Homeschool Workshops
November 2020 – March 2021
10:30 am-12:00 pm
Ages 7 – 15
Price: $3 per student
Interested participants are required to register and pre-pay by calling 561-743-7123.
Registration will open on the 1st of the month that each program is offered.
Space is limited to 15 students to accommodate safe social distancing requirements. These workshops are drop-off only, held in the River Center’s chiki hut or classroom, with students working independently.
All students will be required to wear face coverings and undergo health screening prior to parent drop off.
Down and Dirty: All About Soil
Friday, November 20, 2020 @ 10:30am-12pm
Ages: 11-15
Location: River Center
Students will understand what kinds of soil are most common in South Florida. They will learn how to classify soil types according to their abundance of sand, silt, and clay. Students will measure and compare the differences in water holding capacity of different soil types. They will understand the important role plants play into preventing soil erosion, runoff, and water percolation.
Registration opens November 1st
Making Mixtures: Solvents and Solutes
Tuesday, December 1, 2020 @ 10:30am-12pm
Ages: 11-15
Location: River Center
Students will prepare various mixtures, investigate their unique properties, and classify them based on the observed properties. Students will use direct observations and the Tyndall effect to distinguish saltwater from freshwater. Students will explore why some water pollutants are not easily seen.
Registration opens December 1st
Ocean Currents and Plastic Voyages
Friday, December 18, 2020 @ 10:30am-12pm
Ages: 7-10
Location: River Center
Students will learn about the production of plastic, how it’s used, and the problems that are created when plastics become marine debris. Students will participate in hands-on activities about pollution solutions, as well as come up with creative innovations and ideas for reducing, reusing, and rethinking single-use plastics.
Registration opens December 1st
Water Properties Lab
Tuesday, January 5, 2021 @ 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Ages: 7-10
Location: River Center
Students will work in an interactive lab that covers the properties of water including density, buoyancy, surface tension, and the phases of water comparing two different water types. Students will make connections to salt, fresh, and brackish water in their experiments and the ecosystems in the Loxahatchee River watershed.
Phenology at Play: Timing of Nature’s Life Cycle
Friday, January 15, 2021 @ 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Ages: 11-15
Location: River Center
Phenology deals with the timing of nature’s cycles, such as the blooming of a flower, the migration of a butterfly species, or the changing color of leaves in the fall. Successful organisms have timed their need for food to the life cycles of their food source. Students will be able to define phenology, give examples of the impacts of phenological changes on wildlife, and describe ways that different species may react to phenological changes.
Fish Morphology Lab
Friday, February 12, 2021 @ 10:30am-12pm
Ages: 7-10
Location: River Center
This fun and unique program provides a detailed look into the differences between fish species and adaptations found throughout nature that allows them to survive. Students get the opportunity to create their own fish using different art media to create different adaptations based on their ecosystems and specific habitats.
Registration opens February 1st
Call to Book
561-743-7123
It’s Clear to Me! Testing Turbidity
Tuesday, February 16, 2021 @ 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Ages: 11-15
Location: River Center
Erosion increases the amount of soil particles in water. Aquatic organisms are particularly susceptible to the effects of increased sediments and turbidity. Students will explore the effects of sediment on turbidity, compare the turbidity of muddy and clear water, stimulate environmental conditions that cause erosion, and investigate ways to reduce erosion that leads to turbidity in the waterways of the Loxahatchee River.
Registration opens February 1st
Call to Book
561-743-7123
Reptiles of the Loxahatchee
Tuesday, March 23, 2021 @ 10:30am-12:00pm
Ages: 7-10
Location: River Center
Reptiles are considered eco-enrichers and play a significant role in the Loxahatchee River ecosystem. Reptiles such as alligators, freshwater turtles, and snakes have unique adaptations that allow them to thrive in our swamps and marshes. Students will get up close with some of the resident reptiles, learn about their distinctive characteristics, and discover what makes them unique.
Registration opens March 1st
Call to Book
561-743-7123
Oyster Reef Ecology Lab
Friday, March 26, 2021 @ 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Ages: 11-15
Location: River Center
This activity includes a habitat assessment using samples taken directly from the Loxahatchee River (oyster restoration bags). Macro and Microorganisms are discovered, identified, and classified using different scientific tools and equipment. Students are getting a firsthand look at the primary consumers of the food web in relation to fish nursery food supplies.
Registration opens March 1st
Virtual Field Trips
The River Center is offering virtual field trip programs this school year! On select Wednesdays our River Center educators are providing specific topics for our virtual experiences.
Our mission is to foster a sense of environmental stewardship for the Loxahatchee River’s diverse watershed with quality programs, educational exhibits, and meaningful events.
Program Times: 10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. (All Groups)