The Alligator Farm resumed business May 4, among the first North Florida attractions to reopen after COVID-19 pandemic restrictions were lifted.
For many parents facing a summer with limited educational options and ever-shrinking homes, the St. Augustine zoo may feel like the light at the end of the tunnel.
While the Alligator Farm isn’t doing shows due to keeping a 25% occupancy, the zoo is rolling out a fresh menu of alligator attractions and educational opportunities fitting with current CDC guidelines and health standards.
When Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a statewide stay-at-home order in mid-March, many facilities like zoos have struggled to keep their animals fed under limited staff and income.
“One week seemed like three,” said Trevor Mia, Curator of Education at the Alligator Farm Zoological Park. “We only kept animal care staff. It was a busy couple of months while everyone was at home, we were here at the facility ensuring the animal care never changed.”
Now that restrictions have been lifted, the park is eager to resume activities, like its zip line over the zoo and the new rock-climbing wall, as well as welcoming Wood Storks whose breeding season has just introduced a multitude of chicks who are peaking out of their nests.
The farm is one of the few places still hosting a summer camp, where children can spend the day at the zoo creating crafts, playing games, viewing animal presentations and shows, trekking through the zoo and talking with keepers. Camp educators guide groups of no larger than 10 students for each counselor from first-through-sixth grade.
“We have separate places where we close our campers,” Mia said. “We can rotate them through the spaces while appropriately social distancing. We are pretty lucky to be able to host a reduced camp size this summer while still being able to offer all the same kind of fun that our camp usually has but in a safe format.”
Mia said campers can expect a lot of animal experiences and a “new nature show” coupled with exploring the outdoors and activities throughout the entire day.
“We really utilize a lot of nature play,” Mia said.
Additionally, for those unable to tour the facility, the Alligator Farm now offers virtual fieldtrips on their social media and YouTube channels that provide educational material similar to its St. John’s County field trips hosted during the school year.
Mia’s advice to parents and guests wanting to visit the park is to consider a weekday or call ahead to ensure they can enter as they are enforcing a 25% occupancy throughout the foreseeable future.
To learn more about the Alligator Farms camps, hours of operation and attractions, visit www.alligatorfarm.com.
