Gentle Giants: The 6 Best Places To See Manatees In Florida

By Julia Bauer | February 28, 2024 | Blog
While Florida is a major destination for summer vacations, winter may be the prime time to explore Florida’s waters. Between November and April, manatees gather in the Sunshine State to warm up during the colder months. According to The Everglades Foundation, these gentle giants are typically 10 feet long and weigh around 1,000 pounds. They

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Should Kids Play in the Dirt?

By Marlena Carrillo | March 17, 2022 | Blog
We’ve all heard it (and said it): “Get out of the dirt!” “Get that out of your mouth!” “You’re getting filthy!” But what if playing in the dirt is actually beneficial for kids?  In a global pandemic, kids are spending more time inside than ever. The Child Mind Institute says the average child in America

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FREE Pass for Every Kid Outdoors

By Diane Hernandez | January 25, 2022 | Blog
Dear Diary -- I loved the outdoors when I was small. Didn’t you?  There was something about the smelly dirt beneath me. I wanted to dig my hands into it hunting and finding worms.  I wanted to touch trees. I wanted to bounce from one monkey bar to the next. I wanted to imagine, and

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Nature Notebooks: Take Learning Outside

By Crystal Ladwig, Ph. D. | November 10, 2021 | Homeschool
One of the joys of homeschooling is the luxury of extra time to spend with your children during the day. This includes getting to enjoy all that the Gainesville area has to offer each and every day. We are blessed with many parks, trails, and even our backyards that provide us with fun, engaging, and

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