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Education

Historic Places, Green Spaces

Education is at the forefront of Dade Heritage Trust’s commitment to preserving Miami’s architectural, environmental, and cultural heritage. Historic Places, Green Spaces was created to acquaint students and educators with significant cultural, historical, and recreational spaces within urban Miami in the hopes of inspiring students to visit historic sites and become the conduit for knowledge to be passed on to their community. Our standards-based curriculum offers on-site tours to different historic sites for K-12 students. Dade Heritage Trust program educators facilitate tours of selected venues, provide historical information, and lead interactive activities to enhance the experience.

We are pleased to offer our field trips at no cost to students or teachers. We also award a limited number of bus scholarships to Miami-Dade County Title 1 schools on a first-come, first-served basis.

Review our Booking Instructions for information on how to reserve a field trip. Contact Lucia Meneses at education@dadeheritagetrust.org or call 305-358-9572 with any questions.

Grades K-12 Single Visit Field Trips

These experiences educate students about significant historic places and green spaces throughout Miami. 

A Naturalist’s Paradise

Pioneer Diaries

Shaped By Fire

Grades 4-12 Multiple Site Field Trips

Sometimes one field trip is not enough! With a multiple-visit experience, students have an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of a particular topic. Teachers who participate commit to scheduling three separate field trips throughout the school year for their class and may select one of the following programs: Miami Urban Tree Trekkers or African American Heritage. Please review these Frequently Asked Questions before you apply.

Miami Urban Tree Trekkers

Explore three urban forests in Miami!

African American Heritage

Visit three historic African American sites!

Miami Preserves Podcast
Dade Heritage Trust launched its Miami Preserves podcast in June of 2024 tocomplement its Historic Places, Green Spaces education program.

The podcast spotlights Black history in Miami through interviews and archival recordings. It specifically seeks to amplify the people, places, and stories as it explores Miami’s cultural and architectural heritage.

Miami Preserves podcast is proudly supported by the Wolfson Family Foundation

The four-episode series is available on leading streaming platforms:

Transcripts of each episode can be found here

Meet The Education Team

Lucia Meneses, School Programs Manager
education@dadeheritagetrust.org

Lucia Meneses

School Programs Manager Lucia Meneses is a Miami native of Cuban-American heritage and a graduate of the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in English Literature and a minor in Spanish Literature. She has worked at a number of cultural institutions in Miami which inspired a newfound appreciation of her hometown’s history and cultural heritage. Leading Historic Places, Green Spaces with DHT has been a humbling opportunity to educate students about where they live and why preservation is important. Lucia’s educational approach is multidisciplinary and combines history with environmental education, visual arts learning strategies, and creative writing. She has completed the Conservation Science Special Topics course with the Florida Master Naturalist Program and has attended various conferences including the Climate Educator Retreat hosted by The Climate Initiative. In her free time, she enjoys kayaking, snorkeling, baking, and playing piano.

Michele L. Zakis, Educator

Michele L. Zakis

Educator

Born in North Miami, I’ve lived in Miami-Dade County my entire life. After graduating from Miami Killian SHS, I earned an Associate’s Degree from Miami-Dade (Community) College and Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Specialist’s Degrees from Florida International University. I also hold a Master of Fine Arts Degree from Spalding University, where I’m currently working on a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership. For many years, I worked as an educator and administrator with the Miami-Dade County Public Schools. I’ve also volunteered as a CPR/First Aid instructor at Miami-Dade Community College and assisted Miami-Dade County’s Community Emergency Response Team (C.E.R.T.). I enjoy writing and have published several articles in HistoryMiami’s scholarly journal, Tequesta. I also enjoy photographing Miami-Dade County’s hidden gems, especially its historic buildings and cemeteries.

Eileen Zelaya, Educator

Eileen Zelaya

Educator

​​Eileen Zelaya studied Sociology and Art at the University of Central Florida. She is a native Miamian but grew up all over the United States. She has worked with the Institute of Contemporary Art and other non-profit organizations related to education and art preservation in the Orlando area. In her free time, she enjoys making art, reading, and writing poetry!

Rebecca Taylor, Educator

Rebecca Taylor

Educator

​​As a proud Miami native, I’ve always been drawn to the rich culture of my hometown, which inspires much of what I do. With a degree in History from Florida State University, I’ve developed a deep appreciation for educating others. I have worked as a research assistant at John G. Riley House and as a social media intern for Florida State’s History Department. Outside of studying history, my passion for photography, graphic design, and social media gives me unique tools to engage students creatively. I’m constantly exploring the world around me. Whether I’m capturing Miami’s vibrant culture through my camera lens or getting involved in local projects, I love bringing my experiences back into the learning environment.

Professional Development

Dade Heritage Trust offers professional development workshops designed to inspire creative and engaging ways to fulfill Florida state educational standards outside the classroom. They are open to all Miami Dade County teachers and registration is through My Learning Plan. Our half-day workshops highlight our unique education program and take place at various historic sites, depending on the theme of the workshop. Participants receive a tour and an overview of our curriculum, which includes strategies teachers may incorporate in the classroom to enhance the learning experience for students.

Upcoming Workshop Info – Coming Soon!