December

December

by | Dec 31, 2022 | Calendar Activities - English

December

20
23

Theme: Everglades

JOKE
ANSWER
What do you eat when you visit the Florida Everglades?
Marsh-mallows 😛

Source: https://issuu.com/harpercollinschildrensbooks/docs/lol_road_trip_jokes/12

Source: https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/nature/article/everglades

Natural Area: Everglades National Park

There are lots of things to do in Everglades National park, explore this “international treasure” at your own pace.

Source: https://www.nps.gov/ever/index.htm

Events/Activities:

Source: https://myfwc.com/research/about/marinequest/kids/

Historic Watershed Fact

“Everglades National Park protects an unparalleled landscape that provides important habitat for numerous rare and endangered species like the manatee,  American crocodile, and the elusive Florida panther.” Everglades National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

Writing Prompt

Many birds migrate to Florida in the winter including the White Pelican. Can you name others?

Tip for Stewardship

Leave no trace. When visiting natural areas, leave the ecosystem undisturbed. Pack all of your belongings and garbage out with you. Be sure to stay on established trails to avoid trampling precious habitat. Visit the source website to learn more about what you can do to protect your local ecosystem.

November

November

by | Dec 31, 2022 | Calendar Activities - English

November

20
23

Theme: Jellyfish

Lagoon Fest is November 4th! Enjoy all that is offered at this great event on Flagger to celebrate the lagoon as an important natural resource.

JOKE
ANSWER
Would you rather kiss a shark or a jellyfish?
A jellyfish. That’s a no-brainer.

Source: https://bestjokehub.com/joke-112313/

Source: https://floridakeys.noaa.gov/animals/whatrjellies.html

Natural Area: Bryant Park

Visit this waterside park to see the mural of Jewell and the history of this lagoon side town.

Source: https://discover.pbcgov.org/parks/Pages/Daggerwing.aspx

Events/Activities:

Professor Screech’s Nature Detectives Level I

To complete the professor’s list, you’ll need a pencil, paper, and maybe a clipboard to lean on. Clipboards always make things more official and expert-y.

 

Source: https://www.wildnessisnecessary.com/nature-detectives.html

Historic Watershed Fact

In the late 1800s, Fannie and Sam James opened a post office on the shores of the lagoon, calling the area Jewell which was later changed to Lake Worth.

Writing Prompt

What is your favorite part of the mural? What was it like to be a pioneer? If you could a letter to Fannie today, what would it say?

Tip for Stewardship

What is our local history? What was here before buildings and cities? Who lived here before us? Learning our histories is a great way to acknowledge and pay respect to those that lived before us. Seek out the untold stories of our history.

October

October

by | Dec 31, 2022 | Calendar Activities - English

October

20
23

Theme: Sustainable Landscape

JOKE
ANSWER
How do you lead a horse to water?
With lots of carrots.

Source: https://www.aboutamom.com/garden-giggles-jokes-for-kids/

Natural Area: Daggerwing Nature Center

Daggerwing Nature Center is set within the beautiful confines of Burt Aaronson South County Regional Park in western Boca Raton. Features include a 3,000 sq. ft. exhibit hall with live animals and interactive state-of-the-art exhibits, classroom facilities, laboratory, art gallery, reading area, butterfly garden, and an elevated boardwalk which takes you on a relaxing journey through a swamp. The boardwalk has two trails, bench-style seating, as well as an observation tower available for you to view the abundant plant and animal life including: osprey, woodpeckers, butterflies, turtles, alligators, and a wide variety of bromeliads. Be sure not to miss our namesake, the Ruddy Daggerwing butterfly, as it flutters through the trees!

Nature Center staff offer a variety of educational, interactive programs to people of all ages. Click on the links under the Directory and check out all of our opportunities!

 

Source: https://discover.pbcgov.org/parks/Pages/Daggerwing.aspx

Events/Activities:

Nature Journaling 101 “Paying attention is a form of reciprocity with the living world, receiving the gifts with open eyes and open heart.” – Robin Wall Kimmerer

Historic Watershed Fact

Planting natives require less maintenance as they are already attuned to the natural Florida cycles.

