Voyage into science at MarineQuest School Daze, part of the annual open house of the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI). This fun, free, hands-on field trip provides students in grades four through eight with an opportunity to learn about the exciting world of fish and wildlife research in Florida.

• The School Daze program takes place from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, February 8th and 9th.
• The MarineQuest Open House is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, February 10th.
• Both MarineQuest School Daze and Open House will take place at the Florida Fish & Wildlife Research Institute, 100 8th Avenue SE, St. Petersburg.
• The St. Petersburg Science Festival is held in conjunction with the MarineQuest Open House, at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg campus, next door to FWRI. 
• Event parking is downtown at the SouthCore parking garage, located at 101 1st Avenue South. A free shuttle will transport visitors to the event entrance. There will be a limited number of handicap parking spaces available near the event entrance, on 1st Street South between 6th Avenue South and 8th Avenue South.

During the School Daze program, FWRI scientists will set up individual "stations" both inside the main facility and in the outside parking lot. Each station focuses on one of FWRI's research projects. Through interactive activities students will have the opportunity to play the role of scientist and learn a bit about the daily activities of FWRI's staff. Past station topics have included fisheries research in Tampa Bay and the Florida Keys, genetics, bats, sharks and rays, seagrass, manatees, coastal wetlands, corals, microscopy, red tide, and technology in science.

Each student group will have the opportunity to visit a selection of these stations. Each group's tour schedule will be pre-determined ahead of its visit. FWRI staff will act as class tour guide.

Miss a station during your tour? Don't worry! Almost all stations will also be open during the MarineQuest Open House on Saturday!

Teachers, visit this page to register your class (registration opens Dec. 6th, 2023)