Event: Special Tour of LAMP and the Lighthouse for Florida Sea Grant Adult Daycamp
When: Friday, October 9th, 2009, at 9:30 to 4:00 pm
Where: St. Augustine Lighthouse & Museum
Who's Invited: This private event is open to participants in the Florida Sea Grant Adult Daycamp program

This was a great group and everyone seemed to find their visit enjoyable and educational. The participants got a personalized tour of LAMP's facilities, a tasty home-made box lunch from the Keeper's Cafe, a ride on our research vessel, and an opportunity to explore the museum and Lighthouse. They even got a chance to get their hands dirty and helped us sort through archaeological material recovered by dredges on our shipwreck site this summer. Thanks everyone!

Home School Days Presentation Title: "Shipwreck Discovery"
Speaker: Education Department and LAMP staff
When: Wednesday, October 7th, 2009, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm
Where: St. Augustine Lighthouse & Museum
Who's Invited: This activity, which addresses Sunshine Standards and is appropriate for ages 2-17, is part of our Home School Days program. If you are a home schooler and are interested in participating in this or other home school programs at the Lighthouse, please call Director of Education Chris Kastle at 904-829-0745.

Wednesday's Home School program will consist of three individual activities at pre-arranged stations. Station Two will consist of "Basics of Underwater Archeology," in which LAMP archaeologists will demonstrate the use of a variety of equipment used by underwater archeologists, discuss what it is exactly that underwater archeologists do, and will also talk about current LAMP projects. Click here to learn more about the October 7th Home School Days Shipwreck Discovery Program, including a brief discussion of all three stations.

We are finished with summer camp for this year, but we had a great time! All of the activities gave the campers a chance to investigate the maritime heritage and culture of St Augustine. Over the 6 weeks, campers identified a host of marine animals and plants on walks to Salt Run and through the marine hammock including hermit crabs, fiddler crabs, oysters, clams, periwinkles, a flounder, a yellow tail tuna, dolphins, turtles, gulls, heron, mangroves, red bay trees, beauty berries, poison oak…and even a live whelk without its shell! They hauled sail aboard the schooner Freedom and cruised comfortably aboard the Victory III where they got to see the coast from a different perspective. During “Shrimping and Fishing” they tried their luck fishing with cane poles and learned the basics of sailing. During “Marine Ecology” they studied plants and animals found in our coastal environment and did a beach clean up in an effort to help preserve the fragile habitats. During “Historic Foodways” they learned to understand what it was like to travel across the ocean, arrive in a new place, look for food and adapt our customary tastes. They visited the exhibits in the keeper’s house and climbed the lighthouse more than once.

Continue reading "Sea, Shore, Shrimp and Slime: Summer Camp 2009" »

The campers found a whole host of critters on the beach included something very rare – a whelk without a shell! They also enjoyed Michael D. Adams doing a portrayal of botanist William Bartram. The final performance was quite spectacular as this group was really enthusiastic and interested in augmenting the songs with dance and movement.

Try to imagine the choreography to the following songs that they wrote:

Continue reading "Summer Camp: 6th Week - Historic Foodways, Ages 6-12" »

Campers experienced what it may have been like to arrive at the St. Augustine shore and look for food in order to survive. They learned about how people from difference cultures interacted with the coastal environment. They made butter and tried hard tack. They also drank swanky (a mixture of molasses ginger vinegar water used by sailors). Here are their songs:

Continue reading "Summer Camp: 5th Week - Historic Foodways, Historic Foodways, Ages 6-9" »

The campers collected a bag of trash at the beach making it a better habitat for all. They also got a chance to see what it was like to get caught in the “doldrums” on a very hot day with no
winds while out on the schooner.

See what they wrote about their adventures and tribulations:

Continue reading "Summer Camp: 4TH Week - Marine Ecology, Ages 10-12" »

The campers identified many coastal plants and animals at Salt Run and in the marine hammock. They enjoyed playing several games of ocean bingo and got a chance to help sustain our coastal environment by doing a beach clean up – they got 2 huge bags of trash! The kids did a particularly spirited and enthusiastic performance on Friday. And, somehow, they all became “Bob” for a day.

Their songs follow:

Continue reading "Summer Camp: 3rd Week - Marine Ecology, Ages 6-9" »

The 28, 6-9 year old campers here for “Shrimping and Fishing” had a great time. Jonas caught a beautiful yellow fin snapper his first time fishing. Everybody climbed the lighthouse, some for the first time. During their field trip aboard the Victory III, they saw many dolphins. Overall, their 3 favorite activities during the week were fishing, climbing the lighthouse, and the music. Here are the songs that they wrote about their experiences:

Continue reading "Summer Camp:1st Week – Shrimping and Fishing, Ages 6-9" »

The campers caught 3 fish and we especially excited about learning the basics of sailing. On Wednesday, they got to test their newly learned skills aboard the schooner Freedom. The 10-12 year olds also engaged in several team- building activities. On Friday they shared their original songs with their friends and family during the final performance.

Here are their songs:

Continue reading "Summer Camp: 2nd Week – Shrimping and Fishing, Ages 10-12" »

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

The Lighthouse would love to have you as a member of our Founding Lights Family. You can make a difference.

It takes a great many of us working together to keep the Light Station strong. It takes all our support to keep the lighthouse preserve and programs going.

Today, we are about $25,000 short of having $350,000 dollars in our small, but growing endowment fund. Why is $350,000 the magic number? Well, when we hit $350,000, then we can apply for another $250,000 from the State of Florida. And that will help us a great deal. It makes us more secure, more stable in a world where changes happen and surprises hit us with new things to repair. It makes us more able to continue wonderful community services like those so many enjoy.

Our Founding Lights Campaign helps preserve and keep alive our story for generations. Fifty percent of every Founding Lights pledge becomes part of the endowment. This money is not ever spent, but and stablity and generates interest that supports programs and our restoration efforts. The remaining funds are put to good use right away.

Won't you help protect the lighthouse? Won't you help save our maritime heritage?

Please join us as a Founding Light!

The Levels Founding Lights: $1,000 per year for five years - Leadership level Legacy Circle: $500 per year for five years - Recognition in a special annual ceremony here and up. Heritage Club: $250 per year for five years Guardians: $100 per year for five years

Or call us here at the Lighthouse 904 829-0745.

Kathy Fleming
Executive Director