Adventure Lauren’s Birthday Party

Hi Everyone, Welcome back!

We just finished up a custom birthday party adventure session for AdventureLauren and again wanted to wish her a very happy birthday. Lauren and her brother Andrew are repeat Adventurers and I have to say I love having them along! They are full of energy and smiles and that makes trips like this extra special for me!!! Lauren brought along 4 close friends, Adventurers Natalie, Katie, Sonam and Ariane that were equally as enthusiastic and excited as the rest of us. We were joined by two of my favorite Adventurers and camp counselors AdventureLisa and AdventureSheri.

Group Photo

We hurriedly boarded my Adventure Boat the “DREAM CHASER”, a custom 26′ Island Runner and off we went to begin the days adventure. On the way out we stopped along a nearby beach to do some exploring and see what we could find. We had no sooner hopped out than AdventureLauren and the gang found some very large and uncommon Spotted Sea Hares washed up at the high tide line. We collected these and placed them in a bucket of fresh sea water to revive and moved further down the beach where we discovered some nice colonies of Nerites and hermit crabs along the rocks. We also found some nice open pods of Nicker Beans full of the gray hard shelled beans openly displayed within, like tiny eggs in thorny bird nests. A cool find. Nicker Beans are what the anti malarial drug Quinine is made from and are commonly called “lucky beans”. This is the only time of year you can these pods containing seeds.

From here we headed back to the DREAM CHASER, released the now revived Spotted Sea Hares after taking a few photos of AdventureAndrew wearing one on his head like a slimy toupee, and scout the shallow sand bar for eagle rays, manatees and maybe a passing turtle. On the way to explore the shallow grass flats by Little Munyon Island we stopped at Starfish Prairie and hurriedly collected a few for a quick photo op. and then seconds later gently released them exactly where we found them. “Starfish Head” photos are always a popular attraction for a young group of Adventurers and everyone was full of smiles!

After this we motored to Little Munyon Island and AdventureSheri organized a fun game of egg toss competitions while AdventureLisa became the staff photographer for the day. We all had an absolute ball! AdventureSheri and I won once and AdventureLauren and Andrew won another time and by the time this was over and done with we all had great big smiles on our faces and egg on our hands. It was great and non stop laughter!!! We did a little bit of Seine netting and found some nice juvenile snappers and mojaras and discovered a large bed of short-spined sea urchins in the very shallows. They came in a variety of colors and sizes and we collected a few to look at, check out their tiny tube feet and spines. We turned a few over to take a closer look at their 5 tiny mouth plates, also called  “Aristotle’s Lantern” then let them go.

By now we only had a short time left so we quickly donned our snorkel masks, took a shallow snorkel around the island and found tons more sea urchins, hermit crabs and a variety of shells. It was just great and everybody was excited to discover some new things. I took a look at my watch, realized it was time to go and we boarded the boat to head back. And as usual, nobody was ready to go, but Lauren’s mom, Lisa, had a nice birthday party awaiting back at the park and we couldn’t stall any longer.

On the way back we pulled out a dozen “giant bubble” tubes and left a trail of iridescent floating bubbles all the way back to the ramp. It was a great way to end the day and celebrate AdventureLauren’s birthday, and with all the smiles and laughter I heard and saw, I know everyone will remember this day, and especially me!!!

Sea Hare Toupee

Be back soon, Spring Camps start March 31st thru April 3rd, and April 7th thru 10th. I still have a few spaces left, but not for long, and I know I just can’t wait!!! How about you? Come join us and “LET’S GO HAVE SOME FUN!!!

See you soon,

AdventureMike

Let’s Go Have Some Fun!

Hi Everybody, Welcome back!

I just wanted to drop a quick post to everyone to say hello and let them know how excited I am about this up coming Spring Break Camp session! The first Adventure Session begins March 31st and the second on April 7th, and to say I just about can’t wait is an understatement!!! I am really looking forward to it and I know that all of us are going to have a fantastic time!!! I’m going to personally see to that!!!

For those of you who have joined me in the past, you know the kind of Fun and Excitement that’s in store. We are going to have an honest to goodness Adventure Session from start to finish. I checked out the moon phase and am happy to see that the first adventure session will occur right around the new moon. That means we are going to have higher highs and lower low tides than normal and that is just perfect!!!

