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Hammock Happenings
September-December 2017
SCIENCE • TECHNOLOGY • ENGINEERING • ART • MATH
Jump back into the swing of school! Challenge your youngsters to engage in
a city-wide scavenger hunt! Explore some of the amazing educational exhibits,
programs and events offered across Boca Raton during the month of September.
Collect a “STEAM through September” Passport at any of the participating
locations. Complete the challenges and win a prize! Activities geared for
children ages 5 to 12. Check any of our websites for details.
www.myboca.us/957/Library www.scienceexplorium.org www.gumbolimbo.org
Gumbo Limbo Nature Center 1801 North Ocean Boulevard, Boca Raton, Florida, 33432, www.gumbolimbo.org
Nature Center and Aquarium Hours
Monday-Saturday: 9 AM-4 PM, Sunday: Noon-4 PM
Nature Trail Hours
Daily: 7 AM-Dusk
Gumbo Limbo Nature Center and all property are closed
July 4th, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day
Admission
Suggested Donation of $5 per person
Your donations go to Friends of Gumbo Limbo to support Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, including,
but not limited to, feeding the animals, purchasing supplies and services for the Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Program, and creating exhibits.
CITY OF BOCA RATON
EMPLOYEES
ADMINISTRATION & OPERATIONS Manager Leanne Welch
Environmental Program Coordinator Kristin Child
Exhibits Coordinator Cory Keester-O’Mills
Secretary Darlene Rosa
Visitor Hospitality Representative Debra Wilson
AQUARIUM Senior Aquarist Keith Herman
Aquarist Bryan Danson
EDUCATION Environmental Program Coordinator Susan Elliott
Science Educators Jeffrey Dobbs, Cole Reintsma
Environmental Educators Melissa Paduani Alyssa Saldarriaga
SEA TURTLE CONSERVATION & RESEARCH Marine Conservationist Kirt Rusenko, PhD
Sea Turtle Conservation Coordinator David Anderson
Marine Turtle Specialists Rachel Bladow, Noah Cohen Ali Courtemanche Carlee Jackson, Sydney Jimenez Caidra Rice, Taylor Roe
SEA TURTLE REHABILITATION Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Coordinator Whitney Crowder
Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Assistant Caitlin Bovery
Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Technicians Rebecca Mannen, Emily Mirowski
FACILITIES MAINTENANCE Maintenance Supervisor III Reed Benardo
Custodian Eric Valentin
Groundskeeper Jean Bernard Edouard
FRIENDS OF GUMBO LIMBO
EMPLOYEES
Director of Retail & Finance Diane Bilodeau
Development Manager Brandon Canute
Administrative Assistant Samantha Griffin
Gift Shop Assistant Manager Jean DeLuca
Gift Shop Sales Associates Holly Keehr, Kelly Lattimore Brittany Murphy, Marie Parker
Contact Us
General Information: (561) 544-8605
Program Sign-up: (561) 544-8615
Volunteer: (561) 544-8609
Gift Store: (561) 544-8610
Membership: (561) 544-8608
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Hammock Happenings Editor, Design, Layout: Kristin Child
GUMBO LIMBO NATURE CENTER STAFF FRIENDS OF GUMBO LIMBO BOARD OF TRUSTEES
President Michele Kurucz Peel
First Vice President Lawrence Weissman
Second Vice President Laura McCurdy
Treasurer Ross Appel
Secretary Bronwen de Villiers
Board Members Ken Imhoff
Karin Marques James D. Miller Geoffrey Silva
Constance Thoms-Mazur Robyn Morigerato
Susan Walker Andrew Winninger
Honorary Board Member Gordon J. Gilbert
Photo by Ben Hicks
Manager’s Corner by Leanne Welch, Manager
Welcome to another issue of Hammock Hap-penings. My first six months here have been a whirlwind of excitement, with so many great things to come!
Summer brought us visits from hundreds of campers. I enjoyed the chance to see all of our future scientists hard at work learning about our coastal environment. If you (or your kids) missed the chance to attend our Environmental Camp, put it on the calendar for next year–signup begins in April. Summer also brings so many sea turtles to our beaches! We are on track to have another successful year for nest-ing. Check our website for daily updates on the number of sea turtle nests in Boca Raton.
