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Florida

Snorkeling the Coral Reef in Key Largo With Your Grandchild

Program No. 21018RJ
Snorkel Florida’s coral reef—the third largest in the world! Visit a Turtle Hospital and learn from experts about sea Turtles and what the hospital is doing to preserve them.
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Grandparent Water Sports Outdoor Adventures Small Group Nature & Environment Ages 9 – 14
Length
6 days
Rating (5)
Activity Level
Starts at
2,699 / ADULT
1,549 / CHILD

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Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone? 800-454-5768
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Age 9 - 14
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Deposit, Transfer & Cancellation Policy
Optional Trip Protection Plan
Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone? 800-454-5768
6 days
5 nights
13 meals
5B 4L 4D
1
Check-in, Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Key Largo
2
Mangrove Jungle Walk, Glass Bottom Boat, Aquarium, Snorkel
Key Largo
3
Turtle Hospital, Curry Hammock State Park, Free
Key Largo
4
Snorkeling the Coral Reef, Free Time
Key Largo
5
Snorkeling Field Trip, Theater of the Sea
Key Largo
6
Wrap-up Session, Program Concludes
Key Largo
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At a Glance

Pop on your goggles and grab your grandchild for the underwater adventure of a lifetime! Did you know that the third largest living coral barrier reef in the world is right here in the Florida Keys? It’s waiting for you to come snorkel this amazing natural wonder! With an expert scuba-diving instructor, explore the shallow reefs of the world-famous Key Largo National Marine Sanctuary. Meet park rangers who will tell you everything you’ve ever wanted to know about your the finned friends you meet along the reef, and find out all about what the world can do to save the coral from extinction. Plus, a presentation on sea turtles as well as a behind the scenes look at the Turtle hospital facilities and rehabilitation area. At the end participant are invited to feed the permanent residents.
Activity Level
Outdoor: No Sweat
Open-water swimming, snorkeling up to 1.5 hours a day.
Small Group
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

Best of all, you’ll…

  • Snorkel at Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, which protects the third-largest living coral barrier reef system in the world.
  • Take a guided educational visit of the hospital facilities and the sea turtle rehabilitation area.
  • Wade into the water with park rangers to collect small sea creatures in your net; learn all about them before you release them back into the ocean!

General Notes

Due to the nature of this program, listening devices will be unavailable.
Featured Expert
All Experts
Profile Image
Heather L Hamilton
Florida native Heather Hamilton has been exploring the beaches, lakes and forests of Florida’s wilderness since she was a little girl. As an experienced camper, hiker, biker, kayaker, fisher and photographer, Heather has seen Florida in just about every light on her extensive travels throughout the state. She studied culinary arts at the Art Institute in Fort Lauderdale and became a cook and pastry chef, but she changed careers several times before embracing her passion. She became a Master Naturalist and full-time Florida guide.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Heather Hamilton
Heather L Hamilton View biography
Florida native Heather Hamilton has been exploring the beaches, lakes and forests of Florida’s wilderness since she was a little girl. As an experienced camper, hiker, biker, kayaker, fisher and photographer, Heather has seen Florida in just about every light on her extensive travels throughout the state. She studied culinary arts at the Art Institute in Fort Lauderdale and became a cook and pastry chef, but she changed careers several times before embracing her passion. She became a Master Naturalist and full-time Florida guide.
Profile Image of Alberto J Melendez
Alberto J Melendez View biography
Alberto Melendez is a certified educational excursion, a certified Advance Open Water Scuba Diver and a Florida master naturalist. He has been leading kayak and snorkeling explorations in the Orlando area for over eight years. A 'tree-hugger' since the term became popular, he enjoys introducing folks to the inside story of the critters, salt marsh and history of the area.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Search for a Title
Florida’s Fabulous Fish
by Gary Cochran
Exploring Wild South Florida
by Susan D Jewell
Eco-Touring the Florida Keys
by Matthew Landau Larry Gates
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6 days
5 nights
13 meals
5 B 4 L 4 D
DAY
1
Check-in, Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Key Largo
D
Holiday Inn Key Largo

Activity note: Hotel check-in from 4:00 p.m. Remember to bring your name tag (sent previously).

