In addition to its on-site educational activities and events, the Preservation Association actively promotes public awareness of the unique maritime and social history of the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse within the local community through its Educational Outreach endeavors. Consisting of a variety of interactive workshops and activities related to lighthouse history and what it was like to live and work at the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse when it was still an active aid to navigation operated by resident keepers, the museum’s Educational Outreach Program provides students who are unable to visit the lighthouse in person the opportunity to participate in the museum’s many educational offerings in the comfort of their own classroom or media center. Educational outreach workshops and presentations can also serve as pre-visit introductory activities for students who plan to visit the Ponce Inlet Light Station in the future or as post-visit enrichment activities for those who have already toured the lighthouse and museum.
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.
Educational outreach offerings include virtual tours of the light station, interactive hands-on workshops, living history interpretations, oral presentations, engaging enrichment activities, and more. While designed for general education classes, most can be easily modified to meet a teacher’s specific classroom needs including grade level, allowable time frames, and specific ESE accommodations. A complete list of all currently available programs can be found on the Educational Workshops page of this website.
Committed to promoting public awareness and appreciation for the unique maritime and social history of the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse, the Preservation Association provides all educational offerings to Volusia County public and private school groups FREE of CHARGE. Outreach programs are not available outside of Volusia County due to travel restrictions.
Scheduling a visit from the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse is easy. Simply download and complete an Educational Outreach Request Form (see link below) and submit it to the museum’s educational programs department by email at Education@ponceinlet.org or by fax to (386) 761-3121. You can choose your desired workshop(s) from the list provided on the form. To aid us in properly planning your event; please notify us of any special needs your students may have in the teacher comment box at the bottom of the form. A staff member will contact you within 2-5 business days to answer any additional questions you may have and establish a date for your classroom presentation. Requests should be submitted at least 3 weeks in advance to ensure volunteer availability for your event.