Our Education Team grew by two; Alyssa Sal-darriaga and Melissa Paduani. Look inside for an article about the “Lissas.” Reed Benardo joined us as the new Maintenance Supervisor in June. Reed brings to us his experience in facili-ties maintenance and carpentry – we are so ex-cited to have him as part of the team!
Gumbo Limbo staff celebrated World Oceans Day from June 8-11. We trashed our tanks (on purpose) to bring awareness of plastic pollution and floating garbage patches; we also had dis-plays showing the number of balloons collected on our beaches in five days (53), and showed how a turtle could mistake a floating plastic bag for a yummy jellyfish. All of our displays in-spired our guests to participate in beach clean-ups and hopefully make some changes in their
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daily routine to make a difference for the oceans. Personally, I have committed to elimi-nate the use of plastic bags in my day by bring-ing reusable cloth bags with me to the store. What will you do to make a difference?
We are so excited to have finally extended the nature trail hours. So, all you nature lovers who want the chance to take some twilight photos of our mangroves and hammock, or if you just want to mix up your daily walking routine, now you can. That’s right; our trails and the board-walk are now open seven days a week from 7:00 am – dusk. Our Nature Center hours re-main the same. Regarding our boardwalk, part 2 of the reconstruction (which will complete the loop and includes design of the beloved obser-vation tower) is in the design and permitting phase, and should go out to bid soon.
We have lots of exciting events coming up this fall. Be sure to check the calendar, and come by in September to join in a city-wide scaven-ger hunt. We have partnered with the Boca Ra-ton Public Library and the Children’s Science Explorium to STEAM through September!
Starting in 2018, you will see twice as many is-sues of Hammock Happenings. We are going bimonthly and will be publishing six issues a year. We hope you’ll enjoy our new format.
Keep in touch with all the events at Gumbo Limbo by checking our website and “liking” us on Facebook. However, the best way to stay “in the know” is to become a volunteer at Gumbo Limbo. If you are reading our newsletter, I know you already love Gumbo Limbo so why not make us part of your weekly (or even daily) routine? We need volunteers for everything from greeting visitors, to assisting with nature walks, aquarium care, feeding our animals, even watering our plants. Trust me, if you’d like to help out, we can find something for you to do! Visit www.gumbolimbo.org/volunteers to find out about all the opportunities to be a part of our Gumbo Limbo family.
Fall Migration: A Risky Business Edited by Susan Elliott, Environmental Program Coordinator
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As Fall arrives, our migratory feathered friends head back to their wintering grounds in the South. Many of them are making the often-long journey for the first time. The first year of a bird’s life is by far the most dangerous. Like many animals, birds learn as they get older and they gain skill from experience. Birds use many cues to navigate, including the sun, stars, and the Earth's magnetic field. Migratory behavior is genetically programmed into some species; however, others improve their navigational skills as they repeat the experience.
Many bird species migrate at night. These night migrants can use the night sky as a navigation-al road map toward their destination. For mil-lions of years, only the celestial bodies in the night sky emitted the light that guided them. Today, starlight has been obscured by human generated light sources. Many organisms, in-cluding birds, are disoriented by this artificial night light with dire consequences. Bird mortal-ity at human-built structures, such as buildings, receives relatively little public attention, but structural hazards are actually responsible for more bird kills than higher profile catastrophes such as oil spills. In the dark, and especially in foggy or rainy weather, the combination of glass and light becomes deadly.
Birds migrating at night are strongly attracted to, or are least trapped by, sources of artificial light. Approaching the lights of floodlit obsta-cles, communication towers, or lighted tall buildings, they become vulnerable to collisions with the structures themselves. If collision is avoided, birds are still at risk of death or injury.
Once inside a beam of light, birds are reluctant to fly out of the lighted area into the dark, and often continue to flap around until they drop to the ground with exhaustion. A secondary threat resulting from their aggregation at lighted structures is their increased vulnerability to predation. Confused by artificial lights, blinded by inclement weather, and unable to see glass, birds by the thousands can be injured or killed in one night at a single tall building. One expert estimates that across North America, up to 100 million birds die in collisions with buildings each year. Many of the species that collide frequent-ly are known to be declining and some are al-ready designated officially as threatened.
