Friday, March 5, 2010

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Fun in the sun By Raquel Pinder ~ Guardian Intern: I remember when rain was perhaps the only thing that kept us indoors, but now rain or shine it's a rare sight to see children in the streets playing good ole' fashioned games. The sound of laughter as the neighborhood children gathered together is practically non-existent. And if you listen closely enough you could probably hear the sounds emanating from the various television sets as children have now taken to whiling away the time playing video games. But for those parents who want to get their children to reconnect with nature, in clean and safe environments there are avenues out there, from a petting zoo, to a place where they can ride a horse, to a place where they can hike green trails or even take to the water to swim with dolphins. There are avenues out there for parents that want to get their children back to nature. Petting Zoo at Noah's Ark As children learn of the story of Noah's Ark in Sunday School, parents can bring scenes from the story to life at the Petting Zoo at Noah's Ark on Malcolm Road which houses miniature ponies, geese, ducks, llamas, parrots, turtles, sheep, goats, rabbits, pigs and chickens. Noah's Ark also offers pony rides, and an educational show, and tour of the animals, which has been specifically tailored to suit each grade level. While children can exercise audible skills they also use cognitive skills by touching and seeing. The farm has nearly 40 species of different animals and allows the participants to pet and feed them. The petting zoo also has lots of other activities to keep your children enthralled. They are equipped with a full play center outfitted with the latest in recreational equipment — monkey bars, rings, sandbox, seesaw, swings, jungle gym, mazes, and a trapeze. The farm also boasts of a water slide that is an absolute joy for the kids. Open to the public for approximately four years, farm proprietor Herbert Glinton says everyday seems like the first day for him when excited and sometimes terrified children run through the gates. No matter how they come through the gates, Glinton says when they leave the children are all smiles. Entrance fee into the Farm is $4 for children and $5 for adults. If you have errands to run on a Saturday and need somewhere safe to leave your children $20 can purchase five hours of freedom from your children who get to stay at the farm from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. which includes access to the entire grounds, a pony ride, inclusive of a light lunch. They also offer an after school program, from 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. for a cost of $15 with the option of homework assistance. Horseback Riding at Bahamas Association for Social Health (BASH) Horseback riding, something most kids just see on television is actually something they can do right here at home at Bahamas Association for Social Health's (BASH) Earth Village which is located in Chippingham. They are equipped with several horses, inclusive of a pony named Snowball for your children's riding pleasure. With an entryway adorned with colorful wooden structures, encompassing picnic tables and chairs, surrounding stables filled with horses, and lush green native vegetation, Earth Village is an outdoor sportsman's paradise. With some of its buildings outfitted with thatch-palm roofing, amidst a backdrop of 162 acres of riding trails, it's a true rural utopia. Wesley Finlayson, marketing director at he center, says your kids will also be delighted to find animals in residence on the acreage like goats, turtles, rabbits, ducks, guinea pigs, and a few dogs. While there I met horses Zeus, Espresso, Martini and the ever-popular children's pony Snowball. There is hiking, biking, and horse back-riding and if you're really daring perhaps camping. At a mere cost of $75 you can ride a horse for an hour and thirty minutes through the nature trails. To view the same trail by bike ride would cost a mere $10. A nature walk with a tour guide cost $3 for kids and $4 for adults. Your kids can also observe the block-making plant to see how concrete blocks are made. Rieyon Johnson, 3, who was on his first visit to Earth Village recently was at first horrified, when upon arrival Zeus the horse neighed at him. His fright was short-lived though. As he watched other children including a birthday boy — Joell Coakley, 9, mounting Snowball the pony for their rides, Rieyon was then more than eager to have his moment. With the help of Marlon Johnson (the horse keeper), little Johnson could be heard saying, "wee-wee" as Snowball slowly trotted along. If you decide to take your kiddies to experience horseback, Johnson says you should wear cool, comfortable clothing and shoes. Outdoors Adventures at Adventure Learning Centre When you first