This or That? Trees!
2023-04-11 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | ZOOM, United States
Inspired by the “This or That? A Beginner’s Guide to Commonly Misidentified Animals and Plants in Florida”, this presentation will feature key characteristics to differentiate between the common trees found in Pinellas County. Step up your naturalist skills by participating in this lunch-n-learn webinar.

Presented by Lara Milligan, Natural Resources Agent UF/IFAS Extension Pinellas County

>>> WEBINAR REGISTRATION <<<

Wind Pollination: How and Why?
2023-04-12 14:00 - 15:00 | ZOOM, United States
Allergy season is upon us, and airborne pollen is likely to blame. Learn the truth about what species are responsible, what species are NOT and how plants have evolved to take advantage of this free pollination service.
Presented by James Stevenson, Education and Outreach Supervisor. Recommended for adults and youth over 12.
>>> WEBINAR REGISTRATION <<<

Swallow-tailed Kites & Short-tailed Hawks
2023-04-13 14:30 - 15:30 | Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center, 1800 Weedon Drive NE, St. Petersburg, FL, United States
Conservation and Tracking
Swallow-tailed Kites & Short-tailed Hawks
Join us to learn about the tracking of swallow-tailed kites and short-tailed hawks by the Avian Research and Conservation Institute.
Swallow-tailed Kites (Elanoides forficatus) and Short-tailed Hawks (Buteo brachyurus) are two of Florida’s rarest and most special raptor species. The Avian Research and Conservation Institute (ARCI), based in Gainesville, FL, studies these raptors and tracks their movements and activity– including their presence at the Weedon Island Preserve! Join us for a presentation from Gina Kent of ARCI to hear about the latest conservation issues and status trends of these beautiful raptors.
Gina Kent has worked with ARCI since 2000 and is a Senior Conservation Scientist. She conducts bird surveys from small planes, boats around the Florida Keys, and climbs 100-foot-tall trees, while working with many Florida specialty birds including Crested Caracara, Swallow-tailed Kites, Snail Kites, Reddish Egrets, White-crowned Pigeons, and others. She is based in Florida but travels throughout the southeastern U.S. and internationally to research birds. Gina received an undergraduate degree in wildlife from the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, and a master’s degree from the Georgia Southern University. Her graduate thesis was on Swallow-tailed Kite migration and stopover sites.
>>> REGISTER HERE <<<

Migrating Birds Journey Home
2023-04-14 19:00 - 20:00 | Pinellas Pioneer Settlement, 3130 31st Street South, St. Petersburg, FL, 33712, United States

Swallow-Tailed Kites & People Who Track Them
2023-04-15 10:30 - 12:00 | Brooker Creek Environmental Education Center, 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs, FL, 34688, United States
The Story of Swallow-Tailed Kites
And the People Who Track Them
Swallow-tailed Kites that breed in North America spend most of their lives on the wing traveling over vast distances. It is a treacherous journey at a treacherous time for this neo-tropical species that breeds primarily in the southern states, with Florida being their primary breeding grounds. They are highly social birds with intricate lives and are among one of the most beautiful birds in the world. People have tracked them from the ground, from the water, from the air and with tracking devices to study their migratory patterns, their life cycles and their social habits.
Join Barbara Walker of the Tampa Bay Raptor Rescue for this enlightening, photographic enriched program and meet a live kite!
>>> REGISTER HERE <<<
Sponsored by the Friends of Brooker Creek Preserve.

This or That? Mammals!
2023-04-18 12:00 - 13:30 | ZOOM, United States
Inspired by the “This or That? A Beginner’s Guide to Commonly Misidentified Animals and Plants in Florida”, this presentation will feature key characteristics to differentiate between some commonly confused mammal species we have in Pinellas County. Not sure what mammals could be confused for one another? Join us to find out and step up your naturalist skills by participating in this lunch-n-learn webinar.
Presented by Lara Milligan, Natural Resources Agent UF/IFAS Extension Pinellas County
>>> WEBINAR REGISTRATION <<<