Compared to habitat loss, pollution, and over-hunting, the issue of building collisions is not well understood. What we do know is that light pollution is preventable and we can all do our part to help. Turning off ornamental exterior lighting, especially lights that point skyward is a good first step. Use light fixtures that direct light only where it is needed and that shield light from other directions. Use sensor con-trolled lights that are on when you need them and off when you don't. Also, consider using bulbs with a lower wattage, not only can you save the life of a bird you can cut down on your energy costs! For more information on how your lighting choices influence wildlife and what you can do about it come to Gumbo Lim-bo and focus on our lighting exhibits and visit the International Dark-Sky Association at www.darksky.org.
Original article by former staff member Rick Newman.
A Fish Story by Jeffrey Dobbs, Science Educator
Gumbo Limbo Nature Center offers a unique opportunity to observe four incredible marine habitats up close and personal. Each habitat provides everything an organism needs to thrive and live a healthy life. These habitats represent different stages in a fish’s life, from juvenile to adult. Let’s dive in to our first aquar-ium which supports our youngest fish: the Mangrove Aquarium.
Mangroves are specialized plants that can grow in water that is too salty for most other plants to survive. They help prevent erosion by stabi-lizing the sediment along the water’s edge, par-ticularly in estuarine areas such as the intra-coastal. The mangrove highlighted in our man-grove tank is the red mangrove tree, Rhizopho-ra mangle, which grows prop-like roots that support the tree over water. Submerged man-grove roots make an excellent habitat for juve-nile fish, which is one of the reasons the intra-coastal is known as the “ocean’s nursery.” Fish can be seen swimming through the mangrove s and darting between underwater roots for pro-tection. Once these fish become large enough to undertake their journey to the ocean, they progress to the next habitat, or in our case, aquarium, the nearshore reef. The Nearshore Reef Aquarium at Gumbo Limbo offers a great view of some of South Florida’s most representative marine fish; in fact, if you were to go snorkeling at Red Reef
Park, there’s a good chance you would see many of these same fish in their natural envi-ronment! Many of these fish are subadults, and still need time to grow before taking on deeper water. The nearshore environment provides plenty of food while still offering the protection of rocks and crevices. Once these fish forage to their content and grow large enough, many will move onto a tropical coral reef a bit further out from shore, which is the next stop in our fish’s lifecycle.
The Tropical Coral Reef Aquarium is home to our most colorful fish at Gumbo Limbo. The large colorful structures observed in this envi-ronment make a superb habitat for thousands of different kinds of fish and other marine or-ganisms. Because so many animals rely on the reef for food or shelter, coral is considered a foundation species on which an entire ecosys-
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A Fish Story continued from page 5
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tem is built. Coral is able to support such a dazzling array of life by building structures made of calcium carbonate. This is a slow process, but is vital to the organisms that live in and around the reef. While many fish spend the majority of their lives on coral reefs, a few species continue to grow and head out to the open ocean, which is represented by our artificial reef or Shipwreck Aquarium.
The culmination of our fishy journey arrives at the home of the biggest habitat at Gumbo Limbo within our Shipwreck Aquarium. This is where adult-sized tarpon rule the waters.
After a fish reaches adulthood, it may stay within the confines of a reef or head out to sea and take on the open waters of the ocean. This strategy leaves few opportunities for larger fish to hide; for-tunately, these powerful fish can fend for themselves. We provide structure in the form of a sunken ship which may be found in the open ocean. When these fish are ready to spawn they release their eggs into the water column, where the journey of a juvenile fish begins anew.
Each habitat plays an important role in the life stages of our fish at Gumbo Limbo. Starting as young fish in the intracoastal mangrove roots and eventually reaching the shipwreck as their final destina-tion, each type of fish has a distinct and important role in the environment where they reside.
New Educators Join the Gumbo Limbo Team by Cole Reintsma, Science Educator
The Education Team is excited to have two new educators to help with programs, field trips, and camps throughout the year!
Alyssa Saldarriaga was recently promoted from a seasonal posi-tion here at Gumbo Limbo. She is a Florida native in her junior year at Florida Atlantic University, where she plans to obtain her bachelor’s degree in Biology in 2018. Alyssa has gained experi-ence as a naturalist and educator through volunteer work at Daggerwing and Green Cay nature centers and her job as an af-tercare counselor at Calusa Elementary School. Alyssa loves ani-mals, music, and has recently taken up stand up paddle board-ing. She has been helping the campers have fun and educational summers for the past two years, and we are very excited that she will now be helping with programs year-round!
