November 26, 2024 • 30 mins
Talked with Blake Scarborough, Naturalist & Volunteer Coordinator, Green Cay Nature Center and Sydelle Dombrowsky, Volunteer, Master Gardener and President of Friends of Green Cay. They are coordinating their big annual Wildlife Celebration event. It's happening on Saturday December 7th from 9am to 3p at Green Cay Nature Center, 12800 Hagen Ranch Rd Boynton Beach FL 33437. Listeners can enjoy meeting the various exhibitors, guided nature tours,meet animal ambassadors, crafts, face painting, interactive games. plus more. Green Cay also has a great line up for their Science for Seniors program. It for age 50+, nominal fee of $5 and meets on select Fridays at 1pm. December 6th will be Nature Journaling (where scientific observation, nature & art come together. Led by Paul Bache, PBC Parks Docent. For more info listeners can follow Green Cay on Facebook or call 561-966-7000.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
iHeart Communities presents Palm Beach Treasure Coast Perspective, which Dad Now.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Good morning, Welcome to Palm Beach Treasure Coast Perspective. I'm
your host, dev Nev. Thanks for spending your weekend with me.
All kinds of great things happening, and if you haven't been,
you want to check this out. Ballet Palm Beach is
presenting their traditional The Nutcracker, and that's going to be
December sixth through the eighth, and it happens at the Craviscenter,
So you can actually go to Cravis dot org and
(00:27):
buy your ballet tickets there for you. They make it
super easy for everybody. Fun thing to check out. It's
always a beautiful show. Speaking of shows, the twenty fourth
annual Downtown Delray Beach Festival for the Art Show is
coming again now. It's going to be December seventh, three
to eighth. From where details go to art Festival dot
com and they have all the different vendors and stuff
(00:47):
listed there for you. And if the holidays are starting
to stress you out a little bit already, no worries.
You can go unwined with some of Saint Lucie County's
Guided nature programs. They got a cool walk happening on
December seven from eight to nine thirty am. It's called
Bring your Brew Birding Hike, and that's gonna be the
Donald B. Moore Preserve, So bring a coffee or tea
(01:09):
with you and come take a little hike in the morning.
They have a lot of really fun unique birds in
that area and you'll get nice little tour while you're
doing that. And then also on December seventh, from nine
to fifteen to noon, they have a new one called
New Explorations Paddle. This one's at ten Mile Creek Preserve.
It's a serene, calm paddle and get you out and
(01:32):
away from the city, so it kind of relaxed that way.
And then Sunday, December eighth, from nine to eleven is
the Florida Estuary Adventure and that one's a a hike
is going to be at Donald Bmore Preserve. So lots
of cool things. Simply go to SLC hikes dot org
and it's all listed there for you. See, Lucy County
always has lots of things going on, so their libraries
(01:54):
have a lot of really neat things right now. They
have lifelong learning classes so on Tuesdays it's cheer yoga,
so December tenth you can do that two o'clock at
the Pruit Campus Library. They have Chi meditation Friday December
sixth at morning Side Branch, and then there's gonna be
a nutrition education series on Friday, December sixth at the
(02:14):
Kilmer Branch. And they're doing still life painting on Saturday,
December December seventh, from two to fourth of Lakewood Branch.
All kinds of good stuff. Simply go to seven seven
to two four six two, twenty one fifty four to
get more details on that. And if you haven't been
to Mounts Potanical Gardens in a while, lots of fun
things happening there. Coming up on Sunday, December eighth, they're
(02:36):
viewing the Hidden Wild film by Benji Stute. We've talked
to him from the erm count On Division in the county,
so lots of cool stuff there. They're gonna have orchids
for everyone. Potting workshop also on the seventh tai Chi
happening December seventh, fourteenth, twenty first, and twenty eighth, and
they're doing Tiny Trees, Big Cheer their Succulence edition and
(02:57):
that's December eighth, so simply go to Mountain dot org
to find out all the details about all the latest
things are happening in the park there. Coming up on Saturday,
December fourteenth, from nine to noon it is Brunch with
Santa and that's happening at the Fencenter, so definitely can
go do that one. And they're also doing a fun
stretch by candlelight evening yoga at the Museum Point Park
(03:18):
every Tuesday. For more details, give a Fen Center a
call seven seven to two four six two fifteen twenty
one and they're happy to give you more details on that.
And of course coming to the Cravis itself, lots of
great things happening. We obviously have Ballet Palm Beach like
we mentioned, and then the Palm Beach Symphonies coming on
December tenth. On the twelfth is the Dreyfust School in
(03:40):
the Arts with their Prism Concert. The twelfth is Blackbird Fly,
a concert for voice, body and strings. On the thirteenth
and fourteenth Michael Mulkol. The fourteenth is Young Singers the
Palm Beaches. They do a fantastic show. It's the Community
Acchoir of kids. And then coming up on the seventeenth,
Patti LaBelle again. Go to Cravis dot org to get
(04:03):
more details. Speaking more details, I want to welcome my
guests for today. I have got Blake Scarborough and Sadel
Dombrowski from Green Kay Nature Center, Comporting ladies. Good morning,
Good morning, So miss Blake, tell us what you do
I see as naturalist and volunteer coordinator.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
Yes, so I work at Green k Nature Center in
Wetlands as the Naturalist and volunteer coordinator. So I have
a fun group of I have a group of seventy
volunteers that I oversee and they help us with all
of our operations at the nature center itself, front desk people,
animal care workers, things like that. So I make sure
everybody's up to par and ready to rock for our
(04:41):
visitors that come and visit us. And then as a naturalist,
I do all of our programming. I get to do
all of our private and public programming where I get
to teach the public all about the environment, nature, different science.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
Topics, fantastic and so of course sodell. It leads me
to you number one volunteering there are fifteen years now, Wow, congratulate.
Speaker 5 (05:00):
Thank you.
Speaker 4 (05:01):
I'm actually not the longest serving volunteer. We do have
some volunteers that have been there since the nature center
opened over twenty years and the crew of volunteers is fantastic.
It's a labor of love for us. I'm also the
(05:24):
president of the Friends of Green Kay.
Speaker 5 (05:26):
We are the.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
Nonprofit organization that supports whatever our staff needs, things for programs, events,
many things for our volunteers. We have a fabulous party
for them every year, whatever is needed to enhance the
(05:49):
volunteer experience, the guest experience, the staff, and many other things.
I'm also their outreach speaker and we have a wonderful
program called Science for Seniors. This year, I am the
last of the speakers in the series. I will be
doing opossums and Skunks. Most people don't even realize there
(06:14):
are two types of skunks native to Florida, and I
just enjoy all of my time and co chair of
our upcoming event, Wildlife Celebration. Years ago, it used to
be called Migration Celebration, but we realize that a lot
of the creatures that we have are obligatory. They don't
(06:37):
migrate here, they're here, and we want to enhance the
experience of all of the people that come to visit
Green Kay. We do from K to gray and we
have a lot of programs. This year, we have twenty
three exhibitors, all within the environmental field to answer questions,
(07:02):
to present themselves because a lot of people that live
in southeast Florida don't even know what's available right around
the corner or.
