Embedded Files
Salamander Saturday | 5/2, 4 pm ET
For 9–12, adult lifelong learners, homeschool groups, learning pods, and public libraries
Get WISE and SEA inside
Get WISE and SEA inside
Meet with real scientist at a working marine science facility
Each WISE program puts learners inside one of four active research and conservation labs at the Mote Science Education Aquarium. Investigate real work alongside scientists, ask questions, and connect classroom science to careers.
See real science in action
Live camera views take students inside veterinary clinics, coral restoration labs, aquaculture systems, and aquarium operations. This is not a recorded tour or simulation. Meet the people who do this work. Every session includes direct conversation with a working Mote scientist or professional, giving students a realistic look at what these careers actually involve.
Save time on lesson prep
Each program includes standards alignment, vocabulary, suggested discussion questions, and educator resources that are ready to use before, during, and after the session.
Sarasota County teachers can access this program at no cost through EdExploreSRQ. CILC members save 10%. SWFWMD Splash! Grants are also available for eligible schools.
$180.00
$180.00
Booking is easy—Pick the topic you'd like to learn about, then choose your preferred booking method (credit card or invoice), and select a date and time. Join with a single secure link.
Contact
Contact
 📧 Email: marven@mote.org
 📞 Call: 941-388-2904
These programs feature live animals. Mote is proud to be accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and has met rigorous, professional standards for animal care, wildlife conservation and research, education and more.
Scan our programs
Scan our programs
Programs are available Monday–Friday, 9:00 am–5:30 pm ET. After-hours and weekend sessions may be arranged for an additional fee.
Encounters should be booked at least three weeks in advance so we can coordinate with workforce staff. Scheduling may be affected by weather or veterinary priorities.
For Educators: select a topic to access educational standards, vocabulary, and supporting resources. Designed to save you time on lesson prep.
Inspiring for learners of all ages, but best for: grades 9–12, adult lifelong learners, homeschool groups, learning pods, and public libraries.
Aquarium Conservation
Aquarium Conservation
Investigate new and innovative methods that Mote use to sustainably reproduce aquatic animals within our aquarium. Learners see jellyfish, rotifer, and brine shrimp production, and other food preparation. The session also highlights life-support operations, water-quality analysis, and sustainable methods that contribute to responsible animal care within AZA-accredited facilities.
Coral Lab
Coral Lab
Visit the Coral Reef Workforce Development Lab to observe researchers studying coral responses to heat, disease, and environmental stress. Students see how scientists identify resilient genotypes, monitor coral health, and prepare fragments for propagation and restoration. The session highlights the investigative and analytical approaches that drive coral conservation and restoration ecology.
Veterinary Clinic
Veterinary Clinic
Explore how Mote’s veterinary teams support marine animals through both in-house husbandry and field-based rescue, rehabilitation, and release. Live demonstrations feature diagnostic tools, treatment procedures, and health assessments used with a range of species, while discussions with veterinarians and animal care technicians provide insight into clinical reasoning and workflow. Students see how aquatic medicine blends biology, technology, and teamwork to safeguard animal health.
Fisheries and Aquaculture
Fisheries and Aquaculture
Discover how Mote advances sustainable seafood production and fisheries recovery using land-based aquaculture and integrated aquaponics systems. Students observe experimental tanks, monitoring instruments, feeding trials, and aquatic plant components that support research on fish and shellfish growth and resilience. The session introduces agri-science and system-design concepts central to modern aquaculture and marine resource management.
Funding Virtual Focus Trips
Funding Virtual Focus Trips
Sarasota Teachers
Sarasota Teachers
FREE
FREE
Our EdExploreSRQ listings are eligible for funding from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, as well as the Education Foundation of Sarasota County.
SWFWMD Grants
SWFWMD Grants
SWFWMD Splash! Grants. Virtual Focus Trips from Mote are Approved Field Studies Programs.Â
Up to $3,000 per teacher for freshwater issues. Public and charter K–12 are eligible.
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