Go Take a Hike on Weedon Island

September specials at Brooker Creek and Weedon Island preserves

Hikes, hikes and more hikes are offered throughout the month. Weedon Island guided hikes will be available each Saturday in September. Participants learn about the ecosystems and the early residents of Weedon Island Preserve while hiking the coastal uplands and the boardwalks through mangrove forests.The 9 to 11 a.m. hikes are best for ages 6 and older.

A specific hike designed for photographers will be offered from 8 to 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15. This hike is a perfect opportunity for adult photographers to hone their skills. After a classroom session highlighting specific wildlife behaviors and focus tips, guides will assist participants in capturing the natural beauty outdoors.

 A family-fun photo adventure scavenger hunt is a great time to begin the Labor Day weekend on Saturday, Sept 1. Bring a digital camera and pick up the list of clues at the front desk at the center. Complete the list and share photos with a volunteer to collect a prize. Remember to bring water, snacks and sunscreen to this 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. outdoor event.

 On Thursday, Sept. 6 from 6:45 to 8 p.m., learn about coral spawning, a synchronous underwater spectacle that occurs each summer in Florida’s coastal waters. This salty topic features a world of marvel and mystery. Light refreshments provided by the Friends of Weedon Island.

 Stop by the Weedon Island Preserve’s open classroom anytime between 1 and 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 8 to discover culture and nature with your child.  Participate in a variety of self-guided archaeological activities while sifting through the past and learning how early people made their living from the bay and waterways. Recommended for families with children of all ages; no registration required.

 Two special programs for children 3 to 5 are planned for Thursday, Sept. 13, and on Thursday, Sept. 20, from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. Children connect to the wonders of the natural world through a story and craft. On Sept. 13 they will hear all about insects in On Beyond Bugs, part of The Cat in the Hat Learning Library by Tish Rabe. On Sept. 20, the story will be Boo – The Little Brown Bat by Paula Pifer, about a young bat causing a misunderstanding among other nighttime creatures.

 On Thursday, Sept. 20, a 90-minute archaeological lecture, beginning at 7 p.m. features the Bioarchaeology of Promtin Tai (Thailand) presenting Promtin Tai, a multi-component site in central Thailand occupied by early humans during the late prehistoric and historic periods. Dr. Scott Burnett of Eckerd College will describe recent excavation seasons at the site and the 2012 bioarchaeological examination of iron age burials, including both skeletal and dental indicators of health and disease. Preliminary paleopathological analysis has revealed evidence of dental caries, trauma, cribra orbitalia and minor developmental anomalies. The implications of these pathologies and their frequency within the sample will be discussed. Free; Registration requested for this free event.  

 Weedon Island Preserve is home to one of the three largest remaining gopher tortoise populations in Pinellas County. On Saturday, Sept. 22, from 9 to 11 a.m. George L. Heinrich Ecological Services will introduce the important role played by this keystone species during a family-oriented program. A PowerPoint presentation will be followed by an interpretive hike on the preserve’s trails. Participants will have an opportunity to search for this threatened species, view their burrows and examine forage species.

 Be a part of this canoe and kayak coastal cleanup on Saturday, Sept. 29 from 9 a.m. to noon. This is the nation’s largest single-day volunteer cleanup event for public lands. Public lands and estuaries provide benefits that are critical to ecosystem health and the health and well-being of people who recreate on them and live in close proximity to them. Advance registration required.

 Also on Saturday, Sept. 29, Pinellas County Sea Grant Extension open house will celebrate the 150^th anniversary of land grant universities. Interactive Marine Learning Stations will guide you through some of the cutting edge research, education and outreach being conducted by Sea Grant around the state of Florida. Families with children of all ages are welcome to this event.

 Connecting People and Place is an art-inspired, permanent hands-on educational exhibit of the area’s history, ecology and people at the Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center. The center is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday through Saturday; closed Sunday through Wednesday and holidays.

To learn more about Weedon Island Preserve and its upcoming programs and events, call (727) 453-6500. To register for programs and events visit www.weedonislandpreserve.org. Videos featuring Weedon Island Preserve can be viewed at www.youtube.com/pcctv1.

 For more information on Pinellas County services and programs, visit www.pinellascounty.org, now with LiveChat, or create a shortcut to www.pinellascounty.org/mobile on any smartphone. Pinellas County government is on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Pinellas County complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act.