May 22nd, 2011

Sandoway House, Nature Center, Delray Beach, Florida, Summer Programs, Exhibits, Village by the Sea, Palm Beach County

I have not been in Delray Beach for 2 months.  The Second Season in this Village by the Sea is one of my favorites. It’s a quieter pace, you can show up at a restaurant without a reservation, less honking of horns, and the grocery store isles are more manageable, as well.  There are other reasons why I love Delray.  I have met very nice people; their residents and shopkeepers are wonderful.  You know, those little details that stay in your mind and want to make you go back to this town again and again

The residents look forward to this time of the year.  The town all to themselves.

This Second Season brings to Delray plenty of visitors.  And since it is that time of the year where school children will be home a lot, I thought I would pass on what the Sandoway House Nature Center can offer this summer.  You will need it; it’s a long summer, believe me.  I remember well.

The Sandoway House Nature Center is located at 142 South Ocean Blvd.  This is just a block and a half south of Atlantic Avenue on the west side of A1A.  You cannot miss it.

In 2002, this home was listed on the National Historic Places and the marker in front of the house shows this designation.

On February 15th I wrote a post on this beautiful place.  You can just go on the left hand of this website and click under the month of February, 2011 and scroll down to the 15th. 

The website is www.sandowayhouse.org and the tel. is 561-274-7263.

As you come in some of the usual suspects will be there; they always are.  The cranky Blue & Gold Macaw being one of them.  He checks all visitors.  He knows he is beautiful.

Exhibits and educational programs are on going.  So here is what you will find.

General Admission is $4.

As of May 13th – Tooth for Thought.  I remember when I had my own shark’s tooth.  I wore it on a leather cord.  That was the style them.

At the Nature Center you will find that this will be an interactive program where guests will make a Shark Tooth Necklace while learning about the ocean’s top predators.  $3 plus general admission.

Camps – Ocean View Summer Camp 2011

June 6th until June 10th

June 13th until June 17th

June 20th until June 24th

During each week the campers will spend time interacting with Nature Center exhibits and participating in a variety of science related activities.  Each day is from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.

After-care is offered from 8 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. at not additional charge.

For more detailed info. please call them at 561-274-7263.

Tuesdays – Starting June 15th is Turtle Talk Tuesdays.  Speedy, the Florida’s endangered Gopher Tortoise, Gigi, a Florida Box Turtle, a red-bellied pond turtle and a few more.  Learn about their habitats.  These turtles call Sandoway Nature Center, home.

Admission is $4 for ages 3 and up; free for members.  It also includes admission to all other exhibits.

Wednesdays – Starting June 16th at 2:00 p.m. – Being that the Sandoway Nature Center is a historic home adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean, it has beautiful gardens, showcasing native plants.  Walk through the native butterfly garden.  The leisure walk includes identification and information on dozens of native Florida plants. 

Learn what types of plants butterflies love and are attracted to.  Admission is only $4. It includes all the other exhibits, as well, including Florida’s largest private shell collection. 

Thursdays – Starting June 17th.  Inside and Outside Shells.  The Sandoway Nature Center houses one of the largest exhibits in Florida.  Learn from their resident conchologist. Conchology is the scientific or amateur study of mollusk shells.

Kids will be able to touch several living mollusks, including the Horse Conch, which is Florida’s State Shell.  I really did not know that.  And, you will also be able to dissect a large squid.  $4 admission.

The Horshe Conch is found on Florida’s shores regularly.  The snail is the second largest mollusk, with one shell, in the world.  It can get to up to 2 feet in size.

It is an agressive carnivor eating……you will need to check this out at the Nature Center.

Starting July 1st – Take a bite out of summer.  The “Shark Months” exhibit will call Sandoway Nature Center, its home.  80 different varieties of shark and ray jaws.  A replica of a Great White Shark Jaw will be there for photos, a touch table, a free fossil dig for kids, Hawaiian Shark Tooth weapons and plenty more.  Admission is $4 per guest.  Please call 561-274-7263 for more info.

Tuesdays through Saturdays  at 10:30 a.m. and on Sundays at 1:30 p.m. is Shark Feeding at the Sandoway.  I have attended and it is very interesting.  Learn about what Atlantic Ocean Reef Fish and Nurse Sharks eat.