Speaker 5 (07:11):
A few blocks away.
Speaker 4 (07:14):
Most of our demographic are older usually, but we do
have a lot of things for children that day, and
we do a lot of preparation. The staff and the
friends of Green Quay, which we underwrite the cost of
this entire day, work very very closely together to make
(07:34):
this the most fantastic event for our visitors.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
And so that's going to be December seventh.
Speaker 4 (07:41):
December seventh, from nine to three. It is a free event.
We also have made arrangements that if our parking lot
is full, we have a bus service that runs every
fifteen minutes from the entrance to the boardwalk to the
shopping center by publics that is like a block and
(08:05):
a half away, and people can park there. We have
permission from the property manager and that enhances the experience.
Sometimes the children just like to ride back and forth
on the bus, nothing wrong with that, So we have
things for everyone, right, so we want to make it
as enjoyable and as easy for people to come and
(08:29):
experience green.
Speaker 5 (08:30):
Kay oh.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
I think that's fantastic because that was my one question,
like where do you park? Because if you have a
thousands some people come, I'm like, that's a lot of people.
Speaker 4 (08:38):
Last year we had eleven hundred and nine guests, and
we're hoping to have more because we did more advertising, different,
more modern. As we were speaking previously, it's it's different.
We're on the radio, of course, and I keep hearing
that song on the radio in my head right now,
(09:00):
but it is.
Speaker 5 (09:01):
It's just it's a labor of love.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
Well, that's fantastic. And you're also actually at one more
thing there. You're a master gardner.
Speaker 4 (09:09):
I'm a master gardener and a Master Naturalist program certified.
I became a master gardener in two thousand and four.
When I retired from teaching in New York City in
two thousand and one, I looked around for what could
I do, and I found them. I'd always been a
gardener in New York, but it's so different down here,
(09:32):
and I went through the Master Gardener program and I
loved it.
Speaker 5 (09:37):
I loved it.
Speaker 4 (09:38):
I've always been a student at heart, and then I
found the Master Naturalist program and that opened up a
world to me, and then started volunteering at Green Kay right.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
And the beginning partner where I was talking about Mounts Botanical,
I think it's so cool because they also have master
gardeners there.
Speaker 5 (09:56):
That's where I trained, and that's where you trained.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
I was going to ask you, that's where you train,
And I think it's cool that you can call them
and I can. I can phone a friend about my plants.
Speaker 4 (10:04):
That's fine. Yes, that's actually not from Mounts. That's from
the University of Florida. And I was a docent for
years at Mounts before I discovered Green Kay, which is
literally eight minutes from my house. So I transferred my
time and my effort and it's worked out beautifully for
(10:27):
me and.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Me yay well. And that's why I always tell the
listeners check out that part of the show is let
people know what service is available, what cool things you
go do that are fine, But I always tell people
want to go volunteer, support a charity, and we talk
about a bunch of different folks, talk with a bunch
of different folks to put the information out there and
there's going to be one that resonates with you. And then,
(10:48):
like you said, there's one that's even a little closer
to your house, even better. But you're still out there
helping folks. And like we were talking before the show,
there's a lot of benefits for volunteering.
Speaker 4 (10:58):
Absolutely many years ago that they did a study of volunteerism,
particularly with seniors, that they do live a longer time,
Their lifespan is extended by doing volunteer work. It feeds
so many different parts of your psyche. It's an emotional thing.
(11:18):
It's a social thing because you're dealing with people. You're
dealing with people of all ages. It's an academic thing too,
because you have to really learn. You can't just you know,
if some guest comes into the park and asks a question,
you can't make the answer up, even if you sound
like you know what you're doing. But there's always reference
(11:40):
books or our staff or another volunteer that's more acquainted
with the subject matter. And it's just a fantastic thing.
It's food for the soul. It gives you a purpose.
We don't get paid with money, but we get paid
in our heart.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
Sometimes you get double pay.
Speaker 5 (12:02):
I've asked for that, I haven't gotten it yet.
Speaker 3 (12:05):
Well, the best thing as a volunteer coordinator myself is
I volunteered since I was in middle school. First you
start volunteering for school and kind of are forced to,
or at least you know you might start into it
that way. But I really found the same thing. I
always was searching for a community or people to be
you know, like minded, or people that made me feel happy.
And so when I volunteered, I found that. And then
(12:29):
when I started working with animals. It's such a niche
field that when I started volunteering with animals, that's where
I got my experience and how I've gotten to where
I am. And as a volunteer myself, it's really allowed
me to work with my volunteers and understand that really
tricky relationship because they're coming out of the goodness of
their heart right there. They could go. They could leave
me in any moment, So how do you keep them in?
(12:50):
And so it's really cool to have a community that
we do. In the last couple of years that I
worked here, I don't see them go and that's what
I'm very happy about. As I them in and I
keep them, so I really love our volunteer community.
Speaker 4 (13:03):
It's something that Blake said resonated with me. Most of
my peer group nobody likes to dig in the dirt
I do. And I was always called the creepy Crawley
girl because I loved bats, vultures, spiders, insects all And
(13:25):
my speech in March is on opossums and skunks and
that doesn't stink, but it's very I got to meet
like minded people who love nature, they love the outdoors,
and that's another thing. They've also proven that people that
spend time in green spaces are healthier, and we were
(13:50):
a very important place to go if people didn't have money.
It doesn't cost anything to come to us, and it's
such a teaching tool, even for a family to walk
on the board walk.
Speaker 3 (14:04):
That's the one thing I love about Palm Beach County.
Our nature centers and Riverbend Park and a lot of
our parks are all free accessibility to our visitors, and
so that's why we just want more people to come,
because we're not trying to sell you on anything. It's
actually free to come to Green Kay and experience nature,
and a lot of our free guided tours and things
like that. Some of our programming, of course, do cost
(14:26):
minimal fees, but that goes back into the park and
helps us continue to do what we do. But this
is really our biggest, largest event, which is what we're
talking about. Wildlife Celebration is really our largest event to
really bring people out and show them why they should
care and why they should have fun in nature and
what the glory or and what the beauty is of
(14:47):
the environment and protecting it because at the end of
the day, we are not separate from nature. We are
a part of it, and this event really shows you
that and brings you back into that because the art
of observation has really gone away in recent times, and
so this is really a way to get out there
and see things and have fun and not have to
spend a dime if you.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
Don't want to.
Speaker 5 (15:06):
We also have.
Speaker 4 (15:09):
Exhibitors that are bringing live animals and we had the
Florida her Petological Society come last year with their snakes
and lizards. That was so popular, you have no idea.
