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Cryptic Colorations
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 | Program description: length =1 hour, 35mm slides, camouflage props. |
| Program options: craft activity for families and children. Make "Cryptic Critters" to take home. |
| Program options: Children ages 6-10. outdoor activity with hide and seek rules, but using camouflage jackets and emphasizing techniques learned in program. |
A natural history presentation which highlights Florida's 4 groups of carnivorous plants. This slide presentation will take you on a photo-safari in search of these unusual plants. Live plants will also be shown depending on the time of year.
| Program description: length =1 hour, 35mm slides, live plants. |
| Program options: hands-on workshop describing cultivation techniques and horticulture. |
| Program options: associated field trip into carnivorous plant habitat. |
Getting a group to be quiet in the woods is impossible. We discover and want to VOICE our discovery. Using American Sign Language to express simple concepts is fun and QUIET. Silence will help your group see more wildlife. Learn basic signs and how to integrate them into your activities.
| Program description: length = 2 hours, with hike, handouts. |
| Program options: 1/2 day teacher workshop available upon request. |
Program Objective: To learn more about nocturnal animals and their natural history. Senses other than sight will be focused on through a series of hands-on experiments.
Program Description: Meet at *TBA location at sunset (times need to be researched). A presentation will be given discussing the animals that are likely to be encountered. After safety rules have been reviewed and flashlights covered in red acetate, we will begin a night hike (approx. 1 mile). Owl calls, bat echolocation, and flying squirrel chirps will be demonstrated on tape or through a bat detector. After the hike we will review what we heard, smelled, and touched along the hike. An emphasis will be placed on using all your senses when trying to find and learn about wildlife.
Program Length:
4 hours ( 9 am is a good start time for this program, participants are encouraged to stay at the site for a picnic lunch after the program). 
Program Objectives: Animals leave evidence of their presence in the wild through a variety of signs and signals. With some simple training anyone, any age, can learn to appreciate the wonder and diversity of the wildlife that live in woods around them. In this program we will explore the various signs and signals that animals leave behind. Interpreting and preserving these signs with be an important part of the program.
Program Description: The group will meet at the in the morning for a brief description of the property. A presentation will be given on the significance of animal signs and the signals that animals give us to assist us in learning about their natural history. Demonstrations of animal track casting and scat analysis will be given before commencing on an approximate 2 mile hike. During the hike we will encounter animal signs, make plaster casts of tracks, examine snake sheds, and examine scat. Florida species will be discussed as they are encountered. After the program participants are encouraged to stay at the preserve for a picnic lunch on their own.
Participant supplies: simple day-hike supplies, such as water, snacks, sunscreen, daypack, ... (there will be a snack break 1/2 way through the program)
Supplies needed: Approximately 2 lb. of plaster-of-paris
Per person 4 - large ziplock bags
1 - empty 1 gallon milk jug
1 - empty 2 liter plastic bottle
1 - pair of scissors
1 - toothbrush
2 pairs of latex gloves
Program Objective: Bird Watching is one of the most popular pastimes in the world, and yet many people have no idea on how to get started. This program will provide basic information on the techniques and resources needed to enjoy bird watching. Conservation and sharing a passion for birds and their habitat will be the main focus of the program. Ecology and how birds fit into their environment will be shown through examples at the refuge. Attracting wildlife, backyard habitats, bird feeders, and bird houses will also be discussed.
Supplies needed: none
Program Description: This stimulating presentation will help teachers, environmental educators, and parents find the "naturalist" in their children. An aptitude for naturalistic skills can be detected in children at a very young age. Learning to recognize these traits and then incorporating nature themed activities into your curriculum can help facilitate learning. Naturalistic behaviors can encourage children to think, investigate, and observe their surroundings with more enthusiasm. This enthusiasm for the natural world can be nurtured and used to increase the learning potential of every student. During this presentation will explore naturalistic intelligence, resources available to help you use this information, and examples of activities that we have used in our programs.
Supplies needed: PowerPoint projection capabilities
Biographical sketch -
Steve DeCresie
Steve DeCresie is a Florida naturalist. He was born in the Tampa Bay area and grew up camping, biking, and hiking through Florida’s varied landscape. He has been actively studying these habitats for the last 19 years, and finding ways to bring Florida’s natural wonders to the uninitiated has earned him the nickname "Nature Nerd". Armed with facts about nature and a collection of photographic images of our flora and fauna, he has integrated them into an enjoyable way to learn about nature. He has taught workshops and classes focused on developing naturalist skills for groups of all ages. Steve is currently employed at the Central Florida Zoological Park. He also teaches HS Environmental Science for Home School and summer field biology camps for the Orlando Science Center. His current research projects focus on Florida box turtles (Terrapene carolina bauri), ecological relationships of lichens and tree snails, and reproduction of endangered Florida native, wild cotton (Gossypium hirsutum).
For further information please feel free to contact us @ mailto:info@naturenerd.com
Copyright © 2003
The Nature Nerd Co.
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