Field Trip Spotlight: Inspired Learning at the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum
Back for another year, July is Teacher Appreciation Month at the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum. This July teachers can visit the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum for free with advanced reservations. Want to come with some guests? Teachers can also bring up to four guests along for their visit, with each receiving 50% off the standard admission rate. Summer is the perfect time to visit and explore and plan out your future field trips for the school year!
But, what makes the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum the perfect field trip destination for all ages? This week, we are exploring the many unique experiences, resources, and learning opportunities that the Museum offers. We encourage all teachers to consider the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum as their next field trip destination, and center Seminole culture and history as part of their lesson plans!
The Heart of the Everglades
Just outside the gallery doors along the back of the Museum, groups can enjoy and meander a nearly 1-mile boardwalk through a natural cypress dome. You will be immediately immersed in the sights and sounds of the Everglades, as you take in just a piece of the natural wonders. All along the boardwalk you will also find educational signage sharing information about various flora and fauna you might see on your walk, and how you may connect with Seminole culture. Remember, this boardwalk winds through a real cypress dome. There are many birds, lizards, snakes, alligators, and more that you might spot on your stroll! In this week’s featured image you can see a juvenile alligator that was spotted from the boardwalk. There are multiple opportunities to rest and explore along the boardwalk, which is open daily form 9:00a to 4:00p.
During your time along the boardwalk and on the Museum grounds, we encourage you to explore, learn, and appreciate the beauty and fragility of the Everglades ecosystem. The boardwalk is part of the Great Florida Birding Trail. Why not try and identify as many birds as you can along your stroll? Have students try and identify different Everglades birds, plants, and other animals they see or hear. You can find a list of birds you might find along the boardwalk in the Big Cypress Reservation Birding Field Guide. Often when walking through the cypress dome you may hear animals but not see them. Just inside the doors of the Museum next to the library, you can also look at still shots from the wildlife cameras. Make sure to check out the latest Museum events for ones that include immersive learning along the boardwalk, including birding opportunities and stargazing.
Immersive Learning on the Boardwalk
Along the mile loop there are a couple of important places where visitors can learn more about Seminole culture. The Clan Pavillion, located about a quarter of the way through the right side of the loop, shares information about the eight current Seminole clans. These are Panther, Wind, Bird, Otter, Bear, Snake, Big Town, and Deer. The panels feature information about each clan, as well as drawings by artist Samuel Tommie. Although these are the current eight clans, there have been others in the past that have been lost to time and war. Following along the loop you will find the Ceremonial Grounds and Seminole Village. At the Ceremonial Grounds, visitors will find a recreation of what you might find at the traditional meeting place for political and cultural events. There is also an open court for playing stickball, a traditional game for Southeastern tribes. You can learn more about stickball inside in one of the permanent exhibits!
Just a little further along is the Seminole Village, a modern-day interpretation of a Seminole tourist camp. As we have talked about before on the blog, 20th century tourist camps were incredibly important to Seminole survival. The economic agency they provided also paved the way for tribal sovereignty and federal recognition. Their legacy is one that is still very apparent today. At the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum Seminole Village there are often modern crafters present, working, and selling their crafts as well. These artisans are more than happy to answer questions about traditional arts and crafts.
Seminole Culture and History Inside and Out
During your time at the Village, ask your students what they notice about Seminole arts and crafts, both outside in the Village and also inside in the “Art of Seminole Crafts” exhibit in the West Gallery. What patterns, themes, motifs, and techniques can they identify? Learning can be found throughout the Museum grounds, not just within the exhibit halls. One of the most special parts of the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum is how Seminole culture is shared and presented throughout the entire grounds, inside and out. What do your students notice outside that they may have learned about in some of the exhibits? Have them ask questions, watch, and experience what it is like to witness traditional crafting.
