Science Sprouts
2023-01-21 09:00 - 10:00, 2023-01-28 09:00 - 10:00, 2023-02-04 09:00 - 10:00, 2023-02-11 09:00 - 10:00, 2023-02-18 09:00 - 10:00, 2023-02-25 09:00 - 10:00, 2023-03-04 09:00 - 10:00, 2023-03-11 09:00 - 10:00 (America/New_York) and 6 more dates | Bishop Museum of Science ﻿and Nature, 201 10th St. West, Bradenton, FL, 34205, United States
Budding scientists ages 2-5 can bring their favorite grown-up to explore and discover a variety of science and nature topics in the Mosaic Backyard Universe. The program sparks kids’ natural curiosity using imaginative play, crafts, stories, songs and more! Please note: This program does not include Museum admission.

On Saturday, June 4, explore “In the Deep Ocean”
On Saturday, June 11, explore “Swirly Whirly Snails”
On Saturday, June 18, explore “Manatee Mischief”
On Saturday, June 25, explore “Busy Buzzin’ Bees”
When/Where: 9-10am every Saturday in the Mosaic Backyard Universe
Cost: $12 per child for members of the Discovery Society; $15 per child for all others. (Includes one adult per child.)
Advance reservations required. Attendance limited to 12 children.

Register now
The Bishop follows the CDC’s COVID-19 Community Levels guidelines. Please visit www.CDC.gov to see the current Manatee County Community Level before visiting. Masks must be worn indoors when Community Levels are high.

PARENTS' NIGHT OUT: CRAZY INSECTS OF THE PRESERVE
2023-01-27 18:00 - 22:00 | Boyd Hill Nature Preserve Classroom, 1101 COUNTRY CLUB WY S, St. Petersburg, FL, 33705, United States
Parents enjoy a night out while the kids get to participate in a night all about bugs! Drop off your kids for an evening of bug activities, crafts, bug tasting, and a short moth night hike! A pizza dinner is included.
Age at least 6 yrs but less than 12y
>>> REGISTER HERE <<<

Photography Hike
2023-02-02 09:00 - 11:00 | Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center, 1800 Weedon Drive NE, St. Petersburg, FL, United States
Walk the boardwalks and natural paths of Weedon Island, capturing photographs of native flora and fauna along the way.

Grab your camera of choice and enjoy a guided tour of the trails at the Weedon Island Preserve! This hike has been timed to coincide with a low tide at the Preserve so participants will have the best chance for viewing wading birds and other wildlife that come to forage on the tidal flats at this time.
Attendees will meet inside the Cultural and Natural History Center for a brief introduction to highlight the seasonal features of the Preserve, as well as specific wildlife behaviors, that will help participants capture the natural beauty of the area. This hike is roughly 1.5 miles in total length on a combination of boardwalks and unimproved, natural paths. This program is is best suited for adults.
>>> REGISTER HERE <<<
Proceeds will support the Friends of Weedon Island, a non-profit organization that works to promote education and conservation of the Weedon Island Preserve. Learn about our Friends!

Tot Time
2023-02-03 10:30 - 11:30, 2023-03-03 10:30 - 11:30, 2023-04-07 10:30 - 11:30 | Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center, 1800 Weedon Drive NE, St. Petersburg, FL, United States
Families with little ones can enjoy nature-themed stories and crafts at the Weedon Island Preserve.

Every first and third Friday of each month, families of pre-school aged children are invited to explore the wonders of the natural world at the Weedon Island Preserve. Families will be treated to rhymes, stories, and crafts that connect them to our environment. Activities are intended for youth aged 3-5.
This program will take place inside the Cultural and Natural History Center unless otherwise specified. Youth must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the program.
Proceeds will support the Friends of Weedon Island, a non-profit organization that work to promotes education and conservation of the Weedon Island Preserve.
>>> REGISTER HERE <<<

Planetarium Day
2023-02-04 11:00 - 15:00 | Brooker Creek Environmental Education Center, 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs, FL, 34688, United States
The East Lake Community Library and the Brooker Creek Preserve are teaming up to bring MOSI’s Star Lab to the Preserve!
The Museum of Science and Industry’s portable planetarium will re-create the night sky complete with stars, galaxies and constellations! Attendees will learn how to interpret the night sky and listen to stories about the stars with MOSI staff. For ages 5 and up.
We are offering one show each hour from 11:00AM to 3:00PM in the auditorium. Each show will last about 45 minutes in length. Space is limited, and registration is required. Choose your time slot from the ticket options. Shows will begin promptly at their start times. Please arrive on time as we cannot accommodate attendees if they are late. If you reserve a ticket and can no longer attend please cancel your ticket ASAP so that others may have a chance to enjoy the show.
Important Additional Notes: It takes about 10 minutes to drive from the preserve entrance (Keystone Rd.) to the parking lot, and there is a 3-5 minute walk from the parking lot to the Education Center buildings. This event will be held in our auditorium. Portions of our boardwalk are closed for reconstruction. Please follow any signage highlighting closed portions of the boardwalk and follow detours.
>>> REGISTER HERE <<<

