In Park

Nature, History & Science Education Programs for Our Park & Your Classroom!

We understand that one of the most important aspects about our park is educating our youth about our local ecosystems and the importance of preserving these special lands. The Savannas Preserve State Park offers all types of environmental education programs for school groups, and below you will find a full description of each one. These programs provide students with meaningful and enlightening experiences, as well as long-lasting memories that last a lifetime.

Chores on the Pineapple Plantation

In 1879, Captain Thomas Richards planted the first pineapples, grown from cuttings he transported from Key West. The plants thrived in the sandy, well-drained soils and dozens of plantations appeared along the Atlantic Ridge. Plantation labor provided for uncomfortable conditions and much work to be done. This presentation gives students a look at both the history as well as hands-on experience as to what life was like on the pineapple plantation for kids!

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Remembering the Ais

Archaeology has revealed that the Indian River region, in which we live, has many sites of past human habitation, some of which date back to the Middle Archaic period, about 7,000 years ago! Before Europeans knew about Florida, the land was settled by the Ais Indians, a tribe related to the Tequesta. Although the Ais tribe was one of the largest in Florida, very little is known about the group. Come visit with us and learn about these early people; what they ate, how they lived, and have a look at some of the wonderful pottery they left behind! Students will even get to make their own Ais clay bowl or pinch pot!

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Seasons of the Savannas

Whether the land is wet or dry, animals and plants have developed some amazing adaptations for survival. That is what this program is all about... fire, water, and wind! How do our plants and animals survive hurricanes and wildfires? How do they survive the very dry times and the very wet times? Our conditions are always changing at the Savannas Preserve State Park. Come learn and make your own clouds!

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Critter Encounters

Join us for an amazing journey of exploration through the Savannas marsh food chain. Students will get wet, look at all sorts of creatures in the park, use microscopes, cast plaster animal prints to take home, and if there is still time left, learn a bit about our most common tree, the Florida slash pine.

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Land & Marsh Lab

The Savannas is chock full of life-- birds, snakes, turtles, bugs, racoons, and more, share an amazing variety of ecosystems. Each and every animal is important in the web of life. Bring your class to discover who takes part in that special web, and why we, as stewards of the planet, must take special care of the Earth-- especially in our own backyards! Students will learn a little bit about food chains and meet (and maybe touch) some of our wildlife friends that live in the Education Center.

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Fire Findings

Have you or your class ever seen smoke plumes rising high in the air, or maybe even smelled smoke nearby? This program offers an abundance of information on the reasoning behind this phenomenon. Florida has many fire-dependent natural communities. Meaning that the plant and animal life thrives when fire burns off undergrowth and fresh vegetation is allowed to grow in its' place. The Florida Park Service uses prescribed fire as a land management tool to both reduce the risk of wildfire for our surrounding neighbors as well as managing for the natural communities we are responsible for. This program explains this process, takes the students on a hayride to visit sites effected by the fire, and incorporates math into the curriculum by measuring the height of slash pine trees as well as saw palmetto plants by measuring the length of its' stem. This program was developed for 7th grade and is fun for several years younger and older.

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Orienteering

Whether using maps and compasses or GPS units, your students would love to go on a treasure hunt, right!? This program incorporates earth science and orienteering in our pre-program at the Education Center and then branches out into the field on a treasure hunt where students put their skills into practice. Students will learn about latitude and longitude, the history of orienteering, and how to use it in their daily life, or in case they ever get lost! We use fun outdoor activities to introduce kids to maps while learning and having lots of fun using compasses. Advanced students will be introduced to GPS units.

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