Educational Partnerships for Local School Groups

Our Living Classroom provides a hands-on curriculum to community youth and the general public in the field of ecology, geology, marine biology, archeology, history and art. With some of the highest quality and most diverse natural resources remaining in Miami-Dade County, our Living Classroom also educates our community about preserving our biodiversity through environmental stewardship, environmental sustainability, and overall resource management. All programs are correlated to the Sunshine State Standards and are FCAT compatible. They are structured to engage participants in interactive, positive and balanced activities that help foster an understanding and appreciation as they think critically about the world around them. 

FIELD STUDY TRIPS
The Estate offers a variety of on-site Field Study Trips led by Education and Interpretive Staff where students can learn, hands-on, about South Florida’s rich heritage and natural resources. Our Sea Lab, Eco-Walk, Heritage Tour, Fish Dissection, and Archaeology Dig are some of the Field Study Trips that are available. All of our Field Study Trips include web-based, pre-and post curriculum guides and classroom activities, interactive tours, and on-site projects that can be modified to fit your particular interests. Field Study Trips can accommodate up to 4 groups of 30 participants simultaneously.

REVERSE FIELD TRIPS
The Estate offers off-site programming opportunities that are designed to bring our Living Classroom directly to your school during traditional school hours or as part of an after school care program. Equipped with fossils, artifacts and tools, preserved specimens, photographs and simple laboratory experiments, our Eco-Brigade, the Deering Estate at Cutler’s Education and Interpretive Staff, can bring curriculum to community youth in the fields of ecology, geology, marine biology, archaeology, history and art. Reverse Field Trips accommodate up to 30 students per two hour session and multiple sessions can be offered at a single site. The curriculum is offered in two levels, K-2 and grades 3-5.

TEACHER WORKSHOPS
The Deering Estate at Cutler offers Teacher Workshops to Miami-Dade County Public School teachers holding a Florida Educator's Certificate and other members of the education community including new teachers, paraprofessionals, substitute teachers, non-instructional personnel and others. Full day, on-site workshops highlighting our Living Classroom core curriculum in ecology, marine biology, geology, archaeology, history and art also allow teachers to earn Master Plan Points. Enrollment is through the Miami-Dade County Public School Teacher Education Center.

For more information, please refer to the School Program Guide or contact Yoelly Burgos at 305-235-1668 ext. 238 or email yburgos@miamidade.gov.