School Programs

In-Person Field Trips

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Gumbo Limbo offers school field trips for students in grades 1, 3, 5, and 7 based on state standards for each grade.

Registration Begins for:

Schools located in the City of Boca Raton and Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park District (public/private/charter): Friday, August 25, 2023 at 8:00 am
Palm Beach County and Broward Schools: Friday, September 8, 2023 at 8:00 am.
All others: Friday, September 22, 2023

Here are some important things to note prior to registration:

Fees for Gumbo Limbo Field Trips are listed below.
The maximum number of students per day is 50.
In-person field trips are available Monday - Friday.
School programs begin at 10:00 am and end at 12:00 pm.
Lunch is not included in the field trip schedule. Parking passes are available for groups to have lunch at the picnic tables at Red Reef Park, after the program.

School field trips to Gumbo Limbo begin on Monday, September 18, 2023, and go through Friday, May 31, 2024.

The direct line to call for registration 561-544-8611. We fill quickly so please call to reserve your dates as early as possible, according to the above schedule. Please include the following information in your voicemail: your name, phone number and email, the school’s name, your grade, the number of children attending, and the dates you are requesting. If you know which program you want to register for, include that as well.

The following fees apply for all 2023-2024 in-person field trips. pty heading

Public, Private, and Charter Schools

School Location	Price
Boca and BPD	$4.00/ Student
Palm Beach County	$6.00/ Student
Outside of Palm Beach County	$8.00/ Student

Title 1 Schools

School Location	Price
Boca and BPD	FREE
Palm Beach County	$2.00/ Student
Non - PBC	$2.00/ Student

In-Person Field Trip Options (by Grade)

1st Grade: Island Tours

Our focus for this grade is to introduce students to the three communities of our barrier island. Students will learn about the dune, hammock, and mangrove ecosystems. During a nature walk on the Ashley Trail, students will learn the interactions between animals and plants in their forest habitat.

After the program is over, teachers have the option of having a picnic lunch at Red Reef Park and allowing the students to explore the beach.

Standards: SC.1.N.1.1, SC.1.E.6.1, SC.1.P.8.1, SC.1.L.14.1, SC.1.L.14.3, SC.1.L.17.1

1st Grade: Meet the Animals

Our focus for this grade is to introduce students to Gumbo Limbo’s animals and the importance of food, water, and shelter to their survival. Through classroom and field experiences, students will learn about coastal plants and animals. During a tank tour, the students will learn about different coastal habitats and how they provide basic needs to these animals.

Students will get a chance to observe some very special animal guests and use their investigative skills to figure out the habitat they live in and food they eat, while recording data.

After the program is over, teachers have the option of having a picnic lunch at Red Reef Park and allowing the students to explore the beach.

Next Generation Sunshine State Standards: SC.1.N.1.1, SC.1.E.5.3, SC.1.E.6.1, SC.1.E.6.2, SC.1.L.14.1, SC.1.L.17.1, SC.1.N.1.3

3rd Grade: Beach Explorers

Our focus for this grade is to introduce students to the importance of Florida’s coastal ecosystems. Through classroom and laboratory experiences, students will learn about coastal plants and animals, weathering and erosion, waves and currents. They will discover how they can help protect this fragile environment.

After the program is over, teachers have the option of having a picnic lunch at Red Reef Park and allowing the students to explore the beach with a new appreciation of Florida’s natural resources.

Standards: SC.3.N.1.1, SC.3.N.1.3, SC.3.N.1.6, SC.3.N.1.7, SC.3.N.3.1, SC.3.N.3.2, SC.3.N.3.3, SC.3.P.10.1, SC.3.P.10.2

3rd Grade: Sea Turtle Scientists

Our focus for this grade is to introduce students to an endangered marine species that has been in the oceans for about 230 million years - since before the dinosaurs. Through classroom and laboratory experiences, students will learn about Florida’s nesting sea turtles and the 7 species of sea turtles worldwide. They will discover how they can help protect our world’s fragile ocean ecosystem.

Students perform a mock sea turtle rescue lab. They learn about the dangers facing sea turtles and what people can do to help them. With help from the instructors, students will identify the species they learned about in class, and take home a new appreciation of Florida’s fragile marine life.

After the program is over, teachers have the option of having a picnic lunch at Red Reef Park and allowing the students to explore the beach.

