also available. Students study everything from aerospace
science to Florida scrub habitats. In FY2006, approximately 202,000 students participated in on-site
educational programming and 25,650 students participated in off-site educational programming.
Nature's Classroom
13100 Verges Rd.
Thonotosassa, FL 33592
(813) 987-6969
Karen Johnson [email protected]
www.naturesclassroom.net
Nature’s Classroom environmental education center, founded in 1969, is located on 365 acres of the
Southwest Florida Water Management District-owned Lower Hillsborough Flood Detention Area (LHFDA)
property on the Hillsborough River. It is a joint project of the School District of Hillsborough County, the
Southwest Florida Water Management District and the Hillsborough Education Foundation, and it serves
the students of Hillsborough County schools. Hillsborough County sixth-graders complete three weeks of
environmental education curricula in the classroom that culminates in a three-day, hands-on field trip to
Nature’s Classroom. The program focuses on the hydrology and ecosystem of the Hillsborough River.
Environmental education is provided to more than 13,000 sixth-grade students every year.
Pasco County
Crystal Springs Preserve
1609 Crystal Springs Rd.
Crystal Springs, FL 33524
813-715-9707
www.crystalspringspreserve.com
Karen Pate [email protected]
This 525-acre preserve features Crystal Springs, a second-magnitude spring system, discharging 40
million gallons of water per day. The preserve offers education programs that are hands-on, directed
learning opportunities for groups. The preserve sees approximately 10,400 students annually.
Energy and Marine Center
9130 Old Post Road
Port Richey, FL 34673
http://eec.pasco.k12.fl.us/EECs/EMC.html
Pasco County students in Grades 3–5 visit the center located in Port Richey. The focus of the program is
to educate students on the importance of the estuaries and how human actions impact the delicate
ecosystem found at the center.
Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful  PO Box 2104  Tampa, FL 33601  813-221-8733
www.KeepTampaBayBeautiful.org
Starkey Wilderness Park
10500 Wilderness Park Rd.
New Port Richey, FL 34655
(727) 834-3247
www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/areas/starkeypark.html
Cross Bar Ranch
20115 Scrub Jay Lane
Spring Hill, FL 34610
http://eec.pasco.k12.fl.us/EECs/CrossBar.html
Jean Knight 813-794-2312
[email protected]
Seventh-grade students from Pasco County public schools participate in field trip programs to either
Starkey or Cross Bar Ranch, depending on where they are located in the county school system. The
Wetlands Ambassador Program focuses on field experiences to educate students on wetlands and
uplands and the human impact on these different ecosystems. Approximately 8,000 students participate
in these programs.
Pinellas
Anderson Environmental Education Center at Sawgrass Lake Park
7400 25th St. N.
St. Petersburg, FL 33702
(727) 217-7256
www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/areas/sawgrass.html
Sawgrass Lake Park is 400 acres in size and features a mile-long boardwalk and half-mile dirt trail.
Sawgrass Lake Park is the result of a unique cooperative agreement among the Pinellas County Parks &
Recreation Department, the Pinellas County School District and the Southwest Florida Water
Management District.
Booker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center
3940 Keystone Rd.
Tarpon Springs, FL 34688
(727) 453-6800
http://brookercreekpreserve.org/
This center offers educational tours, field trip opportunities, an exhibit gallery, teacher training workshops
and meeting spaces. Each year, approximately 900 students and teachers participate in educational
programs at Brooker Creek.
Boyd Hill Nature Preserve
1101 Country Club Way South
St. Petersburg, FL 33705
(727) 893-7326
www.stpete.org/boyd
[email protected]
This 245-acre park features more than three miles of trails and boardwalks and is part of the Great
Florida Birding Trail. An aviary is home to many permanently injured birds of prey. The Lake Maggiore
Environmental Education Center provides interpretive programming on a variety of environmental and
natural history topics and features displays of native plants and animals, the interpretive "Ripple Effect"
exhibit and a gift shop. Guided tours, rentals and overnight camping facilities are available.
Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful  PO Box 2104  Tampa, FL 33601  813-221-8733
www.KeepTampaBayBeautiful.org
Clearwater Marine Aquarium
249 Windward Passage
Clearwater, FL 33767-2244
(727) 441-1790
www.seewinter.com
The Clearwater Marine Aquarium offers field trip programs and both on-site and off-site educational
programs. Most programs focus on the marine animals that are being rehabilitated at the aquarium, but
some programs are offered that explore the pollution of Tampa Bay and the impacts of stormwater runoff.
The Aquarium sees 100,000 visitors (youth and adult) per year. Lesson plans available online!
Great Explorations Children's Museum
1925 Fourth St. N
St. Petersburg, FL 33704
(727) 821-8992
www.greatexplorations.org/
[email protected]
Great Explorations features hands-on exhibits for children ages 0–10 years. They also offer educational
programs, summer camps and several programs about the Tampa Bay estuary.