Kids loved it, adults loved it. Our volunteers had some
of They don't put venomous snakes out to the public,
(15:32):
but We have one of our volunteers, she's having her
ninetieth birthday this year this month, and I have a
video of her with a snake crawling all over last
year and she's smiling, not the snake, the volunteer, but
it's And we have birds coming from Boush Wildlife. We
(15:54):
have gofa tortoise.
Speaker 3 (15:57):
And potentially a rehabilitated animal release. We can only say potential,
but South Florida Wildlife Center, one of our environmental exhibitors
is hopefully bringing another rehabilitated animal like we did last year.
Last year we did a red shouldered hawk and this
year hopefully we'll have an animal. They won't know until
closer to the event, of course, if an animal is
ready to be released, but if there is one, we
(16:17):
will have an animal release. And that was also another
very popular thing because you're watching an animal that's a
part of the environment get you know, back to good
standing and be able to go off on its adventure
and you get to be a part of that.
Speaker 5 (16:28):
So that was really a big thing, right.
Speaker 4 (16:29):
We will also have the beebof Apiari's bringing a live
high a demonstration hive and you don't get to see that, Yeah,
and it's just fantastic, It really is.
Speaker 2 (16:44):
Yeah, I have friends that are very interested in the beekeeping,
so I tell them to reach out to them. And
then at other friends that found the bee hive in
their garage and might reach out to them. They can
either come help you or connect you with a person
who can come help you and save those bees and
get out of your house and safely where they need
to be, right.
Speaker 4 (17:03):
And you know, it's also this will educate the public
that they're not out to sting you. And if we
don't have bees within four years, the planet's animal life
can disappear.
Speaker 2 (17:15):
Which then we then disappear because it's being on the
high end of the chain.
Speaker 3 (17:18):
Absolutely, that's really the biggest thing about this event because
if you look at the theme, which this year it
is protect Insects, Protect birds, and you go, well, I
really like birds, but maybe I don't really love the insects, right,
But if you look at birds, you go, well, what
do they eat? A lot of them eat insects. So
if we don't protect insects, if you don't protect one
part of the chain, then you can't protect the rest
(17:39):
of it. And we are a part of that chain.
So if we do not protect the lowest part of
the chain, and we're the highest part of the chain.
It might take a little bit until we start noticing
those things, but that's why being preventative and proactive is
a lot better than the opposite, right, And that's what
this event is all about, celebrating wildlife and also how
we can protect and how we can look at the
(18:02):
whole entire system, from insects to birds and celebrate all
of it all life.
Speaker 4 (18:07):
Every year we get our theme from the International Migratory
Bird Day Organization and we are part of that. We
are on their international website as an event to do that,
and we advertise and we let all of our exhibitors
show that they are part of that event. And it's
(18:29):
really a fantastic thing. Every year they come up with
a huge theme and we try as closely as possible.
We will have a special room this year called the
Insect Investigation Station that we are preparing for the public
to see all of these different types of insects and
maybe even feel so.
Speaker 2 (18:50):
And I heard that there's gonna be some interactive exhibits.
Is that one of them?
Speaker 4 (18:54):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (18:54):
So, actually the interactive is also what we kind of
talked about with the snakes and people and some of
the organization bringing animals. We have our Exploratory Room where
we're going to have Oakaylian Nature Center, Bush Wildlife Sanctuary,
South Florida Herpetological Society and b barf A Priaries where
they're going to have live animals or something that kids
(19:15):
or not just kids, all ages are able to experience
and really get engaged in hands on with. And then
that insect Investigation Station is also again another very interactive thing.
But then we also on top of that have our
Secret Question Adventure, which is where you can pick up
kind of a passport booklet with all the different exhibitors
questions on them, and they have to go around to
(19:37):
each one of our exhibitors that are participating in this
adventure and they ask that question and they get a
sticker when they get the answer, and then they can
bring that up to the front desk and get a prize.
So that is a way how we are getting our
guests to interact with all of our exhibitors and so
they can see everybody.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
For people to find out more information, is there a
website social media they can follow?
Speaker 3 (20:00):
Facebook is going to be their best bet I keep
everything up to date. There, they can say interested and
get notified closer to the event on Facebook if they're
used to that. Otherwise they can go to our website.
If you go to PBC Nature dot com and then
click on Green K Nature Center, we will have some
information there. But I think the best bet would be
Facebook and or following us and or we also have
(20:22):
our Friends of Green K website that do have a
little bit of information as well. But Facebook or our website, yes,
would be perfect.
Speaker 5 (20:30):
Cool.
Speaker 2 (20:30):
And who are some of the exhibitors who going to
be there? Because I know you mentioned Bush Wildlife Okahaly
Nature Center.
Speaker 3 (20:36):
Yeah, so pretty much all of the places you think
in Palmage County that are nature related we got. We
got a lot of organizations coming in. We have Audubon Everglades.
We have Shelley coming in from Audubon on Everglades as
well with Purple Martin Conservation, So she's going to talk
all about our gords and all the things that she's doing.
Speaker 4 (20:56):
Sierra Club. We also have a new exhibitor for us,
Packed Upon Beach, Pack and Paddle. They saw us at
an outreach event that we did and they really really
wanted to be part of us, and we have Florida Trails.
Speaker 3 (21:13):
We have it's not just nature centers and environmental like parks.
We also have like she said, pack and Paddle club,
different types of clubs that go out in nature and
get you out there. Then we also have like Arthur
Marshall National Wildlife Refuge, like you know, the basic kind
of parks around us, just so that they can be
on site and give everyone all the information for their
parks and all the things that they're doing. So it's
(21:34):
basically one stop shop to learn all nature related activities.
Speaker 2 (21:38):
What I know. Benji stud comes out yes and his
Environmental Resource Management group upon the parks that he does,
like all the really cool like hikes and things out well.
Speaker 3 (21:48):
So we will have Palmeache County Environmental Resources Management as
one of our exhibitors, so pbc M is short for it.
They will be out as one of our exhibitors talking
about all of the things that are about our now areas.
So the way that the county works is our nature
centers and River Bend Park are part of one department.
And then we also have Palmage County Environmental Resources Management
(22:10):
and they they handle all of our natural areas of
the county that aren't a nature center in park kind
of like you know dagger Wing, Okaheeley and Green Kay
and River Bend. They have all the natural areas like
Pine Glades Natural Area and all different types of ones
throughout the county, so they are a little bit more
on that front, so you don't get to see them
very often and talk to them. So that's why this
(22:31):
is a great opportunity to come in and talk to
those people, maybe even see if there's some volunteer opportunities
to get involved.
Speaker 4 (22:37):
We have for the first time because I'm doing this
since twenty thirteen with a five year break due to
we got a new roof and then COVID hit water
utilities and solid waste management. People don't realize solid waste
is part of the environment and would be It's going
(23:00):
to be very interesting to see the interface between the
public and these particular groups. We do. We have face
painting because the kids all love that.
