Schedule a program at the Learning Campus for your elementary, middle, or high school class. We can host student groups of all sizes eager to learn about the diverse Gulf Coast landscape.
Coordinate lesson plans in one of the indoor classrooms, auditorium, or laboratory to inspire your students and facilitate outdoor learning adventures throughout the park. There are a variety of trails that connect the park accessible on foot, bike, or other non-motor vehicles. Gulf State Park is ideal for science and environmental education, and students can learn about the variety of ecosystems in person.
Our staff can help you organize your trip for a safe and productive educational experience like no other. Students can also explore the Interpretive Center, Nature Center, and Fishing Pier for a comprehensive learning experience in the Gulf State Park. Our staff has advanced knowledge of environmental, ecological, and sustainable education, and we would be more than happy to help guide lesson plans.
For students and volunteers looking to further their knowledge of sustainability and coastal conservation, we offer a variety of service projects and hands-on training.
Sustainable and responsible education is at the heart of the Learning Campus mission. We invite coastal and environmental groups to visit the park and camp at our facilities. The Gulf State Park opened in 1939, and it serves as an ideal location for coastal and ecological education.
The Park features a diverse collection of ecosystems, including:
Incorporating local and environmental education resources and activities, day and overnight camps are offered with the ability to customize the experience. Participants learn about the history, formation, and changes that occur in each dynamic ecosystem. Learn about the landscape and wildlife of Gulf State Park and stay on-campus for a truly immersive experience.
Do you have a special family reunion approaching? Want to get out of the city and build a stronger team in the heart of mother nature? Luckily, the Learning Campus is the ideal location for both family gatherings and corporate retreats.
Unique modern Bunkhouse accommodations provide flexible housing arrangements while you enjoy Gulf State Park. Utilize the communal gathering spaces to relax or coordinate plans and organize activities throughout the park.
There is a wide range of recreational and educational activities to explore throughout the park, including kayaking, hiking, biking, paddle boarding, and fishing. For corporate team building events, host speaker sessions in Conservation Hall or various porches and classroom spaces.
Contact us to reserve the Learning Campus for your next event and feel free to ask us for help to coordinate activities to make the most out of your retreat.
The new campus was built to accommodate scientific research and education in the Gulf State Park. We offer a variety of educational facilities and hands-on laboratory to host visiting classes and provide expanded resources for optimum learning.
The Learning Campus features a laboratory and classroom for educators to utilize for a variety of class offerings. Students can use technical equipment, such as chemical fume hoods and other scientific resources, so educators can develop fascinating lesson plans.
Best of all, the park itself provides unparalleled educational opportunities for scientific education. Students can not only learn about the nine unique ecosystems in Gulf State Park, but educators can also incorporate the various attractions for an immersive lecture.
Study the various woodland and marine wildlife that inhabit the park and learn about the science behind the formation of the great ecosystems within the park. Students and educators will also be able to visit the Interpretive Center, Beach Pavilion, Butterfly Garden, Nature Center, and Fishing Pier to further develop their knowledge of the fascinating wildlife within the Gulf Coast region.
There is no better place to host a scout camping event than the Learning Campus at Gulf State Park. Easily coordinate sleeping accommodations in the Bunkhouse and organize an endless variety of educational and fun events within the park all while earning merit badges.
Visit the pristine beaches, Fishing Pier, marshes, Boulder Park, or many other activities. The Learning Campus makes it easy to host a camping event responsibly. Best of all, the youth will be able to safely stay within the park without having to worry about camping in tents.
Contact us to start organizing a scout camping event, and we can help you come up with a full schedule of fun activities!
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Our Interpretive Center offers interactive interpretive exhibits for students to develop their education further. The sustainable facility generates its energy and water as a practical example of the future of environmentally conscious development. We hope to inspire visitors to live well and in harmony with the world around them.
The property is LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and engineered to provide highly-efficient and cost-saving green construction. LEED certification is globally recognized as a symbol of sustainability and designed to save energy, water, resources, and generate minimal waste for maximum environmentally-sustainable impact.
The Interpretive Center is pursuing the LIVING Building Challenge and produces zero emissions, TRUE Zero Waste, and serves as the new bar for green construction. Not only will students learn how to become more environmentally conscious, but they will learn the sustainable principles in a facility that serves as a prime example of green initiatives.
The sustainable facility promotes an in-depth look into the Gulf Shores region. Gulf State Park is a prime example of ecotourism as visitors explore the varied landscapes within the property, including dunes, lakes, marshes, forests, and beaches.
