Fun Facts on Jamaica

The Swallow-tail Humming Bird (Doctor Bird) ~ The "Doctor Bird" lives only in Jamaica and is one of the most outstanding of all the species of Humming Birds.  The feathers of the Doctor are beautifully iridescent, a characteristic peculiar to this family.

The Jamaican Boa  (Yellow Snake) ~ The nature walk is just one of the activities that the Kids Club has to offer.  During nature walk you might come across some of the plants and animals featured in our news letters.  Some will be more common than others.  The Jamaican Boa or "Yellow Snake" is black and yellow in coloration.  Due to the destruction of its habitat (the densely forested interior of the island) and attacks by predators like the mongoose, the Yellow Snake is almost extinct.  The Yellow snake is protected under the Wild Life Protection Act and other international laws.  The Boa has always been considered rare, and by virtue of its secretive and largely nocturnal habits it is a non-attraction on our nature walks. But should you see one, don't worry - it is not poisonous. Indeed any snake you might see in Jamaica is non-poisonous.

Tryall Waterwheel ~ The Tryall Waterwheel is located at the 7th Tee on the Tryall golf course.  The ruins of the waterwheel date back to 1834 and was used to manufacture sugar in the 18th Century when Tryall was a sugar plantation.  It was later restored in 1957.  The waterwheel is still operational today as it is turned by the water supplied via the aqueduct which comes from approximately 2-1/2 miles up the Flint River.  Today, it is visited by many school children from the surrounding communities as a tool to aid them in understanding the history of our great nation and life on a plantation.  The Tryall waterwheel is only one of a few remaining structures that is protected by the Jamaica Heritage Trust which devotes all their efforts to the preservation of Jamaican history and culture.

Jungle Fort ~ One of the main attractions to the Tryall Kids Club is our Jungle Fort.  It is located on the hill just off the 8th fairway on the golf course.  Many of the kids who have visited the club have commented on what a great place it is to visit and observe a variety of birds and animals that make their homes in the surrounding trees.  The Fort is constructed of bamboo and has a thatched roof made from local palm trees.  Kids have a great time catching geckos by the Fort area or just hanging out during their time at Kids Club.

Lunchtime Fun Time:  Mission Impossible ~ Come along kids, join us for a game of mission impossible during lunchtime fun time.  In this game each person starts out seated in individual chairs.  Everyone is then sent on little missions to get something or do something and then return as quickly as possible.  As the game goes on, chairs are taken away one by one until only one person is left with a chair who would be the winner.  Thank you for playing.

Arts & Crafts:  Tie Dye ~ Arts & Crafts are very popular at the Kids Club.  Some of the items that are made in Kids Club include:  leather necklaces, paper craft items, kites, stuff toys, tie & dye T-shirts and portraits by Claudius to name a few.  Tie dye is done by folding the T-shirts and tying the shirt with rubber bands in order to make the required design on the shirt.  Then they are dipped into the different color dyes to make the patterns found on the shirt.  After this process is completed the rubber bands are cut and the shirts are left to dry.  Shirts are available for sale at the Kids Club for US$5.00.