St. Augustine - Florida History Tour
Join Science Partners as we explore St. Augustine, our "Nation's Oldest City." Our day begins at the Fountain of Youth, a National Archaeological Park. The park is located at the site of the ancient Timucuan Indian town of Seloy. This is where the history of North American began when Ponce de Leon came ashore and claimed ALL of North America for Spain. At that time, "La Florida" was the entire North American continent, not just our state! Our group will tour the Springhouse where we can sample water from the spring that Ponce de Leon thought was the "Fountain of Youth." We'll also see the Explorer's Discovery Globe presentation, Navigator’s Planetarium, and Timucuan Indian Village of Seloy as well as other exhibits and the grounds, as time permits.
After eating our picnic lunch at the Fountain of Youth picnic area, we're off to explore Historic Downtown St. Augustine. Parking at the Historic Downtown Parking Facility is $20 per vehicle, per entry (subject to change).
We'll board the sightseeing Red Train for a one-hour fully narrated tour of historic sites downtown! Traveling several miles, we'll see dozens of historic sites that usually include Castillo de San Marcos, The City Gate, City Marina, City Plaza, Colonial Spanish Quarter, Flagler College, Villa Zorayda, Flagler Memorial Presbyterian Church, Lightner Museum, St. George Street, Mission Nombre De Dios, Spanish Military Hospital, The Old Jail, The Old Senator, The Oldest House, and more!
After our tour, students will participate in Colonial Kids activities outside Ripley's Believe It or Not. Hands-on activities for students include making things like a Colonial-era toy, corn grinding, palm weaving, making a Colonial necklace, sewing shoes, braiding rope, etc.
We'll also wander down historic St. George Street where we will step back in time on this narrow, paved brick street to see the Huguenot Cemetery, the City Gate, the Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse in the USA, and more (including some interesting shopping opportunities).
At the Visitor Information Center, we'll see their changing exhibits as well as a model of the San Pelayo, the flagship that Pedro Menendez sailed to St. Augustine!
After our tour, students will participate in Colonial Kids activities outside Ripley's Believe It or Not. Hands-on activities for students include making things like a Colonial-era toy, corn grinding, palm weaving, making a Colonial necklace, sewing shoes, braiding rope, etc.
We'll also wander down historic St. George Street where we will step back in time on this narrow, paved brick street to see the Huguenot Cemetery, the City Gate, the Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse in the USA, and more (including some interesting shopping opportunities).
At the Visitor Information Center, we'll see their changing exhibits as well as a model of the San Pelayo, the flagship that Pedro Menendez sailed to St. Augustine!
An optional visit to Castillo de San Marcos* (see explanation below), allows you to spend time exploring 300 years of Florida history during a self-guided tour of this unique national monument.
*Explanation: Castillo de San Marcos has recently changed their rules so that group visits to the fort are very complicated and limited. CdSM does not provide ranger-led tours any more, and Science Partners is not permitted to conduct tours there. School / education groups are limited to 30 minutes inside, only 38 per group at the time, and access to only specific rooms. With reduced numbers for group reservations, these limited reservations are hard to get. If we went in as a group, we would have to hire and pay a St. Augustine tour guide, pay entrance fee of $15 per adult / 16 years and older (see below for info on "Fourth Grader Family and Friends Pass"), and be limited on our number of participants, our time, and places inside to visit. The simplest way to visit is for adults to pay their own entrance fee at the fort's toll booth (or families of fourth graders may get free passes). Children (15 and under) are free, but must be accompanied by an adult. This way, you can see and do anything and everything that you want inside the fort and not be limited by "group rules." Science Partners will provide you with a handout to guide you on your "self-guided" tour.
PLEASE NOTE: Fourth graders can go online and get a free pass for family and friends (not only for CdSM, but for most, if not all, national parks)! Here is the link: https://www.everykidinapark.gov/get-your-pass/.
PLEASE NOTE:
Starting this school year, the Red Train Tour will charge us $50 for each cancelled train. So, you need to decide whether you want one or two trains before we schedule your trip.
One Train: Minimum number is 40 / Maximum number is 56 (Red Train capacity).
Two Trains: Minimum number is 60 / Maximum number is 112 (Two Red Trains capacity).
Minimum age: 5 years old recommended (however, younger children may attend).
