Virtual Focus Trips

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Real animals. Real research. Real answers.

Virtual Focus Trips bring you inside Mote Marine Laboratory through live, two-way video with real experts ready to answer your ocean questions.

Program Types:

Wonderful Animal Virtual Encounters (WAVE) | Grades 3-12+, Adults | Up to 30 min | live animals
Virtual Science Talks | Grades 6-12+, Adults | Up to 60 min | lecture-style presentations
Workforce Industry STEM Explorations (WISE) | Grades 9-12+, Adults | Up to 60 min | workforce career explorations from our Vet Clinic, Coral Lab, Fisheries & Aquaculture Lab, or Aquarium Conservation Lab.
SEA Me Read | Grades K-4+ | Up to 30 min | read-aloud STEM storybooks
SEA Show | Grades K-6 | Up to 30 min | free seasonal programs

Highlights:

Flexible Scheduling – Designed to fit your calendar. Choose the date and time that works best for you.
Engaging, Real-World Learning – Interactive sessions connect you with authentic science experiences.
Standards-Aligned Content – Programs support National and Florida Science Standards.
Educator Resources Included – Detailed guides with learning objectives, vocabulary, and ready-to-use activities.
Anywhere Access – Join Virtual Focus Trips from any location.
Direct Interaction – Ask questions and engage with real ocean experts through synchronous dialogue, chat, and polling.
Affordable Access – Free events and funding opportunities help bring high-quality ocean learning to your classroom or home.

Funding Opportunities

Sarasota Teachers: Our EdExploreSRQ listings are eligible for funding from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, as well as the Education Foundation of Sarasota County. Find out how to fund your virtual field trip.
CILC Premium Members: Save 10% when you book through this link.
SWFWMD Splash! Grants. Virtual Focus Trips from Mote are Approved Field Studies Programs. Up to $3,000 per teacher for freshwater issues. Public and charter K–12 are eligible.
Save 53% on our Wonderful Animal Virtual Encounters by Adopting An Animal first. Your adoption funds expert care, rescue efforts, and groundbreaking research.

Contact

Jason Robertshaw, Virtual Learning Manager
Email: marven@mote.org
Call: 941-388-2904

Wonderful Virtual Animal Encounters (WAVE)

Whether you’re a classroom, homeschool group, corporate team, lifelong learner, scout group, or birthday party, our live, interactive encounters bring you up close with fascinating marine animals—from mesmerizing jellyfish to rescued sea turtles. Led by expert educators, these sessions offer behind-the-scenes insights, real-time Q&A, and exclusive animal interactions, all from the comfort of your home or classroom.

Best for: Grades 3–12, adult lifelong learners, homeschool groups, learning pods, and public libraries.
$111.11

