Swimming with the Manatees Encounter

West Indian manatees are large, aquatic mammals with a body that tapers to a flat, paddle-shaped tail. They are grayish-brown in color and have two flippers with nails on them. The head and face of these animals are wrinkled with whiskers on the snout. The average, adult manatee is about 10 feet long and weighs about 1000 pounds.They can reach up to 13 feet in length and weigh up to 3,000 pounds. Crystal River remains a constant 72 degree temperature. Crystal River is one of the only rivers in Florida where people can legally interact and swim with the manatees in their natural habitat. Please respect the manatees while on your manatee swim tour, we are a guest in their home.

Manatees are very gentle, slow-moving, graceful swimmers. They eat aquatic plants and can consume 10-15% of their body weight daily. Manatees come to the surface to breathe on the the average of every three to five minutes. If they are using alot of energy, they may surface to breathe as often as every 30 seconds. When sleeping they may only surface every 20 minutes or so. Visitors can see West Indian manatees every day of the year from the park's underwater observatory in the main spring. The park showcases native Florida wildlife, including manatees, black bears, bobcats, white-tailed deer, American alligators, American crocodiles, and river otters. Manatee programs are offered three times daily. At the Wildlife Encounter programs, snakes and other native animals are featured. Recreational opportunities include picnicking, nature study, and bird-watching. The park features a children's education center, providing hands-on experiences about Florida's environment.

Grade level: Elementary 5
Subject Area: Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, Marine Biology
Duration: Teach: 15 minutes, Activity: 20 minutes, Discussion: 20 minutes.

Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park

Our second part of our field Trip took us to a natural feed spring, Homosassa Springs Park. A great underwater viewing experience of the Florida Manatees. Along the way we saw Blue Herons & Anhinga nesting, and egrets wading in the creek, wood ducks swimming along; not to mention turtles sunning on logs. Also Brown and White Pelican having there afternoon snack giving by Wildlife Staff. The elevated boardwalk system provided a great view of the wildlife, including a Florida panther, Florida Black bears, bobcats, Key deer, alligators and a wide variety of wading birds including Caribbean Flamingos doing there party dance.

Orlando Science Center

Today Earth/Science II class in the Dr. Dare Labs where we learned about Mt. St Helen's eruption in May 18, 1980 at 8:32 a.m. We had 4 labs where where recreated the bulge for a volcano explosion with heat, sand and a balloon. We tracked the speed, distance and time for the ash cloud to arrive at different cities. We had to take in account the time zone difference. A topographical look at Mt. St Helen's before and after with a play dough recreation. The last lab was to see the effects of erosion to the earths service with and without barriers. We had time to explore the other exhibits at the science center. Our Cenidone film was about the Magic of flight and the Wright Brothers Kitty Hawk flight December 18th 1903 and how flight has affected our world now. The Blue Angels Navy was a highpoint of the movie and there acrobatic moves in the sky. A hurricane experience in a large chamber and bridge trusses and the strength of triangles.

Dayna's stitching project

Dayna's own pattern and creation. Great Job!

Quilting Continues....

Jillian continues to work on her quilting project. Looking Great!

Dayna turns twelve

Wow, Our little girl is 12. We celebrated with gifts and a dinner at Olive Garden. Dayna order her favorite dessert, fried donuts and chocolate sauce. Grandma Doreen was able to join our celebration. Happy Birthday Dayna!

BATTLE OF TOWNSEND'S re- enactment of Civil War- Mt. Dora

Clouds of black smoke hung over the tree-filled battlefield as cannons roared and men on horseback trotted by a dozen dead soldiers.

With a cheering crowd of thousands watching from the sidelines, the Union army, holding muskets and standing in formation, aimed toward a ragtag bunch of Confederates.

At Sunday's Battle of Townsend's Plantation, the annual Civil War re-enactment and festival that takes place on a field near Renninger's Antiques in Mount Dora, the South triumphed.

We stopped by the Telegraph and learned some info on Samuel Morse and how the Morse code was like the texting of the 1800's for communication. A great day hearing boom, boom and then Ka-BOOOM.