Curious about the plethora of unique animals and plants that inhabit Gulf State Park? Visit the Nature Center to learn about the creatures and wildlife that live in the Gulf Coast region. From rare birds to forest-dwelling mammals, the Nature Center showcases the diverse species of animals native to the region.
The goal of the Gulf State Park Nature Center is to educate visitors on the state’s dynamic natural resources and provide a place to connect with the natural world. A variety of programs are offered weekly that explore the various ecosystems of the park, including guided nature walks, beach walks, and pier walks.
Check out the latest weekly activities at the park for your adventurous crew of students.
Woodside Restaurant, located steps away from the Learning Campus, provides a friendly and casual dining experience. Your group can enjoy an air-conditioned dining room, screened porch, or dine beneath the pines at one of the picnic tables on the deck. If you want to stay on campus or hit the trails to explore the park or beach, picnic meals can be arranged to go.
The restaurant is open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Dogs are allowed in our pet-friendly outdoor seating. Food, beer, and wine are available for visitors to enjoy. View the Woodside Restaurant menu to see the variety of delicious cuisine the facility has to offer.
Let’s dive deeper into some of the most popular attractions at Gulf State Park and the surrounding area to help plan your trip!
As mentioned earlier, visitors can explore three different freshwater lakes at the park. Bring your own or rent kayaks and paddleboards to explore the water and wildlife.
For a truly unique fishing experience, Lake Shelby features both freshwater and saltwater fish. Through natural occurrences and its close proximity to the gulf, the saltwater collides with the lake so that fishermen can catch a variety of fish, including largemouth bass, bream, crappie, redfish, and speckled trout. Visitors will need a freshwater fishing license which can be purchased online or at the tackle shop at the Gulf State Park Pier.
To enjoy saltwater fishing or take in scenic views of the coast, visit the Fishing Pier at Gulf State Park. The 1,540 feet long pier offers 2,448 feet of fishing space, and it is the largest public pier on the Gulf of Mexico. Visitors can purchase fishing licenses and rent fishing gear at the indoor retail shop along with tackle and souvenirs.
For educational groups, the pier also incorporates interpretive signage featuring fascinating information on the native fish, birds, and wildlife that occupy the Gulf of Mexico. Take your class to gorgeous Gulf Shores for a lesson your students won’t forget.
The Backcountry Trail, or BCT, is an excellent way to explore Gulf State Park. Take a bike or walk the expansive trail to see the freshwater lakes, coastal swamps, and towering variety of trees. Visitors also report sightings of a variety of wildlife from wild boars, otters, bobcats, to alligators. Also, you may spot rare birds, such as bald eagles!
The BCT trail is one of the best ways to get a full ecotourism adventure while you are at the park. It traverses through six of the nine ecosystems, including coastal dunes, Pine Flatwoods, freshwater marshes, and hardwood swamps.
The Backcountry Trails offer eight trails to explore:
Fort Morgan is located just west of the park, and is one of the most popular Civil War exhibits. Fort Morgan was constructed in 1819 by the U.S. Army Corps. Known as the “Work on Mobile Point,” Fort Morgan served as the first line of defense during the civil war and provided protection from soldiers on the Mobile Bay.
Explore a variety of outdoor activities at Fort Morgan and visit the grounds for a historical, educational experience.
Explore Alabama’s last remaining undisturbed coastal barrier habitats. Established in 1980 by Congress, the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge protects neotropical migratory songbirds and endangered species. The land is crucial for migratory birds to rest and to build mass for future migrations.
It also protects endangered species that inhabit beach dunes and scrub habitats, such as the Alabama beach mouse and Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles.
Visit the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo, in a brand new location just a few miles from the park. Voted the “#1 Zoo in Alabama” for two years in a row, visitors can check out more than 600 different animals, 199 sub-species, and 22 endangered species. See Bengal tigers, black leopards, and other animals, along with a variety of exhibits. Animal Encounter exhibits allow visitors to touch, hold, feed and engage with friendly animals.
Incorporate the abundant outdoor ecosystems into your lecture to inspire and engage with your students. One of our pivotal goals for the learning center is to allow educators the opportunity to develop impactful educational experiences that motivate an emerging generation of students to build a passionate connection with our planet.
Through engaging and practical lectures, we hope to create an environment that not only educates students but helps them integrate environmentally conscious philosophies to help contribute to sustainable, eco-friendly lifestyles.
To reserve the Learning Campus for your group, contact Vicki Keyser at info@learningcampusgsp.com or call her directly at (251) 923-3101.