SEBASTIAN — The Nature Nook, filled to the rafters with new and unusual gifts, has re-opened at the Environmental Learning Center after a month-long re-stocking hiatus.
Open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m., this special gift shop offers a totally new variety of nature-themed items, focusing particularly on Florida’s animals, trees, birds, shells, the beach and the sea.
Children’s and adult books are among the most popular items, along with educational toys and stuffed animals. Emphasis is placed on merchandise made from renewable and recycled materials, and made in the United States to the extent possible. Whimsical wind chimes made from recycled bottles and brightly colored doormats constructed from used flip-flops are examples of the use of recycled materials.
Head manager-buyer Pat Fava, a 12-year veteran of the Nature Nook, points out that there is a mix of things always carried in the shop such as eco-friendly coffee, insect repellents, and olive oil soaps.
Other items new this year include a line of “e-cloths,” re-usable and chemical-free cleaning cloths for any place in the house; also the terra cotta “Plant Nanny” for recycling wine bottles or plastic water bottles to keep your plants watered while you are away from home. Jewelry made from sea glass and other materials, household and kitchen items round out the choices for wonderful housewarming or hostess gifts, as well as birthday and holiday occasions.
Fava is assisted at the Nature Nook by buyer-managers Debi Donlin and Maureen Kane who stress that the shop is 100 percent volunteer-run, with all proceeds going to fund the educational programs at the ELC. The 10 percent discount always offered to ELC members is now extended also to all Indian River County teachers.
The Environmental Learning Center is located north of Vero Beach, off County Road 510, at the western end of the Wabasso Bridge. Its 64-acre campus includes exhibit areas, native plant gardens, picnic facilities, gift shop, and a visitor center. ELC membership benefits, a list of its many field excursions, Ecology Adventures, including nature walks, canoe excursions and other boating adventures may be found at www.DiscoverELC.org. Admission to the ELC, a non-profit organization, is $5 per person; there is no charge for ELC members and children 12 and under. The first Saturday of every month is free-of-charge for all.