Speaker 3 (23:14):
I'm glad you brought up Palmas County Water Utilities Department
because the one unique thing with Green k Nature Center
and Wetlands is that people don't a lot of people
don't realize that we were actually under two different departments.
So green k is actually under Parks and rec which
is what I work for, and Water Utilities department, and
it's a collaboration between the two when they opened up
(23:34):
back in two thousand and five, because we're not actually
our primary the primary function of green Ky is not
just recreation, which is a lot of people do. So
the primary function is actually water reclamation. So we actually
they water utilities pumps in a lot of water throughout
the year and that water gets put back into as
(23:54):
a That water gets put back into the system and
becomes an asset for our community. So it's really cool
to have Palm Beach County Water Utilities come out and
be an exhibitor that day because they will basically highlight
Wakota Hachie, which a lot of people don't get to
ask those questions and ask us about that part of
our operation and about Wakota Hatchie as they don't have
a nature center like Green kay does.
Speaker 2 (24:14):
Oh definitely, and I'm glad you mentioned that because, like
I know, Grassy Waters Preserve is a natural filtration and
it filters the water and stuff that comes in for
the City of West Palm exact, and a lot of
people don't realize that. So I think Green Kay is
kind of like that words brief. It's filtering the water
and doing what it naturally would do.
Speaker 4 (24:30):
Grassy Waters is coming as an exhibitor, as is Manatee Lagoon.
Speaker 5 (24:34):
So everybody loves Amanite and.
Speaker 3 (24:37):
The Yeah, the water thing is very important. So Green
Kay and Wakota Hatchie are both water reclamation ponds in
Palm Beach County and do that great water filtration. Obviously,
water is really important in the grand scheme of life. Water.
We only have one percent usable fresh water in We
only have one percent of usable freshwater in the world,
(25:00):
So wetlands are very very important, and that's actually why
we have Green Ky and Wakota Hatchie is they are
reclamation ponds for water filtration for the county. And actually
we have plenty of different types of organizations that come
out to us in Palmage County to actually replicate what
we do here with the wetlands and utilizing that kind
of gunky water that we really can't do much with
(25:21):
and basically throwing it over here to this recreational area
to get kind of the best of both world to
get water filtration and then you get a beautiful place
to walk in, a beautiful wetland habitat for wildlife.
Speaker 2 (25:32):
So of course the listeners can enjoy all that when
they come out. So for the Wildlife Celebration Saturday, December seventh,
from nine to three at Green Ky, I love that.
But before we also want to talk about your Signs
for Seniors program, So that's another fun thing, and it's
actually kicking off this year on December sixth, so the
day before. So I see what nature journaling.
Speaker 3 (25:54):
Yes, so our first one is by a volunteer docent.
He is doing journaling and again that is the kind
of the art of observation, getting people out there. So
all of our science topics are all of our science
topics this year we have ten different ones, and they're
very varied in the sense that really topics for everyone.
(26:15):
We have Nature Journaling to start us off, and then
we have Old Possums and Skunks to finish us off
with sadel and in between we have actually the Hidden
Wild documentary. We're actually going to have that here are
on site at Green Kay for one of the sessions,
and then some other PBC arm speakers, So again another
opportunity to just hear from other environmental workers in the
county and hear what they're doing. We have the burn
(26:37):
Boss coming out, so he's going to talk about prescribed
fires and all that, and I think that's just a
really great way to get people in and learning. And
like Saddel said, we have a wonderful community of lifelong
learners that love coming to Green Kay and learning each year.
So I know it says science for seniors, but it's
for anybody ages fifty and up. It's just a very
safe space for older adults to come in and be
(26:58):
able to learn and have a really fun time because
science and nature is not just for kids, it's for everyone.
Speaker 4 (27:04):
We also have a lot of seniors that have been
in the science field, the education field. They have background
when they come into these lectures. But even if you
don't and you're just there to see what's going on
around you, it's just a very very good experience. And
(27:24):
we see a lot of people are returning lecture audience
people and it's just very very nice that so much
is given to young people to do, but older people
really need these experiences and we're more comfortable with hands
(27:45):
on or a lecturer oriented thing, not just technology and
science is Seeniors is extremely popular.
Speaker 3 (27:54):
Yeah, I'm trying to get more people this year. Just
with after COVID, I feel like a tizing and getting
people in the doors a little bit harder. So this
is a great way to try to get more people
in more reach. I think we have a great demographic
around us that know of us, but a lot of
times I'll go over to Wakota Hatchi, which is only
two miles away, and they don't know where what green
k is. So we're trying to get a little bit
(28:15):
out of our bubble and get more people in. And
all the snowbirds coming back to us, come on over
and do a science for seniors.
Speaker 2 (28:22):
And it's five dollars a person. It's one o'clock on
select Fridays. How do they sign up? Do they call you?
How does that work?
Speaker 4 (28:28):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (28:28):
Our sign up system is not the greatest. That's probably
our biggest legacy is that people don't love our registration process.
So if you are having issues, yes it's online, but
if you're having issues, please call us. We sign people
up over the phone through December through March. It's my
part time job is signing people up over the phone.
At this season, So don't feel afraid. If the registration
(28:49):
process is keeping you from those programs, please call me
call us at five six one nine six six sevens
zero zero zero five six one nine six six sevens
zero zero zero, and we will help you register.
Speaker 2 (29:02):
I wanted to mention that because someone had mentioned me
that it was a little challenging for them to sign up.
Speaker 3 (29:06):
Five six one nine six six seven zero zero zero.
Speaker 5 (29:09):
Yeah, everybody else pretty hunge.
Speaker 2 (29:11):
Call Blake, who's super user friend, Like, I.
Speaker 3 (29:14):
Get the people mad, and they're by the end of
our phone call, they're smiling and happy and laughing with
me because I'm like, hey, I want you in this program.
Is as much as you want to be in this program,
so let's get you in.
Speaker 2 (29:24):
I think it's fantastic. So again, before we go, uh
info for your Wildlife Celebration day, day and time.
Speaker 4 (29:31):
Saturday, December seventh, nine to three. The doors of the
Nature Center will open at nine, but we will have
people setting up all around the outside of the Nature
Center and parking is not going to be a problem
if you can't park in our regular parking lot. The
(29:51):
bus will start at nine.
Speaker 2 (29:54):
Perfect. I think that's so fantastic. Well, ladies. Thank you
so much for coming in talk with me, sharing all
this coo information. Dude, that's a fun thing in the community.
Speaker 4 (30:01):
Thank you so much for having us.
Speaker 5 (30:03):
Yeah, thank you.
Speaker 3 (30:03):
It's always a pleasure.
