Reflections of Manatee

A bungalow built in 1925 is one of the three historic homes that are part of Reflections' museum.

Reflections of Manatee (Reflections) is a history museum in east Bradenton. Founded in 1997 to preserve the historic Manatee Mineral Spring, Reflections is designated as a National Park Service Underground Railroad Network to Freedom site and operates from three historic homes that were saved from demolition, restored, and are now a historic district and museum.

Reflections is unique as a caretaker of our community’s history. We are a repository for stories of all the people who settled along the Manatee River: Indigenous, Spanish explorers, Black freedom seekers of Angola, Cuban fisherfolk, American pioneers and settlers, and the enslaved that cleared the land/worked the fields. Our exhibits and activities explore history that happened in this location and the resilience of all who lived here. We work so that all groups in the community can recognize themselves in local history. No other organization has this focus.

Our new field trip curriculum is designed by educators and is

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Explore Florida History at Reflections of Manatee

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Engage school children’s imaginations as they explore the long human history by the Manatee River. Student’s will explore Indigenous technology, learn the methods of scientific archaeology, and use art and performance to understand the people who lived where Reflections of Manatee is today.

Located next to the Manatee Mineral Spring and the Manatee River, Reflections of Manatee's museum and

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Located next to the Manatee Mineral Spring and the Manatee River, Reflections of Manatee’s museum and historic district sits on a site where history happened. It is the perfect place to learn about how the Indigenous, the maroons of the Underground Railroad site of Angola, the Cuban fishing ranchos, and the pioneers of early Manatee used the richness of the land, the bounty of the river and gulf, and the resilience of their people to carve a life out of wilderness.

Field trip activities meet standards in Social Studies, Science, Visual Arts, and Dance. They include:

Hands-on Archaeology Lab learning research methods, use of measurement tools, data analytics, and documentation of artifacts. Discussion of significance of different types of artifacts to the archaeologist.

Indigenous Technology explores the sophistication of pre-industrial technology, the use of sustainable materials, and craft manufacture. May include atlatl throwing, weaving Spanish moss, creating nut flour, and exploring cultural expression through designs on ceramic cooking vessels.

The Performing Arts segment explores the Maroon, Rancho, and Pioneer periods through dance. Students use teamwork and imagination as they learn simple performance steps that embody human use of the river through the epochs. Accompanied by the music of the natural river, a Seminole Stomp Dance, El Manisero (to represent the maroon and Cuban fishing rancho), and line dance (representing the Anglo-American settlement.)

In the History through Visual Arts segment students will create a visual timeline for the landscapes of settlement on the Manatee River through history. Using elements of drawing and collage students will illustrate the constant of the river but the inhabitants and their clothing, houses, crops, and animals have changed over time.

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Booking / scheduling contact

Sherry Svekis

‭(941) 201-5435‬

reflectionsofmanatee@msn.com

Exploration Detail

Exploration type: Off-Campus Field Trip

Subject: Social Studies

Grade Levels 3-5

Available dates:

Field trips will be available to schedule November - May. Must be reserved at least two weeks in advance.

We give priority to field trips scheduled on Thursdays and Fridays, but can be somewhat flexible on other days if necessary.

Available times:

10:00am to 2:00pm with a break for lunch.

We will work with you if a different schedule is required.

Max number of students: 50

Length of :Exploration ~ 4 hours plus break for lunch

Space / technical requirements:

Field trip activities will take place both indoors and outdoors.

Location(s):

Reflections of Manatee

1305 4th Avenue East

Bradenton, FL 34208

Fees / Ticketing:

$10 per student

Standards & Benchmarks

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SC.4.N.1.6	SC.4.N.1.7	SC.4.N.2
SS.4.A	SS.4.A.1.1	SS.4.A.2
SS.4.A.3	SS.4.A.3.10	SS.4.A.4.2
SS.4.A.9.1	SS.4.AA.1.1	VA.4.H
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Location

Areas that you serve:
Sarasota
Venice
Osprey

Transportation

Is transportation needed for this exploration?: Yes

If Yes, who arranges transportation?: Organization

Is financial assistance offered?: Yes

If Yes, is transportation included in the cost or is it an additional cost and what is the amount?:

Bus transportation is an additional cost. Because of the length of the exploration, the bus cost is ~$400. We have a limited number of awards to cover this fee. We also have needs-based student participation assistance to cover some student fees.

Program info

Summer or Family Programs Offered?: no

Qualifications

Conducts educational programming for 2 or more years: Yes

Performs criminal background checks on staff with youth contact: Yes

Maintains general liability insurance: Yes

Three letters of recommendation / references available: Yes

Provides study guides for teachers and or students: Yes

Connects to State and or Common Core Curriculum Standards: Yes

Provides scholarship and reduced fees: Yes

Conducts ongoing assessments of program quality: Yes

Cancellation Policy

If the school needs to cancel because of some unforeseen event, Reflections expects 48 hours notice.

In case of inclement weather, Reflections of Manatee will make a decision (typically the morning of the field trip) whether or not to continue with the trip as scheduled.