School Programs

Brooker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center School Field Trips 2011
The Brooker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center is the perfect place to connect classroom concepts to the natural world.  A variety of resources are available to help students learn about Florida’s unique natural systems and how humans and the environment have shaped each other throughout time.

Self Guided Visits
Exhibits, hiking trails and picnic facilities are available at no cost to teachers and students.  These activities are self-guided.  Teachers and chaperones are responsible for guiding and supervising students. A list of correlations to Science and Social Studies Sunshine State Standards Benchmarks is available for K-5. In some cases, an introduction to the resources of Brooker Creek and a guided hike can be provided by trained volunteers.

Brooker Creek Preserve:  Windows to Our Wildest Place
Experience Brooker Creek Preserve in Brooker Creek Preserve: Windows to Our Wildest Place, our 6,000-square-foot exhibit hall.  Students learn about Brooker Creek Preserve ecosystems and the importance of individual species, seasonal changes in Florida, the water cycle and watersheds through hands-on, discovery-oriented exhibits.  A 12-minute object theater video highlights changes in the local landscape and its uses over time.  Other short videos feature information about water, fire, the water cycle and vultures.  Students learn that individuals can find balance between human needs and the needs of the environment by making wise choices to reduce their impact.  Exhibit activities are self-guided with supplemental materials available to assist students in their learning experience. Download full description with Sunshine State Standards.

Education Center Trail Loop and Interpretive Signs
Teachers and students can easily stroll along the Education Center Loop of Brooker Creek Preserve’s Wildlands Hiking Trail.  Elevated boardwalks keep everyone’s feet dry as the trail meanders through bottomland swamps toward drier, shady oak hammocks.  Strategically placed along the trail are interpretive trail signs that treat students to a multi-sensory experience as they discover how everything in nature is connected through dynamic relationships. Download full description with Sunshine State Standards.

Scheduling a Field Trip to Brooker Creek Preserve
Book your trip early by visiting our Online School Program Reservation and schedule your visit on Thursdays or Fridays. Registrations are on a first-come basis. Plan on at least two hours for the visit.  For more information call (727) 453-6800.

Rules and Guidelines for teachers bringing students to Brooker Creek Preserve

1. Teachers must have at least one teacher or chaperone per 10 students.
2. Teacher/ chaperones are responsible for organization.
   •Larger groups need to split and flip-flop activities to avoid congestion.
3. Teacher/ chaperones are responsible for all student behavior.
   •Students should be placed in smaller groups with teachers or chaperones and closely supervised while in the exhibit gallery.  Our exhibits are interactive but can be hazardous if students run or “horseplay”.
   •Students with a documented history of disciplinary infractions should not be brought on the trip.
4. Brooker Creek Preserve is our classroom and we expect students to behave according to the same standards expected of them at school.
5. Teachers and Students should NEVER leave the paved portions of the trail or the boardwalk.  STAY ON THE TRAIL AT ALL TIMES.  There are many potentially dangerous plants and animals found within Brooker Creek Preserve.  
6. Students should be prepared for appropriate activities including proper footwear, sun/ insect protection, and water. 
7. Exhibit Gallery Manners – No running or climbing on exhibits; No food or drink in the gallery. Please use quiet voices and treat the exhibits carefully.