Jellyfish Journey: Join us for a stunning virtual journey into the gelatinous world of jellyfish. Mote is home to several mesmerizing species and anywhere from 150 to 1,000 individuals. Discover how we feed so many mouths and learn about the intriguing life cycle of jellyfish, including how we raise their babies. We also explore the connection between jellyfish and corals and the importance of jellies in marine ecosystems.
Coral Curiosity: Dive into the fascinating world of corals! Discover how these vibrant marine creatures are crucial to our oceans, supporting diverse species, safeguarding coastlines, and paving the way for potential medical innovations. Learn from our ocean experts about their groundbreaking work in breeding resilient corals, testing treatments for diseases, and restoring damaged reefs through coral planting initiatives.
Sharks Alive: Join us for a jawsome encounter with sharks. Meet the shark species we care for at Mote Science Education Aquarium, including bonnetheads, sandbars, nurses, blacknoses, and more, along with their cousins—the skates and rays. Then uncover the secrets of the shark lifecycle and how we care for these incredible creatures. Finally, see where our science meets conservation to ensure the future of these vital ocean dwellers.
Seahorse Surprise: These fin-tastic fish are known for their unique life cycle, where males give birth to their young. We’ll also showcase the incredible variety of fish on our planet as we explore Mote’s successful aquarium breeding program. These programs not only deepen our understanding of fish life cycles but also help reduce the demand for collecting these amazing creatures from the wild.
Axolotl Waddle: Discover the incredible life cycle and adaptations of axolotls, including their remarkable regenerative abilities. Explore the many challenges axolotls face in nature and how they thrive in human care, serving as ambassadors for this endangered species.
Turtle Tales: Shell-ebrate turtles with a virtual visit to our resident reptiles. Meet the incredible animals at the heart of our conservation efforts and learn how we’re working to protect endangered sea turtles. From caring for rescued patients to monitoring nesting beaches and releasing hatchlings, you’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at the science of survival. Discover what makes these reptiles so unique and how you can help them too.
Otters & Their Waters: Slide into a virtual encounter with the playful North American River Otters. Meet our resident otters as we explore their habitat and their amazing aquatic adaptations. Learn about the vital role a healthy ecosystem plays in the lives of otters and the other creatures in their watershed world. Discover the challenges of caring for these energetic and intelligent mammals, and maybe see our animal-care team in action during otter training time.
Manatee Marvels: Join us for an joyful encounter with our manatees. Watch as the manatees munch on lettuce or nudge the window with their snout. Discover how Mote scientists study manatees, from counting them via airplane surveys to making closer observations with drones. This research plays a vital role in advancing conservation efforts to save these threatened animals.
Penguin Plunge: Plunge into the plucky world of penguins. Meet Mote’s Humboldt penguins up close and discover how our team keeps them healthy through training, enrichment, and expert care. Learn what makes these birds such powerful swimmers. Then explore the real threats they face in the wild and what’s being done to protect them.

These program features 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.

Mote Science Talks (virtual)

Bring the wonders of the ocean to your audience with engaging Mote Science Talks. Our professional speakers will present a captivating multimedia session on the marine science topic of your choice, featuring our cutting-edge ocean research.

Mote Science Talks are 40-60 minute lecture-style presentations with time for audience questions.
Best for: Grades 6–12, adult lifelong learners, homeschool groups, learning pods, and public libraries.
$180.00

Ocean Innovations: cutting-edge tech, from cancer-fighting compounds to oceanographic tools used in the field. Biomedical & Technology Development
Marine Life Matters: data from the field informs habitat protection for sharks, turtles, manatees, and more. Conservation, Restoration & Monitoring
Coral Conservation: restoring Florida’s reefs through groundbreaking coral propagation and resilience studies. Coral Reef Ecosystems
Toxins and Tides: how harmful algal blooms form, how they’re studied, and what they mean for our ecosystems. Environmental Health
Hatchery to Habitat: sustainable seafood systems and the science of food security. Fisheries & Aquaculture
Marine Mammals & More: how we rescue and rehab sea turtles and marine mammals. Marine Animal Rescue & Rehabilitation
Oceans for All: Dr. Eugenie Clark and the history and future of Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium

Explorations

Inquiry-driven investigations using MARVEN, our portable virtual learning companion, to explore our STEM Workforce Laboratories at Mote SEA.

Explorations sessions are up to 60 minutes with time for questions.
Best for: For 9–12, adult lifelong learners, homeschool groups, learning pods, and public libraries
$180.00
- 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: 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: 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: 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.

Estuary: Go on a seashore safari without getting wet during our excursion into Sarasota Bay. Live from atop the Mote Aquarium Roving Virtual Estuary Navigator (MARVEN), embark on a sightseeing adventure over mudflats, seagrass meadows, and mangrove trees. Uncover the challenges sea creatures face living between the tides and maybe wave to a scientist working alongside us on the docks. You never know what we will find when we explore the estuary together. From shark pups to grownups, this program is suitable for all ages.

SEA Me Read

We read the story aloud with your students, then guide them through a focused learning segment. Each session is designed to build critical thinking, support oral language development, improve fluency and pronunciation, strengthen reading comprehension, and encourage STEM engagement.