Afternoon: Program Registration& Orientation: 5:30 p.m. We will gather in our reserved room at the hotel to register with the program staff and receive welcome packets containing the up-to-date schedule that reflects any last-minute changes, and other important information. If you arrive late, please ask for your packet when you check in. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. This is a Road Scholar Grandparent program. Grandparents are responsible for their grandchildren. If/when separate age group activities are conducted concurrently, program staff will supervise. Children are never to be left unsupervised. Travel and transfers will be via passenger van. Everyone who wishes to snorkel must be able to swim. When we go snorkeling, everyone will be provided with a safety vest that must be worn at all times (USCG requirement). We will also provide a mask, snorkel, and fins; or, you may use your own. Our days will be filled with fun adventures and activities, so we do not have scheduled evening programs. This is a great time for “grands” to spend time together, sharing what these experiences mean to each of us, and also to enjoy the resort’s amenities. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

Dinner: We will ride to a local restaurant.

Evening: At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, stroll along the boardwalk, then settle in and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

DAY
2
Mangrove Jungle Walk, Glass Bottom Boat, Aquarium, Snorkel
Key Largo
B,L,D
Holiday Inn Key Largo

Activity note: Getting in/out of a passenger van. Walking approximately 1 mile in state park; boardwalk, pathways. Snorkeling practice on the beach. Everyone who wishes to snorkel must be able to swim.

Breakfast: We will ride to a local restaurant.

Morning: We’ll hop into our van for a field trip to John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. This was America’s very first undersea park, established in 1963 to protect and preserve the only living coral reef in the continental U.S. Together with the adjoining Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, the park is about 25 miles long and reaches three miles into the Atlantic Ocean. It includes coral reefs, seagrass beds, and mangrove swamps with lots of marine life and many shore birds above the water. We’ll go on an expert-led walking field trip through a mangrove habitat to learn about the importance of this dynamic living environment, why mangroves are essential to the reefs, and how the mangrove system is the second most productive bio-zone on the planet. We’ll then get aboard a 65-foot glass-bottom catamaran for a look into the undersea world. As we pass through the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, we’ll be able to see a number of shallow reefs teeming with wildlife.

Lunch: At the park.

Afternoon: Next, we’ll go to the park’s Environmental Education and Visitor Center for a slide presentation on reef fish to help identify fish we may see later on the reefs. The living, fragile, shallow-water coral reefs of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary are vibrant with color and activity. One of the best ways to experience the reefs is by snorkeling, and we’ll have a supervised snorkeling practice session on the beach. If you’ve already had experience snorkeling, this will be a refresher. Everyone, regardless of age, who wishes to snorkel must be able to swim.

Dinner: At a local restaurant.

Evening: At leisure. Talk over the day's experiences and enjoy what the resort has to offer.

DAY
3
Turtle Hospital, Curry Hammock State Park, Free
Key Largo
B,L,D
Holiday Inn Key Largo

Activity note: Getting in/out of a passenger van. For state park field trip, wear water shoes or old sneakers;

Breakfast: At a local restaurant.

Morning: We’ll ride in our van for a field trip to the Turtle Hospital, a non-profit organization dedicated to the rehabilitation of endangered sea turtles. Its animal care professionals perform a variety of surgeries on different species and sizes of sea turtles with the goal of returning them to the ocean where they can live as live creatures. The hospital has successfully treated more than 1,000 sea turtles that have been taken to appropriate release points. We’ll begin with a staff presentation on sea turtles and what the hospital is doing to help them. Then, we’ll go behind the scenes to explore the facilities and rehabilitation areas. Note: Sea turtles are an endangered/threatened species and should not be touched or handled by anyone unless authorized by the Turtle Hospital.

Lunch: At Curry Hammock State park.

Afternoon: Free Time to enjoy Hotel Facilities

Dinner: At a local restaurant.

