Silver Springs Homeschool Adventure!

      Silver Springs, FL, USA

      S
      SerVacations
      • Email address verified
      7 reviews
      Duration: 1 day
      Group size: 40 - 40
      Silver Springs Homeschool Adventure!
      Silver Springs, FL, USA

      SerVacations
      • Email address verified
      7 reviews

      Duration: 1 day
      Group size: 40 - 40

      About this trip

      For Ages 6 & Up, typically 8AM - 6PM , approx $79pp includes transportation 

      WATCH THIS VIDEO PROMO!

      You and your group will experience the wonder of Florida's very first tourist attraction and a National Landmark! Students can uncover the history of eco-tourism in Florida as they discover the biology of the world's largest artesian spring as well as the Natural, Native American, and Pioneer histories of central Florida. Enjoy the famous narrated glass bottom boat ride, gardens, lunch, and special private tours of the Silver River Natural History Museum and Florida Cracker Pioneer Village. Our adventure also includes the opportunity to be good stewards and serve the park and its rangers with a special kid-friendly park cleanup/beautification volunteer activity! Matt 5:14-16


      For more information on how Silver Springs evolved from one of the nation's most famous private tourist attractions into a Florida State Park, we recommend this interesting article from the State Park.

      40 guest requirement, Waitlist, Pay Plan

      We currently need 40 people to register in order to make this trip work at the $79 price point and that is the maximum we can accommodate on this special tour. We will create a private or public booking page for you and your group. If the trip maxes out at 40, we can add an additional date. In that case, your members can join the waitlist, and SerVacations will contact them about future dates! If you are having trouble filling spots, at a certain point that you decide, we are happy to open it up to the public and other homeschool families in your area that might be on our mailing list.


      Payment Plan/Cancellation Policy:

      We want to make an exciting trip like this easier on your families' budgets. They can reserve their spots for only $10pp via credit card or ACH and then be auto-billed for the two remaining payments spaced out prior to the deadline, or they can pay in full immediately.


      By depositing for this trip, they are committing to going and paying the remaining balance. All sales are final, but we understand that emergencies do happen. They have the option to find another family to transfer their tickets to, or we can assign them to people (if any) who are on our waitlist. They can simply send us a note using the "message the organizer link" on their confirmation, and we'll do our best to help them.


      If for some reason the target number of guests is not met, guests will be given the option of transferring to a future date or getting a full refund.

      What’s included

      • Deluxe Transportation
        Leave the driving to us with deluxe motorcoach transportation to and from Silver Springs State Park from your group’s location.
      • Park Ranger Welcome
        We will start out the day with a special briefing from the Park Ranger who will explain the history of Silver Springs State Park as Florida's first attraction and introduce students to conservation.
      • Glass Bottom Boat Ride
        Enjoy a fun narrated tour aboard the famous glass bottom boats, where you will get an amazing underwater view of the flora and fauna of the crystal clear springs.
      • Explore the Gardens
        We'll stroll the park's beautiful gardens along the Silver River on our way to a group lunch at the park's outdoor pavilion.
      • Box Lunch
        Enjoy a delicious box lunch from Firehouse Subs that includes a sandwich, chips, cookie, and drinks!
      • Free Play/Nature Journal
        There will be plenty of time after lunch for the kids to play or to take some time to find a quiet place for some nature journaling.
      • Volunteer Service
        The rangers appreciate our heart for service and are in great need of volunteers to cleanup around the springs. We will do a 45 min, supervised, and kid-friendly park cleanup/beautification activity.
      • All cleanup supplies are included and guests will have plenty of time to freshen up before heading to the next stop.
      • Silver River Museum
        We'll then hop on the bus for the short trip to the Silver River Natural History Museum and Florida Cracker Pioneer Village. There, guests will break into two groups, age 6-10, and another for 11+.
      • Expert Tour Guides
        At the Silver River Museum we will have a private tour that is unavailable to the public, led by expert guides under the leadership of a real archaeologist!
      • Natural History Exhibits
        Indigenous species, fossils, animal exhibits and more, including alligators, bobcats, and even a wooly mammoth skeleton to name a few!
      • Native American Exhibits
        Fascinating Native American exhibits from pre and post-colonization periods featuring spears and tools found at the Springs and a dugout canoe!
      • Frontier History Wing
        Exhibits depict the history of the earliest Spanish Explorers, Timucua and Seminole Indians, the Civil War, Steamboats, Silver Springs, and more!
      • Cracker Village
        Head outdoors to explore this 1890's pioneer settlement. Demonstrations and hands-on activities with experts wearing period dress, including a blacksmith's shop, church, and one room schoolhouse!
      • Preparation Resources
        We will send attendees links to online preparation materials and potential reading. After the tour, we will provide some follow-up ideas for projects and ways to review student lessons learned!
      • Fellowship
        Nothing beats experiencing new adventures with your group and making new friends! Parents love to socialize on the bus and tour, and to share best practices and ideas with other like-minded parents.

