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A monthly e-newsletter sharing our nature news and events.
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Explore Nature with Your Toddler
At Urfer Family Park
Bring your toddler to connect with nature in fun, creative ways at Urfer Family Park.
Join Sarasota County Staff as they take you and your children on a 15-minute nature walk, a 30 minute hands-on activity at two nature-themed Exploration Stations, and 15 minutes of fun group time (which includes a themed snack and story, finger plays, or songs). Open to children ages 18 months – 2 years. All children must be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian.
Sunday, October 2, 10 – 11 a.m. 
4000 Honore Ave., Sarasota
Space limited to 15 toddlers.
Guides: Sarasota County Staff
Register here for this event.
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Demonstration Garden Tour at Shamrock Park
Join the master gardener volunteers as they provide free demonstration garden tours and advice on Florida gardening.
Meet at the central Demonstration Garden near the Nature Center.
Thursday, October 6, 9 a.m.
Demonstration Garden area
3900 Shamrock Dr., Venice
No registration needed.
All welcome!
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All You Wanted to Know About Mangroves and More: Walk and Talk
Join Sarasota County volunteer, Tina Sebastian, on an informative walk and talk to learn about our area’s mangroves. Tina will teach a short class about the mangroves and then take you on a 45 min. educational walk around the park discussing mangroves and their importance to Florida coastlines.
Thursday, October 6, 9 – 11 a.m.
570 Bay Park Blvd., Englewood
Guide: Sarasota County Volunteer, Tina Sebastian
Register here for this event.
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‘Learn to Know the Wild Things’
Bird ID Class Series at Lemon Bay Park
Leaning towards beginning birders or as a refresher, the goal of this four part bird ID class series is to learn bird field marks, habitats and behavior; which are key in identification. Three classes will be held indoors and the final class will be outdoors to locate and identify birds in the park. Each participant will need a field guide and binoculars for sessions 2 thru 4. If not possible, the course leader will issue loaners.
Thursdays, October 6, 13, 20, and 27, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. 
Classroom and Field Work
570 Bay Park Blvd., Englewood
Instructor: Venice Area Audubon Society Member, Charlie Sample
Sponsored by Friends of Lemon Bay: A $20 donation is appreciated to cover materials and refreshments for the four classes.
For questions concerning class curriculum, contact instructor, Charlie Sample, 941-496-8984.
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Join the Lemon Bay F.I.S.H. Project
Calling all F.I.S.H. – Folks Interested in Submerged Habitats!
Get a little wet, have a little fun and learn a lot!
Join American Littoral Society Biologist, Chuck Idelberger, on a search for marine life in Lemon Bay. Using hand and seine nets, you will search shallow waters and seagrass beds, observing, collecting, and discussing the natural history of some of the many interesting fishes and other animals that inhabit the bay.
Saturday, October 8, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. 
570 Bay Park Blvd., Englewood
Guide: Chuck Idelberger, American
Littoral Society Biologist
For registration, please call Chuck Idelberger directly at 941-488-8998.
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Looking for Carolina Asters Along Myakka River
Carolina aster is a vining wildflower found along rivers and wetlands in Florida. Join amateur botanists and Florida Native Plant Society members, Denny Girard and Al Squires at Sleeping Turtles Preserve North, as they lead you on a hike in search for the pink and lavender flowering vines. Along the way, you will enjoy canopied river trails with views of the Wild and Scenic Myakka River with surprises of a myriad of small flowers growing right beneath your feet.
Wednesday, October 12, 9 – 11 a.m. 
3462 Border Road, Venice
Guides: Sarasota County Volunteers, Denny Girard and
Al Squires
Register here for this event.
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Seasons and Serendipity Stroll at Shamrock Park
Florida does have seasons, not just for hurricanes and warm vs. hotter weather. Join Sarasota County Volunteer Master Naturalists and Shamrock Park Staff to stroll the trails, relying on changing seasons to bring us new flowers and birds’ nests, insects and animal activity. A little serendipity will find things in unexpected places!
Friday, October 14, 8 – 10 a.m. 
3900 Shamrock Dr., Venice
Space limited to 20.
Guides: Sarasota County Volunteers and Park Naturalist
Register here for this event.
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Full Moon Walk at Shamrock Park
Don’t miss this one! Celebrate the Full Moon with Sarasota County Master Naturalist and Staff, to walk Shamrock Park’s trails lit by the rising full moon. We’ll have a telescope stationed – weather permitting – to explore the moon’s topography, named craters and valleys. Listening for night creatures and checking to see if the moon flowers have opened is always fun! Remember your flashlight and bug repellent! The walk will be approximately 60-90 minutes.
Saturday, October 15, 6:30 p.m. 
3900 Shamrock Dr., Venice
Space limited to 20.
Guides: Sarasota County Volunteers and Park Naturalist
Register here for this event.
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Monthly Rain Barrel Workshop and Sales
Learn how the use of rain barrels can conserve water, save money by reducing the use of potable water in landscapes (lower utility bills), and reduce stormwater runoff by storing and diverting runoff from impervious surfaces (roofs). Practical tips on the construction and installation will be provided. Rain barrels will be for sale for $37 each, includes tax and spigot assembly. Cash or check accepted.
Saturday, October 15, 10 – 11 a.m. 
6050 Longwood Run Blvd., Sarasota
Contact: David Pouso, Sarasota County Environmental Specialist, 941-861-5000
To register for this free class go to Eventbrite.
