Sawgrass Nature Center and Wildlife Hospital – Coral Springs, FL

Going into the first field trip for my environmental education course, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I packed appropriately bringing a small backpack with water, a snack, and a notebook. Arriving on location, the nature center seemed almost hidden, tucked behind a local school campus. There were two main buildings, the multi-purpose building and the wildlife hospital. Our group was greeted by the Nature Center guide, Robin. She briefly described the center, mentioning how this is an area where all ages are welcome to come and observe the native animals and plant species Florida has to offer. This center is also a non-profit organization and houses birds and animals in natural looking settings. The center also provides educational opportunities for young children and learning groups in a covered outdoor classroom.

            Walking around the grounds at the center, I immediately saw the plant life surrounding the location. Native flowering plants and shrubs provided a small butterfly garden and area for birds to perch. I noticed how certain plants were labeled with their name and few facts about the plant. This is a great way for visitors to identify common native plants that grow in the area. Learning about what the plant is used for and its purpose intrigued me and made me wonder more about other plants around the location. Approaching the protective cages, our group was able to see a great horned owl, a red-bellied woodpecker, and a rather husky looking raccoon and squirrel. We proceeded along viewing more Florida native species such as an alligator and even a few exotic species such as the Yellow-Naped Amazon Parrot. These parrots humored our group with sounds that mimicked our laughter. These were quite an entertaining group of birds to be around and listen to.

            In the covered outdoor classroom, our guide Robin gave us insight into the educational programs and projects her and other volunteers do with children at the nature center. She promoted the idea of using trash (or recycled) materials to create projects and learning opportunities for children. This is a great way to utilize the things that are around us and save on money. She also referred numerous books and resources for us to use for activities in the classroom. The experience here at the Sawgrass Nature Center was informational and insightful; it made me look forward to the rest of the upcoming field trips.