Speaker 2 (30:04):
And if you need more information, reach out to me
Palm Beach Perspective at iHeartMedia dot com. Happy to forward
on the details. Don't forget. You can always download the
show as a podcast on our iHeartRadio app. Hope everybody
has a wonderful weekend. I'm devn and this has been
my perspective. Remember life is good, so be your healthiest
view and let's get out there and live it. Until
(30:26):
next week, enjoy.
Speaker 1 (30:27):
iHeart Communities, the community engagement arm of the station, champions
critical issues and causes in the area of health and wellness,
social impact, education, literacy, and music and art. Join us
next week for Palm Beach Treasure Coast Perspective
iHeart Communities presents Palm Beach Treasure Coast Perspective, which Dad Now.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Good morning, Welcome to Palm Beach Treasure Coast Perspective. I'm
your host, dev Nev. Thanks for spending your weekend with me.
All kinds of great things happening, and if you haven't been,
you want to check this out. Ballet Palm Beach is
presenting their traditional The Nutcracker, and that's going to be
December sixth through the eighth, and it happens at the Craviscenter,
So you can actually go to Cravis dot org and
(00:27):
buy your ballet tickets there for you. They make it
super easy for everybody. Fun thing to check out. It's
always a beautiful show. Speaking of shows, the twenty fourth
annual Downtown Delray Beach Festival for the Art Show is
coming again now. It's going to be December seventh, three
to eighth. From where details go to art Festival dot
com and they have all the different vendors and stuff
(00:47):
listed there for you. And if the holidays are starting
to stress you out a little bit already, no worries.
You can go unwined with some of Saint Lucie County's
Guided nature programs. They got a cool walk happening on
December seven from eight to nine thirty am. It's called
Bring your Brew Birding Hike, and that's gonna be the
Donald B. Moore Preserve, So bring a coffee or tea
(01:09):
with you and come take a little hike in the morning.
They have a lot of really fun unique birds in
that area and you'll get nice little tour while you're
doing that. And then also on December seventh, from nine
to fifteen to noon, they have a new one called
New Explorations Paddle. This one's at ten Mile Creek Preserve.
It's a serene, calm paddle and get you out and
(01:32):
away from the city, so it kind of relaxed that way.
And then Sunday, December eighth, from nine to eleven is
the Florida Estuary Adventure and that one's a a hike
is going to be at Donald Bmore Preserve. So lots
of cool things. Simply go to SLC hikes dot org
and it's all listed there for you. See, Lucy County
always has lots of things going on, so their libraries
(01:54):
have a lot of really neat things right now. They
have lifelong learning classes so on Tuesdays it's cheer yoga,
so December tenth you can do that two o'clock at
the Pruit Campus Library. They have Chi meditation Friday December
sixth at morning Side Branch, and then there's gonna be
a nutrition education series on Friday, December sixth at the
(02:14):
Kilmer Branch. And they're doing still life painting on Saturday,
December December seventh, from two to fourth of Lakewood Branch.
All kinds of good stuff. Simply go to seven seven
to two four six two, twenty one fifty four to
get more details on that. And if you haven't been
to Mounts Potanical Gardens in a while, lots of fun
things happening there. Coming up on Sunday, December eighth, they're
(02:36):
viewing the Hidden Wild film by Benji Stute. We've talked
to him from the erm count On Division in the county,
so lots of cool stuff there. They're gonna have orchids
for everyone. Potting workshop also on the seventh tai Chi
happening December seventh, fourteenth, twenty first, and twenty eighth, and
they're doing Tiny Trees, Big Cheer their Succulence edition and
(02:57):
that's December eighth, so simply go to Mountain dot org
to find out all the details about all the latest
things are happening in the park there. Coming up on Saturday,
December fourteenth, from nine to noon it is Brunch with
Santa and that's happening at the Fencenter, so definitely can
go do that one. And they're also doing a fun
stretch by candlelight evening yoga at the Museum Point Park
(03:18):
every Tuesday. For more details, give a Fen Center a
call seven seven to two four six two fifteen twenty
one and they're happy to give you more details on that.
And of course coming to the Cravis itself, lots of
great things happening. We obviously have Ballet Palm Beach like
we mentioned, and then the Palm Beach Symphonies coming on
December tenth. On the twelfth is the Dreyfust School in
(03:40):
the Arts with their Prism Concert. The twelfth is Blackbird Fly,
a concert for voice, body and strings. On the thirteenth
and fourteenth Michael Mulkol. The fourteenth is Young Singers the
Palm Beaches. They do a fantastic show. It's the Community
Acchoir of kids. And then coming up on the seventeenth,
Patti LaBelle again. Go to Cravis dot org to get
(04:03):
more details. Speaking more details, I want to welcome my
guests for today. I have got Blake Scarborough and Sadel
Dombrowski from Green Kay Nature Center, Comporting ladies. Good morning,
Good morning, So miss Blake, tell us what you do
I see as naturalist and volunteer coordinator.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
Yes, so I work at Green k Nature Center in
Wetlands as the Naturalist and volunteer coordinator. So I have
a fun group of I have a group of seventy
volunteers that I oversee and they help us with all
of our operations at the nature center itself, front desk people,
animal care workers, things like that. So I make sure
everybody's up to par and ready to rock for our
(04:41):
visitors that come and visit us. And then as a naturalist,
I do all of our programming. I get to do
all of our private and public programming where I get
to teach the public all about the environment, nature, different science.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
Topics, fantastic and so of course sodell. It leads me
to you number one volunteering there are fifteen years now, Wow, congratulate.
Speaker 5 (05:00):
Thank you.
Speaker 4 (05:01):
I'm actually not the longest serving volunteer. We do have
some volunteers that have been there since the nature center
opened over twenty years and the crew of volunteers is fantastic.
It's a labor of love for us. I'm also the
(05:24):
president of the Friends of Green Kay.
Speaker 5 (05:26):
We are the.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
Nonprofit organization that supports whatever our staff needs, things for programs, events,
many things for our volunteers. We have a fabulous party
for them every year, whatever is needed to enhance the
(05:49):
volunteer experience, the guest experience, the staff, and many other things.
I'm also their outreach speaker and we have a wonderful
program called Science for Seniors. This year, I am the
last of the speakers in the series. I will be
doing opossums and Skunks. Most people don't even realize there
(06:14):
are two types of skunks native to Florida, and I
just enjoy all of my time and co chair of
our upcoming event, Wildlife Celebration. Years ago, it used to
be called Migration Celebration, but we realize that a lot
of the creatures that we have are obligatory. They don't
(06:37):
migrate here, they're here, and we want to enhance the
experience of all of the people that come to visit
Green Kay. We do from K to gray and we
have a lot of programs. This year, we have twenty
three exhibitors, all within the environmental field to answer questions,
(07:02):
to present themselves because a lot of people that live
in southeast Florida don't even know what's available right around
the corner or.
Speaker 5 (07:11):
A few blocks away.
