Our State Parks offer wonderful programs throughout the year that make great fieldtrips. Hunting Island State Park has a nature center with information about the animal and plant life in our coastal area. Take advantage of the trained park rangers and other staff members who are knowledgeable and capable of offering your homeschool students hands-on experiences for a lab you need for your science class. Below you will see the program schedule for the remainder of the month of September 2010 along with descriptions.
SOUTH CAROLINA’S HUNTING ISLAND STATE PARK
** Pre-registration and/or Fees Required!!
** Plus Program
Sept.15, 22 & 29
11:00am Nautical Flags**
1:00pm Sea Turtle Tracks
3:00pm Walk in the Woods
Sept. 16 & 30
3:00 pm Nature Center Tour/Pier Walk
Sept. 17
8:30am Salt Marsh Kayaking**
1:00pm Gyotaku**
3:00pm Pier Fishing**
Sept. 18
10:00 am Alligator Talk
11:00 am Lighthouse tour
Sept. 20 & 27
4:00pm Secrets of the Salt Marsh
Sept. 21
10:00amWading/Shore Birds
11:00am Gyotaku**
Sept. 23
3:00 pm Reptiles of SC Low country
Sept. 24
1:00pm Dream catchers & SC Native Americans**
3:00pm Pier Fishing**
Sept. 25
10:00 am Alligator Talk
11:00 am Lighthouse tour
11:00am Crabbing**
1:00pm Gyotaku**
Program Descriptions
●Alligators: Meet At the Nature Center. Discover modern-day dinosaurs during this enlightening look at our largest reptile. (All Ages, 30 minutes)
●Barrier Island Ecology: Meet at the Nature Center. This program will give participants an in-depth look at the four main habitats of Hunting Island, while instilling a desire to preserve and protect the barrier island as a whole. (All Ages, 1 Hour)
●Beach Walk: Meet at the Lighthouse for an interpretive talk about the physical changes that occur on a barrier island while exploring the biological aspects of the beach environment. (All ages, 1 hour)
●Crabbing: Meet at the Fishing Pier to learn about the life cycle of the Blue Crab, the methods of crabbing and the responsible use of this natural resource. $5 per person. Pre-registration is Required!!! (All Ages, 1.5 hrs)
●Gyotaku (fish printing): Meet at the Nature Center. Learn the art of gyotaku and create a one-of-a-kind souvenir from your visit. $5.00 per person. Must be at least 6 years old. Pre-registration is Required and you must bring your own t- shirt!!! (1 hour)
●Lighthouse Tour: Meet at the Lighthouse for a fascinating look at how it was built, and how it was moved over a hundred years ago! There is a $2.00 per person fee to climb the Lighthouse. Children
must be accompanied by an adult, and must be a minimum of 44 inches in height. (45 minutes)
●Nautical Flags: Meet at the Nature Center and learn how sailors communicated before the era of radios. Make your own set of nautical flags to create a unique decorative souvenir! $3 per person Pre-registration is required!! (6 years and up,1 hour)
●Nature Center Tour/Pier Walk: Meet at the Nature Center to explore our exhibits and meet our animals! Then go for an interpretive walk along the pier to learn some interesting facts about Hunting Island. (All Ages, 1 Hour)
●Pier Fishing: Meet at the Nature Center to learn some basics of fishing from a saltwater pier, a natural reef that many types of species call home! Fishing rods, bait and tackle are provided. $3 per person Pre-registration is required!! (6 years and up, 1.5 hours).
●Reptiles of the Lowcountry: Meet at the Nature Center. Prepare yourself for a close encounter with our native reptiles, including snakes, turtles, alligators and lizards. Live animals will be on hand. (All Ages, 1 Hour)
●Salt Marsh Kayaking: Meet at Russ Point Boat Landing. Learn the technique of kayaking while getting a unique guided tour of the salt marsh surrounding Hunting Island. Please bring sunscreen, drinking water, a snack and clothes and shoes that can get wet. No flip flops. No one under 8. Children ages 8-12 must be in a tandem with an adult. Children ages 13-17 must be accompanied on the trip by an adult. $40 per person. Pre-Registration is Required!!! Limited to 14 people. You must call the Kayak Farm (843) 838-2008 to register. (8 years & older, 2 hours)
● Sea Turtle Tracks: Meet at the Nature Center: This program will give visitors the opportunity to learn about sea turtles in general (body structure, different species, and life cycles) and sea turtle conservation on Hunting Island. (All ages, 1 hour)
●SC Native Americans: Meet at the Nature Center for an inside look at the life and culture of the Native Americans who once lived on the island. Build a dreamcatcher to scare off any bad dreams and make a unique souvenir. Pre-registration is required!! Must be at least 6 years old. $5 per person. (6 years and up, 1 hour)
●Secrets of the Salt Marsh: Meet at the Marsh Boardwalk for an interpretative talk about the salt marsh, one of the four ecosystems on Hunting Island. (All ages, 1 hour)
●Sharks of SC: Meet at the Nature Center to learn about the fiercest predators in the ocean that date back to the time of the dinosaurs. (All ages, 30 minutes)
●Wading/Water Birds of the SC LowCountry: Meet at the Nature Center to study the characteristics of the birds found in the Salt Marsh and on the Beach of Hunting Island. (All Ages, 1 Hour)
●Walk in the Woods: Meet at the Nature Center. Join a Naturalist for a hike through the Maritime forest. View ancient dunes, learn about the edible plants of the island and possibly see some of the creatures that call our forest home! (All Ages, 1 hour).
● For a fee of $99, the Passport Plus will afford the same admission privileges as an annual Park Passport, but will also include free admission for up to 4 persons for programs costing $8 and under.
Nature Center Hours: 9am-5pm Tuesday-Saturday
PROGRAM INFORMATION: 843.838-7437
For more information,
http://www.southcarolinaparks.com/