      What’s not included

      • Hat and sunscreen
        You may wish to wear a hat and sunscreen to protect from the Florida rays. There is lots of shade and comfortable bathroom facilities since this once was a major tourist attraction, but it's still FL!
      • Refillable Water Bottle
        We recommend that you pack at least one refillable water bottle in a little day pack with anything else you and your family might need.
      • Consider: Extra snacks
        There will be a light snack on the ride up and back, but otherwise lunch will be the only meal provided from 8AM-6PM. Feel free to bring some light snacks in case you or the kids need a boost!
      • There are some limited concessions in the park and in the gift shop at the museum so there are options to purchase drinks and food etc. on site.
      • Journals, Curriculum
        We welcome you to bring your own travel journals, course materials, or nature journals for use at the park or on the bus ride. But if you'd rather just relax and soak it all up, that's fine too!
      • No Self-Drive Option
        Due to the logistics of this package including transfer from the park to the museum, we are not able to offer the option to drive yourself and meet the group.
      • The special nature and timing requirements of the private tours and experiences that are only being offered to our group require us to all stay together.
      • No Swimming
        Swimming is not allowed at Silver Springs.

      Available Packages

      Trip Price
      $79
      Deposit: $10

      Your Organizer


      S
      SerVacations
      7 reviews
      SerVacations™ is a group travel community celebrating service tourism that welcomes families, solo travelers, couples, and groups of all ages to combine volunteering with a fun-filled and uplifting vacation that leaves you feeling more connected to one another and truly connected to the community that you visit. Our founders Fred & Marie welcome you aboard! FL Seller of Travel Reference #ST42983

      Reviews

      Had a blast! Look forward to next time.
      By Mary Lynn S for GT vs. Miami Football Road Trip “Party Package” on Oct 19, 2023
      Thanks Mary Lynn, it was a pleasure traveling with you. You must be one of the most energetic Tech fans ever!
      By SerVacations on Oct 19, 2023
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      BS
      Nice folks and we’ll organized. Ran smooth as silk.
      By Bob S for Friday Night Pre-game Dinner at Tropical Acres Steakhouse on Oct 15, 2023
      Thank you Bob for participating! It was a wonderful night and a pleasure meeting you and Donna.
      By SerVacations on Oct 19, 2023
      S
      We had a great time! It was well organized and a great evening out with new friends!
      By Jennifer M for Friday Night Pre-game Dinner at Tropical Acres Steakhouse on Oct 15, 2023
      Jen, thank you for welcoming all our guests from out of town! Go Civil & Environmental Engineers. ;-)
      By SerVacations on Oct 19, 2023
      S
      Great experience and we won the game. Fred had everything planned out and was really fun to travel with. We had problems with our flight and missed the Friday night but Fred brought our meals to us at our hotel room.
      By Paul M for GT vs. Miami Football Road Trip “Party Package” on Oct 11, 2023
      What a great time with fellow alumni! I love that this event was more than just a dinner, which would have been just fine. It included opportunities for the alumni to impact others.
      By Janet K for Friday Night Pre-game Dinner at Tropical Acres Steakhouse on Oct 09, 2023
      Thank you Janet! We think that’s one of the neatest parts of service tourism and alumni group travel. Alumni from far and wide get to make an impact on the local community and even connect with local alumni before they leave, feeling more connected with the destination and ready to come back and visit again soon!
      By SerVacations on Oct 19, 2023
      S
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