Speaker 4 (07:14):
Most of our demographic are older usually, but we do
have a lot of things for children that day, and
we do a lot of preparation. The staff and the
friends of Green Quay, which we underwrite the cost of
this entire day, work very very closely together to make
(07:34):
this the most fantastic event for our visitors.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
And so that's going to be December seventh.
Speaker 4 (07:41):
December seventh, from nine to three. It is a free event.
We also have made arrangements that if our parking lot
is full, we have a bus service that runs every
fifteen minutes from the entrance to the boardwalk to the
shopping center by publics that is like a block and
(08:05):
a half away, and people can park there. We have
permission from the property manager and that enhances the experience.
Sometimes the children just like to ride back and forth
on the bus, nothing wrong with that, So we have
things for everyone, right, so we want to make it
as enjoyable and as easy for people to come and
(08:29):
experience green.
Speaker 5 (08:30):
Kay oh.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
I think that's fantastic because that was my one question,
like where do you park? Because if you have a
thousands some people come, I'm like, that's a lot of people.
Speaker 4 (08:38):
Last year we had eleven hundred and nine guests, and
we're hoping to have more because we did more advertising, different,
more modern. As we were speaking previously, it's it's different.
We're on the radio, of course, and I keep hearing
that song on the radio in my head right now,
(09:00):
but it is.
Speaker 5 (09:01):
It's just it's a labor of love.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
Well, that's fantastic. And you're also actually at one more
thing there. You're a master gardner.
Speaker 4 (09:09):
I'm a master gardener and a Master Naturalist program certified.
I became a master gardener in two thousand and four.
When I retired from teaching in New York City in
two thousand and one, I looked around for what could
I do, and I found them. I'd always been a
gardener in New York, but it's so different down here,
(09:32):
and I went through the Master Gardener program and I
loved it.
Speaker 5 (09:37):
I loved it.
Speaker 4 (09:38):
I've always been a student at heart, and then I
found the Master Naturalist program and that opened up a
world to me, and then started volunteering at Green Kay right.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
And the beginning partner where I was talking about Mounts Botanical,
I think it's so cool because they also have master
gardeners there.
Speaker 5 (09:56):
That's where I trained, and that's where you trained.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
I was going to ask you, that's where you train,
And I think it's cool that you can call them
and I can. I can phone a friend about my plants.
Speaker 4 (10:04):
That's fine. Yes, that's actually not from Mounts. That's from
the University of Florida. And I was a docent for
years at Mounts before I discovered Green Kay, which is
literally eight minutes from my house. So I transferred my
time and my effort and it's worked out beautifully for
(10:27):
me and.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Me yay well. And that's why I always tell the
listeners check out that part of the show is let
people know what service is available, what cool things you
go do that are fine, But I always tell people
want to go volunteer, support a charity, and we talk
about a bunch of different folks, talk with a bunch
of different folks to put the information out there and
there's going to be one that resonates with you. And then,
(10:48):
like you said, there's one that's even a little closer
to your house, even better. But you're still out there
helping folks. And like we were talking before the show,
there's a lot of benefits for volunteering.
Speaker 4 (10:58):
Absolutely many years ago that they did a study of volunteerism,
particularly with seniors, that they do live a longer time,
Their lifespan is extended by doing volunteer work. It feeds
so many different parts of your psyche. It's an emotional thing.
(11:18):
It's a social thing because you're dealing with people. You're
dealing with people of all ages. It's an academic thing too,
because you have to really learn. You can't just you know,
if some guest comes into the park and asks a question,
you can't make the answer up, even if you sound
like you know what you're doing. But there's always reference
(11:40):
books or our staff or another volunteer that's more acquainted
with the subject matter. And it's just a fantastic thing.
It's food for the soul. It gives you a purpose.
We don't get paid with money, but we get paid
in our heart.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
Sometimes you get double pay.
Speaker 5 (12:02):
I've asked for that, I haven't gotten it yet.
Speaker 3 (12:05):
Well, the best thing as a volunteer coordinator myself is
I volunteered since I was in middle school. First you
start volunteering for school and kind of are forced to,
or at least you know you might start into it
that way. But I really found the same thing. I
always was searching for a community or people to be
you know, like minded, or people that made me feel happy.
And so when I volunteered, I found that. And then
(12:29):
when I started working with animals. It's such a niche
field that when I started volunteering with animals, that's where
I got my experience and how I've gotten to where
I am. And as a volunteer myself, it's really allowed
me to work with my volunteers and understand that really
tricky relationship because they're coming out of the goodness of
their heart right there. They could go. They could leave
me in any moment, So how do you keep them in?
(12:50):
And so it's really cool to have a community that
we do. In the last couple of years that I
worked here, I don't see them go and that's what
I'm very happy about. As I them in and I
keep them, so I really love our volunteer community.
Speaker 4 (13:03):
It's something that Blake said resonated with me. Most of
my peer group nobody likes to dig in the dirt
I do. And I was always called the creepy Crawley
girl because I loved bats, vultures, spiders, insects all And
(13:25):
my speech in March is on opossums and skunks and
that doesn't stink, but it's very I got to meet
like minded people who love nature, they love the outdoors,
and that's another thing. They've also proven that people that
spend time in green spaces are healthier, and we were
(13:50):
a very important place to go if people didn't have money.
It doesn't cost anything to come to us, and it's
such a teaching tool, even for a family to walk
on the board walk.
Speaker 3 (14:04):
That's the one thing I love about Palm Beach County.
Our nature centers and Riverbend Park and a lot of
our parks are all free accessibility to our visitors, and
so that's why we just want more people to come,
because we're not trying to sell you on anything. It's
actually free to come to Green Kay and experience nature,
and a lot of our free guided tours and things
like that. Some of our programming, of course, do cost
(14:26):
minimal fees, but that goes back into the park and
helps us continue to do what we do. But this
is really our biggest, largest event, which is what we're
talking about. Wildlife Celebration is really our largest event to
really bring people out and show them why they should
care and why they should have fun in nature and
what the glory or and what the beauty is of
(14:47):
the environment and protecting it because at the end of
the day, we are not separate from nature. We are
a part of it, and this event really shows you
that and brings you back into that because the art
of observation has really gone away in recent times, and
so this is really a way to get out there
and see things and have fun and not have to
spend a dime if you.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
Don't want to.
Speaker 5 (15:06):
We also have.
Speaker 4 (15:09):
Exhibitors that are bringing live animals and we had the
Florida her Petological Society come last year with their snakes
and lizards. That was so popular, you have no idea.
Kids loved it, adults loved it. Our volunteers had some
of They don't put venomous snakes out to the public,
(15:32):
but We have one of our volunteers, she's having her
ninetieth birthday this year this month, and I have a
video of her with a snake crawling all over last
year and she's smiling, not the snake, the volunteer, but
it's And we have birds coming from Boush Wildlife. We
(15:54):
have gofa tortoise.
