Courtesy of Sarasota Parks & Recreation:

 

Sarasota County Nature Events September 2012

We are pleased to offer you nature events for the month of September. In anticipation of those perfect fall days coming soon, this month there are more choices to entice you outdoors.

Please read each event for specific dates, times, locations, directions and registration information, for they all differ.   A big thank you to our volunteer guides and staff!   Pre-registration is required for all of the listed activities.  FOR ON-LINE REGISTRATION – Go to https://www.scgov.net. Click Calendar of Events on the left. Click the ‘All Events’ drop down list, choose ‘Nature Walks’ and ‘go’.   If you are having problems with on-line registration, please contact the Sarasota County Call Center at 941-861-5000 and ask for Natural Resources. To help us provide quality programming, we would appreciate your feedback on this program. A post-event survey will be emailed to all program participants.   To learn more about Sarasota County Natural Lands and Parks click here: http://www.discovernaturalsarasota.org.   Remember to respect our fellow participants, animals, lands and air space. To further enhance the experience at Sarasota County’s natural lands, please help us by picking up and properly disposing of litter, respecting others experience with no cell phone usage, no pets, and please, no smoking. Thank you!   (Please note: Your registration information will not be shared and will be used only for contact purposes in the event of inclement weather or walk cancelation.) If you received this email in error or do not wish to receive this email e-alert, please contact me atdzeilman@scgov.net or call 941-650-0696 to be removed. Thank you.

 

 

‘Know Your Niche’ Nature Walk at Phillippi Estate Park

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Guide: Jennifer Rogers

Location: Phillippi Estate Park

5500 South Tamiami Trail, Sarasota

Pre-registration is required. On-line registration is available at Sarasota County Calendar of Events at www.scgov.net.

 

Summary: Join Sarasota County Parks Naturalist, Jennifer Rogers, for a nature walk along the trails at Phillippi Estate Park on Wednesday, September 5, 2012, from 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.  We will stroll along the shoreline then venture into the coastal hammock to learn about mangroves, epiphytes and the effects of exotic plants on native ecosystems.

Phillippi Estate Park is a scenic, 60-acre natural area park located south of downtown Sarasota on the shores of Phillippi Creek. The park features environmental and historic attractions including the historic Edson Keith Mansion and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Participants should wear appropriate shoes for walking on both paved and sandy trails.  Recommended items to bring are camera/binoculars, drinking water, insect repellent, and sun protection. All Sarasota County nature walks prohibit participants from smoking or bringing pets.

To reach Phillippi Estate Park, 5500 South Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, from I-75, take Exit 205 (Clark Road). Travel west on Clark Road for approximately 5 miles to the intersection with US 41. Turn/Merge Right onto northbound Tamiami Trail (US 41) for 0.8 miles.  Turn left into the park entrance at the traffic signal for Constitution Blvd.  After entering the park, keep right towards the Edson Keith Mansion parking lot.  Meet at the trailhead in the northeast corner of the paved parking lot.

For more information, contact the Sarasota County Call Center at 941-861-5000 or send email to jrogers@scgov.net.

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‘Lunch and Learn’ at Shamrock Park

Thursday, September 6, 2012

12:15 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Guide: Jennifer Rogers

Location: Shamrock Park

3900 Shamrock Drive, Venice

Pre-registration is required. On-line registration is available at Sarasota County Calendar of Events at www.scgov.net.

 

Summary: Join Sarasota County Parks Naturalist, Jennifer Rogers, for a ‘lunch and learn’ nature topic talk at Shamrock Park on Thursday, September 6, 2012, from 12:15 p.m. – 1 p.m.  The nature topic talk will be about Florida’s Epiphytes.

Participants are encouraged to bring their lunch to enjoy during the program.

Shamrock Park contains some of the last remaining scrub habitat in the coastal area of Sarasota County and supports populations of Florida scrub jay and gopher tortoise.

To reach Shamrock Park, 3900 Shamrock Drive, Venice, from the North, take I-75 South to Exit 200, SR 681 South toward Venice traveling approximately 3 miles to South Tamiami Trail/US 41. When SR 681 splits, head left to merge southbound on Tamiami Trail for approximately 2.7 miles to the Venice 41-Bypass.  At the 41-Bypass split, keep left onto the 41-Bypass continuing approximately 3.2 miles to Shamrock Drive. Turn right on Shamrock Drive traveling 1.6 miles to the park entrance on your right. Once in the park, continue past the basketball and tennis courts to the Nature Center.  Meet inside the meeting room on the west side of the nature center building.

