Pelotes Island Nature Preserve

Scout Saturdays 

Pelotes Island Nature Preserve offers Scout Saturdays for Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Indian Princesses/Guides from October – April.  The programs vary in length from 4-6 hours and include hikes, interactive hands-on activities, and time for a picnic lunch.  All programs are FREE.   Reservations are required for all programs.

In addition to educational programs, the Preserve provides opportunities for participation in community service projects.  Service projects can be included in any education program.  Participants who volunteer at least 2 hours will receive a Pelotes Patch.   Click here for more information about Preserve Service Projects.

Girl Scout Programs

Schedule for Fall 2002:

10/5/02           Brownie Girl Scouts – Bouncy Bugs & Crawly Critters

12/7/02           Junior Girl Scouts - Get Lost at Pelotes Island

The Preserve has developed a partnership with the Girl Scouts of Gateway Council to provide unique outdoor education experiences for girls in northeast Florida.  All Preserve programs are linked to Junior Girl Scout Badges and Brownie Try-Its.  For more information, contact the Preserve staff at (904) 665-8856.  To make a reservation, contact the Girl Scouts of Gateway Council at (904) 388-9954.

The Preserve’s Girl Scout Programs include:

Bouncy Bugs & Crawly Critters – (Brownie Girl Scouts, 4 hours)  Can worms see?  Where do butterflies sleep?  Find out the answers to these questions and more as you search under logs and dig in the dirt to investigate the spiders, bugs, and butterflies that live on Pelotes Island.  Catch some critters, go on a scavenger hunt, and play eco-games.   Completes requirements 1, 3, 4 & 5 for the Watching Wildlife Try-It.

Get Lost at Pelotes Island – (Junior Girl Scouts, 4 hours)  It’s no fun to get lost!  Test your survival skills as you use a map and compass to find your way around the winding trails of Pelotes Island Nature Preserve.  Identify plants and animals, design a map, create a maze, and play eco-games.  Completes requirements 2, 6, 8 & 9 for the Finding Your Way Badge.

Survivor: Pelotes Island Nature Preserve - (Junior Girls Scouts, 5 hours)  Do you like islands, nature, and scavenger hunts?  Test your skills as you become a survivor on the winding trails and secret places of Pelotes Island Nature Preserve.  Find out what it’s like to be an ecologist, a forest ranger, and a botanist as you work to identify plants and animals, play cool eco-games, and make earth connections. Completes requirements 1, 3, 4, 5, 7 & 8 for the Earth Connections Badge.

Boy Scout Programs

Schedule for Fall 2002:

10/19/02         Cub Scouts – Insects

12/14/02          Cub Scouts - TBA

For more information or to make a reservation, contact the Preserve staff at (904) 665-8856.

The Preserve’s Boy Scout Programs include:

Program Descriptions COMING SOON!

Indian Princess/Guide Programs

Schedule for Fall 2002:

11/9/02           Indian Princesses/Guides - Native Know-How & Timucua Indians

Preserve Programs are great Cultural Event opportunities for parents and their sons/daughters.  You can do a Community Service Project and receive a Pelotes Patch too!  For more information or to make a reservation, contact the Preserve staff at (904) 665-8856.

The Preserve’s Indian Princess/Guide Programs include:

Junior Archaeology & Timucua Indians – (4 hours)  Do you know what archaeology is?  Learn what it is like to be an archaeologist as you practice digging for artifacts to learn about the Timucua culture.  Investigate a Timucua hut, hike over 2000 year-old native trash piles, and walk near the edge of a burial mound.

Native Know-How & Timucua Indians – (4 hours)  Where would you get your clothes and food if you lived in Florida hundreds of years ago?  Learn what the Timucua did as you try your hand at native skills like hide scraping, acorn cracking, and corn grinding.  Check out real Timucua arrowheads, hike over 2000 year-old native trash piles, and walk near the edge of a burial mound.

Adult Leaders

Are you looking for new games and activities to do with your Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, or Indian Princesses/Guides?  The Preserve offers adult workshops about wildlife, orienteering, native history, water, and solar energy.  All workshops include guides with instructions for games and hands-on activities that can be used with multiple age ranges, inside/outside and with large/small groups.

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