Melissa Paduani is our second new Environmental Educator. She has lived in Florida for over 10 years, and loves the diversity of nature here. Melissa earned her degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Central Florida in 2016. After graduating, she found herself in the world of environmental education as a guide in Disney’s Animal Kingdom; she furthered her experience in this field as an intern at MacArthur Beach State Park, and is now a fantastic member of the educa-tion team here at Gumbo Limbo. Melissa loves good food, biking and spending time at the beach.
Welcome to the team Alyssa and Melissa!
Melissa & Alyssa with a Florida box turtle.
Friends of Gumbo Limbo Hosts Dune to Lagoon by Brandon Canute, Development Manager and Laura McCurdy, Board of Trustees
On Sunday May 7, Friends of Gumbo Limbo members enjoyed an early morning nature and birding tour of Spanish River Park’s dune, la-goon, and beach ecosystems. An observational bee hive and honey-tasting provided a sweet addition to the morning's program. If you are interested in joining us periodically in some of our fun membership social activities, please join us at www.gumbolimbo.org/membership!
The Friends of Gumbo Limbo extends a huge thanks to all of the members who attended and the following partners for their contributions in helping to make a fantastic Dune to Lagoon Member Ap-preciation Day! Jennifer Holmes of Hani Honey Company, Ben and Missy Oppenheimer, Kevin Easton with Palm Beach County Beekeepers Association, Deborah Smith with the Audubon Society of the Everglades, Nora Fosman - Senior Environmental Officer, City of Boca Raton, Development Services Department, Elisabeth Hoffman with Gumbo Limbo’s Green Thumb Team, Stacy Burford with the Atala Chapter of the North American Butterfly Association, and of course the outstanding tour guides: Steve Bass, Paul Homer, and Al Pelligrinelli.
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Retired Former Gumbo Limbo Nature Center Manager, Steve Bass, captivates guests at
Spanish River Beach kicking off the Dune to Lagoon event. Photo credit Peter de Villiers.
Gumbo Limbo Volunteer Al Pelligrinelli teamed up with fellow Volunteer Paul Homer to share their
extensive knowledge on birds and coastal ecosystems (respectively) to a group of
Dune to Lagoon guests! The group enjoying the tour through a coastal forest. Photo credit Laura McCurdy.
Nature Programs
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NEW PROGRAMS
Animal Adventure Day Camp Join us during Fall and Winter Breaks to explore topics in science and nature. Register for one, two, or all three days!
Day 1 - Shark Science: Find out about the fascinating lives of sharks. We will have a fun day of shark themed games and lessons, and even get up close with our stingrays.
Day 2- Animal Anomalies: Platypuses, pangolins, penguins and more! We’ll learn all about special animals with amazing adaptation combinations.
Day 3- Sensational Sea Turtles: Come discover why Florida is so important to these fascinat-ing marine reptiles, and see them up close in our Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Facility. Ages: Grades 1st-3rd; Dates & Time: Mon, Tues, Wed; Nov 20, 21, 22; 8:30 am - Noon
Ages: Grades 3rd-5th; Dates & Time: Wed, Thurs, Fri; Dec 27, 28, 29; 8:30 am - Noon
Cost per child per day: Member $25 Non-Member $30
Pre-registration and payment required (561) 544-8615 or at gumbolimbo.org.
Citizen Science Samplers Gain hands-on science experience by joining our science educators every month for a fun morning in the field. Whether you are considering a career in science, or just love to be outdoors and con-tributing to conservation, these programs are for you. Our studies will feature a different topic each month, and will be mostly outside.
Ages: 12-17; must be signed in and out by a parent or guardian.
Dates & Time: Sundays; Sept 17, Oct 15, Nov 19, Dec 17; 9:30 - 11:30 am
There is no fee for this program, however preregistration is required: (561) 544-8615 or
at gumbolimbo.org.
Sea Turtle Talk Get the inside scoop on our Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Facility. Last year, over 100 sea turtle patients were treated at Gumbo Limbo. Meet some of our cur-rent patients and hear their stories. Why are they here? What can you do to help? No reservations required for this FREE daily program. Meet in the Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Facility.
