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master naturalist class

A master naturalist class exploring Jupiter Ridge Natural Area in Palm Beach County. A course on invasive plants will be held in February.

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Master Naturalists offer course on invasives


Registration for the Florida Master Naturalist Program's Invasive Plants Special Topics Course is now open. The course includes two Thursday evening sessions and two Saturdays beginning Februrary 23 and ending on March 9. It will be a hybrid course, with two Saturdays for in-person activities at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center in Boca Raton and a special field trip to identify invasive plants. The agenda and registration form is here.
Calendar

January

Saturday 28 — 9 -10 a.m., Breakfast with the Birds, Grassy Waters Preserve, 8264 Northlake Blvd., West Palm Beach. Wake up with a hiking adventure in the Everglades! Search for birds in the Kowechobe Restoration Area, an area of the Preserve not typically accessible to the public, during this easy-paced guided walk. Learn some “pro” birding identification tips and help collect important bird survey research. For ages 10 and up, with participating adult. Cost $5 per person. Wear closed-toe shoes, hat, and sunscreen. Bring a refillable water bottle. Binoculars are suggested. Check in 30 minutes before starting time. Reservations required. Call (561) 804-4985 to register.

Sunday 29 — Guided Sunset Canoe Tour, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m., Grassy Waters Preserve, 8264 Northlake Blvd., West Palm Beach. For ages 15 and up, with participating adult. Cost $15 per person. Wear hat, and sunscreen. Bring a refillable water bottle. Binoculars and bug repellant are suggested. Check in 30 minutes before starting time. Reservations required. Call (561) 804-4985 to register.

FEBRUARY


Thursday 2 World Wetlands Day Canoe Cruise 2 - 3:30 p.m., Grassy Waters Preserve, 8264 Northlake Blvd., West Palm Beach. Join us on World Wetlands Day as you guide your canoe through the shallow waters of the Everglades and learn the history and ecology of Grassy Waters Preserve. For ages 6 and up, with participating adult (two is ideal). Cost $10 per adult, $5 per child. Wear hat, and sunscreen. Bring a refillable water bottle. Check in 30 minutes before starting time. Reservations required. Call (561) 804-4985 to register.

Saturday 4 — Guided Kayak Tour, 10 - 11:30 a.m., Grassy Waters Preserve, 8264 Northlake Blvd., West Palm Beach. Must be over 15 or older to paddle single kayak, or 10 in tandem with adult. Cost: $10 per person. This tour uses sit-on-top kayaks, so participants will get wet and mucky. Bring sun protection, closed-toed shoes, and water bottle. Check in 30 minutes before starting time. Reservations required. Call (561) 804-4985 to register.

Sunday 5 — Marsh Critters Dipnetting, 2 - 3:30 p.m., Grassy Waters Preserve, 8264 Northlake Blvd., West Palm Beach. The marsh comes alive in the palm of your hand as we discover the amazing aquatic insects and other small wonders that call the wetlands home. You’ll be knee deep in the marsh during this dipnetting adventure for the whole family. Wear closed-toe shoes that can get wet and muddy and fit tightly enough not to be pulled off by the mud (water shoes or old sneakers are best). Wear sun protection and bring a water bottle, towel, and full change of clothes. Cost: $10 per child, accompanying adults, free. Check in 30 minutes before starting time. Reservations required. Call (561) 804-4985 to register.

Full Moon Canoe Tour — 4:30 - 7 p.m., Grassy Waters Preserve, 8264 Northlake Blvd., West Palm Beach. See the subtle changes that occur as Grassy Waters settles into night. Enjoy sunset over the marsh, and then paddle under the glow of a full moon. Not for beginners — try one of the shorter daytime paddles first. Ages 15 and over (with participating adult). Cost: $20 per person. Wear clothes that can get wet and muddy. Bring a water bottle, hat, and sun protection. Binoculars and bug repellent also suggested. Check in 30 minutes before starting time. Reservations required. Call (561) 804-4985 to register.

Monday 6 — Corkscrew Swamp Night Walk, 6 p.m., Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, 375 Sanctuary Road West, Naples. Enjoy a night in the swamp on this Audubon Naturalist guided walk which brings you into the swamp when the nocturnal animals are out and vocal, and on a clear night the night sky is especially nice here. Reservations required. Cost: $40. Click here for more info.

Tuesday 7 — Wildlife Tracking, 9 a.m., Hypoluxo Scrub Natural Area, 150 Hypoluxo Road, Hypoluxo. The outdoor world is full of activity that we can only see through tracking. Come develop your “tracking eye.” Free program by Palm Beach County’s Department of Environmental Resources. Click for more info.

Wednesday 8 — The Nature Conservancy’s Preserves, The Nature Conservancy Winter Lecture Series, 2 p.m., Blowing Rocks Preserve, 574 S. Beach Rd, Hobe Sound. TNC Florida's Center for Conservation Initiatives science and stewardship fellow Jennifer Rote speaks about our climate resilience project allowing our land managers to continue to plan for biodiversity in a changing climate. Learn about the vulnerabilities our preserves face from climate change and how we're working as a community to ensure our lands are resilient for future generations.All programs are available both in person and on Zoom and Facebook. In-person seating is limited. Click for more info and to register.

