Day Courses are 3-hour, hands-on, field-based programs designed for curious ocean explorers ages 6 to 13. With more than 30 rotating topics throughout the year, every visit offers a new opportunity to explore marine science, wild habitats, and unique creatures.

Students can register for a morning session, an afternoon session, or stay for a full day, making Day Courses a flexible option at $60 per student. They’re especially popular with visiting families looking to add an educational adventure to their island vacation, as well as local families taking a day off from school or work to explore their coastal home.

Each course follows a thoughtful, engaging rhythm that blends structure with free play and exploration. The day begins at our campus, where students meet their educator and classmates. We have a quick circle time in our classroom where we share our one rule — be kind — and three goals — be safe, have fun, and learn something. We then introduce the topic of the day and the places we’ll explore, and warm up with a game, activity, or experiment.

Next, it’s time for adventure. Most of the class is spent outside, learning directly from the natural world. From our campus, we can walk to both the bayside and Gulfside beaches. When needed, our 15-passenger vans allow us to travel to specific habitats to find the animals or ecosystems we’re studying.

Parents are always informed at check-in if a class plans to travel. In the field, students might wade, swim, or snorkel; use dip nets and other scientific tools, play games or participate in scavenger hunts, collect samples for later observation, or gather natural materials for creative projects.

Back on campus, the fun continues through art. Each class ends with a hands-on project inspired by the day’s discoveries — think shell mosaics, driftwood wall hangings, or manatee masks from sea grape leaves.

“These projects help students reflect on what they’ve learned while expressing it creatively,” said Sanibel Sea School Director Shannon Rivard. “To celebrate their achievements, every student receives a personalized certificate of knowledge at the end of class, a meaningful keepsake to remember their ocean adventure.”

Recent Highlights from the Field

During a Day Course on Feb. 18, students dove into the world of dolphins during a class led by Marine Science Educator, Emily Pipkin. They walked out to the Gulf from campus, where they explored the shoreline with dip nets and discovered an exciting variety of marine life. Their finds included juvenile blue crabs, sea cucumbers, hermit crabs, and plenty of lightning whelk egg casings — some impressively large!

“Back on shore, we played a tag game to learn about echolocation, leading to lots of laughter, especially from one student whose giggles made him very easy to find,” shared Pipkin. “Campers also played in the waves like dolphins, examined a dolphin skull, and took a beach walk to search for dorsal fins breaking the surface. Although no dolphins were spotted this time, we were still all smiles at the end.”

The following day, on Feb. 19, students explored the importance of seagrass in a course led by Marine Science Educator Izzy Lutz.Students headed out to the bay to learn how to identify three common species of seagrass, snorkel to get a better view, and gently tow a seine net to uncover an exciting mix of seagrass residents. They caught small fish called gobies, tiny spider crabs, and even a couple of purple sea urchins.

“It was wonderful to see how the kids’ curiosity grew as the course went on. Many times, seagrass isn’t always the most exciting topic for kids right away, but then as soon as they discover everything that lives in it, that quickly changes,” shared Lutz.

Next, the group shifted into creative mode, weaving washed-up turtle grass into small handmade coasters, blending art with ecology. To wrap up the class, campers played an animal guessing game focused on species that live in seagrass beds, which quickly became a group favorite. One student loved it so much she asked the educator to help her set it up again so she and her sister could play on the car ride home.

The Power of Day Courses

Sanibel Sea School’s Day Courses are more than short programs; they are powerful entry points into environmental stewardship and lifelong curiosity. In just a few hours, students make lifetime memories, gain new knowledge, and develop a deeper love for the ocean. They take home a piece of Sanibel’s natural spirit. Through these immersive experiences, we continue our mission of improving the ocean’s future, one person at a time.

Learn more and book a Day Course today by visiting sanibelseaschool.org/day-courses/.