A Recipe For Adventure

What do you get when you mix one hundred kids at 94 degrees for four hours?
The answer of course, is a hot, sweaty adventure!
Guest Column/Highlands Hammock State Park/July 2005
Dorothy L. Harris, Park Services Specialist
The Highlands County YMCA recently brought their summer camp students to Highlands Hammock for a field trip. Kids from age 5 to young teens were able to experience the park in a couple of different ways.
As soon as the buses arrived, the YMCA staff hustled the kids into smaller groups to begin their adventure. One third of the group immediately headed for the Civilian Conservation Corps Museum.

Kids delighted over the interactive exhibits, the old time checkerboard and being able to dress up in replicated uniforms. CCC Museum docent Charles Shunk just happened to be volunteering on this day, and was able to tell the kids about his experiences serving in the CCCs during the 1930s & 40s.
Archie welcomes all visitors: "Hello! My name's Archie."
Ranger Blake Lewis was the tram operator for each of the three tram tours around the park’s shady “Loop Drive.”

This was a popular part of the trip due to the cooling breeze generated as the kids and leaders enjoyed their ride around the park.

Kids also got to see a couple of alligators, one or two deer, and a variety of butterflies.
On The Way To The Hammock Loop Drive.
Park Services Specialist Dorothy Harris led the groups for their nature walks on the Cypress Swamp Trail. During this portion of their adventure, we saw a swimming alligator, a sunning Anhinga, a Bronze frog, a flock of Yellow-rumped warblers,
An alligator is spotted.
and large numbers of fishing spiders.
The fishing spiders seemed to be the highlight of the tour, for both those that did, and those that did not, really enjoy seeing spiders

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The large, furry, chocolate-brown bodies of these fishing spiders were found on nearly all the Cypress trees, close to the water line.

Each one seemed larger than the one spotted before.
We even found a molted skin next to one of the spiders, which delighted several of the more outdoorsy campers as it was passed around.
This shed skin, seemingly as light as the air itself, offered an up close view of the spider’s hairy body, fangs, and “face,” without campers having to contend with the creepy, crawly spider.
Fihing Spider
It’s true that the best part of these field trip excursions is being able to introduce children (and adults!) to creatures they didn’t even know existed. There’s something fun and exciting about being outdoors and discovering something new. It’s also good to be able to run around, explore and enjoy just being outdoors

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On this day, the kids ended their experience with a cookout courtesy of the YMCA staff. In spite of the high temperatures, their chef was able to churn out a tasty lunch for nearly 100 kids! After playing on the playground for a while, it was time to load up the buses and head back to the YMCA.


Field trips like these serve as excellent introductions to our “Real Florida” environment, and our staff will be looking forward to seeing more of our community’s children during upcoming school-related field trips.

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But don’t think you have to wait for an organized field trip for your kids to enjoy the park. Why not plan to come as a family and search for the spiders together? The park is open from 8:00 a.m. to sundown, every day of the year. Early mornings and evenings are especially good for seeing wildlife. In fact, the deer are feeding every morning in the family camping area. Come explore with your family.
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