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“Tampa Bay: Living Legacy,” a one-hour documentary film about Florida’s largest open-water estuary, premiers at locations across the region. The film chronicles Tampa Bay’s transformation from a relatively unspoiled paradise in the 1950s, to a waterway battered by pollution in the 1970s, to its amazing rebirth and recovery that began some 25 years ago.
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Aug. 3, 4, 16 & 23 |
It features interviews with scientists, elected officials and citizens, including well-known Floridians such as former Governor of Florida Bob Martinez, the mayors of both Tampa and St. Petersburg, and former State Education Commissioner Betty Castor, who also was a leader in early bay restoration initiatives. Compelling archival images help tell the bay’s story, along with extensive new footage showcasing the extraordinary beauty of the bay’s habitats and inhabitants.
The film is narrated by Patrick Wilson, a Broadway star who has performed in “Phantom of the Opera,” “Oklahoma” and “The Full Monty,” as well as the HBO film “Angels in America.” Patrick grew up in St. Petersburg, where his father, John, is a longtime local news anchor.
The film’s broadcast premier is scheduled for Wednesday, August 23, at 8 p.m. on WUSF-TV (Channel 16). The Tampa Bay Estuary Program also will sponsor sneak previews in each of the three counties surrounding Tampa Bay. The previews are open to the public and reservations are required.
july
July 30, Kayak Cockroach Bay with the American Littoral Society, 9am-1pm. Join naturalist John Sarkozy for a trip through one of Hillsborough County’s most spectacular aquatic preserves. Reservations required, 941-966-7308.
July 31-Aug. 3, “Venture Out!” pathfinder programs for families. One- to 3-day teambuilding programs including Environmental Explorers where groups climb tree canopies, canoe Florida rivers, trek through an “Enchanted Forest,” become forensic detectives with “CSI – Manatee on the Move” by assembling a manatee skeleton and even get up close and personal with live reptiles during the “Reptile Review” class. Other upcoming dates include August 12-13 and September 2-4. Call 727-328-0305 or visit http://www.pathfinder-ed.org.
august
Aug. 2, "Scientific Names: What do you say, and how do you say it?" Learn all about Latin in a special presentation by environmental consultant Craig Huegel at the Pinellas chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society meeting, 7:30pm, Moccasin Lake Nature Park. Visit http://pinellas.fnpschapters.org.
Aug. 3, Moonlight Kayak on Little Sarasota Bay with the American Littoral Society, 6:30-9pm. Enjoy sunset on the water and see fish and birds from a totally different perspective. Reservations required, 941-966-7308.
Aug. 3, Manatee County Library, Central Library
1301 W. Barcarrota Blvd.
Reception 6pm, film broadcast 7pm
Call 727-893-2765 for reservations or e-mail nanette@tbep.org
Aug. 4, Weedon Island Preserve Natural and Cultural History Center
Reception 6:30pm, film broadcast 7:30pm
Call 727-453-6500 for reservations
Aug. 10, Agency on Bay Management, 9am-noon, Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council. Call 727-570-5151, ext. 32, or visit www.tbrpc.org.
Aug. 12, Kayak Shell Key Preserve with the American Littoral Society’s naturalist John Sarkozy, 9am-1pm. Reservations required, 941-966-7308.
Aug. 12, Imperiled Bears of Florida, a special presentation by Pat Kiesylis, Defenders of Wildlife at the Brooker Creek Preserve, 10-11am. Black bears once roamed throughout the state from the pine forests of northern Florida all the way to the Keys. Today this “umbrella” species is listed as threatened by the State of Florida. Join us as we explore the world of the black bear and learn why its preservation is so important to the Florida landscape. Registration is required, call 727-453-6800.
Aug.16, The Florida Aquarium, Reception 6pm, film broadcast 7pm
Call 727-893-2765 for reservations or e-mail nanette@tbep.org
Aug. 18, Tampa Bay Estuary Program Management and Policy Board meetings, 9am and 1pm, Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council. Call 727-893-2765 or visit www.tbep.org.
Aug. 22, Tampa Bay Estuary Program workshop for organizations interested in applying for Bay Mini-Grants, Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council, 6-7pm. Topics covered include types of educational and restoration projects that are most appropriate for the grant program, who and how to apply, how the grants are judged, payment and reimbursement procedure. Space is limited and reservations are required, call 727-893-2765 or e-mail misty@tbep.org. Grant applications are available online at www.tbep.org.
Aug. 24, Wee-time at Weedon: Tiny Workers: Ants in Your Backyard, 10:30-11:30am. Part of a series of programs designed to introduce pre-school children to the wonders of the natural world. Every second and fourth Thursday of each month, children are treated to a variety of stories and hands-on activities that connect them to their environment. Tiny Workers: Ants in Your Backyard by Nancy Loewen helps children discover these fascinating little workers and also includes a hands-on craft and other games and activities. Registration required, call 727-453-6500.
Aug. 26, Great Bay Scallop Search sponsored by Tampa Bay Watch and the Tampa Bay Estuary Program. Because scallops are extremely sensitive to pollution, they serve as useful "underwater canaries" to signal changes in water quality. Volunteer boaters needed. Call 727-867-8166 or email wvalle@tampabaywatch.org.
