Plan Your Visit To The Refuge Now
Environmental Education at A.R.M. Loxahatchee NWR
Revitalize Your Students
Teach Your Class at the Refuge
Are you a classroom teacher, scout leader, homeschool parent, or preschool director? Are you looking for a site within the tri-county area to take your students or scouts? The environmental education staff at the Refuge can assist you. The Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge is a very special part of Palm Beach County. It is the only National Wildlife Refuge in the county, and it is the last remaining portion of the southern Everglades. There is only one Everglades in the world, and all students have a unique opportunity to visit and learn from this fascinating ecosystem. The environmental education program at the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge has been in existence for many years. Currently, we are offering educators the opportunity to book field trips by calling 561.735.6029 at least two weeks prior to your requested date.
The Refuge also offers introductory in-service teacher workshops. We have hosted nationally acclaimed workshops including Project WILD, Aquatic WILD, Fire In Florida’s Ecosystems, Project Learning Tree, to name a few. We also offer Indoors and Out: Connecting Classrooms to Nature Teacher Workshop in partnership with the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach and the Marshall Foundation. The anticipated outcomes for teachers of any workshop will be a better understanding of this ecosystem and they will be provided with some activities that can be taught on and off the Refuge.
School Group Reservation Information
We hope that you will read this information carefully to insure that your group has the opportunity for a safe and pleasant trip to the Refuge. This webpage explains general information concerning school group reservations and methods of planning your trip. We look forward to working with you.
Getting Started
First, get excited about your trip to the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. Your students will find this excitement contagious as they realize they will have the opportunity to visit a national treasure.
Planning Your Visit
The Refuge offers outdoor classroom experiences on a first come, first serve basis. The Refuge only takes one school per day, so when you call to reserve your date, have s couple alternate dates in mind, in case your first choice is taken. In order for the general visitation fees to be waived reservations are required and must be made at least 2 weeks in advance of the proposed visit. Environmental education led program times are reserved for school groups with a ratio of 10 students per one chaperone. These programs provide enhanced learning experiences for each student. After you have decided on an appropriate time and date for your visit, please contact the Refuge Environmental Education Specialist at 561.735.6029 Monday –Friday, 7:00 AM – 3:30PM to discuss your requested date and curriculum. With your help, we can prevent more than one group arriving at the Refuge and Visitor Center at the same time. We highly recommend making an appointment to visit the Refuge with the Refuge Environmental Education Specialist and learn about the area before bringing groups to the Refuge.
Fee Waiver Request Form and Documentation
After you call and request a date, a teacher packet will be sent to you at your school. Included in this packet is the fee waiver visit request form. A completed Fee Waiver Request Form(provided by the Refuge) must be filled out and returned at least 7 days prior to your visit day in order to obtain a group fee waiver to the Refuge. A copy of the fee waiver request form must be signed and returned to the Refuge (via fax, mail, or email) by the group lead teacher who will be present on the visit day. The backside of this double-sided form must be filled out with the curriculum objectives. This valuable information will help us better understand and assist in the achievement of the students’ objectives.
Keep a copy of this visit request form and carry it with you on the day of your visit. This form serves three purposes:
- This form is a contract between your educational group (school, scout troop, etc) and the Refuge.
- This form serves as a fee waiver on your visit day.
- This form better prepares the Refuge Environmental Education Staff in fulfilling your teaching objectives for your students.
Supervisors of educational groups visiting the Refuge are responsible for insuring that their
group's participants observe all Refuge regulations. There are no picnicking facilities at the
Refuge and groups should eat before or after their Refuge visit. However, sack lunches are
permitted for groups staying the day, but care must be taken to prevent littering. It is illegal to
offer food to wildlife or to leave food where wildlife can get to it. Please bring large trash bags
with you on your visit day and please take all your litter off the Refuge.
The Refuge has three entrances. The Refuge Headquarters and Visitor Center on Lee Road are
located off U.S. 441 (State Road 7), 2 miles south of Boynton Beach Boulevard, or 3 miles
north of Delray Beach's Atlantic Avenue. The Hillsboro Recreation Area is 6 miles west of
U.S. 441 on Loxahatchee Road. Loxahatchee Road is 12 miles further south on U.S. 441/State
Road 7 (on the Broward-Palm Beach County line). The 20-Mile Bend Area entrance is 11.4
miles west of the intersection of US441 and Southern Blvd (US 80) on the south side of the
road.
The Refuge is open from sunrise to sunset, so hours change seasonally. Exact Refuge hours are
posted at each entrance.
At the Headquarters Area, buses must use the designated bus parking area just past the Visitor
Center entrance on the north side of Lee Road across from the Marsh Trail sign.
The Refuge Visitor Center is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. seven days a week. Audio-visual programs, exhibits and volunteers are available to help your group get acquainted with the Refuge. From the Visitor Center, it is easy walking distance to the Cypress Swamp Boardwalk and Marsh Trail.
Conclusion
General information and suggestions for student activities are available at the Refuge by calling 561.735.6029. If you have any questions or concerns about your reservation call us at 561.735.6029. We appreciate your interest in the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge and look forward to your visit to the Refuge.