Mote Rebuilds Floating Outdoor Classroom Thanks to Grant

Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium is proud to share the rebuilding of its ADA-compliant floating education platform on City Island, thanks to a generous grant from the Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County (Community Foundation). The floating platform and walkway, or “outdoor classroom,” which serves as a vital resource for accessible marine science education at Mote, was significantly damaged last October when Hurricanes Helene and Milton struck the barrier islands in quick succession. Unfortunately, the damage rendered the outdoor classroom unusable.

Since its original construction with support from the Community Foundation several years ago, the platform has hosted hundreds of thousands of participants, including school groups, homeschoolers, summer campers, and lifelong learners. In 2024 alone, more than 50,000 students attended Mote’s education programs on City Island.

With the platform out of commission, Mote’s education programs were left with limited water access. Now, thanks to the Community Foundation’s support through the Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund, the floating classroom will once again offer students interactive education opportunities in Sarasota Bay.

Read more here.