Saturday Guided Hike
Saturday, September 4, 2010 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Saturday, September 11, 2010 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Saturday, September 18, 2010 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Saturday, September 25, 2010 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 Wee don Island Preserve. Be sure to bring water and a snack. A hat and closed-toe shoes are also recommended. Please register by 2:00 pm on the Friday prior to the hike of your choice. Free. All ages welcome - children younger than 6 may find this hike challenging.
Wee-time at Wee don: The Creek, the Kazoo and What You Can Do!
Thursday, September 9, 2010 10:30 am – 11:15 am
Education Services Volunteers, Environmental Lands Division
This program is designed to introduce pre-school children to the wonders of the natural and cultural 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’s story features Inlays County’s very own Booker Creek in the book entitled The Creek, the Kazoo and What You Can Do! by Elaine Cantle Shim berg. Children learn how watersheds play an important role in our everyday lives and how to keep our waterways clean from trash. Pre-registration is required. Free. Recommended ages: 3 - 5.
The Great Wee don Bird Quest
Friday, September 10, 2010 8:00 am – 10:00 am
Education Services Volunteers, Environmental Lands Division
Join us on a quest to find Wee don 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 second Friday of each month. Please join us for a relaxing morning outing led by experienced birders. Pre-registration is required for this free event. Recommended for adults.
No Such Place as Away
Saturday, September 11, 2010 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Inlays County Utilities/Solid Waste
Ever wonder what happens to your garbage when you throw it away? This presentation covers Inlays County’s integrated solid waste management system that includes a waste-to-energy facility, sanitary landfills and recycling programs. Participants learn how to reduce, reuse, and recycle their wastes and techniques for “closing the loop” by shopping for items made with post-consumer recycled content. Pre-registration is required for this free event. Recommended for elementary children through adults.
Sweet Cane: Florida Sugar Prior to the Civil War
Thursday, September 16, 2010 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Lucy B. Wayne, Ph.D., South Arc, Inc., Gainesville, FL
Prior to the Civil War, Florida sugar plantations were an important industry. Archaeologist Dr. Lucy Wayne explores the history and architectural remains of this past agricultural industry and relates the historic events that first created the plantations and then their demise. This program, co-sponsored by the Central Gulf Coast Archaeological Society, is free and open to the public. Pre-registration is requested. Recommended for adults.
National Estuaries Day Photography Contest: “Tampa Bay Estuary Photo Moments”
Submittal Due Date:
Friday, September 17, 2010 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Awards Event:
Saturday, September 25, 2010 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Education Services Staff and Volunteers, Environmental Lands Division
Help celebrate National Estuaries Day with a photography contest that captures the beauty of Tampa Bay, the largest open water estuary in Florida. Amateur photographers are encouraged to submit, on or before September 17, a matted or framed print depicting the wonder of the estuary. Each entry, which remains on display at Wee don Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center, has an opportunity to win one of several donated prizes ranging from eco-tours to guided kayak trips. Join us on National Estuaries Day on Saturday, September 25, 2010, for a chance to cast your vote for the “Viewer’s Choice” award and for the unveiling of contest winners. The contest and awards event is free and open to the public. Recommended for all ages.
Photography Hike
Saturday, September 18, 2010 8:30 am – 10:30 am
Education Services Volunteers, Environmental Lands Division
This program provides great opportunities for photographers of all levels to hone their skills. After a brief classroom session, participants hike the Preserve in search of that perfect shot. Center volunteers highlight seasonal features of the Preserve, as well as specific wildlife behaviors that help participants capture the natural beauty of Wee don Island Preserve. Free. Pre-registration is required. Recommended for adults.
Nautical Exhibit and Lecture: “Historic Marine Lanterns and Buoy Lights”
Saturday, September 18, 2010 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Harry Cunningham III, Tampa Bay Estuary Program Volunteer
Come join us for a presentation by Harry Cunningham III, collector of historic marine lanterns and buoy lights, about their use and history. Mr. Cunningham, a 5th generation Floridian, is an avid student of local history who has spent the past 30 years collecting nautical lanterns. He is also the 2010 Volunteer of the Year for the Tampa Bay Estuary Program. Many items from his nautical collection will be on display at Wee don Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center beginning September 2, 2010 through September 30, 2010.
Wee-time at Wee don: The Sea, The Storm, and The Mangrove Tangle
Thursday, September 23, 2010 10:30 am – 11:15 am
Education Services Volunteers, Environmental Lands Division
This program is designed to introduce pre-school children to the wonders of the natural and cultural 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 book presents The Sea, The Storm, and The Mangrove Tangle by Lynne Cherry. Children learn about the life of a mangrove tree and its special place in the ecosystem. Pre-registration is required. Free. Recommended ages: 3 - 5.
The State of Tampa Bay - National Estuaries Day 2010
Saturday, September 25, 2010 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Nanette O’Hara, St. Petersburg, FL and
Chris Anderson, Florida Wildlife Research Institute, St. Petersburg, FL
Come celebrate National Estuaries Day and learn more about our own Tampa Bay. Hear from experts Nanette O’Hara and Chris Anderson as they discuss the state of Tampa Bay and how the oil spill in the Gulf may affect the health of our most precious environmental asset. Learn how to obtain your digital copy of Boating and Angling Guide to Tampa Bay, a must for local boaters. Winners of the National Estuaries Day Photography Contest: “Tampa Bay Estuary Photo Moments” will be announced, including a “Viewers Choice” award. This program is free and open to the public. Recommended for all ages.
Monday - Friday Half-Day, Self-guided Tours
Launch Times: 11:30 am or 1:00 pm
Sweet water 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 Sweet water 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 Sweet water 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, Sweet water 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 Wee don Island Preserve at least 15 minutes before your reservation. Please park in the main parking lot. Call Sweet water 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 Sweet water Kayaks at (727) 570-4844.
Single Hourly Fee: $17
Double Hourly Fee: $25
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