Education
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. Programs are recommended to meet your educational goals and interests.
Field trips are available Tuesday-Friday during normal operating hours (starting at 10:00 am and ending at 1:00pm) and must be booked at least 2 weeks in advance.
Maximum group size: 75 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.
Choose up to three 45-minute programs to create a visit tailored to your group’s educational goals and interests. Field trips cost $12 per child and $15 per adult. One adult is admitted free for every 10 children; additional adults, instructors, and chaperones are $15 each. (No discounts or memberships are accepted for field trip fees).
SEPTEMBER-MAY PROGRAM OFFERINGS: (weather and trail conditions permitting)
PreK-K:
Planetarium Movie
Animal Talk (Reptiles-Animal Senses)
Nature Walk (Sensory Scavenger Walk)
Birds of Prey Aviary Tour and Museum Exploration
Butterfly House Tour and Museum Exploration
1st-3rd Grade
Planetarium Movie
Animal Talk (Amazing Adaptations)
Nature Walk (Habitat Hike)
Birds of Prey Aviary Tour and Museum Exploration
Butterfly House Tour and Museum Exploration
4th-5th Grade
Planetarium Movie
Animal Talk (Classification)
Nature Walk (Web of Life)
Birds of Prey Aviary Tour and Museum Exploration
Butterfly House Tour and Museum Exploration
6th-8th Grade
Planetarium Movie
Animal Talk (Florida Herpetology)
Nature Walk (Ethnobotany or Biodiversity)
Birds of Prey Aviary Tour and Museum Exploration
Butterfly House Tour and Museum Exploration
H.S.-College
TBD
Adults
Field trip programs can be customized at $20 per adult, including up to three programs.
Descriptions of Program Offerings
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Live Animal Talk - Meet some of our animals up close and personal and learn about their adaptations and habitats.
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Guided Nature Walk - Explore our trails with a guided walk tailored to grade-level topics and interests.
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Birds of Prey Aviary Tour and Museum Exploration – Visit our bird aviary and learn about our injured rescued eagles, hawks and owls; and discover our natural history museum with live animal residents.
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Butterfly House Tour and Museum Exploration-Learn butterfly life stages, observe live butterflies and discover our natural history museum with live animal residents.
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Planetarium Movie - Experience a full-dome planetarium movie selected for your group's age and interests.
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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. Available only on request, recommended for grades 5 and up.
JUNE-AUGUST PROGRAM OFFERINGS:
Field trips are $12 per child and $15 per adult and include up to three programs. One complimentary adult admission for every 10 children; additional adults, instructors, chaperones are $15.
Payment Information:
Cash, checks, credit cards, and purchase orders are accepted. Mail to Attn: Education Department, 3450 Ortiz Ave, Fort Myers, FL 33905
Field trips are $12 per child and $15 per adult and include up to three programs. One complimentary adult admission for every 10 children; additional adults are $15. (No discounts or memberships are accepted for field trip fees).
We require a $100 non-refundable deposit to secure your date. Please be prepared to pay your deposit within 10 business days upon receipt of the deposit invoice. Final Balance payment is due within 10 business days of field trip date, and the deposit is credited to final balance due.
If you have any other questions, feel free to contact our Education Department by email here.
Check out how Ray V. Pottorf Elementary enjoyed their Field Trip! HERE
Homeschool at Calusa!
(PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED)
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)
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.