Writing Prompt

Pretend you are an animal living in our watershed. What native plants would be important to you and why?

Tip for Stewardship

Choose native plants for your garden that will attract, house, and feed beneficial wildlife.

September

September

by | Dec 31, 2022 | Calendar Activities - English

September

20
23

Theme: Manatees

JOKE
ANSWER
What do you call a young manatee?
A babytee

Natural Area: Manatee Lagoon

Florida manatees are considered one of the state’s keystone species whose behavior can alert researchers to the environmental and habitat changes that may otherwise go unnoticed in Florida’s waterways for extended periods of time.

Source: https://www.visitmanateelagoon.com/

Events/Activities:

Print out and color this sheet of manatee fun facts.

Source: https://myfwc.com/research/about/marinequest/kids/

Historic Watershed Fact

What is a Watershed? A watershed is an area of land that separates waters from flowing to different rivers, basins, or seas. Our local watershed extends as far west as Lake Okeechobee to the Atlantic Ocean in the east. Water flows from Lake Okeechobee through a complex canal system out to the Lake Worth Lagoon. Since opening the inlets on both ends of the lake, water from Lake Okeechobee eventually makes it out to the ocean. The flow of freshwater meets the saltwater making the lagoon an estuary. Continued freshwater is needed to reduce salinity or salt in the lagoon. Too much salt would once again change the area’s habitat.

Writing Prompt

Draw a map of your watershed.

Tip for Stewardship

Talk to 5 people about what you have learned so far about your watershed.

August

August

by | Dec 31, 2022 | Calendar Activities - English

August

20
23

Theme: Lunar Cycle

JOKE
ANSWER
What dance can you see in the night sky?
The moon walk!

Source: https://www.jokesforkids.lol/nature/space/moon

Natural Area: Jupiter Lighthouse

Lighthouses have provided a service to ships during low tides for many generations. Consider a moon rise tour to learn more about local history.

Source: https://www.jupiterlighthouse.org/

Events/Activities:

This month we will see two full moons. Collect data on your monthly phenology wheel about what you see in the night sky.

Historic Watershed Fact

As a boy, Charlie Pierce briefly lived with his family at the Jupiter Lighthouse. They then made their way south to settle on Hypoluxo Island. Charlie later became one of six Barefoot Mailman to travel from the area that is now Lake Worth Beach to Miami. The round trip took 6 days.

Writing Prompt

Pretend you are Charlie Pierce and write a journal entry discussing a day in the life of a Barefoot Mailman.

Tip for Stewardship

Be careful not to add nutrient pollution to our watershed. Clean up after your pets, plant native species that won’t need added fertilizer, and keep leaf debris away from storm drains.

July

July

by | Dec 31, 2022 | Calendar Activities - English

July

20
23

Theme: Snorkeling

While you are learning more about the incredible wildlife below the waves, consider participating in the Lake Worth Lagoon Fishing Challenge. Keep an eye out for this year’s dates. Environmental Resources Management – Fishing-Challenge (pbcgov.org)

JOKE
ANSWER
What did the shark say after eating a clownfish?
That tasted a little funny!

Source: https://kidadl.com/funnies/puns/fish-jokes-that-are-off-the-scale

Natural Area: DuBois Park

Visit DuBois Park for excellent snorkeling adventures and maybe save some time to explore the DuBois Pioneer Home while you are there.

Source: https://discover.pbcgov.org/parks/Locations/DuBois.aspx

Events/Activities:

This scavenger hunt can be played through the month, each time you find one of the items, you can either place the sticker on the day you found the item or print the scavenger hunt page and place the sticker on that page.

Historic Watershed Fact

The Goliath Grouper is one of many protected species that inhabit the Lake Worth Lagoon. They use the lagoon as a nursery as it helps protect their young as they grow. They can weigh up to 800 pounds!

Writing Prompt

Can you name other protected Florida species? Which is your favorite?

Tip for Stewardship

One of the best ways to practice stewardship is just to learn about the animals, plants, places, and people around you. Start local and explore where you live. The more you know, the more you will feel you want to protect it.