Rain Barrels
2021-07-18 19:00 - 22:00 (America/New_York) | UF/IFAS Manatee County Extension, 1303 17th Street West, Palmetto, FL, 34221, United States
Learn about bugs with insect crafts and activities.

Suitable for kids of all ages. Families have an opportunity to see all the fun elements of the Children’s area and other demonstration gardens. Pick up a free plan in the greenhouse too!
REGISTER HERE

Tortoise Talk
2021-07-20 08:00 - 09:00 | ROBINSON PRESERVE, 1704 99th Street Northwest, Bradenton, FL, 34209, United States
It’s tortoise time! Join us for this informal program on the Valentine House lawn as we take our educational tortoise out to graze! Foraging in the wild is an integral part of a gopher tortoise’s lifestyle, so we encourage our captive tortoise to graze as much as possible. Get up close with our tortoise. Learn what tortoises need to survive, how we care for our tortoise, and why we have him. Finally, discover what efforts everyone can take to protect these important members of our Florida ecosystems.
Program is suitable for all ages. No reservations required. For info contact coral.bass@mymanatee.org .
Robinson Preserve North Entrance

KidSpace
2021-07-10 10:30 - 11:30 | Online Event
During KidSpace we unleash the awesome power of astronomy as we help kids become scientific masters of the universe! Join us as we take off from the Earth’s surface and fly to places humans have never been: the Sun, planets, other moons in our solar system, newly discovered solar systems in our galaxy, and beyond. KidSpace is designed for grades 1-5 and their grown-ups, but everyone is welcome!

Where: On Zoom
When: 10:30am Saturday, July 10
Cost: Free

Register now to receive the Zoom link

Rain Barrels for the Rainy Days of Summer
2021-07-28 10:30 - 12:00 | UF/IFAS Manatee County Extension, 1303 17th Street West, Palmetto, FL, 34221, United States
The massive summer rains we experience can cause a lot of headaches in the form of stormwater runoff. Learn more about the issue and how you can help to manage stormwater runoff in your own yard by incorporating rain barrels to use for landscape irrigation.
REGISTER HERE

Walk in Nature with Jazz
2021-07-31 09:00 - 10:30 | Brooker Creek Preserve, 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs, FL, United States
Come and take a walk with two retired music teachers who love Brooker Creek and jazz.

We will hear 12 RECORDED excerpts (from 2-4 minutes each) from various jazz styles that refer to the wonderful natural things we see at Brooker. We will walk about a mile and stop and listen as we enjoy the beauty around us.
Guided Hike Information
Volunteer Hike Guides will meet participants inside the Exhibit Hall. We strongly suggest all hikers visit the restroom before we begin as there are no facilities along the trail.

Guided hikes are under a mile in length, much of which is on unimproved, uneven sandy trails.

Hikes take about two (2) hours to complete.

Please wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes, sneakers or boots.

Insect repellent (bug spray) is strongly recommended in summer months.

Bring plenty of drinking water and a snack.

A hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen are also recommended.

Pets are not permitted.

No smoking is allowed.

Trained volunteers will guide the hike.

Registration is required for each attendee.
REGISTER HERE

Back to School- Back to Nature
2021-07-31 09:00 - 12:00 | Camp Bayou Outdoor Learning Center, 4202 24th St SE, Ruskin, FL, 33570, United States
Camp Bayou Back to School- Back to Nature is scheduled for Saturday, July 31 this year, from 9am-noon.
Children visit nature-activity tables then receive a free school supply item.
There’s more educational fun throughout the morning. Mark your calendars!

Mangrove Considerations
2021-08-06 12:00 - 13:00 | Online Event
Join UF/IFAS Extension’s Alyssa Vinson for a discussion of one of our most valuable coastal resources: Mangroves. Learn the ins and outs of living with these valuable and irreplaceable tree species. Topics covered will include; identification and ecology, rules and regulations and best practices for trimming.
REGISTER HERE

Weedon Walkabout
2021-08-07 09:00 - 11:00 | FL
Join us for a guided hike of the trails and boardwalks of the Weedon Island Preserve.

