The Ways of Water Hike
2023-06-01 09:30 - 10:30 (America/New_York) | Brooker Creek Environmental Education Center, 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs, FL, 34688, United States
Water is an important feature at Brooker Creek Preserve .
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 <<<

Landscaping for Hurricane Season
2023-06-01 10:30 - 12:00 | UF/IFAS Manatee County Extension, 1303 17th Street West, Palmetto, FL, 34221, United States
Learn how to prepare your lawn & garden for hurricane season!
As we approach hurricane season, we can take steps to prepare our landscapes for challenges related to flooding, high winds, sudden temperature changes and the slow appearance of stress damage over time. We will discuss lawn and landscape considerations as well as tree and palm pruning.
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 Katie Granberg, katiebg@ufl.edu, (941) 722-4524 x 1815 at least 1 week in advance. Advance notice is necessary to arrange for some accessibility needs.
>>> REGISTER HERE <<<

Composting Workshop
2023-06-03 08:30 - 09:30 | UF/IFAS Extension, Hillsborough County, 5339 County Road 579, Seffner, FL, 33584, United States
Learn how to put your everyday food waste and organic materials to work for you! Hillsborough County and City of Tampa residents/employees will receive a compost bin, compost bucket and thermometer after attending the workshop. (Limit 1 per household and the representative of the household must be an adult.) Please arrive 15 minutes before the program starts.
>>> IN PERSON REGISTRATION <<<
>>> WEBINAR REGISTRATION <<<
NOTE: Pick-up of workshop items/giveaways for on-site attendees will be on the date of the workshop or by rescheduling with the workshop presenter. All items must be picked up within 30 days of the date of the workshop. No exceptions.
***PLEASE NOTE: There is a non-refundable $5.00 registration fee per household for this workshop. Please be advised, if our records indicate that you or another member of your household attended this workshop in the past, you will not be eligible to attend and your registration fee will not be refunded, is non- transferrable, and may not be credited toward a future workshop.***
Attending a workshop on behalf of another person is not permitted.

Archaeology Walk & Talk
2023-06-03 09:00 - 11:00 | Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center, 1800 Weedon Drive NE, St. Petersburg, FL, United States
Join us for a guided tour of the Weedon Island Preserve with a focus on its archaeological history.
Enjoy a guided hike at the Weedon Island Preserve and learn about the the peoples that inhabited this area thousands of years ago. The hike guide will also share information about the ongoing archaeological research being done to better understand these past cultures.
This hike is recommended for adults and youth ages 12+. Youth must be supervised by an adult for the full duration of the program.
Attendees will meet inside the Cultural and Natural History Center for a short introduction before departing for the trails. The hike will be two miles in length and will traverse uneven terrain so participants must be able to manage these conditions. Afterwards, attendees will return to the Center to complete an evaluation of the hike and explore the museum’s exhibits.
>>> REGISTER HERE <<<

Microirrigation Workshop
2023-06-03 09:30 - 11:00 | UF/IFAS Extension, Hillsborough County, 5339 County Road 579, Seffner, FL, 33584, United States
Learn how to save water watering your garden.
Learn how you can have healthy and attractive landscape beds while conserving water. This irrigation method not only conserves water, but is not limited by current water restrictions as is traditional in-ground irrigation. Hillsborough County and City of Tampa residents/employees will receive a microirrigation kit after attending the workshop. (Limit 1 kit per household and the representative of the household must be an adult.)
>>> IN PERSON REGISTRATION <<<
>>> WEBINAR REGISTRATION <<<
NOTE: Pick-up of workshop items/giveaways for on-site attendees will be on the date of the workshop or by rescheduling with the workshop presenter. All items must be picked up within 30 days of the date of the workshop. No exceptions.
PLEASE 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.
Attending a workshop on behalf of another person is not permitted.

Rainwater Harvesting Workshop
2023-06-03 11:00 - 12:00 | UF/IFAS Extension, Hillsborough County, 5339 County Road 579, Seffner, FL, 33584, United States
Learn how to collect rainwater for ornamental plant irrigation while reducing erosion and stormwater runoff, and the use of non-potable water for irrigation. Hillsborough County and City of Tampa residents/employees will receive one 45-55 gallon plastic food-grade barrel after attending the workshop. (1 per household and the representative of the household must be an adult.).
>>> IN PERSON REGISTRATION <<<
>>> WEBINAR REGISTRATION <<<
NOTE: Pick-up of workshop items/giveaways for on-site attendees will be on the date of the workshop or by rescheduling with the workshop presenter. All items must be picked up within 30 days of the date of the workshop. No exceptions.
PLEASE 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 or at your address 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.
Attending a workshop on behalf of another person is not permitted.

