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Onsight School Tours

 

Guided tours of the historic Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse and museum are provided free of charge to all Volusia County public and private school groups and at a reduced admission rate for schools in neighboring counties. Scheduled in accordance with volunteer availability, every school tour is structured in accordance with the specific grade level and academic needs of its intended audience. A typical tour of the lighthouse and museum usually takes 1.5 to 2 hours to complete. Teachers wishing to expand their tour may also choose to participate in one of the museum's add-on activities if time permits.

Add-On Workshops and Enrichment Activities

Teachers who wish to enhance their students’ overall lighthouse experience with an additional hands-on activity or workshop may do so by adding one or more of the museum’s educational workshops to their general tour, time-on-site, and volunteer availability permitting.  

Developed by professional teachers and museum professionals, the museum’s unique cross-curricular offerings integrate STEM concepts with the Ten Themes of Social Studies as outlined by the NCSS. Program themes focus on a broad range of maritime and lighthouse history topics as they relate to Florida, the country, and the world. 

All educational offerings are aligned with the Common Core State Standards of Florida.  Programs include hands-on interactive workshops and activities, thematic units, living history interpretations, and more. Available educational offerings that may be added to a general school tour include:

Student Workshops:

  • The Science of Light
  • Lighthouse Geography and Celestial Navigation
  • The Lost Art of Morse Code and Flag Signaling
  • Radio Navigation and Direction Finders
  • Crystal Radio Sets
  • Lighthouse Archaeology
  • Digging at the Lighthouse
  • STEAM Lighthouse Laboratory
  • Compass Reading

 

Hands-On Enrichment Activities:

  • The Artifact Touch Box
  • Be a 19th Century Kid
  • Living at the Lighthouse
  • The Lighthouse Keeper’s Tasks
  • Kids Play at the Lighthouse
  • Lighthouse Obstacle Course
  • Build Your Own Lighthouse
  • Make a Lighthouse Pendant
  • The Tool Lady

 

History Presentations:

  • Paleo Florida
  • Florida’s Seminole Indians
  • The 1835 Lighthouse
  • Seminole Raid at Mosquito Inlet
  • Civil War Skirmish at Mosquito Inlet
  • Filibustering to Cuba
  • The Open Boat
  • Immigrants Built the Lighthouse
  • WWI at the Lighthouse
  • Florida’s Houses of Refuge
  • WWII at Ponce Inlet

 

Living History Interpretations:

  • Keeper in the Classroom
  • Meet Abbie Burgess
  • Captain Murphy of the SS Commodore
  • Meet Ianthe Bond Hebel
  • A Woman Who Kept the Light

 

Scheduling a School Tour

Teachers and school group coordinators who are planning a field trip to the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse are encouraged to contact the museum’s Programs Manager at their earliest convenience to secure their desired date and time. Advanced notice and early registration significantly increase the Association's ability to schedule tour guides and workshop facilitators. This is especially important during the holiday months when docent availability is limited. Please refer to the following guidelines when scheduling your tour.

  • School tours should be booked at least three weeks in advance of their intended arrival. Non-guided tours should be scheduled one week in advance.
  • Classes are generally divided into groups of ten students per tour guide. At least one school chaperon is required to accompany each tour group. Please plan accordingly.
  • Lighthouse tours are designed for grades 2-12, however, accommodations can be made for lower grade levels.
  • The lighthouse endeavors to accommodate students with special needs. Please communicate any special requirements to the Programs Manager at the time of initial registration.
  • Admission costs for out-of-county school groups must be paid in full at least three days prior the group’s intended arrival. Refunds will be issued for any cancelations made with at least 24 hours’ notice.
  • Dining facilities are not available at the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse and Museum; however, picnic tables can be found in the Kay and Ayres Davies Park next door. Please contact the Town of Ponce Inlet’s Cultural Services Manager at (386) 236-2163 regarding the use of these public amenities during your visit.
  • Bus parking is available in the lighthouse’s upper lot. Please notify the museum’s program manager of your anticipated parking needs when scheduling your tour.
  • The lighthouse strives to meet the scheduling needs of all school groups; however, guided tours are subject to volunteer availability.
  • Tours may be scheduled by filling out a School Tour Reservation Form below. Completed forms may be faxed to (386)761-3121 or emailed directly to the museum's educational programs department at zhopple@ponceinlet.org.

School Tour Reservation Form

Please contact the museum's educational programs department via email at zhopple@ponceinlet.org or by phone at (386) 761-1821 ext. 18 regarding any additional questions you may have about scheduling a school tour.


School Tour Registration Form

Homeschool Tour Registration Form

Student Souvenir Packages

Many students like to purchase souvenirs during their field trip to remember their visit. Unfortunately, time constraints and financial concerns are almost always a factor for groups visiting the lighthouse. In an effort to save students and teachers both time and money, the Preservation Association has put together a discounted souvenir package that includes several items appropriate for children at a fraction of the regular cost.

Student Souvenir Packages must be ordered at least three days in advance of your scheduled tour date to provide gift shop personnel time to have them ready when you arrive. All orders are collectively processed in one transaction, not individually. Payment is due when you arrive at the lighthouse.  Acceptable forms of payment include cash, check, or credit card.

Please contact the museum’s gift shop manager by phone at (386) 761-1821 ext. 21, or by email at giftshop@ponceinlet.org for additional information and instructions.

The Student Souvenir Program order form can be printed/downloaded using the link below.
 

Student Souvenir Order Form


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