The Living Lab
Learning in the Garden
Thought-provoking, conservation-minded lessons aligned to the Sunshine State educational standards — online and on location
What is the
Living Laboratory?
The mission of the Living Laboratory program is to have each student personally and actively engaged in thought-provoking, 
conservation-minded lessons that are aligned to the Sunshine State educational standards. Our learners develop an awareness of the land, our resources and our unique biodiversity.
We cover the state-mandated benchmarks and we include hands-on, interactive activities that promote field investigation and personal, conscious, ethical thinking and discussions. We develop environmentally conscious learners.
About The Living Lab – online and on location
The Living Lab: K-12
The Living Lab program is a collaborative effort between the Key West Botanical Garden and the Monroe County School District, which serves over 3000 children.
Our program actively involves students. Students become “scientists” and collect information to answer questions about the world around them.
What we do
Students are welcome to return to the garden to work on their projects. The garden features educational programs throughout the year.
Schedule your class trip
We are grateful to the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s approximately 120,000 libraries and 35,000 museums.
Our mission is to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement. Our grant making, policy development, and research help libraries and museums deliver valuable services that make it possible for communities and individuals to thrive. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
The Living Lab by The Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License
Thank you to our sponsors
What would you like to do today?
Become a member
Memberships include unlimited free admission, special events, gift shop discounts, volunteer opportunities and offers from our partners.
Check events calendar
There's always something to do in the botanical garden and tropical forest. The latest schedules for yoga, plant sales, speaker series and more.
Become a volunteer
Our volunteers get their hands dirty -- or not. We have opportunities for volunteers who love people, plants, trees and animals.
Make a donation
Sustain and preserve our fragile Florida Keys ecosystems. Purchase endangered plants and trees and support educational programs.
Schedule a venue
Wedding? Family reunion? Company outing? Whatever you're planning, our venues are the perfect setting for your special event.
Virtual Living Lab
Our new online videos and classes are unique, interactive educational programs for parents and students K-12.