Saturday Guided Hikes
Saturday, September 5, 2009  9:00 am – 11:00 am
Saturday, September 12, 2009  9:00 am – 11:00 am
Saturday, September 19, 2009  9:00 am – 11:00 am
Saturday, September 26, 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 each Saturday 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 two-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.

Artist Exhibit Openings
Sunday, September 6, 2009 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
            Facets of Florida 2007-2009
                        Misty Beauchamp, Bonita Springs, FL
            Florida Wild Birds and Habitats
                        Maxis Gamez, Sarasota, FL
Join us for a double exhibit opening and reception for Misty Beauchamp and Maxis Gamez, two extraordinary Florida artists.  Ms. Beauchamp’s oil and mixed media paintings focus on conservation and depict scenes of Florida that are rapidly vanishing.  Mr. Gamez uses interesting wildlife photography techniques to capture nature and wildlife in expressive and creative ways.  Both exhibits are on display, free of charge, during normal Center hours through November 1, 2009.  

Wee-time at Weedon: Harry Horseshoe Crab, A Tale of Crawly Creatures
Thursday, September 10, 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 Harry Horseshoe Crab, A Tale of Crawly Creatures by Suzanne Tate. Following the story, participants have a chance to meet a live horseshoe crab from the Tampa Bay estuary. Horseshoe crabs belong to a family of animals that have lived on the earth for millions of years. This event is free and open to the public. Spaces are limited so register early! Recommended ages: 3 - 5.

Diamondback Terrapins: Living on the Edge
Saturday, September 12, 2009 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
George L. Heinrich, Heinrich Ecological Services, St. Petersburg, FL
Diamondback terrapins were once common in brackish ecosystems along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, but have suffered from a long history of human exploitation.  Current threats to this turtle species include loss of nesting habitat, encounters with automobiles, predation, and incidental drowning in crab pots.  This workshop introduces the ecology and conservation needs of this little known, yet important coastal and estuary species.  Participants also learn how to sort terrapin bones and reassemble shells. There is no charge for this workshop. However, pre-registration is required. Recommended for adults, suitable for children ages 10 and up.

Wildlife Photography Workshop
Saturday, September 12, 2009  2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Maxis Gamez, Wildlife Photographer, Sarasota, FL
Join wildlife photographer Maxis Gamez in an afternoon workshop that focuses on demonstrating photography techniques while offering tips on how to capture extraordinary wildlife images.  An award winning photographer, Mr. Gamez’s crafted skills and experience benefit all photographers regardless of their level of expertise. The workshop fee is $35. Call for more information and to register. Recommended for adults.

Photography Hike
Sunday, September 13, 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.

Underwater Survey: Paleo Sites in the Gulf of Mexico
Thursday, September 17, 2009  7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
C. Andrew Hemmings, Ph.D., University of Texas
Recent NOAA-funded research and investigations in the Northeastern Gulf of Mexico focused on submerged Pleistocene landforms and inundated archaeological sites.
Relict and intact terrestrial, riverine and coastal features were identified on the gulf inner-continental shelf using side scan sonar and other remote sensing gear.  While generating important bathymetric data, this continued off-shore investigation has great significance in mapping marine protection areas and on the pre-Clovis debate of early humans in America. Co-sponsored by the Central Gulf Coast Archaeological Society, this lecture is free and open to the public. Pre-registration is requested.  Recommended for adults.

Guided Canoe Trip
Friday, September 18, 2009 12:30 pm – 3:30 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.

Weedon Sunday Matinee: A Sense of Wonder
Sunday, September 20, 2009  2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Education Services Staff and Volunteers, Environmental Lands Division
This intriguing film is a documentary-style film about Rachel Carson, the writer and environmentalist who published Silent Spring in 1962. Carson is depicted in her final year of life as she recounts her struggles with chemical companies, governments and the media to get her message to the people and Congress. This recently released award winning film showing is free and open to the public. Discussion time follows the film.  Recommended for adults.

Wee-time at Weedon: Carolina’s Story: Sea Turtles Get Sick Too!
Thursday, September 24, 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 Carolina’s Story: Sea Turtles Get Sick Too! by Donna Rathmell. This heartwarming story relates the journey of a loggerhead sea turtle named Carolina and her rehabilitation and return to the sea. This event is free and open to the public. Spaces are limited so register early! Recommended ages: 3 - 5.

The Great Weedon Bird Quest
Sunday, September 27, 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.

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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