Eco-Academy 2010

Zoo Miami and the Deering Estate, located in Palmetto Bay are collaborating to offer enhanced learning opportunities to homeschool parents and other parent educators in South Florida.

ECO-ACADEMY, a 30-week science and environmental stewardship program, will draw on the rich resources of Zoo Miami and the Deering Estate at Cutler.

The program, designed for parent educators and youth provides a rich, hands-on curriculum in the field of animal kingdom, animal adaptations, endangered species, marine biology, archaeology, and environmental sciences.  Weekly sessions of discovery include topics such as Zoology, Ecology, Endangered Species and Conservation, Natural Sciences,  South Florida Ecosystems, and Marine Biology.

The goal is to complement more formal educational programs (homeschool, public and private school curriculum) with the opportunity to apply Eco-Academy materials and lessons to real life situations.

All programs are correlated to the Florida Department of Education Standards. They engage participants in interactive, positive and balanced activities to foster understanding and appreciation, allowing participants to think critically about the world around them.

Both facilities will provide parent educators with fossils, artifacts and tools, preserved specimens, photographs and simple laboratory experiments to help illustrate the key points of a specific topic. The program will accommodate up to 30 people per class, per site and will be offered once a week for 30 weeks during the academic year for 2 hours each session.

This exciting science and environmental awareness program begins on August 30, 2010 at Zoo Miami (12400 SW 152 Street, Miami) and the Deering Estate (16701 SW 72nd Ave, Palmetto Bay).  Children must be at least 5 years of age, and pre-registration is required.

For more information visit www.zoomiami.org or call (305) 251-0400.

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