Student Life

Experiential Education

"Must we always teach our children with books? Let them look at the stars and the mountains above. Let them look at the waters and the trees and flowers on Earth. Then they will begin learning to think, and to think is the beginning of real education.” 
- David Polis
Palmer Trinity’s Experiential Education Program provides learning experiences that embrace PTS’s core values and seeks to help students build a sense of stewardship for the environment and see the relationship between the natural world and classroom learning.
In its simplest form, Experiential Education focuses on three areas: learning about the environment, personal discovery, and working with others. By actively participating in a myriad of activities, students are challenged and encouraged to explore personal characteristics and develop important skills for leading their lives effectively. They build interpersonal skills and relationships based on empathy and compassion for others. The program places students in unfamiliar environments to experience real-world challenges for which they must use hands-on effort and teamwork to find solutions. These experiences help students learn more about themselves, overcome self-imposed limitations, gain self-confidence, and learn responsibility.

South Florida is home to a bounty of natural and cultural wonders. Through team-building exercises and trips to our unique South Florida ecosystems, PTS students leave the program with a stronger sense of self, others, and the world around them.



Middle School Programs

List of 3 items.

  • 6th Grade: MarineLab

    MarineLab is an educational travel experience for our 6th-grade students. Through introductory discussions, hands-on activities and field observations, students learn about marine science and the interdependent nature of the marine ecosystem of the subtropical Florida Keys. The three days and two nights program is a popular choice for Florida schools. The first afternoon is a lagoon snorkel, followed by field trips by boat to the seagrasses, mangroves, and coral reef on the succeeding days. Evening activities are the invertebrate diversity lab, plankton identification lab, coral reef ecology and the field identification of reef fish discussions.

    For more information about MarineLab visit marinelab.org.

  • 7th Grade: Lakes, Ropes, and Stars

    The 7th Grade Lakes, Ropes, and Stars is a three days and two nights educational program that nurtures interfaith values, builds confidence, increases self-acceptance, and grows lasting friendships. Students will participate in team-building initiatives such as the ropes course and take part in evening reflections and morning meditations. On the ropes course, students will have to work together and will understand the meaning of effective communication, strategic planning, and leadership to overcome challenges. During reflection, students will be looking inward and outward and learn the moral fiber needed to be a leader in the world. Morning meditation will help students gain access to their own powerful inner resources for coping effectively with stress. The meditation will teach students how to be in their lives, how to respond to problems, and how to experience emotions appropriately in healthy ways rather than trying to escape them. 

    For more information about Lakes, Ropes, and Stars, visit www.circlefduderanchcamp.com.

  • 8th Grade: Democracy in DC

Upper School Programs

List of 3 items.

  • 9th Everglades Expedition - NCOAE

    The Everglades Expedition is a professionally guided five-day outdoor educational experience that promotes authentic learning, personal growth, leadership, and stewardship. Students kayak and canoe while engaging in structured co-curricular activities focused on the challenge by choice, collaboration, resiliency, and compassion. The Everglades as a classroom offers an unprecedented learning environment where curiosity is fostered, critical thinking is required, and diligence is vital. Teaching occurs in Educational Groups, which are developed to maximize student engagement, interest, and skill development. The Everglades Expedition curriculum focuses on human skills, with objectives associated with improving students’ self-actualization, decision-making, esteem, communication, teamsmanship, civic responsibility, leadership, and environmental stewardship. The experience offers students tools to help clarify their values and transfer their learning to their home, school, and personal life.

    For more information visit The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education.

  • 10th Everglades Expedition - NCOAE

    The Everglades Expedition is a professionally guided five-day outdoor educational experience that promotes authentic learning, personal growth, leadership, and stewardship. Students kayak and canoe while engaging in structured co-curricular activities focused on the challenge by choice, collaboration, resiliency, and compassion. The Everglades as a classroom offers an unprecedented learning environment where curiosity is fostered, critical thinking is required, and diligence is vital. Teaching occurs in Educational Groups, which are developed to maximize student engagement, interest, and skill development. The Everglades Expedition curriculum focuses on human skills, with objectives associated with improving students’ self-actualization, decision-making, esteem, communication, teamsmanship, civic responsibility, leadership, and environmental stewardship. The experience offers students tools to help clarify their values and transfer their learning to their home, school, and personal life.

    For more information visit The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education.

  • RJ Dunlap Marine Conservation Program

    Directed by Dr. Neil Hammerschlag, the RJ Dunlap Marine Conservation Program (RJD) is a joint initiative of the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science and Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy. The mission of RJD is to advance ocean conservation and scientific literacy by conducting cutting-edge scientific research and providing innovative and meaningful outreach opportunities for students through exhilarating hands-on research and virtual learning experiences in marine biology. Opportunities are made available for our students at Palmer Trinity School. One of the core components of the RJD Program is providing experiential learning opportunities to young adults. Tag a shark, plant a coral, measure a mangrove, the RJ Dunlap Marine Conservation Program provides educational experiences to groups of high school students year-round. Your class will take an active role in real scientific projects, learn the scientific method, and assist in protecting threatened marine resources.
Main Entrance: 8001 SW 184th Street, Miami, FL 33157
Mailing Address: 7900 SW 176th Street, Miami, FL 33157
Main:     305.251.2230
Admission:     305.969.4208