Helping Local Cavity Nesters in Pinellas
2022-05-17 12:00 - 13:30 (America/New_York) | Online Event
Some birds use nest boxes (aka bird houses) while others build nests on branches or in the grass. Before installing a birdhouse, you should learn about which species might be looking for some new real estate. In this program, you will learn about “cavity-nesters,” the category of bird most likely to move into a birdhouse. You will also learn about their real estate preferences and how to choose a good spot for a birdhouse.
>>> WEBINAR REGISTRATION

Rain Barrels for the Rainy Days of Summer
2022-06-16 10:30 - 12:30 | Online Event
Learn the proper way to use rain barrels!

Learn the safe and proper ways to use rain barrels to collect water from your roof gutters to help mitigate stormwater runoff and reduce potable water usage in your landscape by watering your plants with it!
After the Zoom webinar you will have an opportunity to make an appointment to purchase your own rain barrel and bag of some of the parts you’ll need to install it for $30 plus tax.
>>> WEBINAR REGISTRATION

Saving Water- Youth Program
2022-07-22 10:00 - 11:00 | Brooker Creek Environmental Education Center, 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs, FL, 34688, United States
Why and How Can I Make a Difference?

Living in Florida you are never too young to learn about water conservation!

Did you know that not only we are surrounded by water in Florida, but we live on top of it too? Join Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Educator, Melissa West as we explore the water cycle, how to reduce pollution, and what you can do to protect our most precious resource, WATER!
This youth program is geared toward ages 7 to 12. Registration is required. Space is limited and this program will cap at 20 participants. Please register just your child (children).
Additional Notes: This program will be held in our auditorium. It takes about 10 minutes to drive from the preserve entrance (Keystone Rd.) to the parking lot. We will start promptly at 10am.
>>> REGISTER HERE

Beekeeping Basics Workshop
2022-08-23 09:00 - 12:00 | UF/IFAS Extension, Hillsborough County, 5339 County Road 579, Seffner, FL, 33584, United States
Learn about honeybee biology, caring for your colonies, types of hives & more!

What’s all the buzz about?
UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County is hosting the Beekeeping Basics Workshop! This workshop is for aspiring and beginning beekeepers. Join us to learn about honeybee biology, caring for your colonies, types of hives, and more!
This workshop will be held in person in the Conference Center at our office, UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County, 5339 County Road 579, Seffner, FL 33584. Masks are recommended but not required.
The $15 registration fee includes morning refreshments and educational materials.
>>> REGISTER HERE

Saving Water- (Youth Program)
2022-09-30 10:00 - 11:00 | Brooker Creek Environmental Education Center, 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs, FL, 34688, United States
Saving Water
Why and How Can I Make a Difference?

Living in Florida you are never too young to learn about water conservation!

Did you know that not only we are surrounded by water in Florida, but we live on top of it too? Join Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Educator, Melissa West as we explore the water cycle, how to reduce pollution, and what you can do to protect our most precious resource, WATER!
This youth program is geared toward ages 7 to 12. Registration is required. Space is limited and this program will cap at 20 participants. Please register just your child (children).
Additional Notes: This program will be held in our auditorium. It takes about 10 minutes to drive from the preserve entrance (Keystone Rd.) to the parking lot. We will start promptly at 10am.
>>> REGISTER HERE

Oyster Reef Ball Construction
2022-10-04 09:00 - 12:00 | Tampa Bay Watch Marine & Education Center, 3000 Pinellas Bayway South, Tierra Verde, FL, 33715, United States
Join us at the Tampa Bay Watch Marine Education Center, 3000 Pinellas Bayway South in Tierra Verde to help build oyster reef balls!
This task involves pouring marine-friendly concrete into a fiberglass mold to create oyster reef balls, then taking apart the molds when dry. The reef balls will be installed at a future date to stabilize shorelines and prevent erosion while creating habitat similar to natural oyster communities found along shoreline areas throughout Tampa Bay.
Click here to visit our webpage to learn more about reef balls.
Click here to register to volunteer!