At the very end of the boardwalk is one more stop, the Hunting Camp. This camp is a recreation of a temporary camp, featuring a lean-to and more temporary chickee structure. You may have noticed that there are a number of different chickee styles throughout the Museum grounds. These traditional Seminole homes are deceptively simple looking, but perfectly crafted for the Everglades environment. At the hunting camp visitors can often see pelts, plumes, and hides similar to those that were traded by Seminoles in the past. Trading items like these at trading posts was another way that Seminoles survived and adapted to post-war changes in Florida. Inside, students can learn more about Seminoles and trading posts in one of the permanent exhibits.
Seminole Centered Culture and History Exhibits
Inside the gallery spaces there are a number of permanent and rotating exhibits that share the Seminole story, culture, and history from a Seminole lens. Often, history is written by those with the most power and influence. The Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum works to center the Seminole perspective, both in the historic context but also for the modern Seminole community. There are often exhibits centered around modern Seminole artists, things important to the community, and other relevant topics.
Currently in the Nook Gallery visitors can experience the work of Seminole artist Elgin Jumper. This incredibly talented and accomplished artist has created a collection of more than a dozen pieces. These range from charcoal and line drawings, colorful abstracts, to serene landscapes. The exhibit also features Jumper’s poetry, and showcased are pieces from Jumper’s “Fluent Poetry,” mixed media, and his “Colorful Warrior” collections. This exhibit runs through May 2026.
In the Mosaic Gallery, visitors can find “Miniature Marvels Masterpieces Reimagined” featuring a collection of art from Ahfachkee students. The Mosaic Gallery is primarily a community space, and often holds student and community art works. This exhibit explores the students’ interpretations of famous, recognizable works of art from their own perspective.
In the West Gallery visitors can experience the intricate detail and craftsmanship of the “Art of Seminole Crafts” which has been on display with rotating selections for a few years. In addition to these rotating exhibits, the Museum has a number of permanent exhibits that focus on Seminole culture and history.
Field Trip Rates, Activities, and Events
Looking to plan a field trip for your whole class to the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum? We encourage you to reach out to the Museum’s Education Coordinator Abena Robinson (Abenarobinson@semtribe.com) to coordinate and plan your visit. With an advanced reservation, students can also experience craft and game activities that fit their age and learning needs. The Museum also offers special field trip rates to Title 1 schools and non-profit organizations through their Culture Access Program.
Special events can also be the perfect time to experience all the Museum and the Seminole Tribe has to offer. Every November, the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum hosts the American Indigenous Arts Celebration (AIAC). One of the top festivals in the Southeast, AIAC celebrates and recognizes Seminole and Indigenous art, music, food dance and more. Each year one day is also considered “Field Trip Day” and the Museum highly encourages the participation and attendance of students and field trip groups. Can’t attend AIAC? Be on the lookout for other events hosted by the Museum. School groups and field trips are highly encouraged. Please reach out to Abena Robinson to help coordinate your experience.
Online Educational Resources for Beyond your Museum Trip
Even if you can’t attend any events, visit the Museum, or take part in person the Seminole Tribe of Florida and the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum have an array of online educational resources right at your fingertips. Encourage students to explore the Online Collections or Choose a Suggested Reading Option. Need help folding Seminole history into your lesson plan? The Museum also hosts a selection of educator resources and curricula themes for a variety of age ranges. Additional resources, activity books, and other printables are available online. As always, students of all ages can explore more niche topics on the Florida Seminole Tourism blog, as well as keep up to date on upcoming events.
Whether you choose to fold in Seminole culture and history through a Museum visit, an event, or online resources, we hope that you do so by centering the Seminole and Indigenous experience in your lessons and with your students. Have fun, and come learn with us and the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum!
Author Bio
Originally from Washington state, Deanna Butler received her BA in Archaeological Sciences from the University of Washington in 2014. Deanna moved to Florida in 2016. Soon, she began working for the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s Tribal Historic Preservation Office. Deanna was the THPO’s Archaeological Collections Assistant from 2017-2021. While at the THPO, Deanna worked to preserve, support, and process the Tribe’s archaeological collection. She often wrote the popular Artifact of the Month series and worked on many community and educational outreach programs. She lives in Lakeland, FL with her husband, two sons, and dog.
