EcoExplorer's camp!

The last two weeks the nature center hosted week-long camps for kids from 6 to 12. The kids enjoyed lots of fun activities, including kayaking, fishing, seining, biking, crafts, games, etc., as well as field trips. Trips included a boat ride, Jacksonville Zoo, Fort Clinch and Jekyll Island. Exploring Fort Clinch.


Playing "hawks and sparrows"
Learning about the marsh at Drummond Point park.

Destiny is a free possum!

We got a little possum in a little over three months ago (see previous posts). It grew really big, really fast! Last weekend we took him (yes, we learned it was a boy) to a wildlife rehabilitater who lives on 22 acres of private land so he'll be safe. She put him in an outdoor cage and then after a few days released him. He wandered off and did great! We will miss him around the nature center but know he'll be able to follow his instincts in the wild.


Here's a flashback from shortly after we got him!

White Oak Plantation

White Oak Conservation Center is one of the world's premiere wildlife breeding, research, and training facilities. Luckily for us, it happens to be located less than an hour northwest of Amelia Island. It spans 600 acres and is surrounded by 6800 acres of pine and hardwood forest and wetlands. For more information about this unique center, see their website: wocenter.org

Last month, Christina, Levi, and I got to go on a tour with this summer's recreation interns in an open-air bus. White Oak is just beginning to open up to the public. So, we got to check it out and decided to offer tours there. Call the nature center at (904)321-5082 if you are interested in going with us! As our tour guide pointed out, we were perhaps the only people in the world petting a baby white rhino right then! This is George, who could not be raised by his mother, and therefor loves people because they bottlefed him.
This female Cassowary is huge, and we got to hear her make a unique call. I felt like I was seeing and hearing a dinosaur!
There are at least 33 cheetahs in the breeding program, including this one who ran up to the fence to chase our bus! We were glad for the fence between us!
A few of the giraffes loved coming over to eat a snack of local vegetation.
After we were back on the bus, this little (well, for a giraffe) baby was eager to check us out from a safe distance, although Mom still kept a really close eye on us.
Very rarely seen in the wild, or even in zoos, we got a great look at this Okapi!

Laugh Out Loud!

Just thought you might want a laugh today!

Buttercup needs a home!

We have had a lot of different species come into the nature center for rescue, but never before have we gotten a guinea pig! This one was found in some one's backyard, an odd sight to see when you look out your back door! The family brought it into us knowing that we'd take care of her. We were all scared she would bite, but it turns out she's as sweet as she could be! She's won over all of the naturalists, and many guests who've come to see her, too. Being outdoors did take its toll on her, her back feet had some burns on them, she favors one of her legs, and we're treating her for ear mites. Nothing a little TLC can't fix! No one has come out to claim her (we are calling her Buttercup) so if you know anyone who would like a very sweet girl, very tolerant of children, let us know!
P.S. we thought leash training would be a good way to show her off. You can tell by her disapproving look what she thinks of it.

Cumberland Island

About a month ago, we took a group out to Cumberland Island. There were lots of new foals to look at, as well as baby wild turkeys (look carefully, there's two in this photo). It was a great getaway for the people participating in their conference. Another group recently went to Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary, and we have upcoming group trips to Fort Clinch State Park and White Oak Conservation Center. See other posts for more photos and info on these great places.