Engaging Students Since 1953
Welcome to Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, where education meets inspiration! Our school programs offer a unique opportunity for teachers to immerse their students in the rich history and captivating beauty of Vizcaya, a National Historic Landmark.
From engaging guided tours to hands-on learning experiences, discover how the museum can enhance your classroom curriculum and ignite a passion for art, history, and nature in your students.
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Student And Teacher Experiences
Apply for the Vizcaya Teen Environmental Council!
APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2024 VTEC ARE CLOSED.
Vizcaya Museums & Gardens’ Teen Environmental Council (VTEC) is a teen-led program focused on the environment, preservation and conservation. As museum ambassadors, VTEC members will co-create teen-focused experiences, engage with the community and promote environmental sustainability. VTEC members will receive a monthly stipend and have the opportunity to earn service hours.
QUALIFICATIONS| To apply, you must:
- Be a 10th, 11th, or 12th grade student during the 2023-2024 school year.
- Complete an online application and attend one (1) virtual or in-person informational session.
- Attend each meeting. Meetings will occur every other Thursday at 4:30-6:00 pm from October to May.
Immersive and Engaging Experiences
Tours are guided experiences designed to engage students in learning through inquiry-based, object-based, peer-to-peer discussions, and hands-on activities. Tours for 2nd-12th grade students may be reserved for the Main House and Gardens, are presented in English, and last two hours.
Tour Options
A Day in the Life of Vizcaya 2nd-12th
Visit the Main House and Gardens to understand how Vizcaya was enjoyed and experienced by staff and guests of James Deering. Students will learn about life in 1910s Miami through this interactive tour.
Below is a pre-visit activity you can do with your students in the classroom:
Visual Vizcaya 2nd-12th
Discover Vizcaya’s collection and artistic traditions through exploration and artmaking. After, students will practice “plein air painting” through a watercolor painting activity in the gardens.
Below is a pre-visit activity you can do with your students in the classroom:
Environmental Exploration 2nd-12th
Discuss preservation and adaptations while learning about South Florida’s native habitats through this tour of Vizcaya’s natural communities. Students will record their observations of flora and fauna with their own nature sketchbooks.
Below is a pre-visit activity you can do with your students in the classroom:
Design & Engineering 2nd-5th
Discuss Vizcaya’s unique design and immerse in concepts of architecture, engineering and geometry through hands-on activities and exploration.
Below is a pre-visit activity you can do with your students in the classroom:
Geography and Exploration 2nd-5th
Learn about Vizcaya’s cultural exchange and discover how South Florida’s geography contributed to the shaping of Vizcaya. Students will become explorers as they participate in a scavenger hunt using maps and compasses.
Below is a pre-visit activity you can do with your students in the classroom:
Make a Reservation
Plan your visit including group size, rates, options, dates and times and review Vizcaya’s school group policies and procedures.
After planning your group’s visit, complete the online form to request a reservation.
Vizcaya is also pleased to offer a limited number of bus scholarships to Title-I schools in Miami-Dade County. The scholarship includes complimentary school group admission, guided tours, and transportation.
Teacher Workshops
Teacher workshops at Vizcaya are designed to fulfill the requirements of the Florida state educational standards and enhance the learning experience for students. Participants will receive a free field trip to return with their students.
Upcoming Workshops
Creative Vizcaya Curriculum
October 3, 2024 9:00-3:00 PM
Participants in this workshop will review and receive the Creative Vizcaya Curriculum, lessons that are centered on the work of local artists and STEAM connections. High-school educators will receive the corresponding art supplies for their students!
Urban Farming
January 17, 2025 9:00-3:00 PM
Participants will reflect on Urban Farming practices in relation to student engagement, discuss healthy eating, and create collective resources to support Urban Farming in the classroom or garden. This hands-on workshop includes a gardening component!
Educator Appreciation Day
October 6, 2024
March 26, 2025
Join us in celebrating teachers, principals, and administrators at the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens! Enjoy free workshops, artmaking, and tours at the historic estate. Educators will receive x4 passes to visit the Main House and Gardens with their loved ones.
