Educational Opportunities
Let Shores & Islands Ohio become your classroom, filled with unique history and wildlife. A range of educational opportunities are available for local schools and incoming student groups interested in exploring the region’s natural and cultural heritage. Visit museums and historic sites, nature centers and wildlife refuges, and participate in educational programs at some of the top attractions in the area. Wherever your interest lies, the Shores & Islands Ohio groups team is here to help.
Areas to explore:
Bellevue
5001 SR 4, Bellevue
419.483.4949, lymevillage.org
Experience the past as you tour this 19th-century village. Buildings include an 1880s Victorian mansion, an 1836 farm home, log cabins, barns, a one-room school, general store, log church and more.
Mad River & NKP Railroad Museum
253 Southwest St., Bellevue
419.483.2222, madrivermuseum.org
Opened in 1976 as a bicentennial project, the extensive museum's highlights include several engines and cars that visitors can walk through, plus numerous railroading displays.
15248 E. Township Rd. 178 (off SR 269), Bellevue
419.483.6711, senecacavernsohio.com
Preserved close to its original natural state, Seneca Caverns provides a fascinating guided, one-hour walking tour through this unique cavern that leads you through seven rooms or levels. The largest room is 250 ft. in length and 110 ft. below the surface, visitors will view "Ole Mist'ry River.” Available for your use, at no additional charge, is a clean, shaded picnic area.
Fremont
Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museums
at Spiegel Grove, Fremont
419.332.2081 or 800.998.7737, rbhayes.org
Visit President Rutherford B. Hayes' wooded estate of Spiegel Grove, home of America's first presidential library. Tour the president's 31-room Victorian mansion, see his tomb, visit the newly-renovated museum, explore the library, and walk the mile of paved trails.
Kelleys Island
Division St., Kelleys Island
ohiohistory.org/visit/museum-and-site-locator/glacial-grooves
Carved 18,000 years ago, the grooves are considered the finest and largest accessible example of glacial scoring in the world.
This flat-topped limestone boulder has faint pictographs of persons, birds and animals. Historians believe that Native Americans carved the images between three and four hundred years ago.
Kelleys Island Historical Museum
224 Division St., Kelleys Island
419.746.2399, kelleysislandhistorical.org
The museum features artifacts and photographs from the island’s past including the fishing and quarry operations, island boats, and the famous island wineries. The gift shop has many unique items including books about the island’s history. Visit the historic Stone Church built in 1866. For group visits, please call ahead so a guide can be provided.
Milan
Edison Birthplace9 Edison Dr., (off SR 113), Milan
419.499.2135, tomedison.org
Visit Thomas Edison’s 1847 birthplace. Tour his boyhood home and see displays of some of his accomplishments as one of the world’s greatest inventor.
10 Edison Dr. (off SR 113), Milan
419.499.2968, milanhistory.org
Explore Milan's canal and shipbuilding history, interact with toys from the past, and view a renowned glass collection. It's affordable family fun with special activities for the whole family.
Norwalk
Firelands Historical Society Complex
4 Case Ave. (off SR 61), Norwalk
419.668.6038, firelandsmuseum.com
Ohio's oldest museum, located in an 1836 home. Eclectic collections feature 200 yrs. of Firelands history, including extensive gun collections from pre-Revolutionary War through WWII and a Native American collection. Separate research library available.
Oak Harbor
13551 W. SR 2, Oak Harbor
419.898.4070, bsbobird.org
Located at the entrance to Magee Marsh Wildlife Area, BSBO features a visitors’ center with free birding maps, a gift shop, walking trail, restrooms, and window on wildlife.
13229 W. SR 2, Oak Harbor
419.898.0960, wildlife.ohiodnr.gov
A wildlife enthusiast destination. If your forte is hunting, fishing, birding, or just enjoy nature’s visitors, opportunities are abundant. Home of the Sportsman’s Migratory Bird Center, a wildlife museum containing items relating to natural and local history.
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge
14000 W. SR 2, Oak Harbor
419.898.0014, fws.gov/refuge/Ottawa
Over ten miles of hiking trails through a variety of habitats including marshes, grasslands, and wooded areas. Pets allowed but must be on a leash. This wildlife refuge encompasses 9,700 acres of marshes, uplands, and forested wetlands remaining of the Great Black Swamp. Restrooms, visitors center, handicapped accessible.
Port Clinton
3515 E. State Rd., Port Clinton
419.732.0234, libertyaviationmuseum.org
Showcasing operational, historical aircraft and vehicles, including "Georgie's Gal", a WWII B-25 Mitchell Bomber, U.S. Navy WWII TBM Avenger, PT-boat, and more. Witness the restoration of a 1929 Ford Tri-Motor and dine in the 1950s-era Tin Goose Diner.
