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Nature Center Open Monday - Saturday, 9:00am to 3:00pm
Refuge Trail Open 7 days, Sunrise to Sunset
Nature Center Open Monday - Saturday, 9:00am to 3:00pm
Refuge Trail Open 7 days, Sunrise to Sunset
For visits to the Nature Center we suggest instructors/group leaders choose one program from School Program & one Supplemental Activity or Field Experience.
In habitat lap sit, students identify the different components of HABITAT and interpret the significance of loss or change to the habitat in terms of people and wildlife. In Oh Indigo!, students become "indigo snakes" and "resources" necessary for survival and see how wildlife populations fluctuate and change as a result of limiting factors.
Students become "bears" that look for food in a "habitat" and learn about carrying capacity and survival of the fittest. The importance of saving places for wildlife is realized. Three special "bears" are included - a mother bear with cub, a crippled bear and a blind bear.
*** from Project WILD
Using buckets of water, teams of students carry ladles of water and other surprises to their "gator hole". The team filling up their "hole" first is the winner! But they must dodge the "head gator" (adult with a squirt gun!).......!
Make an animal in the sand along the bank of the estuary, using creativity and originality. This activity may also have a theme such as endangered animals, marine creatures, etc.
In this activity, students become sea turtles and learn about what different species eat, their life in the sea and the hazards they face (a high energy game).
Examine owl pellets is a terrific lab to use in teaching about food chains, ecology and natural history. Students will find small skeleton parts from rodents, birds and more. DONATION OF $4.00 PER STUDENT (2 to a pellet) is required for this activity to cover the cost of the pellets, handouts and materials. Two weeks notice is required for ordering pellets.
Play an echolocation game which illustrates insect eating bats catching their prey in the dark. Students play the role of bats, moths and trees.
Migration means getting where you are going, but also finding the correct food and lodging along the way. Conditions in nature, along with human activity, challenge a bird's ability to find food. In this game, students become a flock of migratory birds trying to survive.
During this interactive game, the students become a puppet, test their knowledge and learn about native wildlife species in their habitats, food requirements, adaptations and much more.
Draw your favorite critters in their habitats on our sidewalk with chalk! Vary the theme to fit your program and see how creative students can be!
Students become animals of the rainforest living in different habitats around the world, only to have trouble surviving with man and his greed for rainforest products.
Hike through the sand pine scrub community to take a close look at oaks, lichens and unusual plants and animals that live in this area. Learn about special adaptations necessary to survive in this endangered plant community of the Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge. Student may use binoculars, hand lenses and clipboards containing TRAIL BINGO (K-2nd) or SCAVENGER HUNT (3rd-5th) to enhance their trail experience.
A guided, stay-dry walk along the banks of the Indian River Lagoon Aquatic Preserve, bordering the Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge. Learn why estuaries are important, what animals live there and man's impact on this resource.
OR
A popular get-wet activity for all ages - wading in the grassflats of the estuary using a hand net or seine to discover what lives there and the economic value of the estuary. Participants must wear water shoes or tennis shoes and prepare to get wet waist high (scheduled only on low tides in spring and summer). DONATION OF $2.00 PER STUDENT
Other sites such as Jonathan Dickinson State Park can be utilized with sufficient time in scheduling for a different habitat experience. Contact the Nature Center staff for details.