Camp News
Two New Exotic Snakes for FCC's Nature Program
January 2nd, 2012
Two beautiful, exotic snakes were donated to Falling Creek by The Wilds, a camp near Brevard, NC. They had used the snakes as part of their Nature Program, but decided that they were too much trouble to keep during the off-season.
A Ball Python, perhaps the gentlest of all exotic snakes!Most problems with keeping tropical snakes involve the feeding and overall enclosure temperature. Unlike our native species that don’t eat between fall and late spring, boas and pythons feed year-round. And as they become larger, they need food that is expensive and sometimes hard to locate.
Normally, our Nature Program restricts itself to critters who are native to the NC mountains. Since Steve Longenecker does many school and Scout programs during the school year, he accepted these snakes to use in those roles and will let them become part of our 2012 program at FCC.
This is 'Hercules', a Columbian Red-Tailed Boa.These two seem to not only eat readily, but have gentle personalities and accept handling quite nicely. They are welcomed as important facets of Falling Creek’s Nature Program and could well-become “camper favorites” by the time summer’s over!
Steve knows, from his many years doing snake programs, that one of the most important aspects of those programs is giving the audience a chance to touch/hold non-venomous examples. He knows that doing that is often a huge breakthrough for “snake haters,” and often permits them to have an entirely-different attitude towards one of the most misunderstood animals on Earth.
If you’d like to keep up with SFL and the snakes and raptors, you can visit his website.
0 CommentsSFL Programs for 2011
May 12th, 2011
Steve Longenecker, SFL, is often referred to as, “a program unto himself.” He has been a staff member at Falling Creek for decades and has been involved with summer camping, rock climbing, and nature education for most of his life.
He cares for the birds of prey year-round, and shares his knowledge with schools and scout groups. Steve’s life’s work revolves around providing campers the opportunity to experience and appreciate all that the natural world has to offer.
Below is some information about the programs SFL will be involved in this summer.
WEMA for 2011 by SFL
“Wilderness Emergency Medical Aid Book for Kids & Their Adults” book coverFalling Creek Camp, over its 30+ years of operation, has had very few true medical emergencies. Active Prevention has been the key, mostly because the place is grounded in being alert to what could possibly happen during an active summer and has gone to great care to be sure that everyone there is trained, at an appropriate level, for emergencies.
I’ve taught some form of WEMA (Wilderness Emergency Medical Aid) in various camps, for more than thirty years. Selfishly, I take lots of trips and want someone around just in case I’m the one who needs help!
“WEMA for Kids” book coverThe “WEMA” Program, exclusive to Falling Creek, is something that a boy can choose for part of his day. WEMAs occur often during the June and Main sessions. After completing the seminar, they’ll receive signed copies of the two WEMA books I’ve written, plus a wallet card. Even more-importantly, they will have been instructed in what to do if a family member, friend, or even a stranger should need help in a medical emergency.
I try to make my course as dramatic, entertaining and personal as possible and have added information over the years which I consider critical in the lives of a person who wants to be helpful to his fellow human.
The two WEMA books already-mentioned are outdated, even though they’ve only been out for a few years. At Falling Creek for 2011 I want to add several important topics that are not part of either book:
- Using a cell phone to call “911”. Land lines are easier to use for that purpose, but cells are what’s being utilized now.
- Hands-Only CPR. While a smaller person may not be able actually compress the chest at the required speed/depth necessary to make a difference, he can find a nearby adult and instruct him/her in the correct procedure. The camp has several practice manikins to use for teaching.
- Securing/using an AED. Again, a child will want to find an adult and “talk” them through the procedure, but they need to know where to find an AED and their importance. Falling Creek has both a live one and a “teaching” AED.
- Being aware of the signs/symptoms of a possible heart attack (MI) for both men and women, then contacting 911 immediately.
- Similarly, Recognizing signs/symptoms of a stroke (CVA), then taking immediate action.
Falconers of Falling Creek Camp (FCC) for 2011
To the best of my knowledge, Falling Creek Camp is the only camp in the country with a resident raptor program. Falcons, hawks and owls live in special enclosures, built to meet U.S. Fish and Wildlife specifications, and are a vital part of the camp’s overall Nature Program.
Campers will be involved with the feeding, care and training of the birds more than during the past years. While some of the raptors will be old friends to the boys, there will be number who are new to us and will require lots of time/patience on our part to be integrated into the FFCC program.