SEA Me Read sessions are up to 30 minutes with time for questions.
Best for: Grades K-4, homeschool groups, learning pods, and public libraries.
$111.11

Next Time You See a Pill Bug: In this interactive virtual story time, we read Next Time You See a Pill Bug by Emily Morgan. We get an up-close look at live animals, including pill bugs, shrimp, and crabs. And we jump into a fun learning segment that builds thinking skills, boosts reading and speaking confidence, and gets everyone curious about science.
Next Time You See a Snowflake: In this interactive virtual story time, we read Next Time You See a Snowflake by Emily Morgan, a book that explores the science of snowflakes – how they form, why they are six-sided, what conditions are necessary for them to form. Join us to learn more about these natural wintery wonders.
Next Time You See a Seashell: Join us for an engaging virtual story time as we read Next Time You See a Seashell by Emily Morgan, a captivating nonfiction book that reveals how mollusks create shells for protection and camouflage. Together, we’ll uncover how these natural wonders offer clues about the lives of the creatures that crafted them.
Alfie: (The Turtle That Disappeared): The night before Nia’s seventh birthday, her turtle Alfie disappears. Where did he go? Go on an adventure and discover the friendship between a girl and her turtle—from both points of view. A warm and funny story that celebrates friendship through the seasons, even when those friends see the world very differently.
If a Dolphin Were a Fish: Join Delfina the dolphin as she imagines that she becomes other animals. Readers will watch Delfina become a fish with gills, a sea turtle laying eggs, a pelican with feathers, an octopus without bones, a shark with a sense of smell and even a vegetarian manatee. The incredible “morphing” illustrations will have children laughing as they learn about the real differences between these animals! Join us on this ocean adventure as we discover what makes a mammal a mammal and how creatures have adapted to live in the sea.
Otto the Otter–A Big Surprise: Dive into the true tale of Otto the Otter, a captivating North American River Otter, who inspires a family’s imagination while visiting their small pond. Delight in seasonal observations of the otter’s playful antics as captured through the author’s brightly textured watercolors. And get ready for a big surprise when the otter brings the family something unexpected!
Shark Baby: When Shark Baby’s egg case is torn loose in a storm, he goes on a journey across kelp forests, coral reefs, and seagrass meadows. He needs to find the “mermaid” to figure out where he belongs. Help him find his way back!
Swimming With Sharks: In the 1930s few people dared to explore the depths of the sea, and none were women. But Genie wasn’t afraid. Follow “the Shark Lady” as she uncovers the mysteries of the world’s most feared fish!

A history of STEM learning journeys

In 1986, Mote Marine Laboratory set long-range plans to expand its K–12 education efforts. That vision took a major leap forward in 1989, when Dr. Bob Ballard, famed discoverer of the Titanic wreck, invited Mote to participate in the JASON Project. The program used interactive videoconferencing to take students on electronic journeys to remote locations, beginning with ancient shipwrecks in the Mediterranean. Mote joined as the twelfth site to receive live broadcasts. Within three weeks, the William G. and Marie Selby Foundation funded all the necessary equipment, while the Manatee and Sarasota county school districts brought 10,000 students into the experience and covered operational costs. The JASON Project marked Mote’s arrival on the K–12 education scene in Southwest Florida.

By 1994, Mote was pioneering distance learning technology, enabling students as far away as England to pilot an underwater drone in Mote Aquarium’s shark habitat. Building on this momentum and early success, Mote launched SeaTrek in 1996, a premier virtual learning program that connected students around the world to real marine science research. SeaTrek featured high-energy, multimedia science lessons and interactive classroom experiences on topics ranging from shark migrations to coral reef ecology. By 2006, SeaTrek had reached over 15,000 students worldwide.

Over the years, Mote’s leadership in virtual learning earned widespread recognition. In 2017, Mote received the Interactive Video Conference Content Provider Award from the International Society for Technology in Education. In 2020, the Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration (CILC) inducted Mote into its inaugural Pinnacle Hall of Fame, recognizing more than a decade of award-winning excellence. Mote has received multiple Pinnacle Awards, with educators consistently praising the quality and impact of its virtual programs.

A sea star with a bright pink underside in the Indo-Pacific Gallery at Mote Science Education Aquarium

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