Day 4: August 12, 2008

Young Explorers

Day 4 was another busy one for our campers. After an early rise and breakfast, they loaded up in the vans and headed to downtown Tampa and the Florida Aquarium. Once they arrived, they began preparing for a swim with the fishes! During the swim, the Young Explorers got to snuba dive in the 50,000 gallon Coral Reef tank. Snuba diving is a combination of snorkling and scuba diving, letting the diver breathe under water with an oxygen tank but only at the surface of the water. The campers had a great time looking at the 2300 fish and eels in the reef tank as we watched from below.

After drying off and changing, the campers were able to see penguins up close in a penguin show, and then it was time for lunch outside. After refueling, the campers headed out on their own for a scavenger hunt throughout the aquarium. They learned about everything from otters and swamps to seahorses and home aquarium fish. Did you know that eels open and close their mouths in order to breathe? It might make them look scary, but it is actually what keeps them alive. They had a great time exploring the Florida Aquarium and learning a lot about the world's aquatic life.

From the aquarium, the Young Explorers headed back to Mzinga Lodge to pack up for their overnight stay at Tiger Lodge. They ate dinner at the Zagora Cafe and headed over to Nairobi for a Jungle Encounter. After the encounter, they explored Jungala and then headed over to Tiger Lodge for the night where they got to sleep next to the Busch Gardens tigers!

Zooventures

Today was also a big day for Zooventures. They started the day off with a good breakfast, and then they set to work on their CCC projects. They spent the morning collecting information and participating in an internet chat. Next it was back to Mzinga Lodge to change clothes and get ready for Adventure Island.

Upon arriving at the water park, they ate lunch at Mango Joe's. Although rain threatened to ruin the fun, it only lasted a few minutes, and then it was back to fun in the water! They spent the entire afternoon riding the Calypso Coaster, Key West Rapids, and other great rides. After all the fun, it was time for dinner at the Desert Grill and then it was back to the Busch Gardens park for Summer Nights. There they experienced the thrills of the Kumba roller coaster before heading back to Mzinga Lodge for the night.