THE SWAMP PEDDLERS
2023-04-19 11:30 - 13:00 | Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast, 400 Palmetto Avenue, Osprey, FL, 34229-0902, United States
Join us at Michael’s On East for our fourth annual Nature Lecture! This event brings a noted mission-relevant speaker to Sarasota. Past speakers include noted Florida photographer, Clyde Butcher; author, Andrea Wulf; and world-renowned entomologist, Dr. Jack Longino.
This year’s speaker is award-winning author and historian, Jason Vuic.
THE SWAMP PEDDLERS
How Lot Sellers, Land Scammers, and Retirees Built Modern Florida and Transformed the American Dream
Originally from Punta Gorda, FL, Jason Vuic is a graduate of Wake Forest University, and holds an M.A. in history from the University of Richmond and a Ph.D. in history from Indiana University Bloomington. His first book, The Yugo: the Rise and Fall of the Worst Car in History, received rave reviews in over 100 print and web-based publications, and in 2016, his book The Yucks! Two Years in Tampa with the Losingest Team in NFL History, garnered wide acclaim from several dozen media outlets and publications.
In 2021, Vuic published The Swamp Peddlers, a tale of misguided land development in Florida during the grow-at-any-cost 1950s and ’60s, which won the Phillip and Dana Zimmerman Gold Medal Prize for Florida Nonfiction at the 2021 Florida Book Awards, as well as the 2021 Charlton Tebeau Award for outstanding general interest book from the Florida Historical Society.
In this lecture by the same name, Vuic dives into the history of the “installment land sales industry,” which seemingly appeared out of nowhere to sell billions of dollars of Florida residential property, sight unseen, to retiring northerners. For only $10 down and $10 a month, working-class pensioners could buy a piece of the Florida dream: a graded homesite waiting for them in a planned community when they were ready to build. The result was Cape Coral, Port St. Lucie, Deltona, Port Charlotte, Palm Coast, and Spring Hill, among many others–sprawling exurban communities with no downtowns and little industry but millions of residential lots. These communities allowed generations of northerners to move to Florida cheaply, but at a price.
We hope you’ll join us for what promises to be a captivating program.
>>> RSVP HERE <<<

The Magic of Mushrooms
2023-04-22 10:30 - 12:00 | Brooker Creek Environmental Education Center, 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs, FL, 34688, United States
Mushroom Biology and Ecology, mushroom growing kits available for purchase

Mention mushrooms and most people think of three things: eating them, DYING from eating them and/or their use in recreational drug use. Let’s put those topics aside and explore fun facts about these fascinating and ecologically important organisms! Recommended for adults and youth over 12. Note: this class will NOT address edible wild mushrooms, BUT participants can purchase their own mini mushroom farm to watch the magic happen at home, thanks to the Friends of Brooker Creek Preserve!
>>> REGISTER HERE <<<

This or That? Birds!
2023-04-25 12:00 - 13:00 | ZOOM, United States
Inspired by the “This or That? A Beginner’s Guide to Commonly Misidentified Animals and Plants in Florida”, this presentation will feature key characteristics to differentiate between common birds found in Pinellas County. Step up your naturalist skills by participating in this lunch-n-learn webinar.
Presented by Lara Milligan, Natural Resources Agent UF/IFAS Extension Pinellas County
>>> WEBINAR REGISTRATION <<<

Weeds and Seeds: A History of Dining in Florida
2023-05-06 10:30 - 12:00 | Brooker Creek Environmental Education Center, 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs, FL, 34688, United States
Weeds and Seeds:
A History of Dining in Florida
Cattle, citrus, and many other common foods today were brought to Florida by the Spanish, so what were people eating before then? We’ll explore what people were eating 2,000 years ago and some ways our food has changed since then!
Presented by the Florida Public Archaeology Network
>>> REGISTER HERE <<<

NOAA Aircraft Operations & Hurricanes
2023-05-13 13:00 - 14:30 | Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center, 1800 Weedon Drive NE, St. Petersburg, FL, United States
Learn about hurricane research and reconnaissance with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Join us for a talk with Alan Goldstein, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Aircraft Acquisition Program Manager, to learn about hurricane research and reconnaissance using specialized aircrafts.
Alan Goldstein is the NOAA Aircraft Acquisition Program Manager, responsible for all new aircraft acquisitions. Previously, he was a design engineer and head of the Science and Engineering Branch at NOAA’s Aircraft Operations Center. Alan has over 46 years of experience with NOAA aircraft, including 350 hurricane penetrations and has participated in research projects from the Indian Ocean to the Arctic. He is married to Michelle Goldstein, who volunteers as a docent at the WIP Cultural and Natural History Center and leads the Tot Time programs. They both enjoy traveling and the outdoors, including kayaking at Weedon Island.
>>> 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 <<<

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

Snakes of Southwest Florida
2023-06-28 10:00 - 12:00 | UF/IFAS Manatee County Extension, 1303 17th Street West, Palmetto, FL, 34221, United States
Learn all about common snakes of Southwest Florida!

