Each year, nearly 1,000 students from Title 1 public schools in Pinellas County attend full-day field trips to Weedon Island, funded in total by the Friends. Led by professional naturalists, fourth and fifth grade students participate in three separate activities: an interpretive hike on the Preserve’s trails, a tour of the Center’s Exhibit Hall, and an archeological activity in the Center’s classroom. To have hands-on experiences both in Florida’s estuarine environment and with its cultural history is a “first” for many of the students.
During the summer, Weedon Island offers multiple week-long camps for school-age children and teens, to which the Friends offers 30 scholarships. From habitat to learning how to fish to exploring the Preserve’s cultural history through its archeological remains, the campers love their experience!