Evening: At leisure. Our days are full of wonder, learning, and fun. Share experiences with one another and look forward to tomorrow.

DAY
4
Snorkeling the Coral Reef, Free Time
Key Largo
B,L
Holiday Inn Key Largo

Activity note: Getting in/out of a passenger van. For snorkeling field trip, everyone will be provided with a safety vest that must be worn at all times (USCG requirement). We will also provide a mask, snorkel, and fins; or, you may use your own. Bring a bathing suit, towel, sunscreen, and maybe a change of dry clothes. Follow all rules and regulations to avoid harming sanctuary resources. FILL WAIVER FORM ONLINE FOR THIS DATE: http://waiver.smartwaiver.com/w/5ebc12d6a089f/web/?auto_tag=fh_id_79077917

Breakfast: At a local restaurant.

Morning: We’ll head to Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary for our first snorkeling field trip. This sanctuary protects the third-largest living coral barrier reef system in the world. With our Group Leader and boat staff supervising, we’ll go snorkeling in the shallow-water coral reefs, vibrant with color and activity, to appreciate more of the biology of corals and their importance and see the fish swimming around. We’ll follow all sanctuary rules and regulations to protect these resources and be good stewards of the environment. We’ll return to the hotel after our field trip.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Free Time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Dinner: At your leisure

Evening: At leisure. Another set of great memories to add to your collection. Spend time with "grands" and new friends, and get some rest for our last full day of the program tomorrow.

DAY
5
Snorkeling Field Trip, Theater of the Sea
Key Largo
B,L,D
Holiday Inn Key Largo

Activity note: Getting in/out of a passenger van. For snorkeling field trip, everyone will be provided with a safety vest that must be worn at all times (USCG requirement). We will also provide a mask, snorkel, and fins; or, you may use your own. Bring a bathing suit, towel, sunscreen, and maybe a change of dry clothes. Follow all rules and regulations to avoid harming sanctuary resources. FILL WAIVER FORM ONLINE FOR THIS DATE: http://waiver.smartwaiver.com/w/5ebc12d6a089f/web/?auto_tag=fh_id_79078363

Breakfast: At a local restaurant.

Morning: We’ll set out on another snorkeling field trip, returning to the living, shallow-water coral reefs of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary to see and learn more. In addition to the colorful corals, fishes, and other “critters,” we’ll see a variety of seagrasses under water as well as birds and other wildlife above the water before returning to the hotel.

Lunch: On the hotel grounds.

Afternoon: Our last field trip will take us to Theater of the Sea that began more than 70 years ago — as a rock quarry! The quarry had provided material for an amazing engineering achievement, the Oversea Railroad in the early 1900s. It eventually filled with sea water and fish. An enterprising family of animal lovers saw the possibilities for a facility that would provide a home for marine mammals and other animals. They share them with the public to inspire awareness and sensitivity towards the animals, the environment, and conservation issues. Today, Theater of the Sea presents shows that exhibit animal behaviors and give people a chance to see them in action. Animals that live here include alligators, bottlenose dolphins, marine invertebrates, parrots, raptors, sea lions, sea turtles, sharks, stingrays, and many kinds of fish. They also rescue and rehabilitate animals that have been injured or can’t be released back into the wild for other reasons. Depending on what’s going on at the park that day, we may opportunities to see dolphin, sea lion, and parrot shows that integrate anatomy, animal husbandry, conservation issues, and natural history.

Dinner: At a local restaurant. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during at our farewell dinner.

Evening: At leisure. Enjoy our last evening together on the program with “grands” and new friends. Then prepare for check-out and departure after our closing session in the morning.

DAY
6
Wrap-up Session, Program Concludes
Key Largo
B

Activity note: Airport shuttle to Miami departs at 9:00 a.m. Hotel check-out 11:00 a.m.

Breakfast: At a local restaurant.

Morning: We’ll have a wrap-up session with our Group Leader to share what was most interesting, exciting, and enjoyable. This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!






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