FAM Walking History Tour
2023-03-18 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center, 1800 Weedon Drive NE, St. Petersburg, FL, United States
Join us for a guided walking tour of the Weedon Island Preserve to learn about its aviation history.

St. Petersburg has a long and rich history of aviation, including the well-known first commercial flight in 1914. But in addition to this accomplishment, the Grand Central Airport that functioned on Weedon Island during the early 20th century also led to momentous firsts for flight in St. Pete. Join archaeologists with the Florida Public Archaeology Network for a guided tour of the Preserve to learn about the Island’s history with flight and visit historic sites.
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 ~2 miles. This hike will traverse uneven, natural paths or boardwalks 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.
Proceeds from this program go to support FPAN in their archaeological mission.
>>> REGISTER HERE <<<

Reptile Wednesdays with Dennis!
2023-03-22 10:00 - 16:00, 2023-03-29 10:00 - 16:00 | 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 <<<

FAM Archaeology Day & Presentation
2023-03-25 09:00 - 15:30 | Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center, 1800 Weedon Drive NE, St. Petersburg, FL, United States
Celebrate Florida Archaeology Month at the Weedon Island Preserve!

Join us for a celebration of Florida Archaeology Month! Examine ancient artifacts and discover the rich history of Tampa Bay at the Weedon Island Preserve.
From 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.:
The Alliance for Weedon Island Archaeological Research and Education (AWIARE), the Central Florida Gulf Coast Archaeological Society (CGCAS), the Florida Public Archaeology Network, and the Tampa Bay History Center will be on-site with a diverse showcase of pre-Columbian artifacts from the Tampa Bay region. Archaeological experts will also illustrate the use of these tools and their importance to native populations. Local fossil collectors are encouraged to bring in artifacts such as arrow heads, lithics, and pottery sherds for identification.
At 2:00 p.m.:
The final event of our Florida Archaeology Month celebration will be a special presentation by Dr. J. Michael Francis as he shares stories and research from St. Augustine’s Parish archive that date from 1594 to 1821. This program is arranged in partnership with the Tampa Bay History Center as part of their “Florida Conversations” series.

To attend this talk in-person, please register here.
To watch online, please register here.

Presentation Synopsis:
St. Augustine, Florida houses the oldest surviving parish records in the United States. In this talk, Dr. J. Michael Francis will introduce this rich collection and to the open-access digital archive he helped to create to bring these records to a global audience. Francis will highlight the early history of colonial Florida, focusing on the rich corpus of baptism, confirmation, marriage, and death records housed in St. Augustine’s Diocesan Archive. He will share some of the remarkable stories that emerge from the badly damaged pages, and he will introduce a new digital archive that provides unparalleled public access to this unique collection.

Raptors Indigenous to Central Florida
2023-03-25 10:30 - 12:00 | Brooker Creek Environmental Education Center, 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs, FL, 34688, United States
Learn about local raptors!
Join the Friends of Largo Nature Parks for an educational presentation on raptors. We will examine the similarities and differences between the five primary types of Birds of Prey, with the help of a few non-releasable raptors from McGough Nature Park!
Family Friendly! Presented by the Friends of Largo Nature Parks. Sponsored by the Friends of Brooker Creek Preserve.

Natural Scene Investigators
2023-03-30 08:00 - 10:00 | Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast, 400 Palmetto Avenue, Osprey, FL, 34229-0902, United States
Join us at the beautiful and conserved Upper Myakka Preserve! Develop your detective skills while exploring this exceptional protected land. Together with nature interpreter, Jenna Biggs, participants will investigate natural scenes and learn to spot evidence of wildlife all around. Discover how critical thinking skills can help you better understand animal behavior as well as how your findings and observations can help advance science.
Open to those aged 5 and up. Participating children must have an adult guardian present for the duration of the event. Attendees should wear clothing suitable for outdoor exploration and shoes they are comfortable getting wet. Bug spray and sunscreen are recommended.
Space is limited and registration for this free event is required. Reserve your space below.
If the event is marked as ‘sold out’ and you would like to be added to the wait list, please let us know by emailing jenna@conservationfoundation.com.
LEARN MORE AND RSVP

Sea Turtle Awareness Day
2023-04-01 10:00 - 15:00 | Clearwater Marine Aquarium, 249 Windward Passage, Clearwater, FL, 33767, United States
Celebrate Sea Turtle Awareness Day on April 1, 2023, at Clearwater Marine Aquarium from 10am through 3pm! The Sea Turtle Conservation Program at CMA will be preparing for sea turtle nesting season with nesting presentations, nest stake painting, custom Protect the Nest plaques, and so much more! We will also have many sea turtle conservation partners and CMA teams joining us with additional information to help protect sea turtles and their habitats. This event is included with your general admission at Clearwater Marine Aquarium.
Schedule of Activities:

11:40am – Performance by the “Semillas de mi Tierra” children’s Latin dance group.
12:15pm – Sea Turtle Nesting Presentation in the Atlantis Theater.
2:15pm – Sea Turtle Nesting Presentation in the Atlantis Theater.

>>> MORE INFO HERE <<<

Dragonflies of West Central Florida
2023-04-01 10:30 - 12:00 | Brooker Creek Environmental Education Center, 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs, FL, 34688, United States
The Natural History of
Dragonflies of West Central Florida

Learn about our local dragonfly population, biology, and why they are an important part of our ecosystem. Presented by Paul Trunk. Geared towards an adult audience.
Stick around after the program for an optional dragonfly walk, and bring your binoculars if you have them!
>>> REGISTER HERE <<<

Egg Day
2023-04-08 12:00 - 15:00 | Seaside Seabird Sanctuary, 18328 Gulf Blvd, Indian Shores, FL, 33785, United States
Join us for all things Eggs! We will be learning about many different animals and their eggs along with fun activities and pictures with different egg laying animals!

This or That? Trees!
2023-04-11 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 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 <<<
