Fort Caroline

Caroline is really into this Junior Ranger program at the National Parks.  I found out that we had one right here in Jacksonville at the Timucuan Preserve.  The preserve has different areas to show how life was for early European Settlers, Native Americans, and slaves.  It turns out to be a really huge park.  We just hit the Fort Caroline, or Fort de la Caroline as it was called back then, area which showed the interaction between the French and the native Timucuan tribe.  Of course it is summertime in Florida.  I thought if we left early enough we would be ok.  However, early in the mornings there is no breeze to cool us off.  It was a hot, steamy, buggy morning, but we still had fun. 

Here are the kids heading down on a short hike to the Fort.

The Fort is a reproduction, as the Spanish destroyed it when conquering the first French settlement in the New World.

Kevin did most of his picture poses with weird arms.  He thought the cannons were cool, and told me he had one just like it in his Lego set.

The kids went out to explore the relatively small fort.  It overlooks the St. John's River.  We even saw dolphins swimming below!

Kevin also thought the moat was cool.  He has a castle Lego book, which he has Tom, Caroline or myself read to him every night.  The Lego castle also has a moat, if you were wondering.  (On a side note, he has heard this book so many times, that this morning he said the next line before Caroline did.  Caroline came running to me to tell me that Kevin was doing so good and learning to read.  I explained that Kevin really just has it memorized at this point.  Anyway...)  We didn't venture all the way to the river on the outside of the fort.  I am just so terrified of alligators.  I think this is going to really hold us back from enjoying a lot of things to do in Florida.

The settlers kept their ovens outside the fort to keep the fires away from the gun powder.  Caroline asked me if I would like to cook in an oven like this.  My response was, "I don't like cooking in the oven we have at home, why would I want to cook in one outside where it is already hot, not to mention where there is a hot fire involved!"

While we were finishing up our Junior Ranger paperwork at the Timucuan house, a Ranger brought a group of kids through for a talk.  We stayed to listen and learn.  The kids especially liked the story of how the Native Americans drank massive amounts of a certain tea that they drank to cleanse their soul.  They drank so much of it that they threw up afterward.  Perfect story to get my kids interested!

The kids went into the little house and Caroline decided it wasn't for her.  There were holes in the roof and she wouldn't want to sleep on dirt.  Me either!

Then back to the Visitor Center to get our badges.  The ranger was really nice and checked their work.  Caroline was surprised that she didn't have to take the oath though.  I don't think they get a lot of Junior Rangers at this National Park.

And now Kevin's turn.  He did all of the work himself.  He even wrote "Salt Marsh", the answer to the question on the type of ecosystem that is in the Timucuan Preserve.  I was really proud of him.  He wore his badge the rest of the day.

We decided to hit one more area of the park.  This is where Jean Ribault first decided to set up the settlement.  He put up a monument (this is a reproduction) to stake his claim.

Now time for a picnic...or what was to be our short lived picnic.  We brought lunch and set up to eat.  It was hot and really buggy.  We were being eaten alive!  When Caroline killed a bug that had landed on her leg, it was super bloody and gutsy.  She was done.  Our bug spray clearly wasn't working.  We took our lunch to go.  The kids ate it on the way home. 

There were a lot of good looking hiking trails.  We'll be back when it isn't so hot and buggy, but we'll still bring some extra strength bug spray next time!