Tap to Tide Water School
2022-10-05 09:00 - 15:00 | Riverhouse Waterfront Restaurant, 995 Riverside Drive, Palmetto, FL, 34221, United States
Tap to Tide Water School topics explore water quality and conservation concerns.

Join UF/IFAS Manatee County Extension for an in depth look at emerging water issues in our region. We will provide expert presentations and deep dives into the topics during facilitated discussions. This program is intended for local policymakers but all interested are welcome to register.
Please bring your own reusable water bottles, sunscreen, hat, etc. for the boat tour portion of Water School.
Agenda:
9:00-12:30 Class session (coffee provided)
12:30 Lunch
1:15-3:00 Field Trip, boat tour

>> BUY TICKETS

29th Annual Fishing Line Island Cleanup
2022-10-15 07:00 - 19:00 | FL
Join Tampa Bay Watch and Audubon Florida for the 29th Annual Fishing Line Island Cleanup.
The goal is to remove hazardous monofilament line from mangrove shorelines. Monofilament or “mono,” is a fancy word for the commonly used plastic fishing line. It has great fishing utility, but can take over 600 years to break down and poses serious threats to birds and other wildlife. Improperly discarded mono and fishing gear leads to wildlife entanglement, accidental hooks, and ingestion.
This will be a self-led event, where participants will travel out to their designated location by personal boat/other watercraft any day between October 15-23 to target shorelines where cast line has been caught in the tree line. Volunteers will compile the recovered monofilament, to be collected, cleaned, and recycled.
There are a variety of sites in which to participate—all critical bird nesting habitat—throughout Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Manatee.

Click here to register to volunteer for this event.

Friends of Moccasin Lake Meeting
2022-10-19 18:30 - 19:30 | Moccasin Lake Environmental Education Center, 2750 Park Trail Lane, Clearwater, FL, United States
The Friends of Moccasin Lake believe that it is imperative that one of the last truly natural green spaces in the most developed county in Florida must be protected and maintained for current and future generations to visit, learn and celebrate what “Old Florida” used to look like.
We ask that you visit our magnificent Nature Park and enjoy some birding, hiking, or just sit and enjoy the sounds of nature that few places can offer in today’s ever changing and complicated world.
The Friends of Moccasin Lake is a 501C3 nonprofit organization.

Join Us
The Friends of Moccasin Lake need your help! We are advocates of Moccasin Lake Nature Park and would like to expand our membership to include you and your special skills, talents, and support.

Home Composting
2022-10-28 11:00 - 13:00 | Manatee County Agriculture and Extension Office, 1303 17th St W, Palmetto, FL, 34221, United States
Learn how you can compost at home!

Composting has significant environmental benefits and is easier than you might think! It happens very naturally and creates a useful soil amendment for your landscape plants and vegetable gardens. Join us for an in-person class to learn more about it!
>>> REGISTER HERE

Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ for Newcomers
2022-11-09 10:00 - 12:00 | UF/IFAS Manatee County Extension, 1303 17th Street West, Palmetto, FL, 34221, United States
Learn how to landscape the Florida-Friendly way!
Tour the Educational Gardens at Extension and learn the principles of Florida Friendly Landscaping. You will see vegetable gardens, pollinator gardens, native plant areas and more while learning ways to conserve water and protect natural resources.
Please submit any special accommodation requests to katiebg@ufl.edu at least 10 days prior to event. Refund requests must be submitted at least 24 hours before event.
>>> REGISTER HERE

Saving Water- Why and How Can I Make a Difference? (Youth Program)
2022-11-18 10:00 - 11:00 | Brooker Creek Environmental Education Center, 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs, FL, 34688, United States
Living in Florida you are never too young to learn about water conservation!
>>> REGISTER HERE

