Heartsbreath 2009 Flute Extravaganza
Saturday, August 1, 2009  10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Native American Style Flute Performers
Join us for a fun-filled celebration at the Heartsbreath 2009 Flute Extravaganza at Weedon Island Preserve.  This 6th annual celebration features the art and music of the Native American culture, sure to captivate visitors of all ages.  Participate in a silent auction or shop for Native American-themed items and hand-made flutes.  Learn the basics of indigenous flute playing through a demonstration and instruction by talented flutists.  Register for the flute class by calling (727) 453-6500. This event is free and open to the public.  Recommended for all ages.

Photography Hike
Sunday, August 2, 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.

Guided Canoe Trip
Friday, August 7, 2009   9:00 am – 12:00 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.

Saturday Guided Hikes
Saturday, August 8, 2009   9:00 am – 11:00 am
Saturday, August 15, 2009   9:00 am – 11:00 am
Saturday, August 22, 2009   9:00 am – 11:00 am
Saturday, August 29, 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 on most Saturdays 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 2-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.

Hurricanes for Kids and How to Become Storm Savvy
Saturday, August 8, 2009   10:30 am – 11:30 am
Tom Iovino, Pinellas County Communications
Pinellas County Communications brings timely information for our coastal residents. Hurricane season can be a very trying time for younger family members. By using experiments and easy-to-understand language, your youngsters can find some control over these scary situations. Learn how to put together a survival kit without busting your budget, and plan ahead for evacuations. Tips are offered for everyone in this storm savvy program.  Registration is appreciated for this free program.  Recommended  for families with children ages 6 and older. 

Weedon Saturday Matinée – Water’s Journey: The Hidden Rivers of Florida
Saturday, August 15, 2009   2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division
Where does our water come from?  An award-winning, extraordinary documentary follows a team of daring divers as they explore the connecting paths of the Floridan aquifer.  BYOP (bring your own popcorn) for this fascinating 1-hour journey to discover Florida’s hidden rivers.  Participants can pick up a handy tip sheet of practical ways individuals can help protect Florida’s precious water supply.  Pre-registration is appreciated for this free program.  Recommended for adults – suitable for children 10 and up.

Wee-time at Weedon: Those Terrific Turtles
Thursday, August 13, 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 Those Terrific Turtles by Sarah Cussen.  Learn all about turtles, big and small, where they live and what they eat. This event is free and open to the public. Spaces are limited so register early!  Recommended ages: 3 - 5.

Palm Boot Mask Workshop
Sunday, August 16, 2009   1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division
In almost every culture masks have been created and worn for protection, as disguises or as a means of transforming oneself spiritually.  They have functioned as dynamic mediums of expression and transformation.  In this workshop we use the base of the palm frond, known as the palm boot, as a foundation to create unique wall hangings. The program begins with a pictorial introduction to help inspire participants to create their own works of art.  Due to the distinctive shape of each palm boot, each takes on its own character which will be revealed to its owner.  No art experience is necessary. Participants receive a palm boot to decorate with paint and natural materials.  Program fee: $10 for materials.  Pre-registration is required and space is limited.  Recommended ages: 10 and up.

Tampa Bay Creature Feature
Saturday, August 22, 2009   2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division
What lives in the Bay? Join us as we explore some of the amazing creatures found in the Tampa Bay Estuary.  We discuss some familiar and some very unfamiliar organisms that inhabit the shallow water ecosystems around Weedon Island Preserve and Tampa Bay.  Some of these small critters play huge roles in maintaining and benefiting the Tampa Bay ecosystem.  Guest participants for this program include oysters, snails, worms, crabs, and fish.  This program is free, and pre-registration is required. Recommended for ages 8 and up. 

History Mound Hike
Sunday, August 23, 2009   9:00 am – 11:00 am
Education Services Volunteers, Environmental Lands Division
Join us on a guided hike of the new History Mound Trail.  Trained volunteers interpret the early prehistory of shell mounds and discuss the colorful, recent history of Weedon Island Preserve. This half-mile hiking trail is a recent addition to the Preserve’s trail system, and provides excellent educational opportunities as it combines the beauty of several seldom-seen natural communities with the Preserve’s rich cultural heritage.  Half of the trail provides visitors a close-up view of scrubby flatwoods, xeric hammock, and shell mound communities - areas previously inaccessible to the public.  On the other half, hikers follow the footsteps of others along a road created in the 1930s. This event is free and open to the public. Pre-registration is required.  Recommended for adults and children ages 8 and up.

Wee-time at Weedon: Into the A, B, Sea: An Ocean Alphabet Book
Thursday, August 27, 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 Into the A, B, Sea: An Ocean Alphabet Book by Deborah Lee Rose. The story reveals the underwater world where wonderful arrays of creatures thrive. This event is free and open to the public. Spaces are limited so register early! Recommended ages: 3 - 5.

Family Maya Day
Saturday, August 29, 2009   10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Gabrielle Vail, Ph.D. New College of Florida, Sarasota, FL
Join archaeologists for an exploration of ancient Maya culture.  Learn how experts decipher Maya hieroglyphic writing, calculate your birthday in the Maya calendar, and decode the meaning of images carved in stone and painted on ceramics.  Children (and the young at heart!) are invited to paint their own Maya designs and to master the art of making friendship bracelets, woven placemats, and kites. This event is free! Recommended for families.

The Great Weedon Bird Quest
Sunday, August 30, 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.

“Woven Threads Through Time: Maya Women, Weavers, and Their Stories”
Presented by Gabrielle Vail, Ph.D., New College of Florida, Sarasota, FL
This extraordinary exhibit highlights Maya weaving from the classic Maya goddesses of the ancient past to the contemporary women of today.  The exhibition explores Maya weaving from a number of different perspectives including the use of the backstrap loom and other techniques favored by Maya women.  Come see examples of weavings from both ancient and contemporary Maya culture for a greater appreciation of the sacred nature of woven textiles and their place within the Maya cosmos.  Visitors may enjoy this free exhibit during normal Center hours through August 31, 2009.

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

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