walk into the large wooden gates, the palette of colors that greet you leaves you awe-struck from the moment you walk in — never mind it seems like you could just scurry along for miles without running into anything but the green of nature. With trails that are immaculately kept, yet visibly marked out with pea rocks, trees that are well manicured, white-washed picket fences, and a bridge running over a quiet creek, Adventure Learning Centre (ALC) is an oasis of nature that feeds the natural man and puts him at peace. ALC opened its doors September 1993, and was initially intended to be a missions outreach program, today, it's a cleaver blend of reaching children through the gospel as well as feeding their social needs by reconnecting with nature. To keep your kids engaged while there, ALC is outfitted with a media center, a planetarium, super slide tower, challenge course, nature trail, outdoor pavilion, nature center, petting gazebo, and an animal farm. Your child is certain to have a fun but educational experience. From horseback riding to puppet shows, each at ALC a is meant to be interactive. In the planetarium children and adults can learn about the sun, the Solar System and the Constellations. As for the nature trail, there is an adventure train that takes you through such an exploration. The view can be likened to an Eden experience and allows one to envision earth, as God must have intended. Spanning over three acres of land, 19 acres of adjourning wetlands and 10 acres of camping facility ALC is set to host summer retreats and overnight camping. Harnessing creativity and imagination, this learning center is committed to feeding the whole man and they have the staff to cover every area yet more importantly in the mind of a child, make the whole experience enjoyable. Ericka Farquharson, 36, recently took her kids Renee, 11, Rodney Jr., 8, and Zion, 5, to get the ALC experience. She described it as an excellent learning experience, and for her education is important. "Anytime I see an ALC advertisement hoisted on the roundabout, you can be assured I'm packing the kids up and we're off to see what's new," she said. Admission to ALC varies, depending on your group size and the nature of your visit. Swim with the dolphins at Dolphin Encounters Dolphin Encounters located on the world famous Blue Lagoon Island is committed to giving adults and kids alike an encounter with a friendly, fully trained dolphin in an experience that can be educational and recreational. Dolphin Encounters is just a 20-minute high speed catamaran boat ride away from the Paradise Island Bridge, and is home to dolphins, sea lions, fish, crab, lobsters, and other sea creatures, all housed in an educational display for your learning and viewing pleasure. Dolphin Encounters has experienced staff who can personalize your visit. If you fancy an indoor show, or maybe you are a "water baby" and love to frolic in the turquoise waters, either way your request is suited to your needs. Non-swimmers don't need to be concerned either, because they are fully outfitted in a lifejacket, as well as there are lifeguards on duty to ensure the safety of the little ones. But, each encounter is staged in shallow waters. While at Dolphin encounters your child can meet celebrity sea lions — Andre, Slappy and Stinkers who have appeared in many commercials and advertisements. Not to mention they can boast that they visited the site where the movie Flipper was filmed. Kiddies also have a chance to get a photo and meet the marinal animals up close and personal. Dolphin Encounters is also in the business of hosting children's birthday parties. They offer three separate packages — Sea Lab Splash Party, Dolphin Adventure Deluxe Party or a Sea Camp Super Party. In any event it's loads of wet and wild, yet educational good times and a photo of it all for your memories. Once you've had your fill of sea creatures, you are allowed to take full advantage of the island's beaching facilities and beach activates. Hubert Pinder, 33, took his daughter Jadia, 8, for an adventure, and when it was time to leave, he says she cried. "I literally had to lift her away. She was trying to hug the dolphin like she does her dolls," which he says the staff got a chuckle out of. The Dolphin Encounters experience can be for children ages six to 12 once accompanied by a participating adult. A swim with the Dolphins will cost you $185 for 3-1/ 2 hours of fun including briefing guidelines. A Dolphin Encounter is $98, A Sea Lion Encounter is $80 per person or you can be a program observer for $25 per person which covers the natural history of dolphins, animal training techniques, ocean conservation and watchable wildlife guidelines. Boats leave the Paradise Island dock: 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. daily. Telephone Dolphin Encounters for more information. Friday February 05, 2010