Sunday, December 8th at 4:00 in the store. Dr. Peterson will present "The Iconic Cardinal". He will talk about how it is an icon of nature, a cultural icon and a spiritual icon. Since this will be a popular presentation, please RSVP.

Join us for our Blue Spring Education Day on Saturday, December 7th, 2019 from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.! You will have the opportunity to meet some of our researchers and volunteers who can answer all of your manatee questions, you can adopt a manatee right then and there and we will have lots of educational information, as well as coloring books and stickers for the kids!

Join the Florida Springs Institute and Tom Morris for an adventure on the Santa Fe River investigating its sinks and swallets (a.k.a. sucks, swallow holes, or river sinks)! This will be a combination canoeing/kayaking/hiking trip.

Participants are responsible for bringing/reserving their own watercraft. If you do not have your own boat, we recommend renting canoes and kayaks at the nearby Santa Fe Canoe Outpost

Special behind-the-scenes hiking opportunity:
Enjoy a 1-mile ranger-led hike along the Rim Ramble trail in an area of the park that is usually inaccessible to visitors! Learn about the history of the preserve and the plants and wildlife that call the prairie home.

Park admission is $4 a vehicle.

Volunteer naturalist Don Mock will teach us about William Bartram's visit in 1774, flora and fauna of the prairie, and the rich history that has led to what you know as Paynes Prairie.

Family-friendly leisurely walk on the trail around Lake Elberta. See what birds are visiting the area. No pets, please.

Florida Museum of Natural History visitors may talk one-on-one with researchers and find answers during an afternoon of discovery and learning on Dec. 8 from 1 to 4 p.m.

Learn about microplastics with Maia McGuire, UF/IFAS Extension Sea Grant agent and founder of the Florida Microplastic Awareness Project. View different types of plastics under a microscope and learn how they affect ecosystems.

Pollinators play a vital role in our ecosystem, but did you know that bees are not the only pollinators out there? Learn why your butterfly garden should really be called a pollinator garden. This program is FREE and open to all ages. No reservations required. Seating is first-come, first-served.

Explore the beach wrack line for trash and see what the tide brings in that day. Bring gloves, water and sunscreen. Meet at parking area #1. Cleanup with us or pick up a bag and proceed to another area of the beach.

Florida Academic Lichen And Fungi Enthusiasts League December 2019 Meeting
"Biology of Cordyceps & Other Entomopathogenic Fungi"
with Ross Joseph at Alachua County Library Headquarters (downtown)

Free and open to everyone!

Discover the enjoyment of growing plants in Central Florida from Leu Garden’s Director Robert Bowden. He’ll talk about garden plants, soil, sun and water and how they differ from other parts of the country. Cost is $16, Leu Member $10.

Embark on an adventure as we celebrate our local National Parks! Learn how to get involve and discover what makes each site unique as we explore the parks that call South Florida home through craft activities, interactives, story time and more.

Come enjoy a guided hike through ancient dunes shaded by a maritime hammock. Discover the park’s natural communities while exploring this unique trail. Although only a mile long, this hike is more challenging than our other trails due to the natural sloping landscape.

The City of Jacksonville Beach is hosting a Public Workshop to present the results of a flood vulnerability analysis that was conducted as part of a Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) grant-funded project to quantify the City’s vulnerability to sea level rise scenarios and other flood events.

Join us to learn about animals you could see or hear in your local parks, or even your own back yard! Live animals at each lecture. Call the nature center at 561-804-4985 to reserve your spot.

Wake up with a hiking adventure in the Everglades! Search for birds in the Kowechobe Restoration Area, not typically accessible to the public, during this easy-paced guided walk. Observe birds leaving their rookeries for the day and learn some identification tips as you act as a Citizen Scientist and help collect important bird survey research.
Call the nature center at 561-804-4985 to reserve your spot.