Standards: SC.3.N.1.1, SC.3.N.1.3, SC.3.N.1.4, SC.3.N.3.1, SC.3.N.3.2, SC.3.L.15.1 SC.3.L.17.1

3rd Grade: SHARKS! (and rays)

Our focus for this program is to introduce students to elasmobranch species (sharks and rays) that have been in the oceans for about 450 million years. Through classroom and laboratory experiences, students will learn about Florida’s various shark and ray species. Students will discover the dangers sharks and rays face and how people can help them and our threatened ocean ecosystems.

After the program is over, teachers have the option of having a picnic lunch at Red Reef Park and allowing the students to explore the beach.

SC.3.N.1.1, SC.3.N.1.3, SC.3.N.3.1, SC.3.N.3.2, , SC.3.N.1.4 , SC.3.L.17.1, SC.3.L.15.1

5th Grade: Eco-Investigators

Our focus for this grade is to introduce the interdependence of plants and animals. Students will learn about the interrelationships between organisms found on a barrier island. In a laboratory setting, students will conduct systematic observations and data collection while preforming a mock excavation to examine and compare and contrast the physical characteristics of specimens.

After the program is over, teachers have the option of having a picnic lunch at Red Reef Park and allowing the students to explore the beach.

Standards: SC.5.N.1.1, SC.5.N.1.6, SC.5.N.2.1, SC.5.L.14.2, SC.5.L.17.1

5th Grade: Coral Reef Connection

Our focus for this grade is to introduce the importance of tropical coral reefs to our oceans. Students will learn about the interrelationships between organisms found in a tropical coral reef. Through classroom and laboratory experiences, students will conduct data collection using pH test strips, hydrometers, and thermometers in our chemistry lab to compare and contrast ocean, Intracoastal, and tap water. At the conclusion of their scientific investigation, students will analyze data to understand the fragility of coral and encourage the conservation of this important ecosystem.

After the program is over, teachers have the option of having a picnic lunch at Red Reef Park and allowing the students to explore the beach.

Standards: SC.5.E.17.2, SC.5.L.14.2, SC.5.L.15.1, SC.5.L.17.1, SC.5.N.1.1, SC.5.N.2.1, SC.5.P.9.1

7th Grade: Mangrove Life (not offered December through March)*

Students will gain a better understanding of the complexity of life that surrounds them through a unique hands-on study of biodiversity in the mangrove ecosystem. Instructors will review taxonomy of the life among the mangrove roots, including physical characteristics and adaptations that allow organisms to survive in mangrove ecosystems.

Students will conduct mangrove transect profiles, water quality sampling, and a biodiversity survey, in conjunction with seining in the Intracoastal Waterway. Data collected and analyzed during the field study will provide students with a better understanding of the complexity of the mangrove ecosystem.

After the program is over, teachers have the option of having a picnic lunch at Red Reef Park and allowing the students to explore the beach.

*Please note that we have another 7th grade program, Marine Debris and Me, which will be used as an alternate program if weather conditions are not suitable for seining.

Next Generation Sunshine State Standards: SC.7.E.6.6, SC.7.N.1.1, SC.6.L.15.1, SC.7.L.15.2, SC.7.L.17.1, SC.7.L.17.3, SC.7.N.1.3, SC.7.N.1.6

7th Grade: Marine Debris & Me!

Our focus for this grade is to introduce students to marine debris and give them an opportunity to gain a better understanding of where it comes from and how we impact our coastal and marine environment. Through hands-on lab and activities, they will learn about different plastics, discover what they are used for, and investigate their physical properties.

Instructors will give a brief review of ocean currents, density, and marine food webs in order for students to fully understand how marine debris can harm the ocean as well as humans.

After the program is over, teachers have the option of having a picnic lunch at Red Reef Park and allowing the students to explore the beach.

Next Generation Sunshine State Standards: SC.7.E.6.6 , SC.7.L.17.1, SC.7.N.1.1, SC.7.N.1.3, SC.7.N.1.4, SC.7.N.1.6, SC.7.N.1.7

Virtual Field Trips

We will continue to offer virtual field trips upon request.

Our virtual field trips last one hour and include a pre-recorded video with a live discussion and live activity. Each session can accommodate up to 3 classes, with the ability to request an additional session if needed. For additional information contact Kassie Rodriguez at [email protected] or 561-544-8611.