Each year we provide programming for over 30,000 children to help create better informed and more active stewards of our natural environment.
There are a few things to do to plan your visit with us.
Marine Life Exhibits
First, make a reservation:
Please call 305 361-6767 x 119 to make a reservation for one of the following:
Our most popular expedition! Drag a net in the seagrass and who knows what you may come up with. There’s sea life of all shapes and sizes living in the seagrass right outside our doors. From seahorse to sea star, pipefish to pufferfish, the variety of sea life is amazing. Your naturalist guide will identify each species, making sure everyone gets a good look-see before gently releasing the catch. These seagrass beds are a rich ecosystem. It’s wading fun for the whole family, with netfulls of surprises. Wear closed toe shoes that can get wet and get ready for waist deep wading. Bring a change of clothes if riding home with a dry bottom is important to you.
$15 per person
Reservations 305-361-6767 x119
The Coastal Ecology program will provide your students with a broad background on all the ecosystems that exist within the Bear Cut Nature Preserve. Activities include a beach and hammock walk, butterfly exploration in our garden, insect discussion, and a visit to our exhibit room which houses the various animals in the seagrass beds of the Bear Cut Preserve. This program does not include going into the water, and is perfect for all ages.
$15 per person
Reservations 305-361-6767 x119
Are you looking for fun, educational, and nature-oriented activities for your pre-school or kindergarten class? Introduce your little ones to the wonderful world of animals and plants in South Florida. The Beach Babies program allows our youngest visitors to see, touch, and smell marine animals and plants in order to fully experience the environment. Activities include a beach and hammock walk, art projects, exploration of our butterfly garden and a visit to our exhibit room with live animals from our seagrass beds. This program is specifically designed to cater to a young audience and does not include going into the water.
$15 per person
Reservations 305-361-6767 x119
Go back in time to the ANCIENT fossil reef. This unusual reef is completely unique to our area and quite a surprise at low tide. You’ll explore the tidal life along this exposed reef as you wade along its boundaries and the adjoining mangrove forest. This treasure of the sea is so worth seeing and learning about, and our naturalists are just the people to give you the straight skinny on its delicate existence. The view of South Beach from this area is a bonus, a real contrast to the natural beauty of sand, sea, reef and mangroves around you. Very photo worthy! Of course, walks are done at low tide for maximum observation. This is a terrific walk & fresh air fun for the whole family. Don’t forget your camera and sunscreen.
$15 per person
Reservations 305-361-6767 x119
Ask about discount for expeditions scheduled by December 20, 2018!
Funded by the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, Youth Enrichments Program, this program introduces local youngsters to a world of natural beauty few have experienced. Depending on the weather and tides, participants will either hike through a rare coastal hammock where bobcats, panthers, and black bears used to reside; slog through one of our area’s few remaining pristine mangrove communities to encounter wildlife such as wading birds, fish, mangrove crabs, oysters, and sea slugs; or wade into Seagrass beds in shallow areas offshore to examine marine species such as fish, seahorses, sea urchins, crabs, shrimp, and sea stars.
At times, they will pause to draw, sketch, or photograph the wonders they discover. Following and inspired by their morning expedition, youngsters will spend the afternoon with a local nature artist creating leaf rubbings, drawings, paintings, recycled bottle cap collages, 3D sculptures using recycled materials picked up along the beach, or other projects.
$15 Per person
Reservations 305-361-6767 x 119
Scholarships Available for Under-served students in our community.
Your day will also include:
- A guided tour of our south Florida ecosystem exhibit room including discussions about Florida marine life, including sea turtles, sea horses and jellyfish.
- All equipment is provided: nets, lifejackets and buckets (if applicable)
- Optional Add-on: A squid dissection lab can be added to any of the above adventures for $2 per student.
Schedule
Most programs begin at 10:00 am and end at 2:00 pm. A 30-minute lunch break is included.
Earlier or later starting times may be arranged. Programs are offered seven days a week.
The children will also be able to visit our Nature Gift Shop. It will be open throughout the day to select nature-inspired souvenirs to remember their experience on Key Biscayne. We have items ranging from .50 cents to $30 dollars from all over the world.
What to Collect:
- Chaperone Release Form – (Download PDF)
- Student Permission & Release Form – (Download PDF)
- Important Reminder for Teachers – (Download PDF)
What to Wear:
- Closed-Toe Shoes are required! (no sandals, CROCS, or flip flops)
- Comfortable Walking Beach Attire
- For Seagrass Adventure, clothes and shoes will get wet! Bring a complete change of clothes, shoes and towel
- Bring a hat
- Bring reef-safe sunscreen lotion (no oxybenzone or octinoxate)
What to Bring
- No single-use plastic products! Many of the plastics we touch in our daily lives are used only once and thrown away. So much of this plastic is ending up in the ocean that by 2050 there could be more plastic than fish in the ocean! But the future of plastics in our ocean will be determined by the way we handle plastics on land. The future depends on us:
- Bring a plastic-free packed lunch
- Bring a reusable water bottle
SOUVENIRS & SNACKS:
The Biscayne Nature Center has a Gift Shop with items for purchase. All proceeds from the Gift Shop go towards continuing our educational mission.
Beverage and Snack Vending Machines are available. Cash and credit cards are accepted for payment.
The Nature Center does not provide change.