September 2009
Saturday Guided Hikes
Saturday, September 5,
2009 9:00 am – 11:00
am
Saturday, September 12, 2009 9:00 am – 11:00
am
Saturday, September 19, 2009 9:00 am – 11:00
am
Saturday, September 26, 2009 9:00 am – 11:00
am
Education Services Volunteers, Environmental
Lands Division
Guided hikes through coastal mangrove and upland ecosystems of
the Preserve are held each Saturday of the month. Join us to
learn about the coastal environment and the early residents of
Weedon Island Preserve. Be sure to bring water and a snack for
this two-hour hike. A hat and closed-toe shoes are also recommended. Reserve
your space by 2 pm on the Friday prior to the tour of choice. This
event is free and open to the public. Pre-registration
is required. Recommended ages: 6 and up.
Artist Exhibit Openings
Sunday, September 6, 2009
1:00 pm – 3:00
pm
Facets
of Florida 2007-2009
Misty
Beauchamp, Bonita Springs, FL
Florida
Wild Birds and Habitats
Maxis
Gamez, Sarasota, FL
Join us for a double exhibit opening and reception
for Misty Beauchamp and Maxis Gamez, two extraordinary
Florida artists. Ms. Beauchamp’s oil
and mixed media paintings focus on conservation
and depict scenes of Florida that are rapidly vanishing. Mr.
Gamez uses interesting wildlife photography techniques
to capture nature and wildlife in expressive and
creative ways. Both exhibits are on display,
free of charge, during normal Center hours through
November 1, 2009.
Wee-time at Weedon: Harry Horseshoe
Crab, A Tale of Crawly Creatures
Thursday, September 10,
2009 10:30 am – 11:30
am
Education Services Staff and Volunteers,
Environmental Lands Division
This program is 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.
This week presents Harry Horseshoe Crab, A
Tale of Crawly Creatures by Suzanne Tate.
Following the story, participants have a chance
to meet a live horseshoe crab from the Tampa Bay
estuary. Horseshoe crabs belong to a family of
animals that have lived on the earth for millions
of years. This event is free and
open to the public. Spaces are limited so register
early! Recommended ages: 3 - 5.
Diamondback Terrapins: Living on the Edge
Saturday, September 12,
2009 10:00 am – 12:00
pm
George L. Heinrich,
Heinrich Ecological Services, St. Petersburg,
FL
Diamondback terrapins were once common in brackish
ecosystems along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts,
but have suffered from a long history of human
exploitation. Current threats to this turtle
species include loss of nesting habitat, encounters
with automobiles, predation, and incidental drowning
in crab pots. This workshop introduces the
ecology and conservation needs of this little known,
yet important coastal and estuary species. Participants
also learn how to sort terrapin bones and reassemble
shells. There is no charge for this workshop. However,
pre-registration is required. Recommended
for adults, suitable for children ages 10 and up.
Wildlife Photography Workshop
Saturday, September 12,
2009 2:00 pm – 3:00
pm
Maxis Gamez, Wildlife Photographer, Sarasota,
FL
Join wildlife photographer Maxis Gamez in an afternoon
workshop that focuses on demonstrating photography
techniques while offering tips on how to capture
extraordinary wildlife images. An award winning
photographer, Mr. Gamez’s crafted skills
and experience benefit all photographers regardless
of their level of expertise. The workshop fee is
$35. Call for more information and to register. Recommended
for adults.
Photography Hike
Sunday, September 13, 2009 8:00
am – 10:00 am
Education Services Staff, Environmental
Lands Division
This program is designed to provide great opportunities
for photographers of all levels. Visitors
hike the Preserve in search of that perfect shot.
Center staff members highlight seasonal features
of the Preserve, as well as specific wildlife behaviors
that help participants capture the natural beauty
of Weedon Island Preserve. This event is free and
open to the public. Pre-registration is required. Recommended
for adults.
Underwater Survey: Paleo Sites in the
Gulf of Mexico
Thursday, September 17,
2009 7:00 pm – 8:00
pm
C. Andrew Hemmings, Ph.D., University
of Texas
Recent NOAA-funded research and investigations
in the Northeastern Gulf of Mexico focused on submerged
Pleistocene landforms and inundated archaeological
sites.