126 E. Third St., Port Clinton
419.732.2237, facebook.com/pages/Ottawa-County-Museum/110711658998159
Small museum with exhibits on the history of Ottawa County including the Battle of Lake Erie, boat building, nature, agriculture, commercial fishing, early settlers, Native Americans, early clothing, and children's toys. ADA accessible.
Put-in-Bay
Aquatic Visitor's Center360 Bayview Ave., Put-in-Bay
419.285.1800, ohioseagrant.osu.edu/visit/avc
The Aquatic Visitors Center will be undergoing renovation in fall of 2023 and all of 2024. The new and improved center will open up to the public in 2025.
Lake Erie Islands Historical Museum
443 Catawba Ave., Put-in-Bay
419.285.2804, leihs.org
Displays include over 65 ship models; the South Bass Island Lighthouse Fresnel lens; and artifacts from the Battle of Lake Erie, island life and the Ford Tri-Motor and great hotel eras.
Lake Erie Islands Nature & Wildlife Center
225 Meechen Rd., Put-in-Bay
419.285.3037, lakeerieislandswildlife.com
Lake Erie Islands Nature and Wildlife Center includes an indoor collection of over 240 North American fish, birds, and mammals. Self-guided or narrated tours are offered to help visitors understand some of the creatures on display. The grounds contain a frog pond, nature trail, geo-caching site, phenology and butterfly gardens; also a good birding spot.
Perry’s Cave Family Fun Center
979 Catawba Ave., Put-in-Bay
419.285.2283, perryscave.com
Descend into a registered Ohio Natural Landmark at Perry’s Cave. It is a natural limestone cave steeped in historical tradition. While here be sure to visit the Butterfly House at Put-in-Bay with over 50 types of exotic butterflies inside.
Perry’s Victory & International Peace Memorial (Visitors Center)
93 Delaware Ave., Put-in-Bay
419.285.2184, nps.gov/pevi
Our nation’s third tallest memorial structure, honors Commodore Oliver Perry’s victory over the British in the War of 1812.
Stone Laboratory on Gibraltar Island
878 Bayview Dr., Put-in-Bay
419.285.1800, ohioseagrant.osu.edu/education
Established in 1895, Stone Laboratory is the oldest freshwater biological field station in the United States and the center of Ohio State University’s teaching and research on Lake Erie.
Sandusky
1 Cedar Point Dr., Sandusky
800.448.2428 option 1, cedarpoint.com/groups/student-youth-groups
Cedar Point becomes the world’s largest classroom on select dates in May. With curriculum driven content for physics, science, math, engineering, and business, Cedar Point has a variety of options.
Cooke-Dorn House Historic Site
1415 Columbus Ave., Sandusky
419.627.0640, oldhouseguild.org
Sandusky is known for its collection of limestone buildings, including this Greek Revival. The three-story mansion features a ruby and cranberry glass collection, antique furnishings, greenhouse, and gift shop. Site managed by the Old House Guild of Sandusky.
Erie MetroParks
3910 Perkins Ave., Huron
419.625.7783 ext. 221, eriemetroparks.org/programs
Erie MetroParks offers many programs and events throughout the year. Schedule a Naturalist to lead a hike tailored to your group, take a class on geology, wild life, nature, and historical aspects of the park.
404 Wayne St., Sandusky
419.627.9608, sanduskylib.org/locations-directions
Discover Sandusky’s past! Sandusky Library’s local history museum with four floors of exhibits featuring Johnson’s Island Civil War Prison Camp, Cedar Point and many other artifacts that shaped local life.
125 Meigs St., Sandusky
419.624.0274, sanduskymaritime.org
This museum interprets the maritime history of the area including boat building, recreational boating, passenger boats, shipwrecks, wetlands, commercial shipping, fishing, and the boats of Sandusky’s Underground Railroad through interactive exhibits and educational programs.
301 Jackson St., Sandusky
419.626.6111, merrygoroundmuseum.org
This museum has an indoor carousel, hundreds of enchanting carvings, carving demonstrations, band organs and a gift shop.
Sandusky Library
114 W. Adams St., Sandusky
419.625.3834, sandusky.lib.oh.us
The library offers tours than can be a general tour of the library or prepared to complement a specific lesson plan or topic. Presentations can include the topics of local history, genealogy research, book reviews, and more.
2130 Hayes Ave. (SR 4), Ste. A, Sandusky
419.984.1136
The Sidney Frohman Planetarium at Sandusky High School offers students, staff, and the community unique opportunities to fully immerse into the universe.