Ages: All ages; children under 18 must participate with an adult.
Days & Time: Daily at 2:00 pm Program listings continued on page 13
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Nature Programs
page 13
RETURNING FAVORITES
Halloween in the Garden Halloween fun for ages 6 to 2! Treats, crafts, games, and face painting, too! Take your pic-ture with Luna, our sea turtle friend…wear your coolest costume, the fun never ends! Register early…last year was a sell-out! Due to limited onsite parking, carpooling is encouraged. Ages: 2-6. Children must participate with an
adult (no charge for adult).
Date & Time: Sunday, Oct 29, 10:00 am -
Noon
Cost per child:
Advanced Reservations by 4:00 pm Oct
28: Member $7 Non-member $10
Walks-ins (based on availability): $14
Reservations and prepayment strongly recom-
mended online at gumbolimbo.org or (561) 544-8615. Space is limited.
Little Wonders Join us for stories, laughter, and fun, as we learn about everything under the sun! Gumbo Limbo, a great place to explore; aquariums, trails, gardens, and more! Make a craft, meet an animal, take in the scene; come back every month for a brand new theme! Ages: 3-4 with an adult; no older or younger
siblings please.
Dates & Time: Saturdays; Sept 2, Oct 7, Nov
4, Dec 2; 10:00 - 11:00 am
Cost per child: Member $5
Non-member $8
Reservations recommended
(561) 544-8615 or at gumbo-limbo.org; walk-ins welcome based on availability.
Nature Detectives "Why’s the sky blue? Why are plants green? What’s inside an egg? What does it all mean?” There is no end to a child’s questions! Become a Nature Detective with your novice naturalist as we investigate the mysteries of the world
around us. Ages: 5-7 with an adult; no older or younger
siblings please.
Dates & Time: Saturdays; Sept 2, Oct 7, Nov
4, Dec 2; 11:30 am - 12:30 pm
Cost per child: Member $5 Non-member $8
Reservations recommended (561) 544-8615 or
at gumbolimbo.org; walk-ins welcome based on availability.
Ornaments Naturally Bring your imagination! Create ornaments and decorations with holiday themes from shells, sea beans, pine cones, and colorful craft sup-plies. Materials are provided, but you are wel-come to bring your own holiday décor to add to your natural creations. Make a beautiful keep-sake for yourself and one to give as a gift. Ages: 7-adult;
Date & Time: Saturday, Dec 9, 10:00 am -
12:00 pm
Cost per person: Member $7 Non-member
$10
Prepayment recommended (561) 544-8615 or
at gumbolimbo.org; walk-ins welcome based on availability.
Seining the Lagoon Wading in the Intracoastal Waterway just be-hind Gumbo Limbo, we catch (and release) fish, shrimp, crabs, and more! With hand-held dip nets and large seine nets, get up close and personal with our local marine life. Closed toed shoes required (old sneakers or water shoes; no sandals). Bring a change of clothes and towel. Ages: 10-adult; children under 18 must sign-up
and participate with an adult.
Dates & Time: Saturdays; Sept 16, Oct 14,
Nov 18, Dec 16; 3:00 - 4:30 pm
Cost per person: Member $7 Non-member
$10
Prepayment recommended (561) 544-8615 or
online at gumbolimbo.org; walk-ins welcome based on availability.
Nature Programs
page 14
FREE PROGRAMS
Beach Treasures Jingle shells? Kitten’s paw? Oh, what treasures you may find… sea beans, coral, shells and more; see what the sea has left behind! Meet at the Center to learn about shells and sea life; caravan to Red Reef Beach Park, for beachcombing with the experts! Ages: All ages; children under 18 must
sign-up and participate with an adult. Dates & Time: Wednesdays; Sept 20, Oct
18, Nov 15, Dec 13; 3:00-4:30 pm Reservations recommended (561) 544-
8615 or online at gumbolimbo.org; walk-ins welcome based on availability.
