Daggerwing Nature Center
Expansion Grand Opening and Earth Day 2008
Saturday, April 26 - 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

EXPANSION DEDICATION AND OPENING, 9:00 am
A ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Commissioner Burt Aaronson will be followed by the release of a rehabilitated wild animal back into nature by Folke Peterson Wildlife Center.

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
• Beneficial Insects: Ladybug Release by Daggerwing Staff into Butterfly Garden, 10:00 am
Insects can be an environmentally-friendly way to control pest insects, as opposed to using chemicals, which can harm other animals and even pollute our water. Participants will be given the opportunity to release live ladybugs into our butterfly garden, which are a natural predator of pest aphids.

• The Life of a Tree: Storytelling by Pretend Party Productions, 11:00 am Pretend Party Productions will use puppets and music to tell about the life cycle of a tree.

• Reptiles as Pets by Jeffrey Herr, a 13-year-old Daggerwing volunteer, 12:00 pm Jeffrey, a reptile enthusiast, will have some of his pet reptiles on display. He will discuss husbandry of reptiles, and give tips to kids who have or may want to have reptiles as pets.

• Raptor Chapter by Donald Campbell of Green Cay Nature Center, 12:30 pm Donald will have several of our native birds of prey like the Great Horned Owl, Red-shouldered Hawk; perhaps a Kestrel or a Screech Owl. All of which are protected under Florida law.

• Reptile Show by Underground Reptiles, 2:00 pm Underground Reptiles will present a variety of impressive live reptiles, while teaching us how they each are perfectly adapted for survival in their distinctive habitats.

EARTH DAY ACTIVITIES, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

• Recycling Bingo (in the new classroom), 10:30 am and 1:30 pm Play and learn fun facts about recycling! Earth Day prizes will be awarded to the winners.*

• Face Painting with Maria Rigsby of Okeeheelee Nature Center, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm Have your face painted with special Earth Day designs!

• Crafts (in the new laboratory), 10:00 am - 3:00 pm Visit the brand new lab, and make a craft that you can take home.*

• Guided Boardwalk Tours, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm Take a half-hour tour of our lake and swamp habitats. Guides will point out unique flora and fauna, while explaining why these habitats are so special.

• Animal Encounters, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm Volunteers will be roaming the nature center with our live educational animals (snakes, tortoises, and a skunk).

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