At high tide the Rock Garden will be loaded with thousands of tropical fish just waiting for us to enjoy! I know the water is going to be crystal clear as usual, and I can’t wait to get in it and go exploring! How about you? Who knows what we may find, but I can guarantee one thing. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE FUN!!!

At low tide we’ll head to the Big Sandbar for a quick round of exploring and I know this time of year we will find lots of Beaded Starfish, some Cushion Sea Stars, Baby Ear Mollusks, a variety of Blue Crabs, Spider Crabs, Hermit Crabs, live Olive shells and quite a few large Mantis Shrimp.  If we are really lucky, we might even find some of those elusive and nocturnal 9 Armed Starfish, and I know just the photos I want to take with this group of Adventurers!   From here we’ll head towards the back side of Little Munyon Island and do some seine netting in the shallows and see if we can find some more of those really rare Pygmy Seahorses and some sharks teeth and fossils! Last year we had so much fun in this area! Every pull of the net was another Adventure waiting to be discovered and enjoyed. We found hundreds of juvenile reef fish and even some frogfish that are rarely seen around these parts. I never know what we may discover, but we always find something truly fascinating and worthy of our attention. I just love it when things come together like this!

In between snorkeling at the Rock Garden, swimming in the Deep Hole, exploring the Big Sandbar and seine netting behind Munyon Island, we are going to be learning cast netting and water safety, enjoying crab trapping, nature walks, eco tours and more! As if spending a day out boating isn’t enough fun all by itself, and where else and in what other camp do you get to do that? None that I know of… Lucky us!!! YIPPEE!!!

And Best of All, we will be spending a day fishing in my favorite secret spots where the action can be non stop from start to finish. AND I MEAN FROM START TO FINISH!!! Just ask AdventureCarolyn from last summer… She caught 71 snappers, grunts, pinfish, porgies, yellowtails, spot-tails and groupers, etc. all by herself!  And in just one outing of fishing!!! Had to quit cause she couldn’t reel in another fish! Everyone else caught around 50 or so each. What an unbelievable day! I’ll bet we boated and released over 350 fish in under 4 hours by 5 young adventurers. I may never have another day like that, but I can only hope!!! Maybe this will be the time…

Check out the post for July 10th, 2008. “Fishing near Peanut Island” I can promise you, they will never forget that day!!! And neither will I!!!  Making memories that can last a lifetime… That’s what I LOVE ABOUT THIS JOB!!!

For those of you who are again joining me for our Spring Camps, I can’t wait to see you!!!  For those of you who may be thinking about it, you may have to HURRY to decide… AdventureMike’s is not your “normal” Spring or Summer camp and I only have six spaces left. They won’t last long… One things certain…

It’s time to get outside and Live Life to the fullest!!!  Come join us and be a part of the Adventure!!!

LET’S GO HAVE SOME FUN!!!
AdventureMike

Record your Adventure Mike Adventure!

Every few weeks I have a budding photographer on one of my kids adventure camps. Last summer I took Adventure Drew on a custom photo safari and we got some rare video of a Striated frogfish!

Reflecting on our past adventures today I was surprised more kids don’t bring cameras along. Underwater photography isn’t a cheap hobby but I’m sure most of you don’t realize you can get a camera, prints (and digial versions) all for less than $20. What better way to remain inspired by a life changing adventure than for your kids to bring home and share their record of the trip?

Here’s how to do it! First, get a Kodak Water Sport camera at your local Walgreens or CVS store. Just look in the film section for one hanging on the shelf. They usually run about $15 and look like this in the box:

Kodak Sport in the box.

Last Minute Tip: There is a Walgreens on the southwest corner of Blue Heron Blvd. and US1 right on your way to the boat ramp.)

The only drawback to the camera is that it’s a one time use film camera so you can only take 27 photos. Be sure to remind your son or daughter to conserve their photos or you might get 27 long distance photos of a hermit crab in various poses.

It’s super easy to use. There’s one button to take a photo and a big knob to wind the film forward. Click. Wind. Repeat. Got it!

Kodak Sport Camera

After they’ve finished the roll just return the camera back to the CVS or Walgreens you bought it from and you can get the photos developed in a day for about $5. Awesome!