Jonathan Dickinson State Park

This 11,500-acre park is named for Jonathan Dickinson, a Quaker merchant whose vessel shipwrecked nearby in 1696. Jonathan Dickinson State Park is located just south of Stuart, Florida. The park teems with wildlife from 13 natural communities, including sand pine scrub, pine flatwoods, mangroves, and river swamps. The Loxahatchee River, Florida's first federally designated Wild and Scenic River, runs through the park. Ranger-guided tours of the 1930s pioneer homestead of Trapper Nelson are available year-round. Visitors to the park can enjoy paved and off-road biking, equestrian, and hiking trails, Boating, canoeing, kayaking, and fishing.

A variety of wildlife can be found in the park including: deer, raccoons, bobcats, foxes, opossums, alligators, otters and over 140 species of birds.

The nature and history of the park comes to life through exhibits and displays in the Elsa Kimbell Environmental Education and Research Center. Programs for the kids, or for the whole family, are also offered here. The park also offers two full-facility campgrounds and a youth/group primitive campground. Visitors can arrange boat tours of the river and rent canoes, kayaks, and motorboats by calling (561) 746-1466. Located 12 miles south of Stuart on U.S. 1.

Online Resources:
Download park brochure or learn about available Ranger Programs.

Field Trip Tips:
Plan on spending the day at the park. Arrive in the morning and take the river tour, stopping off at Trapper Nelson's, take a picnic lunch break in the pavilions near the playground before going to the nature center where you can schedule labs in advance. The water is higher in the summer but it makes for a cooler trip if you go in the winter or spring. There is really no bad time to visit this incredible park.

Have you visited Jonathan Dickinson State Park? Share your field trip experiences in the comments section or by linking your blog post below.

Loxahatchee River

Loxahatchee means "river of the turtle," which is a fitting name for the Loxahatchee River which is one of the few rivers in the United States that can boast such a diversity of plant and animal life due to its various fresh and saltwater ecosystems. This river winds slowly through the Jonathan Dickinson State Park and was designated as Florida's first, "National Wild and Scenic River" in 1985.

This scenic river winds through subtropical cypress and mangrove swamps. Orchids, leather ferns, Pond-apple trees, red mangroves, sabal palms, century old cypress trees, and a variety of bromeliads (air plants) can be found along the river's edge. Otters, raccoons, bobcats, ospreys, wading birds, alligators and a variety of turtles including: Peninsula cooters, softshells and Florida snapping turtles, live along the river---hence the name.

Painting By Jackie Brice

Discussion Questions:

What are bromeliads? Can you name a few? (answer page 174; YNGF)

What does brackish water mean? (answer)

When a river takes on a dark color like tea because of the tannic acide from vegetation, what is it called? (answer page 24, YNGF)

Online Resources:
Loxahatchee River Historical Society

Field Trip Suggestions:
Take a trip down the Loxahatchee River by visiting Jonathan Dickinson State Park or Loxhatchee River Center

Video:
Of course no video could do a trip down the Loxahatchee River justice, but here is a preview.

Trapper Nelson Interpretive Site

The Loxahatchee River is one of the few wild and natural rivers remaining in southeast Florida. This beautiful river winds its way through both freshwater and saltwater ecosystems making it one of the few rivers in the United States that can boast such a diversity of plant and animal life.

It is here on the Loxahatchee River that you will find Trapper Nelson's campground. As a child Trapper told his parents that when he grew up he was going to find a place out in the woods where he could live off the land, away from everyone else...and he did in 1936. Although he was a loaner for the most part, for 38 years he became a local legend known as the "Wildman of the Loxahatchee" because he marketed himself to tourists as a modern day Tarzan who wrestled alligators (including a 3-legged one- named Stumpy that he kept as a pet), and trapped Florida wildlife that he sold in town or by mail order.

When you arrive at the Trapper Nelson Interpretive Site you will be greeted by a Ranger who will give your group a personal tour of Trapper Nelson's "zoo", guest cabin, woodpiles, Personal cabin, Chickee Shelter, and water tower. Everything is an original with a few things being restored as needed using authentic materials and tools.

Plants you will see:
Wild almond
Bamboo
Citrus
Mangoes
Sausage Tree
Surinam Cherry
Guava
Pineapple
Screwpine
Java Plum

Online Resources:
Trapper Nelson from Jupiter Kids History website.

If you are still curious about this local legend, you can read more about Trapper Nelson in, Life and Death on the Loxahatchee by James Snyder.