Honeymoon Island State Park
# 1 Causeway Blvd
Dunedin, FL 34698
(727) 469-5942
www.floridastateparks.org/honeymoonisland/
Features a new Rotary Centennial Visitor Center (opened May 2006). Trail walks, beach walks, and shell,
seagrass and seining programs are available for free to the public.
Moccasin Lake Nature Park
2750 Park Trail Ln.
Clearwater, FL 33759-2602
(727) 462-6024
www.clearwater-fl.com/gov/depts/parksrec/facilities/mlnp.asp
This 52-acre nature park features hiking trails and a nature center with interactive displays and live
animals. Programming includes guided hikes ($2.50 – $3.50 per person) roving naturalist program
(naturalist comes to you) ($75). Approximately 2,000 students go through the programs each year from
Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco counties.
Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful  PO Box 2104  Tampa, FL 33601  813-221-8733
www.KeepTampaBayBeautiful.org
The Pier Aquarium
800 Second Ave. NE
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
(727) 822-9520
www.pieraquarium.org
Emily Stehle 727-803-9799 x207
The Pier Aquarium is a private, not-for-profit aquarium and marine education science center located in
downtown St. Petersburg at The Pier on the waterfront. The Pier Aquarium offers on-site classes and
school outreach programs. The Pier Aquarium regularly offers teacher workshops in collaboration with the
National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) with Pinellas County schools, Center for Ocean
Science Education Excellence Florida (COSEE-FL) and the University of South Florida College of Marine
Science. Approximately 18,000 students and teachers go through the programs, exhibits and special
events at The Pier Aquarium each year. The District has provided funding for several programs,
special events and exhibits.
The Science Center of Pinellas County
7701 22nd Ave. North
St. Petersburg, FL 33710
(727) 384-0027
www.sciencecenterofpinellas.org
Pam 727-384-0027 x229 [email protected]
Established in 1959, the Science Center is an independent, nonprofit organization. Each year, more than
48,000 students of all ages participate in interactive, hands-on classes that teach them how to
hypothesize, discover, investigate, interpret and evaluate. The Science Center offers classroom extension
programs (22,000 Pinellas County students participate each year), mobile outreach, Pre-K classes,
science camps, events, lecture series and workshops.
South Cross Bayou Water Reclamation Facility
7401 54th Ave N.
St. Petersburg, FL 33709
(727) 582-7021
www.southcroobayou.org
Jan Tracy [email protected]
The South Cross Bayou Discover a Cleaner Tomorrow education program is a unique partnership
between the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners, Pinellas County Utilities and the Pinellas
County School Board. In addition, South Cross offers other programs, such as summer camps, that are
not funded by the District. These programs reach an additional 3,350 students and adults.
Tampa Bay Estuary Program
100 8th Avenue S.E.
MS I-1/NEP
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
(727) 893-2765
www.tampabayestuaryprogram.org
The Tampa Bay Estuary Program offers curricula for students in Grades 3–12. Curricula covers such
topics as the Tampa Bay estuary, nesting birds and invasive species. The estuary program also offers an
adopt-a-manatee program, a video lending library and several opportunities for students to volunteer for
shoreline cleanups.
Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful  PO Box 2104  Tampa, FL 33601  813-221-8733
www.KeepTampaBayBeautiful.org
Tampa Bay Watch
3000 Pinellas Bayway South
Tierra Verde, FL 33715
(727) 867-8166
www.tampabaywatch.org
Catherine Karns [email protected]
Tampa Bay Watch offers Bay Grasses in the Classroom, a shoreline restoration program where students
(at least 3,000 students each year) grow bay grasses on their school campuses and transplant them at
site along Tampa Bay. Two other programs, the Community Oyster Reef Enhancements and Oyster Core
programs, provide in-school and on-site oyster reef establishment projects. Approximately 1,000 students
participate each year in both of these projects. A third program, the Student Estuarine Science and
Stewardship Project (SESSP), educates students about estuarine science and empowers them to act as
stewards of the Tampa Bay estuary by combining classroom curriculum with hands-on field experience in
and around Tampa Bay Watch's new Marine Science Center. Tampa Bay Watch reaches approximately
3,500 students annually through this program.
Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center
1800 Weedon Drive NE
St. Petersburg, FL 33702
(727) 453-6500
www.weedonislandcenter.org
[email protected]
This center offers educational tours, field trip opportunities, an exhibit gallery, teacher training workshops
and meeting spaces. Each year, approximately 5,400 students participate in educational programs at
Weedon Island.
Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful  PO Box 2104  Tampa, FL 33601  813-221-8733
www.KeepTampaBayBeautiful.org