Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve - News - Campers "Crept and Leapt' at Summer Camp

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Campers "Crept and Leapt' at Summer Camp

8/1/2016 9:25:00 AM

Camp Safari recently wrapped up at the Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve in Eleuthera. A week of activities was hosted for children between the ages of 8 and 14 in partnership with the Haynes Library of Governor’s Harbour. A total of 28 campers and 12 volunteers participated in the camp themed ‘Creeping and Leaping with Our Cold-Blooded Critters’. As suggested by the theme, the week was focused entirely on Herpetofauna, the animal group that includes Amphibians and Reptiles.

On the first day of camp, participants practiced the herp-themed camp song and pledge which they sang and recited to start each day. Campers learned how to identify Bahamian amphibians and reptiles by watching picture-filled presentations, looking at live tadpoles and froglets through a microscope, and observing resident snakes and turtles up close and personal at The Preserve. ‘The Herp-Round Up’ game, where campers used a map of the Preserve with clues to find critters in their environment was a huge hit! Two craft projects brought out the campers’ imagination and artistic abilities. They created a poster showing the different stages in a frog life cycle and also designed and constructed a 3-D model of a Bahamian reptile or amphibian in their habitat. Each afternoon, campers cooled off and wrapped up the day with snorkeling at a nearby beach.

On Thursday, special guests from the Faculty of the Cape Eleuthera Institute presented to the campers on the beautiful species of sea turtles that live in Bahamian waters. They also facilitated a discussion about the threats to wildlife and how each person, no matter their age, can do their part to protect the environment and its inhabitants. On Friday, the camp culminated with an awards ceremony and party to celebrate the completion of Camp and also the library’s children’s summer programming.

The Preserve extends a special thank you to The One Eleuthera Foundation for a generous donation of 30 reusable water bottles for the campers and to the Haynes Library for once again partnering on such a special program.