Speaker 3 (15:57):
And potentially a rehabilitated animal release. We can only say potential,
but South Florida Wildlife Center, one of our environmental exhibitors
is hopefully bringing another rehabilitated animal like we did last year.
Last year we did a red shouldered hawk and this
year hopefully we'll have an animal. They won't know until
closer to the event, of course, if an animal is
ready to be released, but if there is one, we
(16:17):
will have an animal release. And that was also another
very popular thing because you're watching an animal that's a
part of the environment get you know, back to good
standing and be able to go off on its adventure
and you get to be a part of that.
Speaker 5 (16:28):
So that was really a big thing, right.
Speaker 4 (16:29):
We will also have the beebof Apiari's bringing a live
high a demonstration hive and you don't get to see that, Yeah,
and it's just fantastic, It really is.
Speaker 2 (16:44):
Yeah, I have friends that are very interested in the beekeeping,
so I tell them to reach out to them. And
then at other friends that found the bee hive in
their garage and might reach out to them. They can
either come help you or connect you with a person
who can come help you and save those bees and
get out of your house and safely where they need
to be, right.
Speaker 4 (17:03):
And you know, it's also this will educate the public
that they're not out to sting you. And if we
don't have bees within four years, the planet's animal life
can disappear.
Speaker 2 (17:15):
Which then we then disappear because it's being on the
high end of the chain.
Speaker 3 (17:18):
Absolutely, that's really the biggest thing about this event because
if you look at the theme, which this year it
is protect Insects, Protect birds, and you go, well, I
really like birds, but maybe I don't really love the insects, right,
But if you look at birds, you go, well, what
do they eat? A lot of them eat insects. So
if we don't protect insects, if you don't protect one
part of the chain, then you can't protect the rest
(17:39):
of it. And we are a part of that chain.
So if we do not protect the lowest part of
the chain, and we're the highest part of the chain.
It might take a little bit until we start noticing
those things, but that's why being preventative and proactive is
a lot better than the opposite, right, And that's what
this event is all about, celebrating wildlife and also how
we can protect and how we can look at the
(18:02):
whole entire system, from insects to birds and celebrate all
of it all life.
Speaker 4 (18:07):
Every year we get our theme from the International Migratory
Bird Day Organization and we are part of that. We
are on their international website as an event to do that,
and we advertise and we let all of our exhibitors
show that they are part of that event. And it's
(18:29):
really a fantastic thing. Every year they come up with
a huge theme and we try as closely as possible.
We will have a special room this year called the
Insect Investigation Station that we are preparing for the public
to see all of these different types of insects and
maybe even feel so.
Speaker 2 (18:50):
And I heard that there's gonna be some interactive exhibits.
Is that one of them?
Speaker 4 (18:54):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (18:54):
So, actually the interactive is also what we kind of
talked about with the snakes and people and some of
the organization bringing animals. We have our Exploratory Room where
we're going to have Oakaylian Nature Center, Bush Wildlife Sanctuary,
South Florida Herpetological Society and b barf A Priaries where
they're going to have live animals or something that kids
(19:15):
or not just kids, all ages are able to experience
and really get engaged in hands on with. And then
that insect Investigation Station is also again another very interactive thing.
But then we also on top of that have our
Secret Question Adventure, which is where you can pick up
kind of a passport booklet with all the different exhibitors
questions on them, and they have to go around to
(19:37):
each one of our exhibitors that are participating in this
adventure and they ask that question and they get a
sticker when they get the answer, and then they can
bring that up to the front desk and get a prize.
So that is a way how we are getting our
guests to interact with all of our exhibitors and so
they can see everybody.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
For people to find out more information, is there a
website social media they can follow?
Speaker 3 (20:00):
Facebook is going to be their best bet I keep
everything up to date. There, they can say interested and
get notified closer to the event on Facebook if they're
used to that. Otherwise they can go to our website.
If you go to PBC Nature dot com and then
click on Green K Nature Center, we will have some
information there. But I think the best bet would be
Facebook and or following us and or we also have
(20:22):
our Friends of Green K website that do have a
little bit of information as well. But Facebook or our website, yes,
would be perfect.
Speaker 5 (20:30):
Cool.
Speaker 2 (20:30):
And who are some of the exhibitors who going to
be there? Because I know you mentioned Bush Wildlife Okahaly
Nature Center.
Speaker 3 (20:36):
Yeah, so pretty much all of the places you think
in Palmage County that are nature related we got. We
got a lot of organizations coming in. We have Audubon Everglades.
We have Shelley coming in from Audubon on Everglades as
well with Purple Martin Conservation, So she's going to talk
all about our gords and all the things that she's doing.
Speaker 4 (20:56):
Sierra Club. We also have a new exhibitor for us,
Packed Upon Beach, Pack and Paddle. They saw us at
an outreach event that we did and they really really
wanted to be part of us, and we have Florida Trails.
Speaker 3 (21:13):
We have it's not just nature centers and environmental like parks.
We also have like she said, pack and Paddle club,
different types of clubs that go out in nature and
get you out there. Then we also have like Arthur
Marshall National Wildlife Refuge, like you know, the basic kind
of parks around us, just so that they can be
on site and give everyone all the information for their
parks and all the things that they're doing. So it's
(21:34):
basically one stop shop to learn all nature related activities.
Speaker 2 (21:38):
What I know. Benji stud comes out yes and his
Environmental Resource Management group upon the parks that he does,
like all the really cool like hikes and things out well.
Speaker 3 (21:48):
So we will have Palmeache County Environmental Resources Management as
one of our exhibitors, so pbc M is short for it.
They will be out as one of our exhibitors talking
about all of the things that are about our now areas.
So the way that the county works is our nature
centers and River Bend Park are part of one department.
And then we also have Palmage County Environmental Resources Management
(22:10):
and they they handle all of our natural areas of
the county that aren't a nature center in park kind
of like you know dagger Wing, Okaheeley and Green Kay
and River Bend. They have all the natural areas like
Pine Glades Natural Area and all different types of ones
throughout the county, so they are a little bit more
on that front, so you don't get to see them
very often and talk to them. So that's why this
(22:31):
is a great opportunity to come in and talk to
those people, maybe even see if there's some volunteer opportunities
to get involved.
Speaker 4 (22:37):
We have for the first time because I'm doing this
since twenty thirteen with a five year break due to
we got a new roof and then COVID hit water
utilities and solid waste management. People don't realize solid waste
is part of the environment and would be It's going
(23:00):
to be very interesting to see the interface between the
public and these particular groups. We do. We have face
painting because the kids all love that.
Speaker 3 (23:14):
I'm glad you brought up Palmas County Water Utilities Department
because the one unique thing with Green k Nature Center
and Wetlands is that people don't a lot of people
don't realize that we were actually under two different departments.
