Bay Friendly Landscaping Workshop - on ZOOM
2024-07-11 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | ZOOM, United States
Learn how to redesign your yard for resiliency with low maintenance native landscape plants.

Learn to create a landscape that is beautiful and provides valuable ecosystem services in our Bay Friendly Landscaping class. This class will focus on selecting plants that are low maintenance and are adapted to the extreme conditions that we have here in Florida, including sandy soil, high winds, drought, and flooding. These will help protect Tampa Bay by reducing fertilizers, pesticides, and irrigation. Proper plant selection can also help the environment by providing habitat for wildlife and reduce your costs associated with landscape maintenance. This class will be held on Zoom and the first 50 registrants who attend the class will be mailed a hard copy of the “Plant This, Not That” flip book to the address provided during registration. The Zoom link will be sent the day before the class.
>>> REGISTER HERE

2024 ECO Educator Workshop
2024-07-08 09:00 - 15:30 | Brooker Creek Environmental Education Center, 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs, FL, 34688, United States
See what the training is all about in our two promo videos: Video 1 or Video 2
Exploring Environmental Education Curriculum Options (ECO) Teacher Training Workshop
The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension Pinellas County’s Natural Resources Agent has teamed up with St. Petersburg College, College of Education Professor to offer this nationally award-winning, week-long environmental education workshop for pre-service elementary & ESE education students, current elementary & ESE teachers, and non-formal educators. Note: Middle school educators are welcome to participate as well!
The aim of this workshop is to provide participants with tools and information to interpret the natural world and impart the need for resource conservation to their audience. Using local, state, and national curricula correlated to Florida Standards, participants will be given activities and resources to help foster environmental knowledge and good environmental stewardship in their students.
Each day will feature different environmental subjects and professional speakers will be brought in to provide background knowledge to participants. Workshop sessions will conclude with a reflection and an evaluation of the day’s activities. Certificates will be awarded for the completion of specific portions of the training as well as a final certificate of completion.
Curriculum taught each year is different, so if you have participated in the past, you can participate again for a whole new educational experience!
ECO Teacher Training Workshop at Brooker Creek Preserve
July 8-12, 2024
All classes will run from 9:00am – 3:30pm, doors open at 8:30am.
This year’s workshop will feature an amazing line-up of environmental education curriculum:
• Monday – Extreme Heat
• Tuesday – Keep Pinellas Beautiful and 4-H
• Wednesday – WEDU PBS Showcase
• Thursday – Discover Shorebirds
• Friday – Project Learning Tree Activity Collections
>>> REGISTER HERE

Why Snakes are Cool!
2024-07-13 10:00 - 11:30 | Brooker Creek Environmental Education Center, 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs, FL, 34688, United States
Learn about Florida’s native snakes and get the chance to see some live animals up-close!

Despite playing important ecological roles as both predators and prey, snakes remain highly misunderstood vertebrates. Florida is home to 46 native species of snakes, with most occuring in the central peninsula. And of those 46 species, only four venomous species occur in central Florida and these snakes present little danger when left alone. Herpetologist and environmental educator George L. Heinrich will teach participants about why snakes are cool, emphasizing Florida snake diversity, natural history, conservation, and snake safety.
At the end of the program a selection of live snakes will be available for viewing and handling if participants choose to do so — and we hope that you will!
>>> REGISTER HERE

Reptile Wednesdays with Dennis!
2024-01-03 10:00 - 11:00 | Moccasin Lake Environmental Education Center, 2750 Park Trail Lane, Clearwater, FL, United States
Dennis is the president of the Suncoast Herpetological Society, Inc. and spends his Wednesdays at Moccasin Lake Nature Park educating guests about reptiles. Come with your questions!
>>> REGISTER HERE

Summer Celebration in the Majeed Discovery Garden
2024-07-20 10:00 - 13:00 | Majeed Discovery Garden, 12520 Ulmerton Road, Largo, FL, 33774, United States
Free admission, free parking!
Join us for a Summer Celebration in the Majeed Discovery Garden on Saturday, July 20th from 10 AM-1 PM. This event will consist of a tea party while learning about the environment. There will be special activities led by our educator and community partners: Florida Farm Bureau, FNGLA, and the Pinellas County UF/IFAS Extension.
This event is a part of Third Saturdays at Pinewood, in partnership with Creative Pinellas and Heritage Village. For more information on their events, click here.

SOLSTICE: A Guide to Summer Skies
2024-07-24 19:00 - 20:00 | Bishop Museum of Science ﻿and Nature, 201 10th St. West, Bradenton, FL, 34205, United States
Join us in The Planetarium at The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature as we explore the night sky. What fascinating constellations, distant galaxies, and wonders does the summer night sky hold?
Doors open at 6:30pm. Presentation begins at 7pm inside The Planetarium.
Preregistration required.
>>> REGISTER HERE

Singing Insects: The Overlooked Chorus
2024-07-27 10:00 - 11:30 | Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center, 1800 Weedon Drive NE, St. Petersburg, FL, United States
Learn about the buzzes, chirps, and clicks heard in the west-central Florida landscape, who makes them and why.