Cost: For ages 3-15 years is $41 and for ages 16 years and up is $46. The cost of this field trip has gone up because of price hikes by the Fountain of Youth and the Red Train Tour (not Science Partners).
With Optional Visit to Castillo de San Marcos: If you visit CdSM, cost for 16 years and older is currently $15 (subject to change) unless you have a National Parks pass or Fourth Grader family and friends pass. Children 15 and younger are free.
*Explanation: Castillo de San Marcos has recently changed their rules so that group visits to the fort are very complicated and limited. CdSM does not provide ranger-led tours any more, and Science Partners is not permitted to conduct tours there. School / education groups are limited to 30 minutes inside, only 38 per group at the time, and access to only specific rooms. With reduced numbers for group reservations, these limited reservations are hard to get. If we went in as a group, we would have to hire and pay a St. Augustine tour guide, pay entrance fee of $15 per adult / 16 years and older (see below for info on "Fourth Grader Family and Friends Pass"), and be limited on our number of participants, our time, and places inside to visit. The simplest way to visit is for adults to pay their own entrance fee at the fort's toll booth (or families of fourth graders may get free passes). Children (15 and under) are free, but must be accompanied by an adult. This way, you can see and do anything and everything that you want inside the fort and not be limited by "group rules." Science Partners will provide you with a handout to guide you on your "self-guided" tour.
PLEASE NOTE: Fourth graders can go online and get a free pass for family and friends (not only for CdSM, but for most, if not all, national parks)! Here is the link: https://www.everykidinapark.gov/get-your-pass/.
PLEASE NOTE:
Starting this school year, the Red Train Tour will charge us $50 for each cancelled train. So, you need to decide whether you want one or two trains before we schedule your trip.
One Train: Minimum number is 40 / Maximum number is 56 (Red Train capacity).
Two Trains: Minimum number is 60 / Maximum number is 112 (Two Red Trains capacity).
Minimum age: 5 years old recommended (however, younger children may attend).
Cost: For ages 3-15 years is $41 and for ages 16 years and up is $46. The cost of this field trip has gone up because of price hikes by the Fountain of Youth and the Red Train Tour (not Science Partners).
With Optional Visit to Castillo de San Marcos: If you visit CdSM, cost for 16 years and older is currently $15 (subject to change) unless you have a National Parks pass or Fourth Grader family and friends pass. Children 15 and younger are free.
BEGIN YOUR ADVENTURE
Friday is generally the busiest day of the week for groups in St. Augustine. Visitation is lowest from mid-September through mid-November. Visitation is highest around holidays (especially Christmas to New Year's); during spring, summer, and winter breaks from school; and on weekends. School group visitation is quite high October-November and February-May. To visit our website calendar and check for available dates or currently scheduled adventures, click here.
QUESTIONS? CONTACT MERILEE CLIFTON at 407-808-4458 (cell / text) or [email protected].
Our next "OPEN" St. Augustine - Florida History Tour on Friday, October 11, 2024, is scheduled by Science Partners and The Classical School, Orlando.
Deadline for the minimum number is September 13, 2024. Later registrations may be accepted, space permitting.
Download the registration form below.
Friday is generally the busiest day of the week for groups in St. Augustine. Visitation is lowest from mid-September through mid-November. Visitation is highest around holidays (especially Christmas to New Year's); during spring, summer, and winter breaks from school; and on weekends. School group visitation is quite high October-November and February-May. To visit our website calendar and check for available dates or currently scheduled adventures, click here.
QUESTIONS? CONTACT MERILEE CLIFTON at 407-808-4458 (cell / text) or [email protected].
Our next "OPEN" St. Augustine - Florida History Tour on Friday, October 11, 2024, is scheduled by Science Partners and The Classical School, Orlando.
Deadline for the minimum number is September 13, 2024. Later registrations may be accepted, space permitting.
Download the registration form below.
| 2024_10-11_st_augustine_fl_history_tour.pdf |
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Home | Creation Field Trips | Creation Workshops | Calendar | Creation Speaker
Questions? Contact Bill or Merilee Clifton at 407-808-4458 (cell / text) or [email protected].
Copyright © 2024 by Science Partners LLC. All rights reserved.
Home | Creation Field Trips | Creation Workshops | Calendar | Creation Speaker
Questions? Contact Bill or Merilee Clifton at 407-808-4458 (cell / text) or [email protected].
Copyright © 2024 by Science Partners LLC. All rights reserved.