HUKYU BONSAI SOCIETY MEETING
2023-02-11 10:00 - 12:00 | Moccasin Lake Environmental Education Center, 2750 Park Trail Lane, Clearwater, FL, United States
Learn the art and techniques of Bonsai.
www.facebook.com/hukyubonsaisociety.

Trying Out Tillandsias: A “Make and Take” Workshop
2023-02-25 10:00 - 11:30 | Manatee County Agriculture and Extension Office, 1303 17th St W, Palmetto, FL, 34221, United States
Learn about these amazing epiphytes that only require air and water to live!
Learn about these lovely epiphytes that only require air and water to live. This is a “make and take” workshop where you will create a palm boot planter using Tillandsia airplants. Bring wire cutters and pliers. $35 advance payment for materials due by February 7. Limited to 20 participants.
>>> REGISTER HERE <<<
An Equal Opportunity Institution. The University of Florida is committed to providing universal access to all of our events. For disability accommodations such as sign language interpreters and listening devices, please contact our office at (941) 722-4524 at least 1 week in advance. Advance notice is necessary to arrange for some accessibility needs.

FARM DAY
2023-03-25 10:00 - 14:00 | Pinellas Pioneer Settlement, 3130 31st Street South, St. Petersburg, FL, 33712, United States
Join us for a petting zoo, hayride, blacksmith demonstration, and tons of fun activities! Participants will have the chance to churn their own butter, make tons of cool crafts, eat homemade pancakes, drink freshly made lemonade, and visit our plant sale.

Cost: Free* | All ages welcome
*Cash required to purchase tickets for some activities.

Wild About Nature Festival
2023-04-01 11:00 - 16:00 | Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast, 400 Palmetto Avenue, Osprey, FL, 34229-0902, United States
Join us for a day of fun and outdoor adventure at the Wild About Nature Festival on Saturday, April 1, 2023 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Reconnect with the great outdoors and help foster a love of nature in the next generation as you spend a day in the sun on the beautiful shores of Little Sarasota Bay at Bay Preserve. Families of all ages are encouraged to take part in this fun-filled day of nature-based education and exploration. The wide variety of activities include dip-netting, face painting, hula-hoop lessons, crafts, games, and SO MUCH MORE!
There will be live music and food trucks making this a guaranteed good time! Don’t miss out – mark your calendars TODAY!
This is a FREE family festival open to all. Registration is not required.

Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival
2023-04-07 10:00 - 17:00 | FL
After a hugely successful post-pandemic return to Clearwater Beach in Spring 2022, the Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival returns to bright and beautiful Clearwater Beach April 7 to 23, 2023! From architectural masterpieces created from Clearwater’s famous sugar sand to concerts, performers and daily entertainment, the Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival Presented by Visit St. Pete Clearwater is an annual event attracting visitors from around the world. The festival returns to Clearwater Beach for its ninth and biggest year yet with the theme “Decades: A Blast from the Past!”
Due to the overwhelming success of previous Sugar Sand Festival events and the Easter holiday, this year’s festival will again stretch for 17 days which allows people more time to attend, to space out attendees and gives those visiting for Easter a chance to see this incredible and affordable festival.
General admission to the sculpture exhibit will be $14 per person and free for children 3 years old and younger. Discounted tickets for military personnel, police officers, firefighters, teachers and healthcare workers can be purchased for $10 each on “Frontline Fridays,” which are April 7, 14 and 21. These discounted tickets will be available at the gate only with proper identification. All other tickets can be purchased online at SugarSandFestival.com beginning in December 2022.
Each year, the Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival continues to grow in popularity and garner national attention. The 2022 event drew more than 200,000 visitors throughout its 17-day run. On Aug. 30, the festival received a 2022 Flagler Silver Award by Visit Florida in the category of Sustainable Tourism Marketing, in addition to numerous other awards. The festival continues to attract visitors from around the world.
About the Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival
Fourteen world-class artists craft elaborate sand sculptures from Clearwater’s internationally famous sugar sand. The works of art are on display in a 21,000-square-foot structure. More than 1,000 tons of Clearwater sand takes on a new life, bringing visitors on a “sandtastic” adventure. The festival is a joint effort between Sunsets at Pier 60 Daily Festival, a 501(c)3 organization and the city of Clearwater.

