The east side of the Shark Valley Tram Road is closed Mondays from 7 a.m. through Thursdays at 5 p.m. until further notice. Closure includes nighttime hours. Trams, bicycle rentals and ranger programs are available for the west side of the Tram Road.
Gulf Coast canoe/kayak launch and visitor center closed during construction
Alternate launch sites for backcountry access include the Rod & Gun Club, Outdoor Resorts of Chokoloskee, and Chokoloskee Island Park and Marina. Fees at these sites vary. Call the park information line at 305-242-7700 for more information. More
Paurotis Pond is closed for wading bird nesting season until Summer 2025
Paurotis Pond, including the boat launch, the pond, and the area beyond the parking area adjacent to the pond, is closed until further notice to limit human disturbance to nesting wading birds like Great Egrets. The parking lot remains open for viewing.
Pa-Hay-Okee Overlook Trail closed for replacement project until Fall 2025
The Pa-Hay-Okee boardwalk trail, tower and parking lot will be closed for a replacement project until the fall. This is to replace aging infrastructure. The road remains open as a turnaround.
How to register: The registration form usually opens mid-August each year. Because programs fill quickly, we suggest teachers request a date as soon as they know their preferred date(s) and program(s).
First time teacher? : First-time teachers to Everglades Education Programs will need to attend an in-park Teacher Workshop. You can sign up for a workshop by selecting the workshop date you will attend while registering for your program.
Transportation: Assistance with bus transportation may be available and can be requested during registration.
Need more information? : Review the information below on each in-person day program offered. For more information, call the Education Office at (305) 242-7862 or email us.
Students walking through a Pine Rockland
NPS
In-Person Program Descriptions
In-person programs are available from October through April each school year.
*NEW* Pine Rocklands Field Science Program (6th - 8th graders)
Location: Homestead, Florida
Maximum group size: 45 Students
Teachers & Chaperones: 1 adult per 10 students
Description: Engage middle school students in a comprehensive field science program consisting of 3 immersive sessions. Students will be introduced to real world science application while highlighting the intricate roles of fire and water in the Everglades.
Park Ranger and students leaving the Shark Valley observation tower
NPS Photo
Shark Valley Day Program (4th graders)
Location: Shark Valley (Miami)
Maximum group size: 58 students
Teachers & Chaperones: 1 adult per 10 students (not to exceed 64 total)
Description: Students explore the vast Shark Valley slough on a narrated, open-air tram tour and hike to the observation tower for a bird's eye view. Alligators, wading birds, turtles, and fish are just a few of the residents commonly encountered. Students learn about the Everglades watershed and their own connections to the south Florida ecosystem.
NPS Photo
Royal Palm Day Program (5th & 6th graders)
Location: Royal Palm & Long Pine Key (Both Homestead)
Maximum group size: 59 students (some flexibility for larger groups)
Teachers & Chaperones: 1 adult per 10 students (not to exceed 65 total)
Description: Rangers lead students through four different Everglades habitats, including: the freshwater slough, sawgrass prairie, pine rocklands, and hardwood hammock. Students are often able to observe alligators, wading birds, turtles, and fish and discuss adaptations. Rangers challenge students to think about their own connections to the Everglades ecosystem.
Students reflecting in front of Nike Missile Barn
NPS / Denise Diaz
Nike Missile Program (9th-12th graders)
Location: Meet at Ernest Coe Visitor Center (Homestead)
Maximum group size: 45 Students
Teachers & Chaperones: 1 adult per 10 students
Description: Students become soldiers as they are immersed in history at the HM 69 Nike Missile base. Rangers facilitate activities as students reflect upon living life as a soldier during the Cold War, life as a child affected by Operation Pedro Pan, and about why history is still relevant today.
Students and a ranger snorkeling in Florida Bay
NPS
Slough to Sea Program (6th - 12th graders)
Location: Key Largo, Florida
Maximum group size: 45 Students
Teachers & Chaperones: 1 adult per 10 students
Description: Students will gain an understanding of the Everglades watershed and all of the ecosystems within through a virtual and in-person visit, exploring the connections from the freshwater to Florida Bay and beyond. Students will travel into the Everglades by boat to sample water quality, understand how humans interact with the environment, and snorkel in either a mangrove or coral reef ecosystem.
Program Availability: Programs are offered December through March to 5th and 6th grade students from the surrounding community. (There may be flexibility 7th grade and above, depending on staffing).
Cost: Programs are free. Schools provide transportation and meals.
Maximum group size: Depends on platform used. Usually 100 devices.
Teachers & Chaperones: No limit.
Description: Teachers across the world can sign up for a free, curriculum-based virtual program for students. Presentations engage students in a live video and allow participants to interact with a Park Ranger in real time.
