BatLife Adventures

Bat Science and Environmental Education Programming

Lubee places both conservation science and education as its two core institutional purposes. Lubee is a certified member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). AZA is America's leading accreditation organization for zoos and aquariums, and accredits only those institutions that have achieved rigorous standards for animal care, education, wildlife conservation and science.

We provide a unique educational setting, permitting students and visitors close viewing of animals in a working conservation center environment. Our education programming is available to students and groups of all age ranges. We provide school and private group programs on site and occasionally offer local school or event outreach programs. Students gain an appreciation of bats, their habitats and ecosystem dynamics.

We provide professional level courses in animal husbandry and research techniques, tailored to AZA staff/professionals, PhD students and researchers. Courses are on demand and require a minimum of 5 participants. For more details please visit Professional Training Courses

BatLife Adventures: Tours of the Bat Center

If you would like to schedule a BatLife Adventures presentation/program/tour please click on the Request a Tour/Program button and complete this form to schedule a tour/bring a group to Lubee, schedule a program at your school, or schedule a talk and participation by Lubee at an event/local group meeting.

Please return the completed request form to Brian Pope at bpope@lubee.org

Fruit Bat Conservation Lubee is a conservation research facility, and is thus not open to the general public everyday like a zoo. Please DO NOT VISIT without an appointment.

If you would like to schedule a presentation/program/tour please click on the Request a Tour/Program button and complete this form to schedule a tour/bring a group to Lubee, schedule a program at your school, or schedule a talk and participation by Lubee at an event/local group meeting. Groups Lubee has provided tours for include the Florida Native Plant Society, USDA Ag-Discovery summer group and 4-H. Our education outreach programs reach 15-20 elementary schools annually (Kindergarten thru 5th Grade) within Alachua County.

APPOINTMENT TIMES

Lubee is open for school/private tours on Monday - Saturday, from 12.30pm to 4pm. We prefer to schedule group tours on THURSDAYS, so please select a Thursday if at all possible. Tours of the Center are by appointment only, and all visitors to the Bat Center MUST fill in a request form and schedule an appointment in advance of their arrival. In order to secure your spot, we suggest you contact us at least 4 weeks in advance of the date you wish to come, and be a little flexible on dates. Not all days will be available, as we are a working conservation center and sometimes research studies may be scheduled, preventing tours on certain days.

A tour lasts approximately 1 to 1.5 hours in total, and consists of a 20 min presentation on “ Bats are Superheroes”, introducing the world of bats, their basic biology, and the ecological role bats play in our environment. This is followed by a 30-45 min visit thru the Bat Center to see the bats – including Large flying foxes with wingspans of over 5 ft. Students will interact with keepers and be able to ask questions.

COST

We do not charge for entry, however we are a small non-profit facility, and receive little/no funding assistance. We therefore request that you make a donation. Donations help us keep our education programs sustainable, and without donations we cannot run programs.

Individuals, families and small private groups up to 6 people: Your family or group must meet a minimum donation level of $100 (irrespective of numbers /ages in your group. [ 2 people: $50 each, 3 people: $35 each, 4 people: $25 each, 5 people: $20 each, 6 people $17 each]
Private groups of 7 people and above: Suggestion donation amount $15 per person for all private individuals/adults/teenagers, and $10 per child (3-12yrs).
School Groups, Scout & Brownie Groups of up to 70 children only: Suggested donation amount $5 per child/$10 per adult/educator/chaperone.

***School Groups who can raise a donation of $200 or more, receive an “Adopt-a-bat” package for their group.

If you would like to schedule a tour /bring a group to Lubee please click the Request a Tour/Program button and return the form at least 4 weeks in advance to Brian Pope at bpope@lubee.org

How to get to Lubee Bat Conservancy

Lubee is located approximately 9 miles north of Gainesville at 1309 NW 192nd Ave. Take NW 34th street over NW 13th st./HWY 441 past the highway patrol station until CR 231 forks off to the right. Follow CR231 for several miles, then turn right onto NW 192nd Ave. Lubee is ahead on your right. Please note that we will are not open to the public on a regular basis and visitors must have arranged a tour by appointment.

Disabled Access.

NO PETS ALLOWED

Children of all ages allowed.

BatLife Adventures: Outreach/Events

Fruit Bat Conservation Lubee Bat Conservancy has opened its doors to visits from school children and teachers in Florida and the south east for many years. In addition, thanks to generous sponsorship from the Norcross Wildlife Foundation, we have developed a bat education outreach program and are able to schedule a limited number of programs for school groups in the wider Gainesville area. Our programs are limited only by funding and distance. Demand is high and we often do not have the capacity to fulfill all requests – so please contact us at least one month in advance of when you would like a program.

Programs include a slideshow presentation with fabulous pictures of bats mixed with hands-on learning activities for students and a special guest appearance by one or more of our live bats.

Serafina our Straw Colored fruit bat from Africa, and Helen, our small Dog faced fruit bat from Asia, are well travelled education animals who stay inside their Perspex fronted cage, permitting and up close and personal viewing of the animals, without any health risks.

Fruit Bat Conservation To cover our basic costs of staff time and travel, we request a small donation of $5/child, $10 per adult. All groups need to meet our minimum requested $100 donation for programs in their schools to cover our travel and staff expenses.

If you would like to schedule an education outreach program at your school please click of the Request a Tour/Program button and return the form at least 4 weeks in advance to Brian Pope at info@lubee.org

BatLife Adventures: Education Events Calendar

Lubee partners with the Florida Museum of Natural History by participating in their annual Cave Day, Earth Day and Butterfly and Pollinator Festivals. Bats go “On Tour” to the museum in perspex viewing cages, and Lubee staff are on hand with information materials to answer questions about bats.

If you would like to request our staff give a presentation at your event/man a display table please click of the Request a Tour/Program button and return the form at least 4 weeks in advance to Brian Pope at bpope@lubee.org

Calendar

Annual Florida Bat Festival – Bat Fest 2011 - Sat 29th October 10am-4pm- learn more