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Birding Diversity at T. Mabry Carlton, Jr. Memorial Reserve
Calling all birding enthusiasts! Be tantalized and wowed by the vast array of bird species and nature found at the beautiful T. Mabry Carlton, Jr. Memorial Reserve (Carlton Reserve). Join Sarasota County volunteer guide Charlie Sample as he leads you on a birding nature journey. Don’t miss this opportunity to help document the multitude of bird species on the Carlton Reserve. You won’t be disappointed!
Saturday, October 22, 7:15 a.m. – 12 p.m.
1800 Mabry Carlton Parkway, Venice
Space limited to 14.
Guide: Sarasota County Volunteer
Charlie Sample
Register here for this event.
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Looking for Signs of Autumn at Old Miakka Preserve
Join us for an afternoon excursion as Sarasota County Volunteer, Bill Little, leads you on a fun and informative nature walk to search for signs of autumn in southwest Florida at Old Miakka Preserve. Participants will explore a wide variety of habitats ranging from scrub and pine flatwoods to bottomland forest and blackwater streams. This 2-4 mile walk is rated easy to moderate due to soft sandy trails and possible wet crossings in some areas.
Sunday, October 23, 2 – 4 p.m. 
251 Myakka Road, Sarasota
Space limited to 20.
Guide: Sarasota County Volunteer,
Bill Little
Register here for this event.
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Fall Wildflower Walk At Urfer Family Park
October is the best for wildflowers in Florida. Bring your camera, or just come along for the beauty of it!
Join a Sarasota County Parks Naturalist for a pleasant walk along 1 ½ miles of paved and unpaved trails at Urfer Family Park. You will visit a pine flatwoods and the edges of two different wetlands. Here you will see a variety of wildflowers, blooming grasses and trees full of berries.
Wednesday, October 26, 9 – 10:30 a.m. 
4000 Honore Ave., Sarasota
Space limited to 20.
Guide: Sarasota County Park Naturalist
Register here for this event.
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Seasons and Serendipity Stroll at Shamrock Park
Florida does have seasons, not just for hurricanes and warm vs. hotter weather. Join Sarasota County Volunteer Master Naturalists and Shamrock Park Staff to stroll the trails, relying on changing seasons to bring us new flowers and birds’ nests, insects and animal activity. A little serendipity will find things in unexpected places!
Friday, October 28, 8 – 10 a.m. 
3900 Shamrock Dr., Venice
Space limited to 20.
Guide: Sarasota County Volunteers and Park Naturalist
Register here for this event.
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Native Plants for Wildlife: Walk and Talk
Join UF/IFAS Extension Staff, for a leisurely walk and talk through the pine and scrubby flatwoods and oak hammocks at Curry Creek Preserve. Discussions will take place while noticing many interesting native plants that grow along the trails, making for a delightful and educational trek through the preserve.
Friday, October 28, 9 – 11 a.m. 
1500 Pinebrook Rd., Venice
Space limited.
Guides: UF/IFAS Extension Staff
Register here for this event.
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Slither and Hiss: Snakes of Florida
Snakes have long been the objects of fascination, fear and even revulsion. In the natural world, snakes perform valuable environmental services that benefit other species and even the human population!
Join a Sarasota County Parks Naturalist at Urfer Family Park, to learn about Florida’s variety of snakes, how to identify common snake species, and how to live with snakes in your home landscape. Children welcome. BE PREPARED to see live snakes!
Saturday, October 29, 9 – 10 a.m. 
4000 Honore Ave., Sarasota
Space limited 75.
Guides: Sarasota County Staff
Register here for this event.
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| For more nature based events for you and your family, please be sure to visit the links on the right column of this newsletter.
Go outside 
and play!
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| Registration Process for Nature Events
Look for ‘View Activities’ (if you already have an account), or SIGN UP HERE (if you need to open up a
new household account). 
Attached here are directions to help you set up a ‘household’ account to sign up for a free nature event.
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Please remember the 3 R’s.
Reuse, Reduce, and Recycle, when visiting your parks and environmental lands!
Please use appropriate containers for recycles and trash.
When visiting a preserve or environmental land where there are limited trash receptacles, please remember to ‘Pack it in. Pack it out.’
Leave nothing but your footprints and thank you for caring.
For more information on the three R’s for your home and business, visit Sarasota County Solid Waste for useful information. 
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 About Us Sarasota County
Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources
1660 Ringling Boulevard
Sarasota, Florida 34236
You are receiving this email based on having previously requested to be included on our e-list for nature events. Please note, we do not share your information or email. Should you want to opt out from receiving this newsletter, just click the “Instant Removal” link at the bottom of the page and your name will be permanently removed from the list.
Sarasota County prohibits discrimination in all services, programs or activities. View the complete policy at www.scgov.net/ADA.Persons with disabilities, who require assistance or wish to file a complaint, should contact the Sarasota County ADA/Civil Rights Coordinator by mail at 1660 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota, Florida 34236 or by phone at 941-861-5000.
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| A peaceful picnic area in Walton Ranch, located at 7020 North Toledo Blade Blvd., North Port |
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Become a
Sarasota County volunteer!
Meaningful opportunities and flexible hours available for people of all ages.
Together, we can build a better community!
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Be sure to check out more activities by visiting the links below:
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Check out Park’s happenings!
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University of Florida/IFAS Extension Sarasota County
Education Schedule
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For more information on nature outings click here. |
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For more information call Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center (CHEC), Cedar Point Environmental Park at
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