Professional Interpreters - Environment, History, Culture

Cellphone camera + binoculars = great zoom!
This is a great trick i use to help guests get better pictures. It allows them to have a closer picture without disturbing wildlife. This red tailed hawk was way out of range. And the zoom on the iPhone made is grainy. But a quick line up of my iPhone lens to the binocular and there ya go! Trends of amateur wildlife photography by visitors has really increased in my parks. So any chance they can take pictures in our park, the better their experience has been! Good pictures will often lead to social media posting and tagging. Good photos often lead to positive feedback. So anything we can do to tangibly to create an opportunity for this while being mindful of wildlife, it’s a win!

So I had something REALLY small that I wanted to show. But it was hard to get these baby whelk snail shells to cooperate. So I used a Petri dish and some 2 sided tape. Worked out pretty good! Note: michaels craft store sells Petri dishes in the fall with their Halloween collection. So after the 31st, I check out the clearance items and scored super cheap Petri dishes!

Another way to use the dollar store container for display. I like to put a label inside as well. It works out better than just the outside. This works out so well for those really small items like these shells. Then when I’m done, I just put the lids on and store it. I just need to put 3-5 factual statements about each one somewhere. Or I’ll create a fact sheet when we inventory the collection (if I am ever done).

Dollar store has some great smaller storage containers. I use white duct tape and a sharpie to label. The lids are very secure. Definitely a great find! I cleared out our local dollar tree!

I have this really great snappy turtle shell (carapace only, no plastron) that was brought in a few weeks ago. The scutes always fall off so I am determined to seal this one while they are still on. Some were peeling so I applied some mod with a thin paint brush. I use the sponge applicator for all over. I love Mod Podge. It’s my go-to for all my shells and bones. What do you use? I’ll share a picture of the finished product tomorrow!