DuPuis News

NOW AVAILABLE! The Butterflies Fly Free at DuPuis 2008 Calendar!
See the Calendar Thumbnails and download an order form (xls) or PDF. Calendars are $10 when picked up at the Visitors' Center or $13 if mailed.

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Our Land Remembered: Summer Camp 2006 at DuPuis Management Area!
DuPuis Management Area (DuPuis) hosted its second Our Land Remembered Summer Camp on June 1-14, 2006. Florida Atlantic University’s Center for Environmental Studies (FAU/CES) coordinated and facilitated the Camp in partnership with Indiantown Middle School. FAU/CES’ education team of Kim Kanter, Loisa Kerwin and Kelli Stickrath joined efforts with Indiantown Middle School’s lead teachers, Sandy Pisano and Kristy Duane to deliver the Summer Camp to twenty-four (24) Hispanic middle school students as part of their summer enrichment program. A variety of natural science and history lessons were taught through presentations, hands-on activities, guest speakers and field trips. Students explored DuPuis' rich habitats by hiking the Florida Trail through the pine flatwoods, cypress swamp and oak hammocks. Students learned to identify the native plants and wildlife by sight and sound (animal calls). Field activities included cane pole fishing and dip netting at DuPuis’ Lake Surprise; making casts of paw tracks; making and eating edible soil profile and aquifer models; and painting butterflies on a stepping stones to take home.

The interdisciplinary Camp highlighted daily journals entries and readings from Patrick Smith’s Florida history book “A Land Remembered” which inspired the Camp’s name. Readings included “Cracker Tales” by Iris Wall, a local Indiantown rancher and historian that hosted an incredible tour of her High Horse Ranch for the campers. A Seminole legend, the “Corn Lady” was featured to learn about Native Americans’ contributions to the region. Finally, “The Oldest Pine Tree” an original story by CES’ Alana Edwards, introduced the adventures of Elliott the oldest pine tree to give the campers an overview of the history, physiology and biology of the flatwoods.

The field trips reinforced the concepts being taught. Campers traveled around Indiantown to learn about its unique history and resources. They visited the St. Lucie Locks and Visitors’ Center to learn about the issues impacting the nearby St. Lucie River. Then they traveled to Lake Okeechobee to learn about is environmental issues and the history of the Hurricane of 1928. They toured the nearby Port Mayaca Cemetery to assist in a Flag Day Ceremony by placing American flags on all of the graves in honor of Flag Day. The campers traveled to Riverwoods Field Lab on the Kissimmee River to explore the river by boat and learn about the world’s largest river restoration. The final celebration was spent at Busch Wildlife Sanctuary where they impressed the staff by showing off all that they learned at Camp. Guest speakers included Bert Trammell, DuPuis’ Land Manager, who excited the campers with prescribed fire; Officer Dieter Iten, FWC Wildlife Officer, who talked about native wildlife; and Dr. Rick Raid, UF/IFAS Extension, who gave an excellent presentation about barn owls and led a pellet dissection that engaged the campers. All the speakers offered valuable lessons while exposing the campers to exciting career choices. Each student expressed their appreciation by writing Thank You notes to each speaker. A final celebration was hosted at Indiantown Middle School where campers created a PowerPoint presentation summarizing their Camp adventures.