SPRING FESTIVAL
2023-04-08 10:00 - 15:00 | Pinellas Pioneer Settlement, 3130 31st Street South, St. Petersburg, FL, 33712, United States
Celebrate spring by decorating pots and planting seeds! Learn how to grow your own spring garden. There will be gardening demonstrations, an Easter egg hunt for children of all ages, Easter egg dyeing, and fresh flowers to bring home!
Cost: FREE* | All ages welcome!
*Cash required to purchase tickets for some activities.

ADULT EASTER EGG HUNT
2023-04-08 19:30 - 21:30 | Pinellas Pioneer Settlement, 3130 31st Street South, St. Petersburg, FL, 33712, United States
Being an adult doesn’t mean you can’t participate in the annual easter egg hunt tradition. In fact, it can be even more fun as a grownup! Join Boyd Hill Nature Preserve in an evening of easter egg hunting in the dark. A number of cool prizes will be offered such as passes to the preserve’s walking trails, gift baskets, and vouchers to local St. Petersburg shops and restaurants!
Register online and guarantee your spot.
Ages 18 and up
CLICK HERE to purchase your ticket.

Recycle Your Yard & Recycled Yard Art
2023-04-11 10:30 - 12:30 | UF/IFAS Extension, Hillsborough County, 5339 County Road 579, Seffner, FL, 33584, United States
This fun and educational workshop will showcase what and how you can reduce, reuse, recycle and repeat!
This workshop is for Hillsborough County residents/employees only.
This fun and educational workshop will showcase what and how you can reduce, reuse, recycle and repeat! This includes plants and other items in your landscape and home. If you have a good sense of humor, love to reuse items in your home and landscape, want to become more creative, and enjoy seeing artistic yard treasures, this workshop is for you!
There will be several drawings for various pieces of recycled yard art during this workshop. If you are signed on to the Zoom workshop, your household’s name will be placed in a compost bucket and names will be drawn during the presentation to determine winners. Each winner will be announced after their name is selected. **Product pick-up will be at our office by scheduling an appointment with our Receptionist on/after April 14 at 813-744-5519. Pick up must be made within 30 days of the workshop – NO exceptions.
>>> REGISTER HERE <<<
NOTE: There is a non-refundable $5.00 registration fee per household for this workshop. Please be advised, if you or someone in your household has already attended this workshop or if you reside outside of Hillsborough County, you are not eligible to attend and your registration fee will not be refunded, nor is it transferrable to another party or workshop.
This workshop will be offered online via ZOOM. No additional software is required and only basic computer skills are necessary.
**Registrants will receive an emailed Zoom link to access the Webinar the day before the program. *If you do not receive the Zoom link, please check your Spam folder for an email from Angie Maki (makia@hillsboroughcounty.org). If no link is received, please contact Angie at 813-744-5519 Ext. 54127 for assistance.
Closed captioned for the hearing impaired.
The University of Florida is committed to providing universal access to all of our events. For disability accommodations such as sign language interpreters and listening devices, please contact Lynn Barber, barberl@hillsboroughcounty.org or 813-744-5519 ext. 54105 at least 1 week in advance. Advance notice is necessary to arrange for some accessibility needs.
For questions contact: Lynn Barber, 813-744-5519 ext. 54105
The University of Florida is an equal opportunity institution.

Intro to Beekeeping
2023-04-16 10:00 - 12:00 | Brooker Creek Environmental Education Center, 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs, FL, 34688, United States
Introduction to Beekeeping:
A Hobby with Sweet Rewards
Learn the Basics of Apiculture!
This program is an introduction to honey bees and will introduce you to the basics of honey bees, their biology and the guiding principles of beekeeping.
Instructor: Robert Burkard, President of the Friends of Brooker Creek Preserve’s Beekeepers Club
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, and there is a 2-5 minute walk from the parking lot to the auditorium. Follow signs to the auditorium.
In addition to the personal satisfaction of harvesting your own pure natural honey, many of our food staples would disappear without honey bees for pollination. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, these under-appreciated workers pollinate 80 percent of our flowering crops, which constitute one-third of everything we eat. Honey bees are important for pollinating familiar crops such as oranges, grapefruit, apples, almonds, blueberries, pumpkins, asparagus, and cucumbers, and also contribute to our beef and dairy industries by pollinating alfalfa. Hobbyist beekeepers play a vital role in keeping our honey bee population healthy.
>>> REGISTER HERE <<<