This docent-led walk will visit the mangrove and upland ecosystems of the Weedon Island Preserve. Learn about the coastal environment, native wildlife, and early history of the Preserve. This program is recommended for adults and youth ages 6 and up.
Proceeds will support the Friends of Weedon Island, a non-profit organization that work to promotes education and conservation of the Weedon Island Preserve. Learn about our Friends at https://friendsofweedonisland.org/.
REGISTER HERE

Robinson Preserve – Mosaic NEST
2021-08-07 09:00 - 12:00 | ROBINSON PRESERVE, 1704 99th Street Northwest, Bradenton, FL, 34209, United States
Saturday Mornings at the NEST
Join us at the Mosaic Center for Nature, Exploration, Science, and Technology for a morning of discovery. Walk the grounds of the historic Reasoner Tract and observe botanical giants collected from around the world. Explore the canopy boardwalk among the banyans, climb to the top of the crow’s nest, take in breathtaking panoramic views, and make an exciting exit from the building via slide. Learn about upcoming programs and exciting new additions to Robinson Preserve. Program suitable for all ages. No reservations required. For more information please contact ecoevents@mymanatee.org

Brooker Readers Club
2021-08-07 09:30 - 10:30 | Brooker Creek Environmental Education Center, 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs, FL, 34688, United States

Pinellas' Native Orchids
2021-08-11 14:00 - 15:00 | Online Event
Did you know we have 19 native orchids here in Pinellas County?
Learn the life history, biology and ecology of some of these special wildflowers from a Pinellas County Extension Specialist.
REGISTER HERE

Wild Wings Bird Hike
2020-01-11 08:00 - 09:30 | Brooker Creek Preserve, 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs, FL, United States
Wild Wings –
Birds of Brooker Hike
Have you wondered what bird is singing in your backyard? Do you see and hear birds but don’t know who they are? If so, join us for a Beginning Bird Hike to learn how to identify the county’s common birds as we meander along a one-mile trail.
All ages are welcome. Children under the ages of 16 must be accompanied by an adult and those younger than 6 may find this hike challenging.
Guided Hike Information
Volunteer Hike Guides will meet participants outside the Exhibit Hall 10 minutes before the scheduled start time. We strongly suggest all hikers visit the restroom (located in the Classroom Building) before we begin as there are no facilities along the trail.

Guided hikes are under a mile in length, much of which is on unimproved, uneven sandy trails.
Hikes take about two (2) hours to complete.
Please wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes, sneakers or boots.
Insect repellent (bug spray) is strongly recommended in summer months.
Bring plenty of drinking water and a snack.
A hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen are also recommended.
Pets are not permitted.
No smoking is allowed.
Trained volunteers will guide the hike.

Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wild-wings-birds-of-brooker-hike-tickets-53439990450?mc_cid=a4dbfdde6b&mc_eid=1cbba2e07b

Befriend the Beetle: Air Potato Vine Biological Control Workshop
2021-08-17 10:00 - 15:00 | Manatee County Agriculture and Extension Office, 1303 17th St W, Palmetto, FL, 34221, United States
Meet the air potato beetle and work with experts to develop a management plan for air potato vine control in residential landscapes.

Join UF/IFAS Extension Manatee County, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) and the Suncoast Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA) for an engaging event focused on air potato vine control. Participants will have the opportunity to identify the invasive air potato vine, meet the charismatic air potato beetle and develop an integrated pest management plan for managing air potato vine on their property. Masks are encouraged.
REGISTER HERE

Butterflies of Florida
2021-08-17 14:00 - 15:00 | Online Event
Who doesn’t love butterflies? They are the beautiful little critters flying around your garden and flitting through sunny patches in the forest. But did you know there are over 150 species of butterflies in Florida? And do you know how to tell them apart from their close cousins, the moths? Together, we will learn about the biology and diversity of these creatures!
REGISTER HERE

Youth Water Program
2021-08-20 10:00 - 11:00 | Brooker Creek Environmental Education Center, 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs, FL, 34688, United States
Let’s take a closer look at the water cycle!

