Field Trip #1 - Amelia Island Plantation

6/3/2011 – Amelia Island Nature Center

                It took me an hour to travel to the Amelia Island Nature Center.  I was able to see so much while driving-to include, the marsh, the ocean, vegetation, and even an owl I thought was going to fly right into the car it was so close!  I have to say that one made me a bit nervous.  Once I arrived at the Center I was disappointed as it was not all like it was described on the website.  The Nature Center is surrounded by water, vegetation, and other retail shops situated in a manner that you can walk from one to another under the trees, surrounded by discreetly placed nature.  When I entered the Nature Center the first thing I saw was that the front was indeed a retail shop.  Farther back, there was a room about 10 x 10 that held some tanks that contained some small, bugs, turtles and fish.  The demonstration that was going on was in deed the children’s discovery of these small parts of nature.  I listened to the demonstration; however, I couldn’t get into the room to see anything that they were talking about.  I did wait around for about 30 minutes and asked if they had a schedule of the tours described on the website.  It was on a sheet out front – that still had May.  I decided I would walk around looking at the plants surrounding the Center.  Again, there was a lot of vegetation surrounding the Center and the surrounding retail shops, but nothing I could “learn” from. 

                Since I was in the area I proceeded to visit Fort Cinch.  I was able to visit the museum which showed a lot of history on the tools used during this period.  I walked a couple of the trails surrounding the fort and it was interesting how “in the woods” it was.  They created a fishing area, a camping area, and plenty of picnic type areas.  Away from the fort, however, still on Fort Cinch was a really interesting nature trail…either a 20 minute or 45 minute trail to follow.  I was able to observe an alligator in the seriously scummy water.  I was praying he wouldn’t start moving towards the land.  Along the way, there were small plaques describing certain trees or vegetation that I found to be interesting.  I read about the “Magnolia grandiflora” also known as the Evergreen Magnolia.  I was really surprised because I thought Magnolias were flowers and didn’t know there was a tree with a similar name.  Since this wasn’t supposed to be part of the field trip I didn’t take any pictures except of the alligator and parts of the trail.