Education
Connecting with Nature through Education!
There are so many things to learn and explore at the Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium! You will find all you need to know about our amazing youth and adult education programs here. Find the program that suits your needs and get learning!
Homeschool at Calusa!
(PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED)
*NEW!* Class for ages 13-16 coming soon.
ALL classes will re-start in MARCH, mark your calendars!
Join us for our Homeschool-ology classes! Each month will focus on a different “ology” study topic like Zoology, Entomology, Ornithology, and more!
Classes will be held rain or shine so please prepare appropriately. Our current class format is a drop-off program. Parents and siblings not registered for the class are not allowed to stay for the entirety of the class. There will be time at the beginning and end of each class for you to see the activity stations, interact with your child, and ask any question and gather take home materials. Each class will contain classroom instruction time and may include activities such as crafts, outdoor exploration, a live animal encounter, and short hikes. Students should bring a labeled refillable water bottle and preferred bug spray & sunscreen.
Homeschool Schedule!
Homeschool classes will usually be held the 1st & 2nd Thursdays of each month.
Sessions may fill up before we have a chance to note they are full on our website! If you are unable to view or book a session on the ticket purchase page, then please contact our Education Coordinator, Carrie by emailing her here to be put on a waitlist.
The cost is $20 per non-member child or $15 for members.
Homeschool Thursday ticket prices do not include general CNCP admission, which can be purchased separately but is not required for this program. General CNCP admission is required for access to CNCP after the end of the program time. If you are planning to stay on site while your child/children attend class purchasing a membership will offer you the best price and savings. Proof of membership is required for the discount, please bring your membership card.
Ages 5-8 from 10 am - 12 pm
(Drop off from 9:50am-10:00am and pick up from 12:00 - 12:10pm)
Ages 9-12 from 1 pm - 3 pm
(Drop off from 12:50-1:00pm and pick up from 3:00 - 3:10pm)
Ages 13-16 from 1 pm - 3 pm
(Drop off from 12:50-1:00pm and pick up from 3:00 - 3:10pm)
No events at the moment
Nature Explorers
Nature Explorers is limited to 15 children per day, please be aware that this program may sell out!
This is a Drop-Off program. Ages 5-11, $10 / child
Our programs are designed to take place almost entirely outside, where children will have lots of fresh air and space to spread out!
Preschool Wednesdays
Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium-Preschool Programs
Classes will resume in MARCH!
Back by popular demand! Join us on the first Wednesday of every month from 10-11am for our Preschool Program! Designed to capture a preschooler's sense of curiosity and cultivate a connection to the natural world, each program will include a story, craft, & either a short hike or live animal encounter.
Ages 3-5 • CNCP Members $9 | Non-Members $12
The price is per child and includes one adult per child. It does not include museum admission.
Sessions may fill up before we have a chance to note they are full on our website!
If you are unable to view or book a session on the ticket purchase page, then please contact our Education Coordinator, Carrie, by emailing here to be put on a waitlist.
This program is for children ages 3-5 and includes one adult per child. Cost for this program is $12 for non-members, $9 for members and does not include museum admission. Visit our website www.calusanature.org for more information. This is NOT a drop-off program and all children must have an adult with them. For classroom space only ONE adult per child is allowed.
No events at the moment
NIGHT HIKES
Admission: $20
Ages: Recommended 6+
Each Night Hike program begins with a brief introduction, followed by a guided walk and interactive, hands-on activities along the trail. The hike starts just after sunset, so please wear closed-toe shoes and be prepared for changing weather, including rain and mosquitoes. Designed as an immersive, low-light experience with minimal flashlight use, these night hikes offer a memorable educational adventure for most ages, though they may not be suitable for very young children.
Nature Speaker Series
Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium invite you to attend our Nature Speaker Series.
Join us on the second Wednesday of each month (Oct-April) at 7:00 pm in the Planetarium.
Members: Free | Non-Members: $15
This monthly series will feature experts from many different wildlife, conservation, and environmental fields. Each speaker is unique and will bring fascinating stories of their work and passion to our guests.
Field Trips
Bring your school classes, homeschool groups, scout troops, or other groups of any age out to Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium for a field trip!
Choose from a variety of offerings for your field trips! There's something here for every group, from guided nature walks to private planetarium shows. Mix and match our 45-minute programs to give your group a visit that meets your educational goals and interests!
SEPTEMBER-MAY PROGRAM OFFERINGS:
Field trips start at $10 per child and $15 per adult and include up to three programs. Additional programs can be added for $3 per person per program.
-
Guided Nature Walk - Explore our trails with a guided walk tailored to grade-level topics and interests.
-
Live Animal Talk - Meet some of our animals up close and personal and learn about their adaptations and habitats.
-
Butterfly House and Birds of Prey Aviary Tour - Explore our butterfly house and learn about our bald eagles.
-
Planetarium Movie - Experience a full-dome planetarium movie selected for your group's age and interests.
-
Planetarium Q&A Session - Meet one of our planetarium educators for a tour of the night sky as they answer your questions about the stars, planets & beyond.
-
Museum Exploration and Gift Shop - Discover our natural history museum and visit our gift shop in this self-guided exploration time.
JUNE-AUGUST PROGRAM OFFERINGS:
Field trips start at $10 per child and $15 per adult and include up to three programs. Additional programs can be added for $3 per person per program.
-
Live Animal Talk - Meet some of our animals up close and personal and learn about their adaptations and habitats.
-
Birds of Prey Aviary Tour & Museum Exploration - Tour our Bird Aviary to learn about our injured and rescued birds and explore our exhibits and live animals in our natural history museum.
-
Planetarium Movie - Experience a full-dome planetarium movie selected for your group's age and interests.
-
Planetarium Q&A Session - Meet one of our planetarium educators for a tour of the night sky as they answer your questions about the stars, planets & beyond.
Field trips are available Tuesday-Friday during normal operating hours (normally starting at 10:00 am and ending at 1:00pm) and must be booked at least 2 weeks in advance. We require a $100 non-refundable deposit to hold your place, please be prepared to pay your deposit within 7 business days of your request.
Maximum group size: 80 participants (or 3 classes) per day. Larger groups will need to be split over multiple days.
Minimum group size of 20, if you have less than 20 participants please contact us for more information.
If you have any other questions feel free to contact our Education Department by email here.
