Biscayne National Park - Family Fun Fest 2006 (U.S. National Park Service)

The sixth season of Biscayne National Park's award-winning Family Fun Fest program was a great success, with nearly 1000 people participating in the five events. Family Fun Fest's major sponsor is the Captain Bob Lewis Boat Center Yamaha Billfish Challenge, with additional support from the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve, many local businesses and organizations, and a host of dedicated volunteers.

Park staffers portray a pirate and millionaire Mark Honeywell.

Photos by Thomas Strom

Participants met millionaire Mark Honeywell and a very confused pirate.

January 8, 2006: Time Traveler

What was Biscayne National Park like during the Ice Age? Who was sneaking around in the mangroves 300 years ago? What might things be like 50 years from now? Participants traveled through time to learn about ancient animals, talked to a pirate, and acted like millionaires. At the end of the event, participants toasted Monica and Jessica Colon at a juice-and-cookies reception honoring them as winners of the national Horseshoe Crabs and the Arts competition.

Photos by Thomas Strom

Mmmmm! Opossum au Rotten is served just before Avian Idol comes on!

February 12, 2006: Get Real!

In February, Biscayne National Park took on reality television! We had some excellent Apprentice Rangers, and found out all about adaptations in a game of Survival. The Amusing Race took participants on a whirlwind tour of outlying park areas, and Food Factor provided a closeup look at some of the disgusting things animals eat. And who can forget Robin Jackson, Paula Wannacracker and Simon Crow judging bird songs in Avian Idol? Despite dreadful cold, this event is destined to become a Family Fun Fest classic!

Photos by Thomas Strom

Kids recreate a cormorant mating ritual and learn about geology.

March 12, 2006:
Extraordinary Ordinary

Mosquitoes. Mahogany. Limestone. Participants took a closer look at some of the ordinary things they see every day, and learned that perhaps they aren't so ordinary after all.

Photos by Thomas Strom.

Planting native wildflowers and building a birdhouse with Park Volunteer Kevin Fake.

April 9, 2006: Naturescape!

Landscaping is SOOOOO last century! Naturescaping is where it’s at! Our five activity stations in April helped participants get started on turning their homes into Florida friendly havens for wildlife. The day included birdhouse building workshops with the Cutler Ridge Home Depot store, and the first-ever Family Fun Fest Service Learning Project to create a butterfly sanctuary at the Dante Fascell Visitor Center!

Photos by Thomas Strom

Learning to rig a fishing pole and to communicate underwater.

May 14, 2006: Get Out!

Most of Biscayne National Park is covered by water, so exploring it means you need some special skills. Family Fun Fest families learned all about how to paddle a canoe, camp without leaving a trace, catch (and release!) a fish, talk underwater and spot wildlife as they got a taste for some of the many forms of outdoor recreation the park has to offer. Special thanks to the Youth Fishing Foundation and Seasigns, Inc. for their help with this event.