Open 11 am - 4 pm
Field Trips
School Field Trips & Homeschool Experiences in Citrus County
Bring Learning to Life at Mertailor
Trade the classroom walls for sharks, stingrays, touch tanks, rescued animals, Florida aquatic life, and an underwater world students can experience firsthand.
Mertailor's Mermaid Aquarium Encounter in Lecanto, Florida offers educational field trips for schools and organized homeschool groups from across Florida. Our field-trip experience combines animal observation, hands-on learning, conservation, and live underwater mermaid performances in one memorable visit.
$10School & homeschool field-trip admission per participant*
FREETeachers accompanying a school field-trip group
Up to 50Participants per field-trip reservation
Learning Beyond the Classroom
What Will Students Experience?
A Mertailor field trip gives students opportunities to observe animals closely, interact with select touch exhibits, ask questions, and make connections between what they see and the natural world around them.
Hands-On Touch Experiences
Students can take part in supervised touch opportunities at Ray Bay and the Tide Pool while learning how to interact with animals gently and responsibly.
Sharks & Rays
Observe multiple shark and ray species and explore how these animals move, feed, sense their surroundings, and fit into aquatic ecosystems.
Florida Aquatic Life
Connect what students see inside the aquarium with animals and aquatic environments found throughout Florida and the Nature Coast.
Rescued & Rehomed Animals
Meet animals whose stories create opportunities to discuss responsible animal care, long-term husbandry, and why not every animal in human care can simply be released.
Animal Care & Conservation
Learn how diet, habitat, water quality, enrichment, observation, and responsible care all play a role in maintaining healthy animals.
Live Underwater Mermaid Shows
Experience one of the features that makes a Mertailor field trip different: live underwater performance inside an aquarium environment shared with marine life.
Learning Through Experience
Sometimes the Best Lesson Starts With a Question
Why does a stingray feel the way it does? How does a shark find food? Why do some animals need specialized long-term care? What does it take to keep thousands of gallons of aquarium water healthy?
A field trip to Mertailor gives students something difficult to recreate in a classroom: the opportunity to see, touch, observe, compare, and ask.
- Animal adaptations and natural behaviors
- Marine and freshwater ecosystems
- Responsible interactions with wildlife
- Animal husbandry and aquarium care
- Sharks, rays, fishes, invertebrates, reptiles, and birds
- Conservation and environmental responsibility
Homeschool Field Trips Are Welcome Here
Learning Doesn't Have to Happen in a Traditional Classroom
Homeschool groups, co-ops, microschools, learning pods, and other organized homeschool groups are welcome to participate in Mertailor's school field-trip program at the same $10-per-person field-trip rate.
Explore sharks, stingrays, touch tanks, aquatic ecosystems, animal care, conservation, and live underwater mermaid performances while giving students a chance to learn through direct observation and experience.
Special Educational Programming
Looking for More Than a Standard Field Trip?
Depending on scheduling, group size, staffing, and availability, additional educational programming may be available for school and homeschool groups.
If your students are studying a particular subject, talk with our team while planning your visit. We may be able to help connect the aquarium experience with topics currently being explored in the classroom.
Sharks & Rays
Potential focus areas may include anatomy, adaptations, feeding, reproduction, or the role of sharks and rays in aquatic ecosystems.
Animal Adaptations
Explore how body shape, camouflage, spines, shells, sensory systems, and behavior help animals survive in different environments.
Behind the Aquarium
When appropriate and available, educational discussion may include water quality, life-support systems, animal care, and what it takes to operate an aquarium.
Special programming is not automatically included with every field trip. Availability depends on staffing, scheduling, group size, and the educational topic requested.
Rates & Reservation Details
Plan Your School or Homeschool Field Trip
Field-trip reservations are arranged directly with our team. The same $10-per-person school field-trip rate is available to organized homeschool groups.
$10Per participant*
FREETeachers accompanying the school group
50Maximum participants per group
Reservation Deposit
A $100 non-refundable deposit is required at the time of booking.
Final Payment
Final payment is due 15 days before the scheduled visit. All tickets must be paid for as a group, not individually.
Adding Participants
Participants may be added after final payment. Payment for additional participants is due upon entry.
Reducing Headcount
Reductions in participant numbers after final payment are non-refundable.
Payment Methods
Final payment may be made by check, credit card, or in person at the aquarium. Credit card payments may be processed by phone or in person.
Florida Sales Tax Exemption
Qualifying groups may use a Florida sales-tax exemption with the appropriate documentation. Florida Form DR-14 is required; federal tax-exemption documentation does not meet Florida's requirement.
How to reserve: Call (352) 513-3278 or email info@themertailor.com to begin your reservation.
*Prices are subject to change.
Educator Benefits
A Little Something for Florida Educators, Too
In addition to complimentary admission for teachers accompanying a booked school field trip, Mertailor offers educator admission benefits outside of the field-trip program.
Florida Licensed Teachers
Licensed teachers in the State of Florida receive complimentary general admission by presenting a valid Florida school employment badge or ID. One complimentary admission per qualifying ID.
Citrus County School System Staff
All Citrus County School System staff receive complimentary general admission by presenting a valid Citrus County School System employment badge or ID. One complimentary admission per qualifying ID.
Before Your Field Trip
A Few Things to Know Before You Arrive
- Arrival: Please arrive 15 minutes early for group check-in.
- Accessibility: The aquarium is wheelchair accessible.
- Noise Sensitivities: Noise levels can vary throughout the aquarium.
- Handwashing: Handwashing is required before participating in Tide Pool and Ray Bay touch experiences.
- Between Touch Tanks: Guests must wash their hands between Tide Pool and Ray Bay to help prevent cross-contamination.
Let's Plan Your Field Trip
Ready to Bring Your Students Under the Sea?
Tell us about your school or homeschool group, approximate number of participants, preferred date, and any educational topics you'd like to explore. Our team can help you begin planning your visit to Mertailor's Mermaid Aquarium Encounter in Citrus County, Florida.