LOCATION: UF/IFAS Extension Manatee County Office, Rogers Auditorium
Want to find out more about these interesting and often misunderstood reptiles? You’ll learn which ones you’re most likely to see in your SW Florida yard and how to distinguish between venomous and non-venomous snakes.
Please email special accommodation requests to katiebg@ufl.edu at least 10 days prior to event.
>>> REGISTER HERE <<<

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 <<<

Scientific Literacy: 4-Part Series
2023-07-05, 2023-07-12, 2023-07-19, 2023-07-26 | Brooker Creek Environmental Education Center, 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs, FL, 34688, United States
If you are curious about the world, and want to be better equipped at getting at the truth, join us for a new webinar series in scientific literacy! Starting with an overview of statistics and the core of what science is, we will work our way through several popular and peer-reviewed articles, discussing how to read and think critically. Topics we will cover include different forms of bias, probability theory, regression to the mean, and the ever-infamous p-value. We will also talk about the implications of summarizing and “popularizing” results into ever-shorter soundbites, designed for easy digestion by the general public, but often at the expense of what the data actually tell us.
The target audience for this series is high school and older.
The first session in this four-part series will be an introduction to scientific literacy. The following three sessions will be a classroom style discussion looking at a specific science article and/or paper. Links to assigned papers for classroom discussions will be sent in a follow-up email.
Series Overview:
Session 1: Introduction of Scientific Literacy Presented by Brian Magnier
Session 2: We’ll look at our 1st specific article or paper. Come ready to discuss!
Session 3: We’ll look at our 2nd specific article or paper. Come ready to discuss!
Session 4: We’ll look at our 3rd specific article or paper. Come ready to discuss, plus final wrap up and overview of entire series.
This series is led by Brian Magnier alongside Brooker Creek Preserve Staff. Brian Magnier is a naturalist and wildlife photographer. He studied ecology and evolutionary biology at Cornell University, where his passion for the natural world flourished.
>>> RESERVE A SPOT <<<

Nature Photography with any Camera
2023-07-22 10:30 - 11:30 | Brooker Creek Environmental Education Center, 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs, FL, 34688, United States
Join photographers Karl and Kathleen Nichter for an introduction to nature photography!
Any camera can take great nature photographs! Knowing the basics of composing a photograph, and what your particular camera can do, makes your photos even better. Join nature photographers Karl and Kathleen Nichter for a program on these topics, plus nature photography do’s and don’ts and tips for nature walks with photography in mind.
Although we won’t be taking any photographs during this session, if you have any camera questions bring your camera along and we will do our best to answer them.
>>> RESERVE A SPOT <<<

Great Horned Owl Day!
2023-08-04 13:00 - 16:00 | Seaside Seabird Sanctuary, 18328 Gulf Blvd, Indian Shores, FL, 33785, United States
It’s Great Horned Owl Day! Be sure to stop by Seaside and show our Great Horned Owls, Miss Kitty and Grace, a little bit of love on their special day!

Falcon Fascination
2023-08-12 10:30 - 12:00 | Brooker Creek Environmental Education Center, 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs, FL, 34688, United States
This program is a journey through time representing man’s long term relationship with peregrine falcons. The importance of coastal areas, climate, water, bird friendly communities and migratory stop overs is discussed. Peregrine falcons are extreme predators that ended up on the endangered species list. Several organizations, as well as falconers, were instrumental in bringing the peregrine falcons back to their nesting grounds and into the 21st century. Peregrines have adapted well in urban environments and counts at Hawk Watches have been very high. The program features live falcons! Moccasin Lake Nature Park in Clearwater serves as a sanctuary to these educational ambassadors.
Join Barbara Walker of the Tampa Bay Raptor Rescue for this enlightening program and meet a live falcon!
Sponsored by the Friends of Brooker Creek Preserve.
>>> REGISTER HERE <<<
Pinellas County complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you are a person with a disability who needs any accommodation in order to participate in this class you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. Prior to ten (10) working days before the class, please submit your request to accommodations@pinellascounty.org and cc brookercreek@pinellas.gov.

Community Tree Care for HOAs
2023-08-22 09:00 - 12:00 | Palma Sola Botanical Park, 9800 17th Avenue Northwest, Bradenton, FL, 34209, United States
Join UF/IFAS Extension and Professional Arborists for a presentation and panel discussion on tree care and maintenance in HOA communities. We will focus on how to set up a tree care plan and contracts for care that are based on sound arboricultural practices.
Agenda:
9:00 Welcome and Introductions
9:15-10:15 Community Tree Care: Why, What, How?
10:15-10:30 Break
10:30-11:30 Setting up your Community for Success: Presentation and Panel discussion
11:30-12:00 Q and A and Resource Sharing
>>> REGISTER HERE <<<
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.

