“DING” DARLING DAYS
NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE WEEK
Sanibel Island, Florida
October 19-26, 2008
Events at a Glance TENTATIVE (SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE)
(EC= “Ding” Darling Education Center)
**DAILY Special discounted tours and programs through Tarpon Bay Explorers-Official Refuge Concessionaire-Monday Oct. 20 - Saturday Oct. 25** 239/472-8900 for questions
8:30-11:00 am
Kayak Trail Tour, Tarpon Bay Explorers
25% off - $22.50/Adult $15/Child
Reservations required: 239-472-8900
10:30 am- 12:30 pm
Kayak Trail Tour, Tarpon Bay Explorers
25% off - $22.50/Adult $15/Child
Reservations required: 239-472-8900
11am- 12:30 pm
Nature & Sealife Cruise, Tarpon Bay Explorers
25% off - $15/Adult $9/Child
Reservations required: 239-472-8900
12:30 pm Deck Talks
Monday: Dolphins, Tuesday: Sea Turtles, Wednesday: Manatees, Thursday: Sharks, Friday: Calusa Indians
1- 2:30 pm
Nature & Sealife Cruise, Tarpon Bay Explorers
25% off - $15/Adult $9/Child
Reservations required:239-472-8900
5pm-7pm
Evening Nature & Sealife Cruise, Tarpon Bay Explorers
25% off - $18.75/Adult $11.25/Child
Reservations required: 239-472-8900
5pm-7pm (No tour Saturday)
Sunset Paddle, Tarpon Bay Explorers
25% off - $25/Adult $18.75/Child
Reservations required: 239-472-8900
Programs and Tours offered at the Refuge
Sunday, Oct. 19
9:30-11am
Refuge Birding Tour Caravan, meet at EC flagpole
Fee: $5 Refuge admission
Monday, Oct. 20
9:30-11am
Refuge Birding Tour Caravan, meet at EC flagpole
Fee: $5 Refuge admission
10-11:30am
Refuge Bike Tour, meet at EC flagpole
Fee: $1 Refuge admission
Tuesday, Oct. 21
9:30am
Refuge Birding Tour Caravan, meet at EC flagpole
Fee: $5 Refuge admission
12pm-3pm
FREE Bunche Beach Birding Tram, meet at EC flagpole
Limited number of reservations call: 239-472-8900
7pm
Sanibel School presents Wild Day play at the Sanibel School
7:30pm
Teddy Roosevelt historical program at the Sanibel School. First 100 children will receive
a ticket to pick up their Free Refuge Explorer Pack at the end of the program.
Wednesday, Oct. 22 Teddy Roosevelt Day! A celebration of our 3 National Wildlife Refuges Turning 100! Pine Island NWR September 15, 1908, Matlacha Pass NWR Sept 26, 1908, Island Bay NWR Oct 23, 1908
8:30-9:30am-Captiva Cruises (Captiva Island)
"Roosevelt" Channel Cruise - Cruise from McCarthy's Marina along the bay waters of
Captiva Island. Narration on board will include discussion of our barrier island fisheries, the conservation island of Buck Key, and "Ding" Darling's historic "fish house" and writing studio. Coffee and muffins will be served.
Make your reservation: Captiva Crusies 239-472-5300
Fee: Adult $25 (20% discount) Children: $15 (20% discount)
9:30-11am
Refuge Birding Tour Caravan, meet at EC flagpole
Fee: $5 Refuge admission
1pm-4pm
FREE Bunche Beach Birding Tram, meet at EC flagpole
Limited number of reservations call: 239-472-8900
11am-12pm A Birthday Celebration- Cake too!
Come meet and hear President Teddy Roosevelt, Joe Wiegand, speak about our 3 National Wildlife Refuges he signed into office. Fun for the whole family!
Have a refuge specialist lead you on a virtual tour of the 3 refuges,learn how they are managed, and their importance to our wildlife. Help us celebrate the 100th birthday with a piece of cake! (Sponsered by Bailey's)
Thursday, Oct. 23
11am
Black and Brown Faces in Wild Places
Dudley Edmondson, Wildlife Photographer
Dunbar High School
Closed to the Public
9:30-11am
Refuge Birding Tour Caravan, meet at EC flagpole
Fee: $5 Refuge admission
1pm
CROW Presentation
Come hear a vet from CROW speak about their organization and patients.
Friday, Oct. 24
7:30am-6:30pm
Wildlife Drive is OPEN to hikers/bikers & Special Tram Tours ONLY
8:30-9:30am-Captiva Cruises (Captiva Island)
"Roosevelt" Channel Cruise - Cruise from McCarthy's Marina along the bay waters of
Captiva Island. Narration on board will include discussion of our barrier island fisheries, the conservation island of Buck Key, and "Ding" Darling's historic "fish house" and writing studio. Coffee and muffins will be served.
Make your reservation: Captiva Crusies 239-472-5300
Fee: Adult $25 (20% discount) Children: $15 (20% discount)
10am
FREE Refuge Bike Tour, meet at EC flagpole
10am, 11am & 4pm
Special Friday Refuge Tram Tour (Wildlife Drive is closed to all other
vehicular traffic that day)
$13 for adults, $8 for children
Reservations required: 239-472-1351
10:30 am
“Ding” Darling Wildlife Society Photo Contest Awards Ceremony with Dudley Emondson
11am
Black and Brown Faces in Wild Places
Dudley Edmondson, Wildlife Photographer
Presentation in Education Center
Everyone welcome!
12:30-3:30pm
Youth Photography Workshop with Dudley Edmondson
Sanibel School and Cypress Middle School
Closed to the Public
5-7:15pm-Captiva Cruises (Captiva Island)
Pine Island National Wildlife Refuge Sunset Cruise. Departing McCarthy's Marina aboard the "Playtime" (passenger capacity 48). Cruise around the many islands that make-up the Pine Island National Wildlife Refuge while hearing narration of the refuge, estuary and barrier island ecology. The tour will conclude with the sunset at Redfish Pass.
Make your reservation: Captiva Cruises 239-472-5300
Fee: Adult $40 (25% discount) Children $20 (25% discount)
Saturday, Oct. 25
Youth Fishing Event
at Tarpon Bay Explorers
25 Children from Brightest Horizons
Closed to the Public
9:30-11am
Refuge Birding Tour Caravan, meet at EC flagpole
Fee: $5 Refuge admission
Sunday, Oct. 26 FAMILY FUN DAY 11am- 4pm
All events at “Ding” Darling Education Center
WILDLIFE DRIVE FREE!
11:30pm
LIVE Fabulous Florida Reptiles, Calusa Herp Society, tent in parking lot
12:30pm
2007-2008 Federal Duck Stamp Artist’s Talk & Stamp Signing with Joe Hautman, Education Center
1pm
Conservation Cartoon Contest Presentation, Education Center
2pm
LIVE Bald Eagle Presentation by Audubon Eagle Watch, tent in parking lot
3pm
LIVE Exotic Reptiles, Keep them out of the Wild! Calusa Herp Society, tent in parking lot
Continuous throughout the day
- FREE shuttle service from old IWA parking lot, courtesy of DDWS
- FREE Butterfly House, courtesy of Periwinkle Place Shops
- FREE MOTE aquarium and touch tank
- FREE hands-on children’s activities,
- FREE naturalist-narrated tram tours through the Refuge, courtesy of Tarpon Bay Explorers
- FREE hot dogs and soda, courtesy of Jerry’s Foods of Sanibel
- FREE environmental displays and informational booths
