Field Trips

Wetland Scavenger Hunt
Students search for native wildlife along the wetland nature trail and learn about each animal’s role in the habitat.

Macroscopic Pond Life
Students use nets to collect aquatic organisms from the marsh area of Joe Budd Pond. Stereoscopes are used to examine and identify plant and animal species.

Leave No Trace
This interactive program has students learning about the ways in which we can Leave No Trace in our daily lives. We will investigate vermicomposting to see what are worms favorite foods.

Insects and Life Cycles
What is an insect? Why are there so many and why are they so important? Those questions and more will be answered while students explore the outdoors to find and observe an insect, identify it, determine if it is an adult or offspring, and then compare the adult and offspring of the species.

Backyard Bass and Fishing (catch and release)
Students who participate in a field trip program can fish from the bank of Joe Budd Pond. They will learn to bait a hook, cast a line and reel in their catch, as well as ethical catch and release practices.

Shelter Building
Students will visit our Magnolia Grove to learn how to build a shelter using only what the forest provides. Teachers using the novel “Hatchet” will appreciate this program and its’ hands on experience for their students.

Orienteering
What happens when all our technology is not working, and you want to find your way? Students will learn the basics of a compass and learn to navigate on our pre-designed orienteering course through the forest.

Birds of Florida
Students learn to use binoculars to identify common birds found in their backyards. Hands on activities teach students how bird beaks are adapted for specific foods, students compete and compare in a “Bird Olympics” by physical attributes of birds to humans.

Water Quality
Students will take water samples at several pre-determined sites at Joe Budd to learn to perform experiments on water quality, record the data and apply the findings to determine if their water sample will support aquatic life.

Fish Dissection
Students use scientific equipment to dissect various fish species, examining internal and external anatomy and analyzing stomach contents.

Palms to Pines
This program guides students through the understanding of the complex world of trees and their connection to our lives. For younger students: basic understanding of tree parts, tree leaf identification and products made from trees that we use every day through fun, interactive activities. For older students: investigate the economic, environmental, and social aspects of forests. Using forester’s tools, students will survey the health of the schoolyard trees and begin to understand how natural and human influences affect forests.

Intro to Archery
The archers learn the basics on parts of a compound bow, types of bows, types of arrows, and how to draw, aim, and release safely. They practice shooting from a standing position at targets at various distances.

Intro to Kayaking (September to November and March to May)
Kayaking focuses on boating nomenclature, introductory paddling techniques, and safety rules and considerations while out on the water. Participants use a single-seat kayak to travel along Joe Budd Pond.

Intro to Paddleboarding (September to October and April to May)
Paddleboarding focuses on boating nomenclature, introductory paddling techniques, and safety rules and considerations while out on the water. Participants use a paddleboard to travel along Joe Budd Pond.

Students learn about Florida wildlife by identifying pelts, animal tracks, scat, and skulls. This program connects STEAM requirements and focuses on food chains and life cycles of animals.

Our resident reptiles are available to come and educate students about ecology, adaptations, and their vital role in the environment. These educational specimens are a great way to talk about the life cycle and conservation of reptiles.

Students will learn some bear facts and identify and describe the factors of bear habitats. Find out how limiting factors affect animal populations and analyze data to determine how many bears can live in a habitat.

Learn about Florida’s 13 bat species; what do they eat, where they roost, and why we should conserve them. By putting students in the shoes of a bat biologist, they will collect a bat that is “caught in a net” and gather information about the bat to determine the overall health of the bat.

What is a rock, mineral, or fossil? Joe Budd staff will bring hands on activities to discover our state mineral, how to identify fossils, and what minerals are found in our everyday life.