Monday, December 20, 2010 - ERD Announces Weekly Nature Series For January
St. Lucie County's Environmental Resources Department continues its weekly winter Nature Series with guided, educational hikes for January. These free programs take place every Saturday through April 30 and give participants a chance to explore some of the 42 miles of hiking trails that are located throughout the County's 7,000 acres of Environmental Significant Lands.- Saturday, Jan. 1 from 10:30 -11:30 a.m. - Lil' Tyke Hike at Sweetwater Hammock, 4100 South 25th Street, Fort Pierce. The preserve offers a short loop trail that winds through a young hammock. Join us for a scavenger-hunt based hike for children ages 4-10. Children will learn about plants seeds and how to use their senses to truly experience nature.
- Saturday, Jan. 8 from 9 - 10:30 a.m. - Coastal Plants and Worm Reef Construction at Ocean Bay, 7600 South Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach. Ever wonder how early inhabitants of the coastlines treated toothaches? Unique coastal vegetation, including tropical hardwood hammock plants as well as beach dune vegetation is the topic of this trip, including a discussion on how early peoples put these plants to use. Then head to the beach and learn about the complex worm-reef ecosystem just offshore.
- Saturday, Jan. 15 from 9 - 11 a.m. - George LeStrange Preserve Lil' Tyke Hike, 4911 Ralls Road, Fort Pierce. Join us for an interactive nature program for children ages 4-10. Children will learn about habitat and wildlife through role-play activities.
- Saturday, Jan. 22 from 6 - 7:30 p.m. - Owl Prowl at Paleo and Teague Hammock, 8550 -8551 Carlton Road, Port St. Lucie. Whoo, whoo, whoo wants to see barred owls, screech owls, and great horned owls? A naturalist will call our local feathered friends from under an oak hammock. Bring your flashlights and red cellophane wrap.
- Saturday, Jan. 29 from 9 - 11 a.m. - Spruce Bluff Archeological Walk, 611 SE Dar Lane, Port St. Lucie. Discover a ceremonial Indian mound built thousands of years ago. Learn about the immense process of constructing it and the significance behind it. Along the way, we'll talk about various plants early Indians used for food, shelter and medicine.
Anyone wishing to participate in these unique nature programs needs to register at least one day in advance. Programs are free, but limited to the first 15 people. Purchased through a voter-approved bond referendum, St. Lucie County manages 24 preserves that are open to the public for passive recreation.
To register for the free, weekly Nature Series or for more details about environmental lands, call the St. Lucie County Environmental Resources Department at 772-462-2525 or visit: www.stlucieco.gov/erd.