After the program, participants can go on a Singing Insect Listening Walk and may even get a chance to “stridulate” like a singing cricket!
This program will begin inside the auditorium of the Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center, but will also go outside to observe wild insects.
This program is recommended for adults and youth ages 6 and up. Please register every individual planning to attend!
>>> REGISTER HERE

Nature Photography with any Camera
2024-07-27 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 tips and ideas 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

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

TREE WALK
2024-08-03 10:00 - 11:30 | Boyd Hill Nature Preserve Classroom, 1101 COUNTRY CLUB WY S, St. Petersburg, FL, 33705, United States
All Ages
Come join us for this guided tree walk where you will be introduced to several unique, large and common trees found at the Preserve. The 15 trees featured on this walk are primarily native shade trees, each with different qualities and attributes.
The two-mile hike is about an hour and provides an opportunity to look at various species of trees found around the city.
>>> REGISTER HERE

Youth Program: Mosquito Mania
2024-08-09 10:00 - 11:00 | Brooker Creek Environmental Education Center, 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs, FL, 34688, United States
Have a future entomologist on your hands? Kids ages 6-11 are invited to learn about the wonderful world of insects!
We will discuss what makes insects different from other animals, what they need to live, their life cycle, and then apply what we learn to mosquitoes. After the presentation attendees can explore live aquatic insect stations and use microscopes to view them up close!
This youth program is geared toward ages 6 to 12. Registration is required and space is limited. Please register just your child (children). This is not a drop-off program.
Presented by Caroline Scott, Environmental Specialist III with Pinellas County
>>> REGISTER HERE

The Gift of Trees
2024-04-19 10:30 - 12:00 | ZOOM, United States
Join us for a crash course in trees!
We will cover the value of trees in our communities, tree selection and planting, maintenance, pruning and long term care considerations.
>>> REGISTER HERE

Fantastic Frogs
2024-08-17 13:00 - 14:30 | Boyd Hill Nature Preserve Classroom, 1101 COUNTRY CLUB WY S, St. Petersburg, FL, 33705, United States
Have you ever heard the chorus of frogs after a rainstorm and wondered what frogs you were hearing? Or found a frog on your porch and weren’t sure how to identify it? If so, this program is for you. Learn to identify the top 10 common frogs in our area!
Ages 18 yrs +
>>> REGISTER HERE

Pollinator Walk
2024-08-23 10:00 - 11:30 | 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 on a walk to see the pollinators doing their thing!
>>> REGISTER HERE

The Hidden World of Squirrels
2024-08-24 10:00 - 11:30 | Boyd Hill Nature Preserve Classroom, 1101 COUNTRY CLUB WY S, St. Petersburg, FL, 33705, United States
Squirrels are adorable, and extremely fun to watch. They also play a variety of roles in ecosystems. Join us and you might just appreciate squirrels a little more!
>>> REGISTER HERE

Back to Nature: Rewild Your Yard
2024-08-24 10:30 - 11:30 | Brooker Creek Environmental Education Center, 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs, FL, 34688, United States
Learn about this fascinating but simple concept that is beneficial to wildlife and our environment.
Your backyard is your nature! Learn how to do less work while creating beautiful habitat for animals through re-wilding.
Join Theresa Badurek, Urban Horticulture Agent for UF/IFAS, to learn about this fascinating concept that is beneficial to wildlife and our environment.
>>> REGISTER HERE

Ants of Florida
2024-08-31 10:00 - 11:30 | Boyd Hill Nature Preserve Classroom, 1101 COUNTRY CLUB WY S, St. Petersburg, FL, 33705, United States
Ants are often overlooked and viewed as a pest but look closely and you will discover an amazing world! Learn about the fascinating ants found at the preserve!
Ages 18 yrs +
>>> REGISTER HERE

2024 Water School: Flowing Forward
2024-09-04 09:00 - 16:00 | Manatee County Agriculture and Extension Office, 1303 17th St W, Palmetto, FL, 34221, United States
Wednesday, September 4 at 9AM-4PM
Location: UF/IFAS Extension Manatee County (1303 17th St W, Palmetto, FL)
Description:
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. $20 per person (+ Eventbrite fee). Lunch included in ticket.
Topics covered:

Conservation lands/easements
Water quality value of urban forests
Water quality estuary and marine systems
Sustainable development
Green Stormwater Initiative
Monitoring in Manatee: Keeping our water resources safe