For more information contact the Sarasota County Call Center at 941-861-5000 or send email to jrogers@scgov.net.

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Join the Lemon Bay F.I.S.H. Project!

Saturday, September 8, 2012

9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Guide: Chuck Idelberger

Location: Lemon Bay Park and Environmental Center

570 Bay Park Blvd., Englewood

Pre-registration is required. On-line registration is available at Sarasota County Calendar of Events at www.scgov.net.

 

Summary: 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 Saturday, September 8 from 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. on a search for marine life in Lemon Bay. Using hand and seine nets, you will search shallow waters and sea grass beds, observing, collecting, and discussing the natural history of some of the many interesting fishes and other animals that inhabit Lemon Bay. This event which is held at the Lemon Bay Park and Environmental Center runs the second Saturday of each month.

Participants should meet at the park amphitheater, north of the main building near the canoe launch.  Wear wading type shoes, a hat, sun screen, insect repellent, and bring a towel and drinking water. Prepare to get wet and muddy! All Sarasota County nature walks prohibit participants from smoking or bringing pets.

You may reach Lemon Bay Park and Environmental Center, 570 Bay Park Blvd., Englewood by taking I -75 to Exit 193 (Jacaranda Boulevard), turn toward CR 765/Englewood/Venice, and traveling south 5.3 miles to Englewood Road (SR 776). Turn left on Englewood Road (SR 776) (4.1 miles), turning right onto Old Englewood Road (1 mile), turning a slight right onto Kilbourne Avenue to the first right onto Morrison Avenue then the first left onto Curtis Boulevard, then the first right onto Brengle Avenue and the park entrance will be straight ahead.

Space for this walk is limited to 15.

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‘Discovering Insects and Their Ways’ – A guided insect identification walk Jelks Preserve

Saturday, September 8, 2012

9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Guide: Dr. Fred Santana

Location: Jelks Preserve

2300 North River Road, Venice

Pre-registration is required. On-line registration is available at Sarasota County Calendar of Events at www.scgov.net.

 

Summary: Sarasota County is offering a guided insect identification nature walk at the Jelks Preserve from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 8, 2012. Sarasota County Volunteer and retired entomologist Dr. Fred Santana will lead participants through pine flatwoods, oak hammocks and other habitats found on site.

The preserve is one of many public lands that are available through Sarasota County’s Environmentally Sensitive Lands Protection Program. The preserve is home to numerous subtropical plants, as well as various animals in the river as the American alligator, peninsula cooter and West Indian manatee.

Participants should wear long pants, comfortable walking shoes, and bring a hat, sun screen, insect repellent, drinking water, binoculars (optional), camera and a hand lens or magnifying glass (optional). All Sarasota County nature walks prohibit participants from smoking or bringing pets.

Participants can reach Jelks Preserve, 2300 North River Road, Venice by taking I-75 to Exit 191 (North River Road), then traveling south approximately 1.5 miles to the entrance of the preserve which is on the left (east) side of the North River Road. From Venice, take E. Venice Avenue east to North River Road. Turn right (south) onto North River Road. Follow the sign to the entrance of the preserve which is on the left (east).

Space for this walk is limited to 20. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hardwood Hammock Hike at Rothenbach Park

Monday, September 10, 2012

8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Guide: Jennifer Rogers

Location: Rothenbach Park

8650 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota

Pre-registration is required. On-line registration is available at Sarasota County Calendar of Events at www.scgov.net.

 

Summary: Join Sarasota County Parks Naturalist, Jennifer Rogers, for a nature hike through the hardwood hammock habitats of Rothenbach Park on Monday, September 10, 2012, from 8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. The hike is approximately 1 mile in length.  Guests will have the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the majestic oaks in the natural area of this multi-use park, and a chance at seeing the sometimes present white-tailed deer, while learning about the hardwood hammock habitat and its inhabitants.

Rothenbach Park is unique among all Sarasota County Parks in that it is the site of the (closed) capped Bee Ridge Landfill – a mountain of trash turned into a community treasure. The Bee Ridge Landfill was open at this site from 1972 until its closure and final capping in 2000. The site remains under Florida Department of Environmental Protection oversight as a capped landfill.

Participants should wear appropriate shoes for walking on both paved and sandy trails.  Recommended items to bring are camera/binoculars, drinking water, insect repellent, and sun protection. All Sarasota County nature walks prohibit participants from smoking or bringing pets.