We all learned the water cycle in school…you know, the one with mountains and lots of green space. But what might the water cycle look like in a developed area like Pinellas County? Learn with Lara all about the urban water cycle. Youth participants will put on their “manager” hat and help Lara figure out how to manage all of the stormwater runoff we get in the rainy season. Targeted for upper elementary and middle school aged youth.
Registration is required. Please register both yourself and your child. This program will cap at 20 participants. Presented by Lara Milligan, Pinellas County Natural Resources Agent for UF/IFAS Extension.
REGISTER HERE
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. We will start promptly at 10am. Follow signs to the auditorium.

Talking Telescopes
2021-07-17 10:00 - 15:30 | Bishop Museum of Science ﻿and Nature, 201 10th St. West, Bradenton, FL, 34205, United States
Talking Telescopes is an opportunity for you to learn about setting up and using telescopes and talk with our telescope expert, Ed McDonough, about the ‘scope you already have or one you’d like to own. Ed is a Museum volunteer who has been an astronomy hobbyist since he was 10 and has spent more than 25 years as a sales representative for the telescope maker Celestron. The program includes solar viewing (weather permitting).

Dates: July 17, August 21
Times: Solar viewing in the Riverside Plaza 10-11:30am (weather permitting) | Telescope demonstrations in the Planetarium lobby noon-4pm
Cost: Included in the price of admission

For an additional fee, we are also offering one-on-one or group sessions to help you learn to use the telescope you already have. If you’re interested in a session, please let us know here.
REGISTER HERE

Talking Telescopes
2021-08-21 10:00 - 16:00 | Bishop Museum of Science ﻿and Nature, 201 10th St. West, Bradenton, FL, 34205, United States
Talking Telescopes is an opportunity for you to learn about setting up and using telescopes and talk with our telescope expert, Ed McDonough, about the ‘scope you already have or one you’d like to own. Ed is a Museum volunteer who has been an astronomy hobbyist since he was 10 and has spent more than 25 years as a sales representative for the telescope maker Celestron. The program includes solar viewing (weather permitting).

Date: August 21
Times: Solar viewing in the Riverside Plaza 10:15-11:15am (weather permitting) | Telescope demonstrations in the Planetarium lobby noon-4pm
Cost: Included in the price of admission

Speaking of telescopes, if you’d like to learn how to use a telescope you already have or one you’re thinking of purchasing, we can help. Email us here if you’re interested in scheduling a session. (Please be sure to include “telescope session” in the subject line.)

Invasive Plants in Pinellas
2021-08-25 14:00 - 15:00 | Online Event
They’re loose! And they are trying to take over! Come learn about some of the invasive exotic plants that are disrupting our natural plant communities in Pinellas. You may be harboring some of these fugitives in your own back yard! Learn to identify and how to control and replace these invaders.
Presented by James Stevenson, UF/IFAS Pinellas County Extension Specialist.
REGISTER HERE

Wildflower Garden Work Day
2021-08-28 08:00 - 10:00 | Brooker Creek Preserve, 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs, FL, United States
pamperedgardeners@gmail.com

Prehistoric Florida: Megafauna and Fossils
2021-08-28 10:00 - 23:00 | Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center, 1800 Weedon Drive NE, St. Petersburg, FL, United States
Journey back into Florida’s past when the saber cat, giant sloth, mammoth, giant tortoise, and bison roamed the sunshine state.

With a Sensing Nature biologist, investigate animal fossils millions of years old and float back in time when mega-fauna ruled our coastal habitats. Afterwards, roll up your sleeves and dig in our personalized fossil pit! Find a Florida fossil of your own to identify and take it home.
This class is recommended for adults and youth ages 6 and up. Youth must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the class.
Proceeds will support the Friends of Weedon Island, a non-profit organization that work to promotes education and conservation of the Weedon Island Preserve. Learn about our Friends at https://friendsofweedonisland.org/.
REGISTER HERE

Palms Tour
2021-10-09 09:00 - 10:30 | UF/IFAS Manatee County Extension, 1303 17th Street West, Palmetto, FL, 34221, United States
An educational tour of the Extension all about palms!
Tour the Extension grounds with Master Gardener Volunteer Amy Stripe to learn palm species, characteristics, and suitability for Central Florida landscapes. Limit 12 participants.
REGISTER HERE