New Peregrine Falcon, “Sage”“Sage”, for instance, is a retired hunting bird who was formerly-used as what’s called a “runway bird” and whose role was to scare geese, ducks and other flocking birds away from the runways of a busy airport in Indiana.
New Broad-Winged Hawk (No name yet)We have a young male Broad-Winged Hawk from the panhandle of Florida who is missing an eye after being hit by a car last year. Since he has no “official” name as yet, the boys attending June Camp will have the thrill of giving the bird a permanent name!
Two other new birds may arrive at Falling Creek while Camp is in-session this summer. One is a female kestrel from California who is in what the rehabber out there calls “Mouse School”. If the bird can successfully kill prey, it will be released. Otherwise, we’ll have her to feed and keep. The other bird is “Rodney, the Red-Tail” a male Red-Tailed Hawk who has a injured wing and can’t be released back into the woods. He’s undergoing training in Pennsylvania right now and should arrive during either June or Main Session.
Reptilian Residents for the 2011 Nature Program
“Steve”, Bearded Dragon (Found next to a dumpster)While certainly these won’t be the only critters at the Nature Hut this summer, I wanted you to know about two new ones, a snake and a lizard who were placed in my care after the 2010 camp season was over.
“Steve” is a Bearded Dragon, an exotic and expensive lizard pet, native to Australia. Someone left him and his cage by a dumpster in Asheville, NC and I was called to rescue him before cold weather killed the little guy.
Rosie the Corn SnakeThis beautiful female Corn Snake is “Rosie”, given to me by a Boy Scout who’s now in his last year of high school and too busy with other things to give her the care she needs. “Rosie” was born in captivity and is a great eater. Unlike most local snakes, she eats throughout the year, which is probably why she’s so large now.
Three Black Rat Snakes from last summerThese three Black Rat Snakes were caught and trained by boys at Falling Creek last year and have remained with me as Educational Critters as I do programs for Scout and school groups during the off-season.
Kenny the Timber Rattler is an endangered species.“Big Kenny” is a large Timber Rattlesnake, given to me by a camp owner at a nearby camp after I took care of the snake when he had a bad gash in his side. He’s a wonderful, gentle creature, though fully-charged and potentially quite dangerous. He’s used at Falling Creek for educational programs and otherwise kept in a locked cage.
Five Copperheads (Great story goes with them!)Copperheads are common in our mountains and look very much like the non-venomous Banded Water Snakes that live near our two lakes. Since copperheads are often seen at Camp, it’s important for the boys to recognize the species, then find an adult to re-locate the snake to an isolated location.
0 CommentsRosie the Corn Snake
November 1st, 2010
When I was invited to present a Snake Program to a Boy Scout troop here in Asheville, last month, I was offered a wonderful opportunity to care for a Corn Snake by one of the boys preparing for his Eagle Scout ranking.
The boy has had “Rosie” since she was a young Corn Snake, but now found himself occupied with AP courses in his junior year, also music, sports and a myriad of other distractions that occur in high school.
Photo by SFL of RosieI agreed to take Rosie, care for her until he’s ready to have her back in his life, and make her available as “Head Snake” at the Falling Creek Nature Center. Since she hasn’t been handled much this school year, she’s still a bit shy. I’m holding her at least twice a day, trying to remind her that people are okay critters!
By the time camp starts next June, Rosie should be cuddly once more. Remember, DON’T touch any furry creatures before holding Rosie. She’s a big, strong lady and might mistake you for a rabbit! (And yes, she’s big-enough to eat a rabbit!)
By the way, the garter snake, water snake, black rat snakes, rattlesnakes and copperheads I kept after camp was over are all healthy and preparing for hibernation during the next few months. I use them for a number of educational program during the off-season.
We’ll all see you next summer, down at Nature!
Steve Longenecker (sfl)
0 CommentsSFL Celebrity Chef
February 27th, 2010
The Lump Guy
Earlier in February, Steve Longenecker (a.k.a. SFL) was asked to visit Diamond Brand Outdoors, a local camping, kayaking, climbing and outdoor gear store, for an evening promotional program to be their “Celebrity Chef”.
Here he is, cooking-away and wearing a tie-dyed apron made for him by Mel Ringler, the head of Blacksmithing at Falling Creek. Note the FFC beanie, too!
Read more about SFL, Mel, and our other summer staff on our 2010 staff page.
Download the original recipe for what he cooked that evening, “Longenecker Lumps”, just as “SFL” has done for twenty-five years or so at Falling Creek!
SFL also teaches his WEMA medical program to hundreds of campers and school groups every year.
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