To reach Rothenbach Park, 8650 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota, take I-75 to Exit 207 (Bee Ridge Road). Travel east on Bee Ridge Road for approximately 3 miles to the end. The park entrance will be on your right. Meet at the Turkey Trail trailhead at Rothenbach Park.  The parking lot for this trailhead is located on the opposite side of the landfill mound from the park entrance and accessible by a gravel access drive.  After passing through the park gate and passing the park sign on the left, take a left onto the access drive (paved to start).  Of note, there are no restrooms at the meeting location.   Restrooms are only at the pavilion.

For more information contact the Sarasota County Call Center at 941-861-5000 or send email to jrogers@scgov.net.

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From Scrub to Swamp at Manasota Scrub Preserve

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Guide: Nancy Edmondson

Location: Manasota Scrub Preserve

2695 Bridge Street, Englewood

Pre-registration is required. On-line registration is available at Sarasota County Calendar of Events at www.scgov.net.

 

Summary: Fall is a great time to botanize in the scrubby flatwoods of the Manasota Scrub Preserve. Come explore the trails of Manasota Scrub Preserve with Nancy Edmondson, Environmental Specialist with Sarasota County Natural Resources, on Tuesday, September 11, 2012 from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. An assortment of wildflowers and grasses will be identified along the way from the flatwoods to the forested wetland.

The preserve is one of many public lands that are available through Sarasota County’s Environmentally Sensitive Lands Protection Program. In addition to numerous subtropical plants, visitors may hear the great-horned owl or northern quail, or view red-tailed hawks overhead.

Participants should wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a light jacket, a hat, sun screen, insect repellent, drinking water, binoculars (optional), camera and hand lens (optional). All Sarasota County nature walks prohibit participants from smoking or bringing pets.

Participants can reach Manasota Scrub Preserve, 2695 Bridge Street, Englewood by taking I -75 to Exit 193 (Jacaranda Boulevard), then traveling south 5.3 miles to Englewood Road (SR 776). Take Englewood Road (SR 776) south to Manasota Beach Road and turn west (right), then south (left) on Bridge Street.

Space for this walk is limited to 20. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Threatened Species Nature Walk at Shamrock Park

Friday, September 14, 2012

8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Guide: Jennifer Rogers

Location: Shamrock Park

3900 Shamrock Drive, Venice

Pre-registration is required. On-line registration is available at Sarasota County Calendar of Events at www.scgov.net.

 

Summary: Join Sarasota County Parks Naturalist, Jennifer Rogers, for a Threatened Species Nature Walk through coastal scrub habitats at Shamrock Park on Friday, September 14, 2012, from 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.  Guests will learn about scrub habitat, Florida’s endangered and threatened species, and have chances at seeing the resident Florida scrub jays and gopher tortoises, both listed threatened species.

Shamrock Park contains some of the last remaining scrub habitat in the coastal area of Sarasota County and supports populations of Florida scrub jay and gopher tortoise.

Participants should wear appropriate shoes for walking on both paved and sandy/grassy trails.  Recommended items to bring are camera, binoculars, drinking water, insect repellent, and sun protection. All Sarasota County nature walks prohibit participants from smoking or bringing pets.

To reach Shamrock Park, 3900 Shamrock Drive, Venice, from the North, take I-75 South to Exit 200, SR 681 South toward Venice traveling approximately 3 miles to South Tamiami Trail/US 41. When SR 681 splits, head left to merge southbound on Tamiami Trail for approximately 2.7 miles to the Venice 41-Bypass.  At the 41-Bypass split, keep left onto the 41-Bypass continuing approximately 3.2 miles to Shamrock Drive. Turn right on Shamrock Drive traveling 1.6 miles to the park entrance on your right. Once in the park, continue past the basketball and tennis courts to the Nature Center.  Meet on the deck of the nature center building.

For more information contact the Sarasota County Call Center at 941-861-5000 or send email to jrogers@scgov.net.

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International Coastal Clean-up at Cedar Point Environmental Park

Saturday, September 15, 2012

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Guide: Bobbi Rodgers

Locations: Possible locations may include Cedar Point Environmental Park, Oyster Creek Environmental Park and/or Buck Creek Preserve, Englewood

To register: Please phone (941) 475-0769.

 

Summary: It’s time again for Charlotte County’s International Coastal Clean Up! Interested individuals and groups are encouraged to participate in this annual event scheduled for Saturday, September 15 from 9:00 am to noon. We will meet at Cedar Point Environmental Park in Englewood and clean up local parks which may include Cedar Point Environmental Park, Oyster Creek Environmental Park and/or Buck Creek Preserve. All data goes to the Ocean Conservancy to help determine educational needs.

Come help clean up your community. Trash bags and refreshments will be provided. Just bring a commitment to help.