The site is open Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday from 9AM-5PM. River tours are offered five days a week aboard the 25-passenger Loxahatchee Queen II. Please call 561.746.1466 for tour times and information.

Have you visited the Trapper Nelson Interpretive Site? If so, share your experiences with us in the comments or by linking your blog post using Mr. Linky below.

The Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park

Devil’s Millhopper gets its unique name from its funnel-like shape. During
the 1880’s, farmers used to grind grain in gristmills. On the top of the mill
was a funnel-shaped container called a "hopper" that held the grain as it was
fed into the grinder. Because fossilized bones and teeth from early life forms
have been found at the bottom of the sink, legend has it that the millhopper was
used to feed bodies to the devil. Hence, Devil’s Millhopper.

The Devil's Millhopper is a 120-foot sinkhole that formed when the roof of an underground cave collapsed. It is now a National Natural Landmark and it's evil sounding name comes from the reported finding of fossilized bones and teeth at the bottom of the hole. Visitors can walk around the 1.5 mile rim nature trail or descend the 236 boardwalk steps into the Millhopper. Students should observe how the change in elevation affects the type of plants that grow there. There is an outdoor open-air Visitor's Center with a few exhibits and an audio/visual presentation.

Sinkholes and caves are similar to springs in some ways, for they are all "holes in the ground." A sinkhole can be shallow--less than a meter (a few feet) deep---or it can be very deep. More sinkholes occur in Florid than any other state.

The Young Naturalist's Guide to Florida; page 35

Three basic communities exist in this 63 acre park: The sand hill, the hammock, and the swamp. Pine trees grow in the highest area with the most sunlight and where the soil is dry and sandy. Because the widely spaced trees allow sunlight to reach the forest floor, there is a thick cover of grasses and flowering plants here. Broad leafed trees are found in the moist area of the hammock while gum and willow trees grow in the small swamp area of the park.

Besides the Millhopper itself, you will find many animals within the park including: a variety of frogs, lizards, snakes, birds and small mammals. The Gopher tortoise can also be found here and is listed as a species of concern.

The park is open 9AM-5PM Wednesday through Sunday and admission is $2 per vehicle.
We toured just as the park opened and had the entire Millhopper boardwalk to ourselves!

4732 Millhopper Road

Gainesville, Florida 32653

Phone: 352-955-2008

Have you toured the Devil's Millhopper? Please share your experiences in the comments or by linking your blog post below.

Chapter 2

Lesson Plan:
Read pages 8-11 in YNGF

Create your own nature journal. You can email education@audubon.org to request a FREE copy of "Nature Journaling for Everyone"

Go on a nature walk and record your observations in your nature journal.

Look at samples of other nature journals either online or from the suggested reading below.

Illustration by Deirdre Gill

Online Resources:
Green Guide for Kids page on creating a nature journal

How to make/keep a nature journal

National Audubon Society Educator Resources

Shared Online Homeschool Nature Journal

Sample Nature Journal as a tool for learning

Charlotte Mason Style Nature Study Squidoo Lense by Jimmie

Suggested Reading:
Keeping a Nature Journal by Clare Walker Leslie
The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady by Edith Holden



Have you finished Chapter Two? Share your projects and ideas with us by posting a comment or linking to your blog post below.

State Tree: Sabal Palm (Cabbage Palm)

used with permission from
Jacquelyn Modesitt Schindehette
www.floridalandscapes.com

This tree was important in historical times, when early settlers used its leaf heart for food and its logs and fronds to build shelter.
The Young Naturalist's Guide to Florida (page 4)

Lesson:
Read the selection on page 3-4, and 91,

Discussion Questions:
What is another name for the Sabal Palm? And why did it get that name?
What did the Seminoles use the Palm fronds for?

Of 14 species of palm trees native to the United States, 11 can be found in Florida
The Young Naturalist's Guide to Florida; page 91

Interesting Facts:
The Sabal Palmetto is the most widely distributed palm in Florida. It grows in almost any soil and has many uses, including food, medicine, and landscaping.

Activities:
1.) Take a nature walk and identify and examine the Sabal Palm.

2.) Include a photograph or drawing of the Sabal Palm in your notebook and label the parts of the tree and important identifying facts.

3.) Sample a Hearts of Palm Salad.

Field Trips:
Visit a nature center or preserve with Sabal Palms.

Online Resources:
Floridata page on Sabal Palms
Sabal Palm PDF Fact Sheet