Besides all the exhibits and programs, one of them is a Group Education Program that can be tailored to your needs.  The K-12 programs are developed to meet Florida Sunshine State Standards.  Call to schedule your group adventure.  Perfect for school and special interest groups of all ages.  The learning experience will be adapted to your group.

Now you have some information to, at least, get those kids out and about.

Have a great day!!

February 15th, 2011

The Sandoway House, Nature Center, Delray Beach, Florida, Shark Feedings, Educational Programs, Exhibits, Village by the Sea, Palm Beach County

I have visited the Sandoway House before I started writing this blog and thought it was time to visit it again and see what was new.  The Sandoway House is located at 142 South Ocean Blvd., and it is very visible from A1A.  Tel. is 561-274-7263.  Website?  www.sandowayhouse.org.

This house used to be the winter residence of a retired produce broker named J.B. Evans.  It was designed by Samuel Ogren, Sr.  Since it was built during the great depression, the only ostentation is the cathedral window on the south side of the house.  Samuel Ogren, Sr. is considered the Father of Delray Beach Architecture.  In 2002 this house was listed on the National Historic Places.  You can read more information on the Historic Marker placed by the entrance of the Sandoway House Nature Center.

On Sundays, the shark feeding is at 1:30 p.m. and it was about time.  As I walked around the gardens I noticed plaques identifying indigenous plants.

 I love porches and the Sandoway House has a beautiful one; I could only imagine sitting there when times were less hectic; life more simple.

The Blue and Gold Macaw was the bird I encountered first.  I heard he can be a little cranky.  He was calm on Sunday, though, checking everyone coming in.

In this porch you will also find a large fish tank and a gorgeous lobster.  Also there is a turtle pond and a gopher tortoise habitat.  The gopher tortoise, Speedy, was hiding.  This tortoise is protected in Florida because the iguanas are eating their eggs; construction is destroying their natural habitat. 

The box turtle, Gigi was out and about.  Conservationists are concerned because their habitat is being destroyed.

There is an entry fee of $4.00 and I cannot remember the volunteer’s name working there but him and Steve, who feeds the sharks were very informative.

There is a shop with souvenirs and books on Florida, Delray and nature.

There is a microscope lab for viewing nature up close.  Tha’st where I saw The Knight Anole, Pedro.  Native to Cuba with strong jaws and sharpt teeth. 

The Brown Basilisk was another lizard found from Mexico to Columbia.  They are excellent swimmers.

And then there was Rose, the Chilean Rose Tarantula.  She eats grasshoppers, cockroaches, and crickets.

In this room 2 microscopes are set to be used by the public to view various objects found in nature.

Another room has photos interpreting Delray Beach History.  One watercolor shows the Sandoway right on the beach.  It was before A1A was even there.

The Yvonne S. Templeton Shell Gallery is one the largest private shells collections in the world.  It is housed at the Sandoway House and even though there are so many on display, this is only about 6% of a collection of 10,000 shells.

Steve called me since it was time to feed the sharks.  They were sand sharks and fed by hand once a day.  He was very knowledgeable and connected well with the younger crowd in attendance.

There were other fish but one that acted like the residence dog was Bob.  It was a Spotfin Burfish.  This fish is found in tropical seas.  It eats clams, crabs, and lobsters.  Bob has a beak and grinding plates that crush the shells of the animals he eats.

The Sandoway House offers educational programs to the public.  Besides the shark feedings, they have guided historic tours, nature walks, astronomy nights, summer camp and special events like Earth Day.

Guests speakers add to the special events, talking about environmental topics.  The website will be the best information source to check out what’s on the schedule.

Schools and special interest groups are welcomed, as well, so please call to schedule a group adventure.

This beautiful house and grounds are also available for special events, like meetings, weddings and birthday parties.

Hours of operation are:  Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.  Sundays from 12 Noon until 2 p.m.

Shark feedings are Tuesdays to Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. and on Sundays at 1:30 p.m.

Tired of sitting on the beautiful Delray Beach?  Too cloudy?  Kids are driving you insane?  The Sandoway House is located just a block and a half south of Atlantic Ave., on the west side of A1A between Sandoway Park and Ingram Parking Lot.

Have a great day.  My visit to Delray is winding down…..talk to you later….