Creative Vizcaya Curriculum
Explore STEAM lessons developed by artists in your classroom! High school art educators are invited to beta-test these lessons and earn free art supplies for you and your students. To learn more, please email school.programs@vizcaya.org.
Visit Vizcaya This Summer!
APPLICATIONS CLOSED UNTIL JUNE 6, 2025
Visit Vizcaya Museum and Gardens with your camp or program! All experiences include a tour of the Main House, an activity, a self-guided visit to the Gardens, and an outdoor space for lunch. We suggest that participants bring water, sunscreen, and insect repellant!
Summer Experiences
A Day in the Life of Vizcaya
Visit the Main House to understand how Vizcaya was enjoyed and experienced by staff and guests of James Deering. Students will learn about life in 1910s Miami through this interactive tour and play a game inspired by the lives of Vizcaya’s historic staff.
Visual Vizcaya
Discover Vizcaya’s collection and artistic traditions through exploration and artmaking. After, students will practice “plein air painting” through a watercolor painting activity in the gardens.
Geography and Exploration
Learn about Vizcaya’s cultural exchange and discover how South Florida’s geography contributed to the shaping of Vizcaya. Students will become explorers as they participate in a scavenger hunt using maps and clues.
Badge Programs at Vizcaya!
Girl Scouts can explore the Main House, Gardens, and participate in engaging activities to earn their badge. Programs are 2-3 hours and include admission to Vizcaya, a designated picnic area for lunch/snack, program materials, and a badge! To book your badge program please email school.programs@vizcaya.org.
For Brownies
Outdoor Art Creator
Explore Vizcaya’s gardens and unique environment as inspiration for creating and designing outdoor art. Along with learning Vizcaya’s history, Girl Scouts will learn how landscapes, art, and nature work together.
For Juniors
Outdoors Art Explorer
Juniors will explore the estate, engage with nature through artmaking, and use the gardens as inspiration for their own community project. Activities include music-making, photography, hand building with clay, and mixed-media work.
Gardener Badge
For Cadettes
Outdoor Art Apprentice
Cadettes will experiment with a different forms of art, such as music, architecture, clay work, photography, and drawing. Girl Scouts will learn more about the various natural spaces around them through artmaking and exploration.
For Seniors
Outdoor Art Expert
Participants in this workshop will review and receive the Creative Vizcaya Curriculum, lessons that are centered on the work of local artists and STEAM connections. High-school educators will receive the corresponding art supplies for their students!
For Ambassadors
Outdoor Art Master
Ambassadors will explore art and design inside Vizcaya’s Main House and outside in the gardens. While sharing Vizcaya’s rich history and conservation efforts, Girl Scouts will be able to engage with nature through interactive activities.
NOTICE OF FILMING & PHOTOGRAPHY
Individuals visiting as part of a school program or tour may be photographed or captured on video for the purpose of creating educational content as well as for the promotion of the museum and its programs. Any guests, especially children, that are not to be photographed should be flagged to Vizcaya’s School Programs Manager or equivalent liaison upon arrival at the estate. We appreciate your cooperation to ensure a safe and enjoyable visit for all.
UNIVERSITY GROUP OPTIONS
University Groups may reserve a private Guided Tour of the first floor of the Main House and/or gardens. Tours are 45 minutes in duration and designed to be interactive and provide a basic introduction to the concepts behind the creation of the estate.
All tours foster inquiry and audience engagement, encouraging participants to make personal and meaningful connections with Vizcaya while encouraging new ways of thinking.
Tours can be custom tailored to connect with course curricula. Instructors wishing to lead self-directed art activities in the Main House and/or gardens must reserve these experiences with Vizcaya when scheduling their visit.
Guided Tour participants are welcome to explore additional areas of the Main House and/or gardens on their own before or after their guided tour(s).
The Vizcaya Café and Shop offers lunch options for groups of 10 or more. To book a group meal, contact Paula Gooden at paulag@ajoywallace.com or 305-856-8189.
Plan your group reservation
Plan your visit including group size, options, dates and times, and review Vizcaya’s University Group policies and procedures.
Request a reservation
After planning your group’s visit, complete the online form to request a reservation.
For questions, please contact Vizcaya at group.tours@vizcaya.org or 305-860-8442.
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