Education

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is an unmatched outdoor classroom. Our 2.25 mile boardwalk with a private C.L.A.S.S. section, designated upland education trail, Blair Audubon Center and The Weslyn Strickland Outdoor Education Center lend the opportunity for participants of all ages to explore pristine habitats and engage in informative seminars and presentations. Program participants study and explore upland pine forests, open wet prairie and marsh wetlands and the largest contiguous stand of virgin of bald cypress in North America. Cutting edge research and land management programs also allow for volunteerism and citizen science engagement. On site restoration activities provide an opportunity for colleagues and students to get on the ground experience and observe critical habitat restoration in action.

Specialized 2nd grade Insect Adventure and 5th grade Wild Florida Adventure curriculum programs were developed in coordination with Collier County teachers to include classroom lessons, field exploration, and Educator workshops. Both are aligned to the Florida Sunshine State Standards. Individuals, foundations and businesses support tuition costs through our School Sponsorship Program.

Corkscrew is a key field site for Florida Gulf Coast University’s “Colloquium” course. Colloquium is a core requirement for all undergraduate students and focuses on global perspectives, sustainability, native Florida habitats and systems, environmental economics, urban development, watershed and critical conservation issues.

Our innovative Partner Educator Program provides orientations, workshops and continued support to enable elementary teachers and university faculty and student naturalists to serve as field educators for visiting classes. Partner Educators receive membership benefits and recognition in our annual report. Over 150 Partner Educators are currently trained and delivering programs in coordination with Corkscrew naturalists.

Private Adult Group Programs both on and off site can be arranged to fit your special interests. These programs offer a way for your group to learn more about the Sanctuary or a special topic of interest.

Corkscrew offers a variety of Public Programs that allow individuals to learn more about the Sanctuary and its surrounding ecosystems, and discover ways to get involved with the study and preservation of our beautiful south Florida. Our Discover Corkscrew Programs offer a variety of engaging educational experiences within the Sanctuary. Corkscrew also offers and instructs classes for the Florida Master Naturalist Program, a partnership with the University of Florida that benefits anyone interested in learning more about Florida’s environment or wishing to increase their knowledge for use in educational programs as volunteers, employees, ecotourism guides, and others. We are also involved in local Special Events. People can get actively involved in our Volunteer and Citizen Science Programs.

Read more about our programs here.

For more information on the programs offered at Corkscrew, please contact Sally Stein, Director of Adult Programs 
or Rebecca Beck, Director of Education.

2nd Grade Insect Adventure

Capitalizing on children's inherent curiosity about insects and other residents of the micro-world, the Insect Adventure is designed to teach about insects while enabling students to look at their environment with a holistic view. Important concepts such as habitat, interdependence and adaptation are reinforced throughout the program and students have the opportunity to employ several steps in the scientific method as they become junior entomologists.

Students, led by Audubon naturalists and trained 2nd grade Partner Educators, walk a specially constructed trail through a pine upland area that includes learning stations spaced along the walk where they perform experiments designed to coincide with subjects studied in the classroom. Participants also travel a portion of the boardwalk where they apply classroom and activity station knowledge to the larger Corkscrew ecosystem.

Participating teachers must attend on-site workshops to be eligible to receive Sponsor funding. At the training, teachers receive Educator manuals, materials for their students, discuss strategies to implement the unit, identify how they will prepare students for the field trip, review all field trip activities and are provided examples of how to continue the trip with post visit activities in the classroom.

5th grade Wild Florida Adventure

Southwest Florida offers an outdoor classroom with unique environmental regions. The 5th Grade Wild Florida Adventure program provides students and teachers an opportunity to take advantage of that classroom and to use the environment as a platform for learning.

Habitat, adaptations, hydro periods, endangered species, natural and human disturbance, sustainability and conservation issues are topics of study weaved through the 5th grade curriculum. Water and its presence or absence in our ecosystem is the main unifying theme of the program.

Students, led by Audubon naturalists and trained Partner Educators, travel through the Sanctuary on a raised boardwalk in search of all things wild. After an initial introduction, small learning groups venture through the pine upland forest, wet prairie, and finally into the bald cypress swamp with its lettuce lakes and wildlife. Students conduct research projects on birds, plants, reptiles, and mammals and are introduced to Corkscrew's innovative natural wastewater treatment facility, the Living Machine.

Participating teachers must attend on-site workshops to be eligible to receive Sponsor funding. At the training, teachers receive Educator manuals, materials for their students, discuss strategies to implement the unit, identify how they will prepare students for the field trip, review all field trip activities and are provided examples of how to continue the trip with post trip activities in the classroom.