Pollinator Walk at the Preserve
2023-08-25 09:00 - 10:30 | Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center, 1800 Weedon Drive NE, St. Petersburg, FL, United States
Learn about the weird world of pollination, then go for a guided walk at Weedon Island to see some pollinators in action!

Learn about the weird world of pollination from a Center naturalist, then go on a walk to see the pollinators doing their thing at the Weedon Island Preserve! Bring your camera of choice to capture these interesting observations.
This walk is recommended for adults and youth ages 10 and up. All youth must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the program.
>>> REGISTER HERE <<<

Science Rocks!
2023-09-07 10:30 - 11:30 | Moccasin Lake Environmental Education Center, 2750 Park Trail Lane, Clearwater, FL, United States
This free event at Moccasin Lake Nature Park is hosted by the Clearwater Community Women’s Club, and it covers a range of science topics through hands-on activities, discussion and crafts. Registration is required by emailing ScienceRocksMoccasin@gmail.com.
Sept. 7: 5 Senses
Oct.5: Water
Nov. 2. Bees
Jan. 4: Push/Pull
Feb. 1: Flight
Mar. 7: Frogs and Toads
April 4: The Sun
May 2: 3 States of Matter

The Archaeology of Weedon Island
2023-09-08 10:00 - 11:00 | Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center, 1800 Weedon Drive NE, St. Petersburg, FL, United States
Travel with professional archaeologists into the ancient past of Weedon Island.
Weedon Island has been a place for community for thousands of years, with spaces for special events, daily activities, and other parts of community life that we still see in our lives today. Join us for a presentation from professional archaeologist Rachael Kangas who will discuss the basics of archaeology at Weedon Island and why the site is so important to understanding people and communities.
This program will take place inside the auditorium of the Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center. This program is recommended for adults and youth ages 14 and up.
>>> REGISTER HERE <<<
Rachael Kangas is the Regional Director for the West Central region of the Florida Public Archaeology Network, and she conducts public archaeology and outreach. She earned her M.A. from the University of Central Florida (UCF) in 2015 and is certified as a member of the Register of Professional Archaeologists (RPA). She is also an American Academy for Underwater Sciences (AAUS) diver, allowing her to assist with underwater research around the state.

Living with Coyotes
2023-09-09 10:30 - 11:30 | Brooker Creek Environmental Education Center, 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs, FL, 34688, United States
Join the FWC to learn about coyotes in Florida!
Join Jessica from the FWC for a talk about coyotes in Florida. She’ll review their history, biology, presence in communities, and best management practices for protecting people, pets, & property. Please join us for this informative program about coyotes!
Presented by Jessica Moore, Wildlife Assistance Biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
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 the auditorium.
>>> REGISTER HERE <<<

Mosquito Mania
2023-09-14 10:00 - 11:00 | Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center, 1800 Weedon Drive NE, St. Petersburg, FL, United States
Learn about Florida’s well-known insect, the mosquito!

Families with youth aged 6-11 years old are invited to discover the fascinating world of Florida’s insects! Learn about what makes insects different from other animals, where they live, and their role in the food web. We’ll use Florida’s most well-known insect, the mosquito, as a study subject.
Mosquito Mania was designed to meet K-5 Next Generation Sunshine State Science Standards. The program is broken into three parts, an interactive digital presentation, an “insect zoo lab” with live specimens for hands-on observation, and a build-a-mosquito craft to learn about the different body parts. Attendees will observe the mosquito lifecycle (eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults) and the different aquatic predators of mosquito larvae.
This program will take place inside of the Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center. Youth must be accompanied by an adult for the full duration of the program.
>>> REGISTER HERE <<<
Pinellas County complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you are a person with a disability who needs any accommodation in order to participate in this class you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. Prior to ten (10) working days before the class, please submit your request to accommodations@pinellascounty.org and cc weedonisland@pinellas.gov. In your request, please be sure to include the date and title of the program you need accommodations for, indicate that the Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center is the program host, and include what specific accommodations you will need.

Reducing Plastic Pollution
2023-09-14 19:00 - 20:00 | Boyd Hill Nature Preserve Classroom, 1101 COUNTRY CLUB WY S, St. Petersburg, FL, 33705, United States
Single-use plastic is a key component of marine pollution. We can take simple steps to change our habits.
All ages welcome with a registered adult. Please select the correct number of participants or seats needed at the time of enrollment.
>>> REGISTER HERE <<<