The Ways of Water Hike
2022-12-03 09:00 - 10:30 | Brooker Creek Environmental Education Center, 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs, FL, 34688, United States
Water is an important feature at Brooker Creek Preserve .
Water is an important feature at Brooker Creek Preserve and on this hike you will learn the different ways we interact with water, the importance of wetlands and how you can make a difference in issues surrounding our water quality and quantity. Come and enjoy this family friendly fall walk through the woods.
>>> REGISTER HERE

Rising to the challenge of coral reef restoration
2023-01-09 18:00 - 19:30 | Mote Marine & Aquarium, 1600 Ken Thompson Pkwy, Sarasota, FL, 34236, United States
Dr. Jason Spadaro joined Mote in December 2021 as a Postdoctoral Scientist to integrate an ecosystem approach into Mote’s premier science-based Coral Reef Restoration Program. His research focuses on manipulating ecological processes to support the restoration and recovery of Florida’s Coral Reef and other coral reef ecosystems.
In this lecture, on Jan. 9, Spadaro will explain how coral reefs are in trouble, and how Mote Marine Laboratory scientists are pioneers in coral reef restoration. Mote’s team actively propagates and restores corals to degraded reef structures, while actively selecting the most resilient and robust corals with the goal of creating a strong and resilient community of restored corals.
Recently, Mote has also invested in the restoration of critical ecosystem functions, such as grazing by herbivores such as Caribbean king crabs. Led by Spadaro, Mote scientists are engaged in the aquaculture of this large crab species that consumes many of the algae that otherwise would compete with corals for space on the reef. Tying all of these intricate and complex components together is nothing short of challenging. However, Spadaro, his team, and everyone at Mote are more than up to the challenge with cutting-edge science guiding the way.
Tickets are on sale now at mote.org/lecture.

Diving Deep to explore the Gulf of Mexico Blue Holes
2023-01-16 18:00 - 19:30 | Mote Marine Laboratory, 1600 Ken Thompson Pkwy., Sarasota, FL, 34236, United States
Dr. Emily Hall joined Mote in the Chemical Ecology Program in 2005 and is involved in research and monitoring of nutrient patterns in relation to harmful algae blooms along the west coast of Florida, and investigating sources of nutrients in aquatic systems. She also leads the Ocean Acidification Program, investigating the effects of acidifying waters on the marine environment. Jim Culter joined Mote in 1979 to develop the Benthic Ecology Program, specializing in marine and estuarine ecology and environmental assessment with an emphasis on benthic habitats and invertebrate ecology.
In their lecture on Jan. 16, Hall and Culter will answer the question; What are blue holes?
Blue holes are underwater sinkholes, similar to sinkholes on land. They vary in size, shape and depth, but most are ecological hot spots. A blue hole can be an oasis in an otherwise barren seafloor. Join these Mote scientists as they take you with them on a journey and explore these beautiful and mystery-filled holes in our own Gulf of Mexico! One dive took them over 400 feet below the surface of the water!
Mote Members also receive discounted admission to the event.
Tickets are on sale now at mote.org/lecture.

Backyard Composting
2023-01-18 12:00 - 13:00 | Online Event
Composting – learn how to turn trash into treasure!
This workshop is for Hillsborough County residents/employees only.
Learn to turn trash into treasure! Hillsborough County residents/employees will receive a compost bin, compost bucket and thermometer after attending the workshop. (1 per household and the representative of the household must be an adult.)
>>> WEBINAR REGISTRATION

WHAT IS A CARBON FOOTPRINT? CARBON FOOTPRINT ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS
2023-01-21 11:00 - 14:00 | Boyd Hill Nature Preserve Classroom, 1101 COUNTRY CLUB WY S, St. Petersburg, FL, 33705, United States
Have you ever thought about reducing your carbon footprint but didn’t know where to begin? Join us for free activities demonstrating easy ways you and your family can adjust your carbon footprints.
All ages welcome!
No registration required.