Friends of Brooker Creek Preserve Reader's Club
2023-06-03 14:00 - 15:00 | Brooker Creek Environmental Education Center, 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs, FL, 34688, United States
The Friends of Brooker Creek Preserve Reader’s Club is back!
This club is for a group of readers interested in discussing books, articles, or other pieces about nature and our environment. All readers welcome!
June’s Selection: Hoot by Carl Hiaasen
Please note that registration is required due to a limited amount of seats. Please meet in the Conference Room inside the Visitors Center. *Note that books will not be provided for you.
>>> RESERVE A SPOT <<<

Summer Service Program
2023-06-07 08:00 - 11:00 | Tampa Bay Watch Marine Center, 3000 Pinellas Bayway S., Tierra Verde, FL, 33715, United States
Tampa Bay Watch is offering high school students an opportunity to earn community service hours this summer. The program is scheduled to take place on Wednesday mornings 9 AM – 12 PM from June 7 – July 19 at our facility in Tierra Verde with a maximum of fifteen volunteers per project. The minimum age to participate is 15 years old. Examples of projects include assisting with native plantings, oyster shell recycling, cleaning fishing line, and coastal cleanups.
Interested students should email rarndt@tampabaywatch.org with a cell phone number and the dates they’d like to participate.

Hiking with Heroes
2023-06-09 09:00 - 11:00 | Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center, 1800 Weedon Drive NE, St. Petersburg, FL, United States
In honor of Memorial Day, join fellow members of the veteran community as we explore the mangrove and upland ecosystems of Weedon Island on this guided hike of the Preserve. Learn about the coastal environment, native wildlife, and early history of the island.
The hike may be to 3 miles in total length and will be on a combination of boardwalks, paved, or natural trails.
This tour is for military veterans and family members ages 10 and up. Veterans are requested to wear clothing or a hat indicating their military service branch. Youth must be supervised by an adult for the full duration of the program.
>>> REGISTER HERE <<<

Live Birds at the Library!
2023-06-09 12:00 - 13:00 | St. Pete Beach Public Library, 365 73rd Avenue, St. Pete Beach, FL, 33706, United States
Join us at the library for an educational program about our native wildlife featuring our avian ambassadors!

Saturday Guided Hike
2023-06-10 09:00 - 11:00, 2023-06-17 09:00 - 11:00, 2023-06-24 09:00 - 11:00 | Brooker Creek Environmental Education Center, 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs, FL, 34688, United States
Join us for a guided tour of the trails and boardwalks of the Weedon Island Preserve.

Explore the mangrove and upland ecosystems of Weedon Island on this guided hike of the Preserve. Learn about the coastal environment, native wildlife, and early history of the island. This tour is for adults and youth ages 10 and up. Youth must be supervised by an adult for the full duration of the program.
Attendees will meet inside the Cultural and Natural History Center for a short introduction before departing for the trails. The total hike length may be up to two miles. This hike may traverse uneven, natural paths or boardwalks so please prepare accordingly. Afterwards, attendees will return to the Center to complete an evaluation of the hike and explore the museum’s exhibits.
>>> REGISTER HERE <<<
Proceeds from this program go to the Friends of Weedon Island. The Friends support the Weedon Island Preserve through education, preservation and protection of its habitats, ecology, and cultural history. Become a Friend today!

Managing Our Underwater World in Tampa Bay
2023-06-10 10:00 - 11:00 | Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center, 1800 Weedon Drive NE, St. Petersburg, FL, United States
Learn about the interesting coastal resources in our backyard Tampa Bay, and how the Tampa Bay Aquatic Preserves program, in partnership with the community, is working to restore & protect them.
The Tampa Bay Aquatic Preserves (TBAP), managed by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection, highlight the best of what our state has to offer: open water, inlet bays, tidally influenced creeks and rivers, oyster reefs, seagrass beds, salt marshes and mangrove forests. These habitats are vital to Florida’s iconic wildlife such as manatees, dolphins, fishes, oysters, and an abundance of wading, nesting and migratory birds. Although not widely known, TBAP even has a variety of corals in its hard-bottom areas.
This program will feature Dr. Randy Runnels of the Tampa Bay Aquatic Preserves Program. Dr. Runnels earned his PhD in Oceanography from Texas A&M University. His 30+ year career has taken him from the temperate Northern Gulf of Mexico to the Florida Keys. In recent years he has been invited to China and Vietnam as a coastal management adviser on a number of issues. He has managed Tampa Bay’s aquatic preserves for over two decades, and continues to teach college courses in Biology, Marine Science and Environmental Science.
This program is recommended for adults and youth ages 12+. Youth should be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the program.
>>> REGISTER HERE <<<

Native Trees: A Major Keystone to Life
2023-06-10 10:00 - 23:30 | UF/IFAS Extension, Pinellas County, 12520 Ulmerton Road, Largo
Do you know what keystone plant species are and what role they play? Did you know that just a few native keystone plant species support most moths and butterfly larva, and the largest group of keystone plant species are categorized as trees?
Join our special guest speaker Zack Pitchford, owner of Wilcox Nursery as he presents the importance of native trees in our landscapes and how homeowners and commercial property owners can strategically implement keystone trees into their landscapes. We will dissect the who, what, when, where and how of keystone trees so that you know how to incorporate more trees into your landscape big or small! Zack will also bring some native trees for show and tell.
Register Here

Wild Birds Unlimited Trinity
2023-06-10 11:00 - 13:00 | Raptor Center of Tampa Bay, 11018 Scott Loop, Riverview, FL, 33569, United States
Come meet the birds and the Magical Bird Bus Artist Terry Klaaren.
This is a fund raiser for the center. Any monies donated today will be going towards the bus We are in the process of refurbishing the bus.

