Teacher and School Field Trip Planning Information
Tree Tops Park
3900 S.W. 100th Ave., Davie
954-370-3750
Tree Tops Park is an excellent place to explore the wonders of nature rooted in the history of Florida. Along the park's Pine Island Ridge, people have coexisted with wildlife for at least 7,000 years. The distinctive habitats of pinelands, high hammocks, and wetland marsh in this 356-acre park provide numerous opportunities for hands-on environmental education and nature adventure.
Program Descriptions
GROWING AND CHANGING (Kindergarten-First Grades)
Meet Frannie the Frog or Busy the Bee in a puppet show that explains how living things grow, change, and reproduce. On a trail walk students will use a variety of senses to learn what natural foods animals and people can eat. A scavenger hunt will help students find living things that grow and change in the forest.
- Two hours.
- Maximum 60 students.
LIVING AND NONLIVING (First-Second Grades)
A puppet show with forest friends will help explain what is living and what is nonliving. Through hands-on activities, students will look for soil creatures and pond life in the environment. A safari walk along the nature trails will help students to classify animals and plants and emphasize their dependence of living things on one another and the environment.
- Two hours.
- Maximum 60 students.
BUTTERFLIES: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (Kindergarten-Second Grades)
Children will learn about the life cycle of a butterfly and how it grows from a beast into a beauty. On our trails the students will see and learn to identify different species of butterflies in our special butterfly garden. They will discover the role these beautiful creatures play in the environment. Students will make a butterfly craft to take home.
- Two hours.
- Maximum 60 students.
HABITATS: A CIRCLE OF LIFE (Third-Fifth Grades)
Increase your students understanding of habitats and ecosystems. A hands-on activity of building a food pyramid and a food web will help students learn about how organisms are interrelated and interdependent and how they best adapt to their environment. A trail walk will show students a variety of habitats and how organisms compete for available resources.
- Two hours.
- Maximum 60 students.
WONDERFUL WORLD OF BIRDS (Third-Fifth Grades)
Your students will open their eyes to some of the most beautiful and accessible animals in the natural world. Students will be introduced to the birds in Tree Tops Park and how their adaptations help them survive in the wild. On a trail walk, students will observe birds and the plants they need for food.
- Two hours.
- Maximum 60 students.
INDIANS OF SOUTH FLORIDA (Sixth-Eighth Grades)
The cultural and historical members of our South Florida community – the Tequesta and Seminoles Indians – will be examined with a trail walk through their ancient homelands. Students will learn what plants and trees were used for foods, medicines, and everyday living.
- Two hours.
- Maximum 60 students.
MOTHER NATURE'S APPRENTICES (Sixth-Eighth Grades)
What can young people do to help the environment? Through a trail walk students will learn about current issues and how we can all help the environment through conservation enhancement and protection. Participants will make a positive impact by working on a conservation project such as tree planting and exotic plant removal. Wear covered shoes and work clothes. Bring work gloves.
- Three hours.
- Free with completion of 1.5-hour work project.
- Maximum 60 students.
EARTH PROTECTORS (Ninth-12th Grades)
What can be done about our rapidly dwindling resources? This program shows how proper management practices and preservation can benefit the environment. A trail walk will introduce students to these concepts. Then they'll put their new knowledge into action by participating in conservation projects such as exotic plant removal and tree planting. Wear old work clothes and covered shoes. Bring work gloves.
- Three hours.
- Free with completion of 1.5-hour work project.
- Maximum 60 students.
Seek the Unique
INDIAN POWWOW (Third-Fifth Grades)
Our South Florida historical heritage is explored in this educational program. A walk through the forest and marsh area will help students experience what life used to be like in nature's supermarket, seeing what trees and plants were used for food, medicine, and everyday living by Indians and early settlers.
- Two hours.
- Maximum 60 students.