Guided Nature Walks Join us for a FREE guided walk along the Ash-ley Trail, a quarter-mile natural trail that winds through the Butterfly Garden, Coastal Ham-mock, and Mangroves, to a sandy beach by the Intracoastal. Observe local flora and fauna as your naturalist guides you on this island ex-ploration. Ages: All ages; children under 18 must be
accompanied by an adult. Days &Time: Every Tuesday and Wednes-
day, 11:00 - 12:00 pm No reservations required. Meet on the front
porch of the Nature Center.
International Coastal Cleanup The International Coastal Clean-up will take place at Spanish River Park. Adults and families will join forces attacking the marine debris washed up on the beach and along the Intra-coastal Waterway. Ages: All ages; children under 18 must par-
ticipate with an adult. Date & Time: Saturday, Sept 23, 8:00 –
11:00 am Pre-registration is required. Groups must call
to register (561-544-8615), individuals and fami l ies may reg is ter on l ine at www.gumbolimbo.org.
Outdoor Marine Aquarium Feedings What is the connection between mangrove and coral reef communities? How do fish use these habitats? Learn about the fascinating behaviors of native fish, stingrays, and other marine life during these FREE daily feeding presentations. No reservations required. Meet at the outdoor marine aquariums. Ages: All ages; children under 18 must par-
ticipate with an adult. Days & Time: Daily at 12:30 pm
Wetlands and Wildlife Wakodahatchee is a man-made wetland which has become a favorite for birders and photogra-phers. Bring your binoculars and join us for a FREE ¾ mile guided boardwalk tour to learn more about Florida’s wetland birds and ecosys-tems. Meet our Gumbo Limbo Naturalist at the Wakodahatchee boardwalk (call for directions). Ages: 7-adult; children under 18 must sign-
up and participate with an adult. Dates & Time: Fridays; Nov 17, Dec 15;
3:00 - 5:00 pm Reservations recommended (561) 544-8615
or online at gumbolimbo.org; walk-ins wel-come based on availability.
One hot day in June, just after closing, five young women arrived at the doors with power tools in hand. Within just a few hours, these girls built a whole new addition to the Gumbo Limbo property, drawing big attention to a small, but important point of concern.
A few months ago, staff members received an email from Emma, a mem-ber of the Girl Scout Troop 10893. She and her fellow scouts were looking to achieve their Silver Award, and were hoping to collab-orate with Gumbo Limbo.
The Silver award is the highest achievement available to Cadettes (scouts ages 11-14). The award required the girls to decide upon a mat-ter of social concern that was important to them, to research the issue, and devise a way to create a lasting impact on the community.
The members of Troop 10893 decided that they wanted to tackle the not-so-small issue of environmental literacy. The scouts wanted to help educate the public about local ecosystems and the impacts people can have. This common bond is what brought all of us together.
Originally, Emma and her troop mates were in-terested in working with our sea turtle rehabili-tation program. To be fair, the human impact on wildlife is hard to miss as you visit with our many boat-strike and entanglement patients. However, I was able to draw their attention to another important animal in our own back-yards: spiders!
While not typically the first animal people con-sider when discussing human impact on the environment, spiders are, in fact, very im-portant and grossly undervalued. Repeat stud-
page 15
A New Home for Wendy by Cory O’Mills, Exhibits Coordinator
ies have found that di-verse populations of spi-ders in an area help main-tain significantly lower populations of other in-sects. Tired of mosquitoes ruining your picnic, or aphids destroying your strawberries? Increasing the number and kinds of spiders in your gardens and public green spaces can help!
Unfortunately, rampant use of pesticides can often severely impact spider populations, often to the counterproductive ends of upending the predator-prey ratio. Spiders, who take longer to mature and
reproduce, cannot recover at the same rate as the smaller, herbivorous insects they prey upon. One of the objectives of the new spider exhibit will be to demystify spiders, explain their role in the ecosystem, and encourage more holistic pest control practices.
Once we found a topic of interest, the girls were off. They examined the proposed location for the new exhibit, took measurements and de-signed the new enclosure. By the time they ar-rived in mid-June, they were ready to dive into the project (quite literally, see the photo).
Once completed, we were able to upgrade Wendy, our resident Golden Silk Spider, to her new home, a space almost ten times the size of her old cage. To wrap up the project, the exhib-its team at Gumbo Limbo is working on new ex-hibit labels, background greenery and “furniture” to make Wendy’s home a bit more engaging. Meanwhile, the scouts will be creat-ing an educational video to bring the exhibit ex-perience into the digital age and Troop 10893’s mission to life. Thank you Troop 10893!
