School/Group Programs

Preschool/Kindergarten

Timeframe: 1.5hours

There are a lot of different ways plants and animals “grow-up” in the wild. Get hands-on with the plants and animals in Leight Park and learn how they grow over time.

These cold blooded creatures live interesting lives! Spend time with a naturalist learning about what makes them special. Then, get up close and personal with a few of our reptile animal ambassadors.

Through stories, crafts, and activities, learn all about our scaly, slippery, water-bound friends of Otter Point Creek. Spend time getting up close and personal with a few caught right off the shore and see what makes them so unique.

1st thru 5th Grades

Timeframe: 2.5 hours

From the fish that swim in the underwater grasses, to the osprey that soar in the sky, the largest estuary in the U.S. has a lot to teach us! Discover how living and nonliving pieces of the estuary ecosystem fit together through activities like fish seining, live animal talk, watershed hike or pond exploration.

6th thru 12th Grades

Timeframe: 2.5 hours

From the fish that swim in the underwater grasses, to the osprey that soar in the sky, the largest estuary in the U.S. has a lot to teach us! Discover how living and nonliving pieces of the estuary ecosystem fit together through activities like fish seining, live animal talk, watershed hike or pond exploration.

Homeschool/Group

Timeframe: 1.5 hours

From the fish that swim in the underwater grasses, to the osprey that soar in the sky, the largest estuary in the U.S. has a lot to teach us! Discover how living and nonliving pieces of the estuary ecosystem fit together through activities like fish seining, live animal talk, watershed hike or pond exploration.

Determine what makes a fish unique, explore their adaptations, and then sample for fish in Otter Point Creek. 

Meet the herps of Otter Point Creek. Learn how to classify them, where they fit in the food chain, how they are adapted to their environment, and how we study them to determine population level and health. Age 5 to 10 focus is on hands-on Discovery Room activities and adaptations. Age 11 to 17 will conduct guided investigations of Center herps and then participate in ongoing herp research projects.

An excellent introduction to the external and internal structures of aquatic animals in the Estuary. Each lab includes information about the life history of the organism and its role in the Estuary ecosystem.

  • Dissection labs are available at the Anita C. Leight Estuary Center
  • Price for each Lab Session: Up to 6 students=$100; Up to 10 students=$140
  • For high school students ages 14+; for younger students, speak with instructor
  • Allow a 2-hour period 
  • 2 Chaperones requested per group 

At the Estuary Center, we strive to provide hands-on experiences that will help our visitors understand and connect with the natural world. Even during uncertain times, we are working hard to deliver safe programs, field trips, and outreach opportunities for our community.