All Students are Welcome

Plan a Visit Today

The Oakland Nature Preserve welcomes students of all ages to visit the 128-acre nature Preserve and Environmental Education Center. We are open 365 days a year from 8:00 a.m. until sunset.

Give your classes an experience and not just a field trip

The education programs at the Preserve offer members and visitors an opportunity to observe and interpret natural systems and understand the need to restore altered ecosystems.

In nature, there are endless lessons to be learned.

In House School Programs

Please email Director@OaklandNaturePreserve if you are interested in bringing a class to the Environmental Education Center. Please include the following information in your email message:

- Perspective Number of students attending
- Their general age/grade
- Preferred date or date range of the visit
- Affiliation (School or Institute Visiting)

A fee of $3.00 for each person in the group is required.

A typical field trip lasts approximately three-four hours. This includes a hike down the boardwalk to Lake Apopka, a short lecture on our history in the Education Center and an animal demonstration.

Sunshine State Standards and ONP

The Oakland Nature Preserve is aware of the standards, benchmarks and access points used by the Florida Public School System. The lesson are designed to give the information students are required to learn at each grade level in such a way that it has a greater impact then if presented in the classroom. A visit to the Oakland Nature Preserve will provide classes with the information teachers are required to teach and students are required to learn.

Environmental Day Camp a BIG HIT!

Campers, instructors and volunteers at ONP's Pilot Summer Day Camp all had a great experience! When asked, "What should we do different next year", the children unanimously agreed, "Nothing!! Keep everything the same!" Because of the program's tremendous success, we will be offering it again next year! For additional information, please call (407) 905-0054, or email director@oaklandnaturepreserve.org.

After School Science Club (K-9)

The Oakland Nature Preserve is offers an After School Science Club during the Fall and Spring semesters for young, budding scientists. Students can have fun learning about science and nature with instructor Heidi Beck, science teacher at the Oakland Avenue Charter School. A number of guest instructors will be on head who are experts in their diverse fields of study. Club members will learn about nature, make crafts, collect plankton to study, learn about insects, plant parts, natural systems, and use binoculars to identify birds and much more.  

Registration is being excepted at this time for the Fall semester, which begins Tuesday September 6 for K-5 graders and Thursday September 8 for 6-9 graders. The Club is for 12 weeks and the Fall semester goes through November with a joint ending celebration for all grade levels on November 22.

Enrollment is $50.00 per semester (for a member of ONP) and $75.00 (for a non-member which includes a family membership to Oakland Nature Preserve).  A  Family Membership adds your family to the email list for upcoming events and you will receive a seasonal newsletter in the mail.  

The Club is offered every Tuesday, for students entering grades K-5, and Thursdays for students entering grades 6-9 from 4:00 PM- 5:30 PM.  We encourage you to sign up quickly because Club size is limited to 20 students per semester at this time. Please call 407-905-0054 for more details.

Note: Registration is required for this program. We do not release students for pick up to adults other then those dropping off with out written consent.