Madison Marrero, Temmy Shannon, Emma Vayne (inside habitat), Alyssa Solo, Kaitlyn
Reynolds, and Ed Marrero assemble the new spider habitat.
page 16
For 27 years and 1,252 miles, the one-hundred dollar bill in Frank Strack’s wallet stayed un-touched.
Shortly after Frank’s passing in 1990, Frank’s wife, Haydee, looked in her husband’s wallet and was surprised to see a hundred-dollar bill in the compartment behind a photo he always carried of the smiling couple.
Haydee put the wallet in a dresser drawer and rarely looked at it. But the money – or the thought of what to do with it – was always oc-cupying a compartment in her mind. She held on to the bill wanting to find the “right” thing to buy. She thought about pillows or a small table, but she knew that those would be short-lived, making her happy for only a moment in time. Haydee was content to wait.
It took nearly thirty years and a move south across the Mason-Dixon Line, for Haydee to find that “something.” After moving from New York to Florida, Haydee was driving along A1A one day when she noticed the Gumbo Limbo Environmental Complex sign and pulled into the parking lot.
She loved Gumbo Limbo – the beautiful Ashley Trail and Butterfly Garden, the Boardwalk to the mangroves, the aquariums teeming with fish and marine life, and the sea turtles.
She immediately asked about helping, submit-ted her application and, as quickly as she could, attended the volunteer orientation with Gumbo Limbo Staff Debbie Wilson.
It was during the orientation that Debbie briefly mentioned the Brick Paver Program, which of-fers laser-etched bricks, at a cost of $150 each, in the walkway between the aquariums. Volun-teers receive a reduced rate, and the amount – one hundred dollars – struck Haydee immedi-ately.
“When I went down and saw the bricks, I thought, ‘This is what I need,” she said. “I was so happy when I gave the hundred-dollar bill for the brick. That’s the best hundred I ever spent.”
On June 3, 2017, the day Haydee began volun-teering at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, she purchased a brick paver to commemorate her husband. It reads, “FRANK J. STRACK, LOVE OF MY LIFE, 6/15/44 – 12/15/90.”
Haydee is comforted knowing that she can visit the brick while she is doing what she loves at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center. “I am so happy volunteering here,” Haydee said. “I can go and see the turtles, and I think about my husband.”
Haydee said that the paver is more than clay and shale – and speaks to her heart, the way she knew it would when she found the “right” way to spend the money that lay unused in her husband’s wallet for so long.
“It’s something to be there forever,” she said.
The 27-Year Journey by Samantha Griffin, Administrative Assistant
Haydee Strack with her paver certificate and “the” one hundred dollar bill.
On July 12, Friends of Gumbo Limbo, with tremendous support from Force-E Scuba Centers, hosted a Snack & Snorkel event at the Blue Heron Bridge in Riviera Beach. Guests were able to enjoy one of the finest shore dives in the state with wonderful weather and awesome company.
Interested in participating in upcoming Friends’ Member events and activities? Make sure you join Friends of Gum-bo Limbo at www.gumbolimbo.org/membership today and be among the first to be alerted about exclusive events and/or discounts!
page 17
Snack and Snorkel: Another Successful Friends’ Event by Brandon Canute, Development Manger
Do you like Marine Animals? Is Education your passion? Do you like to meet and talk to
people every day?
If so, then we need you! There are over 20 vol-unteer positions available at Gumbo Limbo! Our volunteers contribute over 36,000 hours annually. We could not survive without the tireless efforts of our capable, dedicated volun-teers… people just like you!
A Few Benefits of being a Volunteer: 20% Discount in the Gift Store Eligibility for Volunteer awards Volunteer appreciation events Free or discounted programs HAVE FUN!
Volunteer Opportunities Include: Animal Husbandry Marine Aquarium Guide Aquarist Assistant Green Thumb (Gardening) School Program Assistant Welcome Desk Greeter And MANY more!
Visit www.gumbolimbo.org/volunteers for more information, including position descriptions.
Volunteers Requirements: Be 16 or older Pass a background check Pay a $35 fee which covers your hand-
book, volunteer shirt, and name badge.
