Educational Fleet

Our Educational Fleet

Our largest and most exciting educational initiative rolls along year-round bringing a host of unique educational programs to family events and childcare sites near you! We transformed three school buses into classrooms on wheels that bring developmentally stimulating activities and books to early learners in Manatee County. Our fleet goes almost everywhere we go, outfitted with bookshelves, classroom-like storage, hands-on learning materials, flexible tables and seating, classroom-like technology, and much more!

Below is a list of each of our buses and the programs they host. Following the Florida Early Learning and Developmental Standards (FELDS), we curate each activity that is paired with our lessons to support healthy child development. Our goal is to prepare each child for kindergarten. Click here for more information on the FELDS and helpful resources for teachers and families.

Getting Ready for Our Visit

If you have an upcoming event scheduled with us, please view the Buddy Bus Social Story to help prepare your children for our visit. If you are interested in bringing one of our programs to a childcare site near you, email communityengagement@elc-manatee.org to see what activities might be available.

Mobile Learning Lab

Hosted Programs:

The Mobile Learning Lab was the first full-sized school bus in our fleet. This bus exemplifies the beauty of community collaboration as the Mobile Learning Lab would not be possible without the generosity of the School District of Manatee County. For more information about this fantastic vehicle, read Adding to the Fleet! as featured in NEXTGEN Family Magazine.

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Dream Machine

Hosted Programs:

The Dream Machine is decorated inside with a nature-inspired theme to pay tribute to the bus’s funder Soar in 4. Read The Dream Machine! as featured in NEXTGEN Family Magazine to learn the full story behind this creative vehicle.

Soar in 4 is Manatee Counties Largest Family Movement featuring free monthly family nights and educational resources. Join the Soar family by following them on Facebook.

ELC Explorer

Hosted Programs:

Book Distributions
Making all ELC programs accessible

The ELC Explorer is our newest and most accommodating bus. Wheelchair access makes this bus special because ALL children and their families can now experience our programs onboard and select free books. We are in the construction phase of this project and can’t wait to reveal the end result! The Explorer has several project sponsors and grant contributors. The Selby Foundation is the largest contributor to the ELC Explorer, we deeply appreciate their generosity as we work towards ensuring every child is ready for kindergarten.

Thank you to all our sponsors who helped make our Educational Fleet possible!

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