Note: Gatorama's Hatching Season for 2015 wrapped up on Sunday, August 30.  Set a reminder in your smart phone for 2016.  The season opens the 3rd weekend in August.  Meantime, Gatorama is open daily year-round.

It's back-to-school season, and for one biology class, students of all ages will need to head outside with rubber gloves.

The sounds of trucks are replaced by grunting just off U.S. Route 27 in Palmdale.

Pull up a bench and get ready for a story at the outdoor classroom at Gatorama.

Allen Register gives a biology lesson at the front of the class.

"The colors we are looking for is yellow — or an orange or even reddish color," Register explains.

There are no textbooks here. Instead, there are baby alligators.

"Make a circle with your thumb and forefinger so it doesn't go squirting through your hands," Register said.

The hatching festival at Gatorama on the west bank of Lake Okeechobee puts an alligator egg in your hand.

"Just holding the egg and watching that baby alligator come out," said Kim Honore, who has been to Gatorama five times. "It is just the most amazing thing you could possible imagine."

Austin Riederm, of Fort Myers, described the experience as "slimy."

And although the baby alligators are slimy, they won’t bite.

"The cool thing about alligators is they don't have teeth when they hatch out," Register said.

Honore said it's safe.

"You are with trained professionals," she said. "And they are just hatching out of the egg, so they are really actually tired."

After cuddling with their newborns, folks trade in their babies and graduate with a diploma from Patty Register.

The hatching festival takes place from Aug. 22 to Aug. 30. To make your reservation, go here.

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