>>> RESERVE A SPOT

Bugs, Bugs, Bugs
2024-09-04 10:00 - 12:00 | Manatee County Agriculture and Extension Office, 1303 17th St W, Palmetto, FL, 34221, United States
Let us answer all of your insect and pest questions!
Do you want to learn more about pests and beneficial insects? During this 2-hour class we’ll cover insect life cycles, management, identification, and more.
For more information, please contact Mack Lessig at (941) 722-4524 ext. 1821 or mlessig@ufl.edu.
>>> REGISTER HERE

Pinellas Florida Waters Stewardship Program - 2024
2024-09-05 09:30 - 12:30 | Boyd Hill Nature Preserve Classroom, 1101 COUNTRY CLUB WY S, St. Petersburg, FL, 33705, United States
An intensive program to learn all about Florida’s waters. Each class takes place at a new location with guest speakers, tours and more!

Working With Water, Working With People
To make a difference concerning the issues surrounding water quality and quantity in our communities, we must understand the various ways in which we interact with water. As Floridians, we are connected to our oceans and bays by our faucets and laundries, to our neighborhood ponds and lakes by our yards and streets, and to our regional and statewide neighbors by our surface and groundwater supplies.
This program will use expert presentations, online explorations, experiential learning, field experience in watershed science, and communication skills training to foster a greater understanding of these interactions and provide the tools necessary to become stewards of our water resources.
During this seven-session course, participants will travel to locations across Pinellas County to explore the natural beauty, learn about emerging water issues, and meet with local experts.
Participants will also plan and implement an individual (or group) stewardship project that makes a difference in the community, attend a relevant stakeholder meeting and explore online resources to learn more about water between class sessions.
Each class session will be three hours long and include Working with Water instructor-led presentations looking at water at the state-level as well as Working with People instructor-led presentations highlighting communication best-practices. Classes will also include time for discussions, guest speaker presentations highlighting local water resources, and a field tour.
This course has limited seating/availability. Register early to reserve your spot. Youth (under 18) are eligible to register as long as an accompanying adult is also registered for the program.
Schedule
Session 1 – Thursday, Sept. 5 (9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.)*:

Watershed Basics and Stewardship @ Brooker Creek Preserve in Tarpon Springs with guest speaker Robert Burnes, Project Manager, Pinellas County Public Works, Environmental Management

Session 2 – Thursday, Sept. 19 (9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.)*:

W ater Flow, Then and Now @ Clam Bayou Marine Education Center with guest speaker from Southwest Florida Water Management District, Surface Water Improvement & Management Program

Session 3 – Thursday, Oct. 3 (9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.)*:

Water Laws and Other Tools @ South Cross Bayou Advanced Water Reclamation Facility with guest speaker Lauren Twele, Education Coordinator, Pinellas County Utilities

Session 4 – Thursday, Oct. 17 (9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.)*:

Future Water Supply and Emerging Issues @ Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment Plant in Oldsmar with guest speaker Tirusew Asefa, Ph.D., P.E., D.WRE, Manager, Planning & System Decision Support, Tampa Bay Water

Session 5 – Thursday, Oct. 31 (9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.)*: Panel

Panel Discussion with local environmental non-profit groups and Stewardship Project Updates @ Safety Harbor Public Library

Session 6 – Thursday, Nov. 14 (9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.)*:

Speaking of and for Water @ Ozona Village Hall with guest speaker Sadie Hundemer, Ph.D, Assistant Professor, Agricultural Education and Communication, University of Florida

Session 7- Saturday Nov. 16 (9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.)*:

Graduation and Water Stewardship In Action @ Weedon Island Preserve in St. Petersburg with guided hike by Pinellas County volunteer or staff.

*Locations and speakers are subject to change.
Before You Register
Please review course requirements should you wish to receive a certificate of completion at the end of the program:

Attend at least five of the seven sessions, two of which MUST be the first and last ones (Session #1 and Session #7)
Attend and briefly describe a stakeholder gathering
Complete online mini-sessions
Participate in the online discussions
Submit a summary of your individual or group stewardship project

Cost: $125
If the cost of the program will prevent you from participating, please complete a scholarship application. Application deadline is Wednesday, August 27th.
>>> RESERVE A SPOT

Common Bird Species of Pasco County
2024-09-10 19:00 - 20:30 | Land O’ Lakes Community Center, 5401 Land O' Lakes Blvd., Land O' Lakes, FL, United States
The Nature Coast Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society will present “Common Bird Species of Pasco County” on Tues., Sept. 10, at 7pm at the Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park Community Center, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd in Land O’ Lakes,
All Chapter meetings are free and open to the public. Any questions contact us at naturecoastfnps@gmail.com.
Website: PascoNativePlants.org
Facebook: facebook.com/groups/PascoNativePlants
