from Carol Shields

On a Saturday morning last fall, the Audubon Society the Everglades (West Palm Beach, FL) conducted its first annual Young Naturalist Program, free of charge. Building capacity was limited to 200, so we took phone reservations on a first-come, first-serve basis; each reservee received a unique reservation number, which was presented at the door for admittance. The event was very successful, with 175 children and adults in attendance. Two speakers presented talks and live animals (including a macaw, an owl, a Florida panther and an indigo snake). Between these talks we held one hour of activities and games, such as bird origami, nest-building, and pine-cone bird feeder construction. Volunteer environmental students from Florida Atlantic U. organized an Animal Olympics, a series of games in which participants took on such challenges as trying to pick up a seed with a "beak," or trying to hold their breaths underwater as long as a manatee.

For More Info, Contact: Carol Shields, 4631 Wenhart Rd.; Lake Worth, FL 33463; ph: 561/964-1522; e-mail: shields@pbfreenet.seflin.lib.fl.us.