Aug. 26, Florida's Fabulous “Flying Machines,” a special presentation by the Lowry Park Zoo education staff at Brooker Creek Preserve, 1-2pm. Florida 's birds of prey display an amazing diversity of lifestyles. Whether soaring high overhead, maneuvering between the trees of the forest, or swooping to catch prey under cover of darkness, they each have fascinating stories. Learn more about the birds commonly seen at the Brooker Creek Preserve, what makes each one of them unique and even enjoy a flying demonstration. Registration required, call 727-453-6800.
Aug. 27, The Great Weedon Bird Quest, 8-9:30am. Learn the identifying marks and behaviors of our feathered year-round inhabitants and seasonal visitors, while helping us compile an annual checklist of the preserve's birds. These hikes are designed to take advantage of all levels of birding experience. Binoculars and bird guides are available. Hikes are scheduled for the last Sunday of every month. Registration is required, call 727-453-6500.
Aug. 30, Lizards & Skinks: Scaly Tales of the Reptiles Around Us, Brooker Creek Preserve, 6:30–7:30 pm. These are some of the most common reptiles in Florida and they are found in nearly every backyard. But how well do you know them? Why do they do push-ups? What is the orange-red flap on the lizard’s throat all about? Join us for a multi-sensory program to learn more about lizards and skinks. Meet a few live creatures and take a short hike to practice your newly learned identification skills. Registration is required, call 727-453-6800.
september
Sept. 6, Southwest Florida Water Management District workshop on low-impact development, Innisbrook Resort, 11am-5:30pm. Top managers, including Eric Livingston, chief, Watershed Management Program, Florida Department of Environmental Protection and John W. Heuer, SWFWD deputy executive director, division of resource regulation, join keynote speaker Paul R. Brown, AICP, president, public service group, CDM Camp, Dresser & McKee, Inc. for a presentation geared to builders and developers. Local success stories will be highlighted by panelists Grady Pridgeon, Grady Pridgeon, Inc.; Bill Bishop, A Better Place Group (invited); Thomas F. Levin, ASLA, AICP, CEP, Ekistics Design Studio; and Rex Jensen, president and CEO, Schroeder Manatee Ranch. Reservations required, call 800-423-1476.
Sept. 12, Manatee Awareness Coalition (MAC) meeting, Weedon Island Preserve, 2-4pm. Call 727-893-2765 or visit www.tbep.org.
Sept. 14, Agency on Bay Management, 9am-noon, Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council. Call 727-570-5151, ext. 32, or visit www.tbrpc.org.
Sept. 16, Florida Coastal Cleanup in Hillsborough County. Join thousands of volunteers at locations across the county, 8am-noon. Last year, more than 2,400 volunteers picked up 56,261 pounds of trash at 23 locations including Camp Bayou Preserve, Lake Thonotosassa, Rowlett Park and Courtney Campbell Causeway. Trash bags, gloves, refreshments and T-shirts are provided and groups of five or more are asked to pre-register. Call 813-960-5121 or visit www.khcbonline.org.
Sept. 19, Spiders in our Midst, presentation by Francia Smith, environmental educator at Sawgrass Park, as part of St. Petersburg Audubon Society’s monthly meeting, 7pm, Science Center of Pinellas County. Visit www.stpeteaudubon.org.
Sept. 20, “Back to the Moon,” a special astronomy event featuring planetarium shows, lectures and observatory viewing at the Science Center of Pinellas County, 7-10pm. Call 727-384-0027 or visit www.sciencecenterofpinellas.com.
Sept. 30, World Rivers Day Fest at Brooker Creek Preserve, 10am-4pm. Celebrate the second international “World River Day” and the grand opening of the preserve’s new trail system winding through four miles of wilderness in a series of loops. Immerse yourself in local waterways with practical ideas and materials that make a difference in your home and community. Call 727-453-6800 or visit http://www.pinellascounty.org/Environment/pagesHTML/se10.html for more information.
october
Oct. 7, Native plant sale sponsored by the Pinellas Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society at Brooker Creek Nature Preserve, 9am-3pm. Will include seminars for adults and activities for children. Visit http://pinellas.fnpschapters.org.
Oct. 12, Agency on Bay Management, 9am-noon, Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council. Call 727-570-5151, ext. 32, or visit www.tbrpc.org.
October 17, Burrowing Owls presentation by Mark Mueller at St. Petersburg Audubon Society’s monthly meeting, 7pm, Science Center of Pinellas County. Visit www.stpeteaudubon.org.
Oct. 21, Coastal Cleanup sponsored by The Ocean Conservancy and Keep Pinellas Beautiful. Call 727-533-0402 or visit www.tampabaywatch.org.
Mark your calendar!
Nov. 2-3, Hillsborough Community College’s Environmental & Technical Programs Department’s 33rd Annual Conference on Ecosystems Restoration and Creation, in Plant City. Visit www.hccfl.edu/depts/detp/ecoconf.html or call 813-253-7523.
Nov. 11 & 12, “Discover the Island,” sponsored by the Egmont Key Alliance, highlighting the wildlife, cultural, and historic interpretive sites of Fort Dade, the Egmont Key Lighthouse and the key itself. Shuttle boats from Fort DeSoto Park in Pinellas County will leave hourly from 9am-3pm, with the last boat returning from Egmont Key to Fort DeSoto at 5pm. Call 727-398-0627 or visit www.egmontkey.org.
As this calendar is compiled on a quarterly basis, we strongly suggest that you contact sponsoring groups prior to the event. Additionally, some groups may require fees for participation in some events.