Adventures in the Charlotte Harbor Watershed
A Story of Four Animals and Their Neighborhoods
Learn about the environment of southwest Florida through the adventures of four animals: a yellow-crowned night-heron on the Caloosahatchee River, an alligator on the Peace River, an otter on the Myakka River and a mullet in the estuaries. The Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program (CHNEP) created this 60-page book to help children better understand the natural environment of southwest Florida.
PDF files of the 2010 edition (English)
PDF files of the Spanish edition:
Adventuras en la Cuenca de Charlotte Harbor: Un Relato de Curatro Animales y Sus Alrededores
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Teacher Curriculum (new)
Illustrations used in the book are available for creative uses.
Coloring sheets based on artwork.
(These pages are not all 8.5x11" so be sure to use your' printers "fit to page" command.)
We have several other items under development, including curriculum, activities for children, a hyperlinked map and more.
CHNEP is pleased to provide the Adventures in the Charlotte Harbor Watershed children's book to approximately 18,000 school children during each of three school years (2007-8, 2008-9 and 2009-10). All seven school districts -- Lee, Charlotte, Sarasota, Manatee, Polk, Hardee and DeSoto counties -- that participate in the CHNEP give the books either to their third or fifth grade students (their choice).
The CHNEP would like to also make the book available free of charge to private schools and home school associations. For more information on this, please contact Maran Hilgendorf (mhilgendorf@swfrpc.org, 866/835-5785 ext 240).
This book was made possible because of the support provided by several financial partners and the talents and generosity of the author, illustrator, designer, contributors and reviewers. See the Acknowledgements page of the book for a complete list of those who helped make this book a reality. Thanks also to the Jelks Family Foundation for their generous support of this project.
"Writing this book was an honor in so many ways. I am honored to have written the words that will explain the mission of the Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program to one of its most important groups -- children. As we hear so often, our children are our future, so I value this opportunity to tell them about the Estuary which I know and love.
I am also honored to have worked with my daughter Rachel, who illustrated this book. Born and raised in the Peace River valley, she was twelve years old when she wrote a poem about Peace River which won a prize in a contest sponsored -- in part -- by CHNEP. Her experiences of exploring and enjoying the natural world imbue her drawings with a special quality that seems to appeal to everyone--children and adults.
Writing this book was also a challenge--to research and to imagine. The more I learned about the Charlotte Harbor Estuary--through reading, talking, and observing -- the more I appreciated it and wanted to share it with others. I am grateful to everyone who helped me along the way, both experts and others that I met in person, on the telephone, and through the Internet."
Carol Mahler, Author
"The Adventures in the Charlotte Harbor Watershed is an excellent storybook for schoolchildren to gain insight from wildlife's perspective on living. Facts about industry and human history affecting southwest Florida's watersheds are weaved through the stories of four animals and their neighborhoods in an effective manner. The colorful illustrations throughout the book help children connect to the images brought to mind throughout the stories."
Mary Margaret Hull, Youth Education Coordinator Southwest Florida Water Management District
Please send comments, reviews and questions to mhilgendorf@swfrpc.org. If you wish to suggest changes to the book, please send them by email by December 1. Thank you.
This website provides other resources to help make all who live, work and plan in the region better stewards of the precious natural resources found here. Please check out the grants offered and the Curious Kids Nature Club website that was developed in partnership with WGCU Public Media. The CHNEP is developing a guide of parks an other places to learn more about the environment, a directory of environmental events and other resources.
CHNEP is a partnership program that works to protect the natural environment
of southwest Florida from Venice to Bonita Springs to Winter Haven.