State Park Announces New Nature Academy Summer Camp 

Calling young naturalists! The Friends of Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park, Inc. are looking for admirers of the natural world to join us for our Nature Academy Summer Camp, a week of environmental investigation and exploration.

Park Rangers at the Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park want hardworking, curious young people to use their senses to solve wildlife mysteries, to use their minds to learn new skills for understanding and appreciating the world around them and to use their imaginations to create stories about the adventures they have while they are here. Graduates of Nature Academy Summer Camp will take home new-found skills in resourcefulness, critical thinking and effective communication as well as gain experience with the native Florida animals and plants at the park.

“Nature Academy offers opportunities for epiphanies,” said Ranger Tania Burchell. “We seek to encourage those young people who have a fire in their bellies and a genuine enthusiasm for studying the natural world.”

Nature Academy Summer Camp has two classes: the first is for children ages eight and nine and runs from June 22 through June 27. The second class is for children aged 11 and 12 and runs from July 13 through July 18. Investigations begin promptly at 9:00 a.m. every morning and run until 1:00 p.m. from Monday through Thursday. On the Friday before Saturday’s graduation, Summer Camp students will arrive at 4:00 p.m. for a secure sleepover in the park to learn about the sights and sounds of the Nature Coast at night, including a night walk, campfire storytelling and stargazing with telescopes.

Thanks to a partnership with the Friends of Homosassa Wildlife Park, Inc. and Progress Energy, the Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park is able to host this innovative Nature Academy Summer Camp.

All applicants should be ready to address the following prompt in an essay, pictures or both: “Describe for us the best adventure you’ve ever had outside in Nature.” Applicants with the best responses will be contacted to visit the park with their parents or guardians for a chat with the Park Rangers.

The deadlines for applying are June 1, 2009, for the younger campers and June 22 for the older campers. Registration is $45.00 per child, and due to the hands-on nature of the Camp, space is limited to 15-20 students for each class. Applications from alumni of previous summer camps will be put on a waiting list and called only if the Camp requires more spaces. Request applications from Tania Burchell at 628-5343 ext. 1006.