Shark! <i>Family Fun Fest</i>

Date: January 3, 2007
Contact: Gary Bremen, 305-230-1144, x3084

Movies and cartoons have often made sharks the bad guys, but these sleek predators are actually very sensitive. Biscayne National Park’s staff has put together an exciting lineup of activities looking at these ancient animals to kick off the seventh season of its award-winning Family Fun Fest series. The free event takes place on Sunday, January 14, 2007 at the park's Dante Fascell Visitor Center from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Stations located around the visitor center provide a variety of interactive and hands-on activities, including:

• Blind Spot — See the world like a hammerhead as you maneuver through an obstacle course.
• Tag! You’re It! — Join researchers from the South Florida Student Shark Program to learn how and why sharks are tagged.
• Hey Buddy! — Make your own remora to ride on your bicycle or car.
• Sharks in Jeopardy — Play America’s favorite TV game while learning about some of the problems sharks face in today’s world.
• It All Makes Sense — Test your own skills using some of the shark’s very special senses.

Participants will receive a paper passport to be punched at each station as they complete the activities. Those who complete all five activities will earn a special button to help remember the day. Family Fun Fest takes place on the second Sunday of every month from January through May. April’s event will take place on April 15 (the third Sunday) to avoid a conflict with Easter. The series is made possible through a grant from the Captain Bob Lewis Boat Center Yamaha Billfish Challenge. Additional support this month comes from the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve, The South Florida Student Shark Program, South Broward High School’s Marine Magnet Program, Neil4sharks.org, and a host of volunteers.

Future events include:

• This Land is Our Land — February 11
  Learn about some of Biscayne’s sister parks in the National Park System.
• The Rainbow Connection — March 11
  Think Biscayne’s all blue? Don’t forget orange sponges, yellow fish and purple snails!
• Disco Lives! — April 15
  (Third Sunday - this month only!)
  What do Biscayne National Park and disco music have in common? Lots!
• POP: Predators on Patrol — May 13
  Everybody’s gotta eat, and that means somebody else has to get eaten!

The Dante Fascell Visitor Center is located at 9700 SW 328 Street, nine miles east of Homestead, Florida. Call 305-230-7275, extension 0 for more information.