Call or email Debbie Wilson (561-544-8609 or [email protected]) to set up an interview!
OUR VOLUNTEERS MAKE GUMBO LIMBO A SUCCESS!
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The Holidays are Coming!
Gift suggestions for the holidays and all year-round
Nina's Floral designs remind you of a garden. Pottery that is beautiful and functional. Hand-made in the USA and dishwasher safe. Bowls, vases, plates, garlic infusers and mindful keep-sakes. Available in a range of designs and sizes. $10.00-$50.00.
Beautifully hand designed and made in the USA. These wood puzzles are Eco-Friendly. Each puz-zle has whimsical figural pieces that match the theme of the puzzle. They are available in 25 pieces up to 126 pieces. Themes include turtles, bees, seashells and more. $18.00-$68.00.
Dolphin Discovery: The tale of two very differ-ent dolphins. Read the story of Dart the baby dolphin that has just been born. She will stay close to her mother while she grows, learning the skills she needs to survive. Join her as she discovers a mass of newly hatched dolphinfish. What happens when she gets lost in the vast ocean? Will Rainbow the dolphinfish be her friend? Book $10.99. Matching Plush Dolphin $19.00. Dolphinfish $10.00.
Volunteer of the Quarter by Kristin Child, Environmental Program Coordinator
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Gumbo Limbo’s Volunteer of the Quarter Program is designed to recognize those Volunteers who go above and beyond their assigned/expected duties. These volunteers have made a significant contri-bution to Gumbo Limbo Nature Center through their dedication and service. They have donated their time, talents, and energy, and share a common goal of inspiring generations to learn and ex-perience nature through observation and education. Volunteers are nominated and chosen by Gum-bo Limbo staff. January - March 2017: Ilo Whitesell
The volunteer nominated and selected by Gumbo Limbo staff for the first quarter of 2017 is Ilo Marie Whitesell. Ilo joined Gumbo Limbo in July 2016, and has contributed over 645 hours.
Ilo is a lovely person. Her attitude has impacted Gumbo Limbo staff, volunteers, and visitors in a positive way. Ilo spends the majority of her volunteer time serving in the important role as Welcome Desk Greeter. But that has not stopped her from tak-ing additional volunteer training classes! She aspires to be as helpful as she can be, and has taken aquarium and sea turtle rehabilitation guide classes so that she may better answer visi-tor’s questions in the Nature Center. She helps make sure the front desk is always stocked with maps, newsletters, and bro-chures. She also assists with special projects. Earlier this year, Ilo spent many hours assembling hundreds of buttons that were awarded to children during Sea Turtle Awareness Month. She is very enthusiastic about Gumbo Limbo, and that alone is
very inspiring. April - June 2017: Andy Dion For the second quarter of 2017, Gumbo Limbo Staff chose An-drew Dion. Andy has been volunteering at Gumbo Limbo since December 2014, and has contributed over 952 hours. Andy has been a very dedicated volunteer for the last 2 1/2 years. He began working at the outdoor aquariums as a Marine Aquarium Guide. In May 2016, he continued is volunteer train-ing and became a Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Educator. After spending some time talking to visitors about the sea turtles un-der our care, he advanced to the position of Sea Turtle Hus-bandry Assistant. While he still talks to visitors, he spends much of his time taking care of the sea turtle patients by cleaning their tanks, preparing food, and assisting the rehabilitation staff with treatments (among other duties). Andy is a reliable, hard-working member of the rehabilitation team whose devotion to the sea turtles shines through each and every day.
1801 North Ocean Blvd.
Boca Raton, FL 33432
Florida
Atlantic
University
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To pay by credit card, please visit our website,
www.gumbolimbo.org. Click on the ‘Support Us’ tab.
One Year Membership to
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With your Membership or gift you help us promote coastal and marine education, conservation, and research today
and into the future. Your gift will be a lasting tribute to you, your family, and our community.
Friends of Gumbo Limbo is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
10% discount in the gift shop First opportunity to make reserva-
tions for the Turtle Walk and Hatchling Release programs (limits apply)
Discounts on select programs
Support Nature Center operations, programs, and exhibits
Free or discounted admission to over 160 nature centers in the USA and Canada (www.natctr.org)