Relict and intact terrestrial, riverine and coastal
features were identified on the gulf inner-continental
shelf using side scan sonar and other remote sensing
gear. While generating important bathymetric
data, this continued off-shore investigation has
great significance in mapping marine protection
areas and on the pre-Clovis debate of early humans
in America. Co-sponsored by the Central Gulf Coast
Archaeological Society, this lecture is free and
open to the public. Pre-registration is requested. Recommended
for adults.
Guided Canoe Trip
Friday, September 18, 2009
12:30 pm – 3:30
pm
Education Services Staff and Volunteers,
Environmental Lands Division
Take this opportunity to explore a portion of the
south canoe trail at Weedon Island Preserve. This
trail offers a rare look at some of the aquatic
ecosystems that make west-central Florida so special.
Trained canoe guides lead you through mangrove
stands and over seagrass and oyster beds, while
pointing out various flora and fauna that live
here. If you have never explored the Preserve from
the water, this is an exciting opportunity you
don’t want to miss! The cost for this
unique experience is $14.02 per person plus tax
($15 total) or $28.04 per canoe plus tax ($30 total)
(maximum of 3 people per canoe). Spaces fill quickly,
and pre-registration is required. Minimum
age: Children must be 6 years old or older and
all minors must be accompanied by an adult.
Weedon Sunday Matinee: A Sense of
Wonder
Sunday, September 20,
2009 2:00 pm – 3:00
pm
Education Services Staff and Volunteers,
Environmental Lands Division
This intriguing film is a documentary-style film
about Rachel Carson, the writer and environmentalist
who published Silent Spring in 1962. Carson
is depicted in her final year of life as she recounts
her struggles with chemical companies, governments
and the media to get her message to the people
and Congress. This recently released award winning
film showing is free and open
to the public. Discussion time follows the film. Recommended
for adults.
Wee-time at Weedon: Carolina’s
Story: Sea Turtles Get Sick Too!
Thursday, September 24,
2009 10:30 am – 11:30
am
Education Services Staff and Volunteers,
Environmental Lands Division
This program is 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.
This week presents Carolina’s
Story: Sea Turtles Get Sick Too! by Donna
Rathmell. This heartwarming story relates the journey
of a loggerhead sea turtle named Carolina and her
rehabilitation and return to the sea. This event
is free and open to the public.
Spaces are limited so register early! Recommended
ages: 3 - 5.
The Great Weedon Bird Quest
Sunday, September 27, 2009
8:00 am – 10:00
am
Education Services Volunteers, Environmental
Lands Division
Join us on a quest to
find Weedon Island Preserve birds! Learn the
identifying marks and behaviors of our feathered
year-round residents 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 each month. Please
join us for a relaxing morning outing led by experienced
birders. Call us for more information and to register.
This event is free and open to the
public. Recommended for adults.
Monday - Friday Half-Day, Self-guided Tours
Launch Times: 11:30 am or 1:00 pm
Sweetwater Kayaks offers half-day (4-hour long) self-guided
tours Monday through Friday. Reservations for the 11:30 am
or 1:00 pm launch times are recommended. Please arrive at Sweetwater
Kayaks 30 minutes before your reservation. Once payment and
paperwork is complete, follow our staff to the Preserve and
park your car in the main parking lot. Call Sweetwater Kayaks
at (727) 570-4844 to reserve your kayak.
Single Half-day Fee: $40
Double Half-day Fee: $56 Saturday and Sunday Half-Day, Self-guided Tours
Launch Times: 9:00 am or 12:30 pm
On weekends, Sweetwater Kayaks' self-guided, half-day tours
are 3.5-hours long and launch at 11:30 am or 1:00 pm. Reservations
are recommended. Meet us at Weedon Island Preserve at least
15 minutes before your reservation. Please park in the main
parking lot. Call Sweetwater Kayaks at (727) 570-4844 to reserve
your kayak.
Single Half-day Fee: $40
Double Half-day Fee: $56
Daily Rentals
Launch Anytime: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Are you dealing with a busy schedule and only have time for
a short paddle around Riviera Bay? Perhaps our hourly rentals
are the best fit. Every weekend, kayaks and canoes are onsite
at the Preserve for rental by the hour. To arrange a drop off
during the week, call Sweetwater Kayaks at (727) 570-4844.
Single Hourly Fee: $17
Double Hourly Fee: $25 |
