Homeschool Group Visits

Registration for the 2025-2026 school year is open!

Manatee Lagoon is excited to welcome homeschool groups for educational field trips focused on manatees and the Lake Worth Lagoon ecosystem.

Our specially designed programs offer hands-on learning experiences perfect for homeschool families seeking engaging science education outside the traditional classroom.

Our 90-minute program options provide an in-depth look into the world of manatees and their local habitat. Our educators (Manatee Masters) showcase manatee biology and ecology, share details about the lagoon’s estuarine habitat, and suggest how students can help protect their local environment. The Manatee Masters will also explain the important role that Florida Power & Light Company’s adjacent Riviera Beach Next Generation Clean Energy Center plays in ensuring that manatees stay warm during the cooler winter months.

Visiting groups will rotate through three stations that can include presentations or activities in our exhibit gallery, classroom, and observation deck depending on the program selected, weather and other factors.

Here's what happy teachers have to say about bringing a field trip to Manatee Lagoon:

“I was beyond thrilled with the trip we took to the Manatee Lagoon. All of my students had an amazing time and still talk about it 2 weeks later! Our guides were also amazing as we needed some accommodations due to wheelchairs. They did a great job with bingo and making the information relatable and interesting to my students. We will absolutely be making this a yearly outing!”

My class loved everything. They enjoyed the classroom time and learning about all the different animals. They skeleton was also fascinating. Observing the live manatees was probably the highlight of the day!”

Our grade-specific programs, which are aligned with Next Generation Sunshine State Standards (K-12), include:

Manatee Lagoon Observers (k-5)
Discover the biology and ecology of manatees and their neighbors in the Lake Worth Lagoon by engaging in hands-on games and activities. This program is perfect for elementary-aged homeschoolers to explore marine science concepts through interactive learning.

Exploring Manatee Lagoon (k-12)
A comprehensive program suitable for mixed-age homeschool groups, exploring manatee biology, habitat, and conservation while accommodating learners from kindergarten through high school.

Important information for all group visits:

Reservations All homeschool group visits are by reservation only.

Group Size Minimum of 10 and maximum of 30 students (no exceptions due to physical space limitations), plus up to 20 chaperones, but no more than 50 students and chaperones combined. Large groups will be split into smaller sub-groups to rotate through the stations.

Chaperones At least one parent or chaperone per ten students is required. Please note that due to space limitations, not all chaperones may be able to attend one of the three stations in the program rotation but at least one chaperone will always be present with the group.

Picnicking Picnic tables are available on the Manatee Lagoon grounds on a first-come basis. Manatee Lagoon is not able to store lunches or coolers for visiting groups and for security purposes, large coolers are not permitted in the building and may not be left unattended on site.

Available Days/Times Mondays, November 17th through March 30th , starting at either 10:00 a.m. or 10:30 a.m.

Cost Free, including parking.

Please click here to review the guidelines before your visit and share the information, as appropriate, with others who will be attending.

Homeschool Group Visits

Registration for the 2025-2026 school year is open!

Here's what happy teachers have to say about bringing a field trip to Manatee Lagoon:

Our grade-specific programs, which are aligned with Next Generation Sunshine State Standards (K-12), include:

Important information for all group visits:

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