Busy, busy, busy

Sorry I have been so late in posting new adventures, but we have been very busy here at Okefenokee NWR. The weather has warmed and folks are coming to the Swamp in droves, and there is always a group or two needing a guided program.

Bill and I have been very busy at the Chesser Island Homestead, giving programs for all the visiting elementary school classes as well as Road Scholars (formerly called Elderhostel). The kids are always fun, as we try to introduce them to how life in the early 1900’s would have been out here in the swamp……no TV, no computers, no electricity and no running water. Not only that, but children actually played outside for entertainment!!!! Bill has become a master of  hoop rolling and loves to teach the kids the finer points of the art!

On Facebook go to Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge to see great photos of the the Swamp, the Homestead and many of the activities here. Many of the photos are mine…….woo hoo!!

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Thursday was Forestry Field Day here on the Refuge with 400 FFA kids. They were to complete a number of different tasks all related to forestry and biology. I was the “Event Photographer” and Bill was my assistant, it was a tough assignment but somebody had to do it!!!!!

Here a just a few of the many, many pictures taken for the Refuge archives:

Here the kids are identifying plants and trees.

 

 

Checking out the gators at the Visitor’s Center

  

                                               Measuring trees

Intern Colleen discussing Red Cockaded Woodpeckers.

Chip Campbell, boat guide with student  

                    Volunteer Linda

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

More of the fun people we work with…….

      Interns Katy and Colleen

           Katy with Ranger, Sarah

  Colleen, Mindy, Asst. Refuge Mgr, and Jamie, Visitor Services

Colleen with one of her friends!

  

         Katie with tortoise

  

 

 

We all got a chance to hold an endangered Eastern Indigo Snake,the largest  non-venomous  snake in North America.

 

 

 Katy

 

 

 

Sarah                                                                           Colleen

 

                                Even Bill got to play snake charmer!

The weather was very wet in the morning but in the afternoon the sun finally made an appearance…….yay!!!

We ran around all day in very damp weather, trying to get pictures of all the venues and by the end of the event we were   extremely tired and damp!!! We are so looking forward to just relaxing this weekend!

Just Us Kids…….playing with the critters in the swamp!!!