Florida is full of stimulating, educational field trip opportunities for students, specifically for groups interested in STEM and American history
Known for warm weather, sunshine, engaging outdoor destinations, and containing a large amount of American history, students can find an array of educational opportunities across Florida that embrace the state’s best features. Other attractions offer field trips that focus on the rich history of the state and its scientific advancements. From zoos to opulent estates of prominent historical figures and museums, through tours and other enrichment activities, students can find themselves feeling more connected to the Sunshine State. Many field trip opportunities in Florida are affordable and easily accessible.
Florida Field Trip Ideas
- Island Dolphin Care
- ZooTampa
- Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science
- The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature
- Edison and Ford Winter Estates
- Chinsegut Hill Historic Site
STEM Field Trip Opportunities
STEM education is an excellent addition to your field trip and is easy to incorporate throughout the Southeast.
1. Island Dolphin Care
Students interested in animal well-being will find the Island Dolphin Care site and ZooTampa at Lowry Park engaging. The former offers therapeutic sessions for visitors, during which they can interact with the dolphins. Students can also take a guided tour of the site and see what goes on behind the scenes and what it takes to care for the animals.
2. ZooTampa at Lowry Park
At ZooTampa, animal lovers can find enjoyment in looking at a variety of different creatures, such as stingrays, with their educational field trip offerings. Students of all ages can mingle with the animals directly with the zoo’s interactive experiences such as the Indian Rhino Feeding session.
STEM Museums for Students
Students who feel that museums are the places where they can best learn will enjoy the STEM-based exhibits of the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science and The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature. Both museums offer exceptional STEM opportunities for pre-k through high school students.
3. Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science
The Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science offers field trip packages that allow pre-k through high school students to select a variety of exhibits to explore. One such package is the Learning Lab which has students participate in a variety of scientific activities that vary based on age.
4. The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature
The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature offers students a chance to explore nature and space through exhibits and the popular planetarium experience. Students can also see wildlife with the Manatee Habitat exhibit, where a group can learn about how to rehabilitate one. The museum offers affordable tours for student groups in which they are guided through the multitude of exhibits on the site.
America 250 Field Trip Opportunities and Other Heritage & Historical Lenses
As we approach the celebration of America’s 250th birthday, get your students excited about America’s history with field trip opportunities at two Florida historical sites.
5. The Edison and Ford Winter Estates
The Edison and Ford Winter Estates allow students to explore the leisurely part of the 19th-century duo of inventor Thomas Edison and industrialist Henry Ford. At the estate, students can tour (guided or individually) the home’s 20-acre botanical gardens and the Edison Botanic Research Laboratory, the only site in Florida to receive the title of a National Historic Chemical Landmark. The site also hosts an array of educational programs appropriate for students, including a self-guided scavenger hunt and an engaging camp program, the Art and Creativity Summer Camp, that allows students in K-5 to participate in the world of arts through sculpting, painting and other creative means.
6. Chinsegut Hill Historic Site
The Chinsegut Hill Historic Site is packed full of engaging history for students to absorb. The site explores the hill’s history, from acting as an agrarian plantation to being a hot spot for luminaries in the 1920s and 1930s. In fact, figures such as Thomas Edison and Helen Keller made appearances at the events. The site offers a variety of educational programs, such as the Chinsegut Hill Historic Site Field Trip, which allows students to learn about the area’s indigenous history and the Plantation Era, alongside highlighting people of note who lived in the local area.
Florida is a state rooted in its science and historical past and present. Through the wide variety of educational field trip locations and subsequent programs offered, students from within and outside the state can deepen their appreciation for the state and the Southeast region.