Animal Evidence Camp
2023-06-12 08:00 - 17:00, 2023-06-13 08:00 - 17:00, 2023-06-14 08:00 - 17:00, 2023-06-15 08:00 - 17:00, 2023-06-16 08:00 - 17:00 | Boyd Hill Nature Preserve Classroom, 1101 COUNTRY CLUB WY S, St. Petersburg, FL, 33705, United States
Natalie Lloyd will lead campers as they learn how to identify bones, tracks, and scat through daily hikes in the preserve.
Ages: 7 yrs – 12 yrs
>>> REGISTER HERE <<<

DIY Sunscreen
2023-06-18 10:00 - 11:00 | Boyd Hill Nature Preserve Classroom, 1101 COUNTRY CLUB WY S, St. Petersburg, FL, 33705, United States
Sunscreen can help to prevent the damaging effects of sun overexposure. Make your own sunscreen to take home using coconut oil and aloe vera.
Ages 13 yrs and up
>>> REGISTER HERE <<<

Composting with Worms
2023-06-23 10:00 - 12:00 | UF/IFAS Manatee County Extension, 1303 17th Street West, Palmetto, FL, 34221, United States
Find out how to use red wiggler worms to turn your food scraps other waste into compost! Worm bins for sale after the class!
Now you can compost even if you live in an apartment, condo or mobile home! Worm bins are easily maintained indoors with no mess or smell.
Workshop is $5 but after the class you’ll have an opportunity to purchase a worm composter for the special discount rate of $69.00 plus tax. (Cash or check only.)
>>> REGISTER HERE <<<

Florida Youth Naturalist Exploration Week
2023-06-26 09:00 - 15:00, 2023-06-27 09:00 - 15:00, 2023-06-28 09:00 - 15:00, 2023-06-29 09:00 - 15:00, 2023-06-30 09:00 - 15:00 | Brooker Creek Environmental Education Center, 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs, FL, 34688, United States
A week-long exploration through Florida’s ecosystems for young naturalists ages 10 to 13!

Calling all young naturalists! The Florida Youth Naturalist Program is for young nature enthusiasts interested in learning more about Florida’s environment. Inspired by the Florida Master Naturalist program, this youth program takes kids aged 10 to 13 on a journey through Florida’s ecosystems, from the uplands, through freshwater, and to the coast.
This week-long exploration through Florida’s ecosystems will be taught by Brooker Creek Preserve staff, Pinellas County & State Park Rangers, and volunteers, as a part of Pinellas County 4-H.

Open to anyone ages 10-13 (you do not have to be a 4-H member)
Cost is $100 for non 4-H members, $75 for 4-H members – nonrefundable
Participants must bring a bag lunch, snacks, and a drink each day. We have a water filling station so reusable water bottles are highly encouraged.
Closed toed shoes are required.
Must wear appropriate outdoor clothing. Please also bring a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and bug spray for days we will be hiking outside (a detailed schedule will be provided prior to the event).
No before and after care available

Locations:

Monday, June 26 to Thursday, June 29 from 9AM to 3PM daily: Brooker Creek Environmental Education Center Classroom
Friday, June 30 from 9AM to 3PM: Honeymoon Island State Park (more details will be sent about this day)
Parent/guardian must drop off and pick up children from daily locations.

Registration:
This is a 2-part registration process. After registering on Eventbrite, your confirmation email will include instructions on how to complete registration and additional paperwork via 4-H online.
>>> REGISTER HERE <<<
Important notes about the event:

A minimum of 15 youth must be registered to hold this event, full refunds will be issued if we do not meet our minimum requirement by June 1st.
Parents/guardians must sign youth in and out daily.
Make sure to bring a bag lunch, snacks & drink for your child!
Closed toed shoes are required.
Long pants are highly recommended for hiking.
Contact Julia Myers at jmyers@pinellascounty.org with any questions.

Cicadas: Florida’s Heat Bugs
2023-06-30 10:00 - 11:00 | Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center, 1800 Weedon Drive NE, St. Petersburg, FL, United States
Discover the life, habits, songs, and fun facts about these widespread (& loud) insects.
Discover the life, habits, songs and fun facts about these widespread (& loud) insects. If weather permits, we will also go outside to try to listen for them!
This program will take place inside the auditorium of the Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center, but will also go outside briefly to observe wild insects. This program is recommended for adults and youth ages 8 and up.
>>> REGISTER HERE <<<

Landscaping Tips for the Rainy Season
2023-06-30 11:30 - 12:30 | ZOOM, United States
The rainy season is upon us and our landscapes have to adjust from dry to wet weather. Join us to learn how to keep your landscape and the environment healthy during the rainy season. We will present easy water conservation practices, such as sprinkler system check-ups, the use of microirrigation and how to reduce runoff from your landscape by incorporating rain gardens and collecting rainwater. Rain barrels will be available at a discounted price for workshop participants residing in Pinellas County.
Register Here