School Sponsorship Program

The generosity of private individuals, foundations and businesses ensures financial support for Corkscrew’s high quality conservation education program. Initiated in 2005, Founding Sponsors connected with specific schools and classrooms to support outdoor learning opportunities and underwrite admission fees for area students. Today, Sponsors endorse a variety of activities within the Education Department at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. Contributions support elementary students and teachers for Curriculum Programs which include field trip activities, Sanctuary admission, program supplies and classroom instruction. Teachers and University Professors are provided professional development opportunities under our Partner Educator program and receive year-long support. Donations underwrite coordination of programs and workshops for Corkscrew staff, Volunteers and Partner Educators who present field lessons. Sponsors receive recognition in our annual report, student and teacher feedback and an invitation to join a field program. For list of sponsors and the sponsorship brochure, please click here.

Florida Gulf Coast University’s “Colloquium”

Colloquium is a required course for all undergraduate students and is taught by faculty from all colleges at the University. Corkscrew Sanctuary is a key field trip site for the program and provides opportunities for students to complete required service learning hours by engaging them in land management, restoration and science.

The course goals are:

• to provide a sense of place and an understanding of the unique ecological features of the Southwest Florida environment
• to assist in achieving the Florida Gulf Coast University learning goal of developing "an ecological perspective" and in teaching the related outcomes that the student will "..know the issues related to economic, social, and ecological sustainability, analyze and evaluate ecological issues locally and globally, participate in collaborative projects requiring awareness and/or analysis of ecological and environmental issues;"
• to provide experiences to assist in moving toward achieving the eight other FGCU learning goals and their related outcomes (a list of the nine FGCU Student Learning Goals and Outcomes is attached);
• to enable a working understanding of sustainability, of environmental education, and of ecological literacy.

Partner Educator Program

To accommodate increased demand in all program areas and to ensure quality experiences for students, Corkscrew’s Education Department initiated a Partner Educator Program in 2008 to expand upon existing programs. The initiative provided the opportunity to engage Elementary Educators, University Faculty and University Student Naturalists to serve as outdoor educators during class field trips to assist Audubon Naturalists with program delivery.

Corkscrew Staff works in direct partnership with participating Partner Educators to prepare them to serve as field Educators at Corkscrew. This not only ensured that existing programs would be sustained and that new audiences could be accommodated, but also created a strong Audubon presence and relation with visiting Educators while positively influencing their relationships with students.

Partner Educators receive on- site trainings, attend workshops and participate in field trials to enhance teaching methods. Under the guidance of Corkscrew staff and volunteers, teachers have garnered self-confidence in presenting lessons in our outdoor classroom. These enriched teaching methods have resulted in increased benefits to students. Mutually, Corkscrew naturalists are able to observe and learn from formal classroom educators to broaden knowledge of teaching techniques and effective content delivery.

Partner Educators receive the following benefits.

• Eligibility for School Sponsor funding for 2nd or 5th grade programs
• Corkscrew membership: Free admission for cardholder and one guest
• 30% Discount in the Corkscrew Nature Store
• Recognition in Annual Education Reports
• Member discounts for Discover Corkscrew Public Programs

Program success is evident in the enthusiasm of our students, positive feedback from teachers and administrators, and the continuing dedication of our Corkscrew volunteer guides and sponsors. Over 100 Partner Educators participate in conservation education at the Sanctuary. 

Private Adult Group Programs

Although most visitors enjoy the Sanctuary by taking a self–guided tour on the boardwalk, for groups wanting a more in-depth guided experience, they can take advantage of our knowledgeable naturalists. Naturalist guided adult group programs at Corkscrew can be arranged for private groups such as civic associations, travel groups, nature clubs, business groups, family reunions, etc.

For daytime guided boardwalk tours, the cost is $15/person with a minimum charge of $150. There is a discount for Audubon chapter groups. Programs can be arranged to suit your group’s interests, such as birding, native plants, wildflowers, general ecosystem, etc. Night walks and other special programs can also be arranged for groups, but may have different costs associated with them. Depending on the specific program, different limits on the number of participants will apply. Guided programs can only be arranged depending on our naturalists’ availability. It is best to try to reserve your group program as far in advance as possible as our education calendar fills up quickly.

For more information on Adult Group Programs and for reservations, please contact Sally Stein, Director of Public Programs (239-348-9151, ext. 112).

Discover Corkscrew Programs

For description of programs and reservation information, please click here.

Florida Master Naturalist Program

The Florida Master Naturalist Program (FMNP) is an adult education opportunity developed by the University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service and provided by many extension offices and other nonprofit educational organizations around Florida.

FMNP training will benefit anyone interested in learning more about Florida's environment or wishing to increase their knowledge for use in educational programs as volunteers, employees, ecotourism guides, and others.

For more information, please click here.