And remember, do your part every day by picking up trash that you see, not just during special clean ups.

Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center, Inc. is a non-profit organization serving the Charlotte Harbor area with environmental education, recreation, research and preservation land management. This Coastal Clean-up is sponsored by Keep Charlotte Beautiful. Clean-up locations are a part of the Charlotte County Parks and Natural Resources Department.

For additional information and/or to register for the clean-up, please phone (941) 475-0769.

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‘Discovering Insects and Their Ways’ – A guided insect identification walk Curry Creek Preserve

Friday, September 21, 2012

9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Guide: Dr. Fred Santana

Location: Curry Creek Preserve

1800 Pinebrook Road, Venice

Pre-registration is required. On-line registration is available at Sarasota County Calendar of Events at www.scgov.net.

 

Summary: Sarasota County is offering a guided insect identification nature walk at Curry Creek Preserve in Venice from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. on Friday, September 21, 2012.  Sarasota County Volunteer and retired entomologist, Dr. Fred Santana, will lead participants through pine flatwoods and oak hammocks describing the little known insect denizens of the preserve and introducing them to the insect diversity of nature and the role insects play in our environment.

Curry Creek Preserve is one of many natural areas available through the county’s environmental lands program. In addition to a wide variety of native plant species, the preserve also provides habitat for gopher tortoises, bobcats and a wide variety of bird species.

Participants should wear long pants, comfortable walking shoes, and bring a hat, sun screen, insect repellent, drinking water, binoculars (optional), camera and a hand lens or magnifying glass (optional). All Sarasota County nature walks prohibit participants from smoking or bringing pets.

Participants can get to the 1500 Pinebrook Road – EAST entrance to Curry Creek Preserve by taking I -75 to Exit 195 (Laurel Road). Go west on Laurel Road for approximately 0.3 miles and turn left at the traffic light onto Pinebrook Road heading south. Go 1.5 miles passing the traffic light at Edmondson Road and look for the preserve sign on the right. Just before you get to the preserve sign, turn right into the driveway directly across from Water Street and then bear left onto preserve property. Park on the grass to the south of the preserve sign and entrance. Participants will gather for the walk at the cable gate entrance.

Space for this walk is limited to 20. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Discovery Kayak Program at Lemon Bay Park

Friday, September 28, 2012

8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Guide: Park Naturalists

Location: Lemon Bay Park and Environmental Center

570 Bay Park Blvd., Englewood

Pre-registration is required. On-line registration is available at Sarasota County Calendar of Events at www.scgov.net.

 

Summary: Join Sarasota County Parks Naturalists as they lead a casual kayak journey along the shallow waters of beautiful Lemon Bay launching from Lemon Bay Park on Friday, September 28, 2012, from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Learn about Florida’s mangroves, seagrasses, and oyster beds in the area. Spy wading birds, explore meandering mangrove tunnels and perhaps catch a glimpse of a manatee or dolphin in the bay waters! The program is an “intermediate” paddle of approximately 3.5 hours in length and 2.5 miles round-trip on bay waters and narrow mangrove tunnels. Kayak program includes several on-water stops for nature interpretation.

Space is limited and other requirements apply. Registration closes 48 hours prior to event. Register early, this program fills quickly!

Participants must bring their own kayak, paddle, and safety gear as required by the U.S. Coast Guard and must be able to portage kayak to the kayak/canoe launch (a distance of approximately 320 feet) and down a stepped slope to the water’s edge.

We recommend paddlers wear sun protection and clothes and shoes that can get wet and muddy; and bring insect repellent, snacks and plenty of drinking water. Landings are wet landings therefore wet-shoes are highly recommended.  For limited maneuvering in mangrove tunnels, shorter kayak and break-away/short paddle recommended.
To reach Lemon Bay Park and Environmental Center, 570 Bay Park Blvd, Englewood, from the North, take I-75 South to Exit 200, SR 681 South toward Venice traveling approximately 3 miles to South Tamiami Trail/US 41. When SR 681 splits, head left to merge southbound on Tamiami Trail for approximately 2.7 miles to the Venice 41-Bypass. At the 41-Bypass split, keep left onto the 41-Bypass continuing South for another 5.1 miles. Merge right onto FL-776/Englewood Rd and continue on FL-776 for 4.8 miles. Turn right onto Old Englewood Rd for 1 mile. Take slight right onto Kilbourne Ave. Take the 1st right onto Morrison Ave. Take the 1st left onto Curtis Blvd. Take the 1st right onto Brengle Ave, and turn Right into Lemon Bay Park. Meet in the parking lot.

