- December 7, 2025
Tinsley Russell, 3, of Ormond Beach, gets the cap off a marker before getting started on her craft during the Elementary Explorers program at the Environmental Discovery Center on Saturday, Jan. 5. Photo by Anthony Baccio
A small black bear figurine was brought to the class to show the children during the Elementary Explorers program at the Environmental Discovery Center on Saturday, Jan. 5. Photo by Anthony Baccio
Duane Price, of Ormond Beach, shows a black bear paw to the class and explains during the program on Saturday, Jan. 5, that the claws cannot be retracted like other animals. Photo by Anthony Baccio
Nora Grandon, 6, of Ormond Beach, listens and works on her craft during the Elementary Explorers program at the Environmental Discovery Center on Saturday, Jan. 5. Photo by Anthony Baccio
Sadie Steinberg, 6, of Ormond Beach, hops on one foot to look for pieces of paper representing bear food during the Elementary Explorers program at the Environmental Discovery Center on Saturday, Jan. 5. Photo by Anthony Baccio
Dalyangy Mamzamo, 4, of Daytona Beach, gets some help from volunteer Tina Piejak during the foraging exercise of the Elementary Explorers program at the Environmental Discovery Center on Saturday, Jan. 5. Photo by Anthony Bacci
Karrie Hornandog, of Daytona Beach, passes out rocks to help hold down the envelopes children use to collect their "food" during the Elementary Explorers program at the Environmental Discovery Center on Saturday, Jan. 5. Photo by Anthony Baccio
Sylvia Richards, 10, of Ormond Beach, draws her bear features on before stuffing it with cotton balls during the Elementary Explorers program at the Environmental Discovery Center on Saturday, Jan. 5. Photo by Anthony Boccio
Elementary school children learned all about black bears at the Environmental Discovery Center on Saturday, Jan. 5, via an Ormond Beach Department of Leisure Services program.
The Elementary Explorers program taught children about the bear's behavior and diet. In 2016, it was estimated that over 4,000 black bears called Florida home. The children learned how to react in the event of a bear encounter, and according to Recreation Leader Duane Price, you should avoid running, playing dead or turning your back on a bear.
The black bears diet consists of berries, acorns and honey and the occasional small animal, such as an armadillo. The children had a chance to go outside and imitate a bear foraging for food, after which they went back into the classroom to make a bear craft.
At 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 11, the Department of Leisure Services will present a similar program on bears at the EDC, this time for children 3-5 years old. Call 615-7081 for more information.