So green k is actually under Parks and rec which
is what I work for, and Water Utilities department, and
it's a collaboration between the two when they opened up
(23:34):
back in two thousand and five, because we're not actually
our primary the primary function of green Ky is not
just recreation, which is a lot of people do. So
the primary function is actually water reclamation. So we actually
they water utilities pumps in a lot of water throughout
the year and that water gets put back into as
(23:54):
a That water gets put back into the system and
becomes an asset for our community. So it's really cool
to have Palm Beach County Water Utilities come out and
be an exhibitor that day because they will basically highlight
Wakota Hachie, which a lot of people don't get to
ask those questions and ask us about that part of
our operation and about Wakota Hatchie as they don't have
a nature center like Green kay does.
Speaker 2 (24:14):
Oh definitely, and I'm glad you mentioned that because, like
I know, Grassy Waters Preserve is a natural filtration and
it filters the water and stuff that comes in for
the City of West Palm exact, and a lot of
people don't realize that. So I think Green Kay is
kind of like that words brief. It's filtering the water
and doing what it naturally would do.
Speaker 4 (24:30):
Grassy Waters is coming as an exhibitor, as is Manatee Lagoon.
Speaker 5 (24:34):
So everybody loves Amanite and.
Speaker 3 (24:37):
The Yeah, the water thing is very important. So Green
Kay and Wakota Hatchie are both water reclamation ponds in
Palm Beach County and do that great water filtration. Obviously,
water is really important in the grand scheme of life. Water.
We only have one percent usable fresh water in We
only have one percent of usable freshwater in the world,
(25:00):
So wetlands are very very important, and that's actually why
we have Green Ky and Wakota Hatchie is they are
reclamation ponds for water filtration for the county. And actually
we have plenty of different types of organizations that come
out to us in Palmage County to actually replicate what
we do here with the wetlands and utilizing that kind
of gunky water that we really can't do much with
(25:21):
and basically throwing it over here to this recreational area
to get kind of the best of both world to
get water filtration and then you get a beautiful place
to walk in, a beautiful wetland habitat for wildlife.
Speaker 2 (25:32):
So of course the listeners can enjoy all that when
they come out. So for the Wildlife Celebration Saturday, December seventh,
from nine to three at Green Ky, I love that.
But before we also want to talk about your Signs
for Seniors program, So that's another fun thing, and it's
actually kicking off this year on December sixth, so the
day before. So I see what nature journaling.
Speaker 3 (25:54):
Yes, so our first one is by a volunteer docent.
He is doing journaling and again that is the kind
of the art of observation, getting people out there. So
all of our science topics are all of our science
topics this year we have ten different ones, and they're
very varied in the sense that really topics for everyone.
(26:15):
We have Nature Journaling to start us off, and then
we have Old Possums and Skunks to finish us off
with sadel and in between we have actually the Hidden
Wild documentary. We're actually going to have that here are
on site at Green Kay for one of the sessions,
and then some other PBC arm speakers, So again another
opportunity to just hear from other environmental workers in the
county and hear what they're doing. We have the burn
(26:37):
Boss coming out, so he's going to talk about prescribed
fires and all that, and I think that's just a
really great way to get people in and learning. And
like Saddel said, we have a wonderful community of lifelong
learners that love coming to Green Kay and learning each year.
So I know it says science for seniors, but it's
for anybody ages fifty and up. It's just a very
safe space for older adults to come in and be
(26:58):
able to learn and have a really fun time because
science and nature is not just for kids, it's for everyone.
Speaker 4 (27:04):
We also have a lot of seniors that have been
in the science field, the education field. They have background
when they come into these lectures. But even if you
don't and you're just there to see what's going on
around you, it's just a very very good experience. And
(27:24):
we see a lot of people are returning lecture audience
people and it's just very very nice that so much
is given to young people to do, but older people
really need these experiences and we're more comfortable with hands
(27:45):
on or a lecturer oriented thing, not just technology and
science is Seeniors is extremely popular.
Speaker 3 (27:54):
Yeah, I'm trying to get more people this year. Just
with after COVID, I feel like a tizing and getting
people in the doors a little bit harder. So this
is a great way to try to get more people
in more reach. I think we have a great demographic
around us that know of us, but a lot of
times I'll go over to Wakota Hatchi, which is only
two miles away, and they don't know where what green
k is. So we're trying to get a little bit
(28:15):
out of our bubble and get more people in. And
all the snowbirds coming back to us, come on over
and do a science for seniors.
Speaker 2 (28:22):
And it's five dollars a person. It's one o'clock on
select Fridays. How do they sign up? Do they call you?
How does that work?
Speaker 4 (28:28):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (28:28):
Our sign up system is not the greatest. That's probably
our biggest legacy is that people don't love our registration process.
So if you are having issues, yes it's online, but
if you're having issues, please call us. We sign people
up over the phone through December through March. It's my
part time job is signing people up over the phone.
At this season, So don't feel afraid. If the registration
(28:49):
process is keeping you from those programs, please call me
call us at five six one nine six six sevens
zero zero zero five six one nine six six sevens
zero zero zero, and we will help you register.
Speaker 2 (29:02):
I wanted to mention that because someone had mentioned me
that it was a little challenging for them to sign up.
Speaker 3 (29:06):
Five six one nine six six seven zero zero zero.
Speaker 5 (29:09):
Yeah, everybody else pretty hunge.
Speaker 2 (29:11):
Call Blake, who's super user friend, Like, I.
Speaker 3 (29:14):
Get the people mad, and they're by the end of
our phone call, they're smiling and happy and laughing with
me because I'm like, hey, I want you in this program.
Is as much as you want to be in this program,
so let's get you in.
Speaker 2 (29:24):
I think it's fantastic. So again, before we go, uh
info for your Wildlife Celebration day, day and time.
Speaker 4 (29:31):
Saturday, December seventh, nine to three. The doors of the
Nature Center will open at nine, but we will have
people setting up all around the outside of the Nature
Center and parking is not going to be a problem
if you can't park in our regular parking lot. The
(29:51):
bus will start at nine.
Speaker 2 (29:54):
Perfect. I think that's so fantastic. Well, ladies. Thank you
so much for coming in talk with me, sharing all
this coo information. Dude, that's a fun thing in the community.
Speaker 4 (30:01):
Thank you so much for having us.
Speaker 5 (30:03):
Yeah, thank you.
Speaker 3 (30:03):
It's always a pleasure.
Speaker 2 (30:04):
And if you need more information, reach out to me
Palm Beach Perspective at iHeartMedia dot com. Happy to forward
on the details. Don't forget. You can always download the
show as a podcast on our iHeartRadio app. Hope everybody
has a wonderful weekend. I'm devn and this has been
my perspective. Remember life is good, so be your healthiest
view and let's get out there and live it. Until
(30:26):
next week, enjoy.
Speaker 1 (30:27):
iHeart Communities, the community engagement arm of the station, champions
critical issues and causes in the area of health and wellness,
social impact, education, literacy, and music and art. Join us
next week for Palm Beach Treasure Coast Perspective
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