For more information contact the Sarasota County Call Center at 941-861-5000 or send an email to jrogers@scgov.net.

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Celebrate National Public Lands Day with volunteers

at Lemon Bay Park and Environmental Center

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Saturday, September 29, 2012

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Guide: Sarasota County Staff

Location: Lemon Bay Park and Environmental Center

570 Bay Park Blvd., Englewood

Pre-registration is required. On-line registration is available at Sarasota County Calendar of Events at www.scgov.net.

 

Summary: Sarasota County Community Services will host a volunteer event, 9 a.m. – noon, Saturday, Sept. 29 at Lemon Bay Park and Environmental Center, 570 Bay Park Blvd., Englewood to help celebrate the 19^th Annual National Public Lands Day.

Staff will guide resident and visitor volunteers in removing invasive plants, painting tables and benches, cleaning up the mangrove shoreline, maintaining trails and working in the butterfly garden. Volunteers are welcome to wade or bring kayaks to use along the shoreline for debris clean-up. Kenya Leonard, Parks Naturalist at Lemon Bay Park, is excited that the event will bring more volunteers into the park. She states that “this event is an excellent opportunity, there is always work to be done in a park with this many amenities and natural features.”

National Public Lands Day is the nation’s largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve and enhance America’s public lands. During last year’s National Public Lands Day, more than 170,000 volunteers nationwide built trails and bridges, planted trees and plants, and removed trash and invasive plants. This effort contributed an estimated $17 million to improve public lands across the country.

Sarasota County has more than 106,000 acres of natural land that is home to hundreds of protected and endangered species of animals and plants. Natural lands in Sarasota County offer residents and visitors the opportunity to interact with nature, witness wildlife in its natural habitat, and enjoy outdoor recreation.

Space for this volunteer event is limited to 25 participants.

Volunteers are encouraged to bring loppers, clippers or shears if they have them. Volunteers should also bring water, bug spray, sunscreen, hat and sunglasses and wear closed-toe, closed-heel shoes such as hiking boots or sneakers.

For more information, please contact the Sarasota County Call Center at 941-861-5000 and ask for Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources.

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Birding Diversity at T. Mabry Carlton, Jr. Memorial Reserve

Sunday, September 30, 2012

7:15 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Guide: Charlie Sample

Location: T. Mabry Carlton, Jr. Memorial Reserve (Carlton)

1800 Mabry Carlton Parkway, Venice

To register: Contact Charlie Sample directly via email at csample41@verizon.net or phone at 941-468-1231.

 

Summary: 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).  Join Sarasota County Volunteer Charlie Sample as he leads you on a birding nature journey starting on Sunday, September 30, 2012 from 7:15 am – 1:00 pm. You won’t be disappointed!

Fall/Winter/Spring Birding Diversity schedule:

 

Saturday, October 20, 2012	Sunday, November 18, 2012	Saturday, December 29, 2012
Saturday, January 5, 2013;	Sunday, February 10, 2013;	Sunday, March 17, 2013;
Saturday, April 6, 2013;	Saturday, May 4, 2013;	Friday, June 14, 2013

 

The Carlton Reserve, located at 1800 Mabry Carlton Parkway in Venice, was purchased in the 1980’s for public water supply source and for conservation/ recreation purposes.

Space for this event is very limited (14) and reservations are necessary. To register, contact Charlie Sample directly via email at csample41@verizon.net or phone at 941-468-1231. The birding outing consists of a short walk around the Park area followed by a carpool trek into the Carlton backcountry with stops along the way to locate birds. Please note: Registration is for the entire event – no early departures because of the distance traveled. CANCELLATIONS: Please notify the guide that you are canceling as soon as possible at 941-468-1231. The event is for beginning birders to expert; however, young children under 12 are not encouraged because of the distance covered.

It is suggested that participants wear comfortable sturdy walking shoes (that can possibly get wet), hat or visor, sun screen, insect repellent, plenty of drinking water, and binoculars (a must!), field bird guide, camera and snack (optional).

To reach the reserve located at 1800 Mabry Carlton Parkway in Venice, take I-75 to Exit 193 (Jacaranda Boulevard). Turn (North) at the exit and then right at the next intersection (Border Road). Drive 2 ½ miles, across the bridge, over the river and turning left at the stop sign (South Moon Drive) and entering the Mabry Carlton Parkway, then turn right into the Carlton Reserve’s parking entrance. Follow signs to the parking lot. Participants should meet at the parking lot at 7:15 am for an adventure in nature!