Thursday 9 — Ancient Forest Tour, 9 a.m., Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, 375 Sanctuary Road West, Naples. Join us for a three-hour tour along the 2.25-mile boardwalk through the ancient forest, with highlights on history, ecology, storytelling, and ancient cypress trees. There are occasional opportunities for rest along the way. Participants must be aged 16 or older. Cost $30. Registration required. Click for details.

Sunday 12 — Swamp Tromp, 10 - 11:30 a.m., Grassy Waters Preserve, 8264 Northlake Blvd., West Palm Beach. Take a walk on the wild side during this hike through the cypress swamp. Be prepared to get wet and muddy! This hike is on a rugged trail that requires stepping over and ducking under vegetation and other obstacles. Expect knee-deep water levels. Wear closed-toe shoes that can get wet and muddy and fit tightly enough not to be pulled off by the mud (water shoes or old sneakers are best). Wear sun protection and bring a water bottle, towel, and full change of clothes. Ages: 8 and over (with participating adult). Cost: $10/adult, $5/child. Check in 30 minutes before starting time. Reservations required. Call (561) 804-4985 to register.

Monday 13 — Weeding for the Oystercatchers, 9 a.m., Bryant Park Pier, 169 South Golfview Road Lake Worth. Kayak tour and cleanup of Snook Islands Natural Area to maintain the site as a viable nesting ground for the rare American oystercatchers that breed there each spring. Free program conducted by the Palm Beach County Department of Environmental Resource Management. Kayaks provided and includes lessons on their use. Program is sold out but waiting list is available. Click here for details.

Tuesday 14 — Speaker Series at Mandel Public Library: Birds of West Palm Beach, 11 a.m. — noon, Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach, 411 Clematis St., West Palm Beach. Find out how our feathered friends fit into the ecology, and how our actions at work and home can help them thrive – for their benefit and ours! Free program. No registration required. For more information, call 561-868-7701 or visit the library.

Saturday 18 — Guided Kayak Tour, 10 - 11:30 a.m., Grassy Waters Preserve, 8264 Northlake Blvd., West Palm Beach. Must be over 15 or older to paddle single kayak, or 10 in tandem with adult. Cost: $10 per person. This tour uses sit-on-top kayaks, so participants will get wet and mucky. Bring sun protection, closed-toed shoes, and water bottle. Check in 30 minutes before starting time. Reservations required. Call (561) 804-4985 to register.

Grassy Waters Speaker Series: Bald Eagles in Love, 2 p.m., Grassy Waters Preserve, 8264 Northlake Blvd., West Palm Beach. Join Eagle Watch volunteer Ken Craig in the Nature Center to learn more about the ongoing story of the bald eagles nesting in Grassy Waters Preserve. View Ken’s award-winning photos and discover more about this iconic species and its conservation success in our state. Free program open to all ages. Space is limited and reservations recommended. Check in 15 minutes before starting time. Call (561) 804-4985 to register.

Wednesday 22 — Palm Beach Resilient Island Project, The Nature Conservancy Winter Lecture Series, 2 p.m., Blowing Rocks Preserve, 574 S. Beach Rd, Hobe Sound. Conservation International nature-based solutions engineer Joseph Schmidt speaks about this innovative concept for intertidal habitat and restoration of a remnant natural island in Lake Worth Lagoon. Learn how we're partnering with Palm Beach County Department of Environmental Resources Management with private funding from the Batchelor Foundation and the Carrier Corporation to implement nature-based solutions. All programs are available both in person and on Zoom and Facebook. In-person seating is limited. Click for more info and to register.

Sunday 26 — Canoe Cruise, 2 p.m., Grassy Waters Preserve, 8264 Northlake Blvd., West Palm Beach. Paddle your canoe through the shallow waters of the Everglades as you learn about the history and ecology of Grassy Waters on this guided tour. Be sure to sign up with a partner. Canoes require two paddlers. For ages 6 and over (with at least one participating adult – two adults with child seated in center of canoe is ideal). Cost: $10 per adult, $5 per child. Come Prepared: Wear clothes that can get wet and muddy. Bring a water bottle, hat, and sun protection. Check in 30 minutes before starting time. Call (561) 804-4985 to register.

MARCH


Sunday 2 — Guided Sunset Canoe Tour, 5 - 7 p.m., Grassy Waters Preserve, 8264 Northlake Blvd., West Palm Beach. For ages 15 and up, with participating adult. Cost $15 per person. Wear hat, and sunscreen. Bring a refillable water bottle. Binoculars and bug repellant are suggested. Check in 30 minutes before starting time. Reservations required. Call (561) 804-4985 to register.

Saturday 4 – Palm Beach County Natural Areas Festival, 8 a.m. — 2 p.m., Winding Waters Natural Area, 6161 Haverhill Road, West Palm Beach. Guided hikes and kayak tours, environmental exhibitors, fire demonstration, kids events, 5k and 10k races and more. Click for more info.

Swamp Tromp — 10 - 11:30 a.m., Grassy Waters Preserve, 8264 Northlake Blvd., West Palm Beach. Take a walk on the wild side during this hike through the cypress swamp. Be prepared to get wet and muddy! This hike is on a rugged trail that requires stepping over and ducking under vegetation and other obstacles. Expect knee-deep water levels. Wear closed-toe shoes that can get wet and muddy and fit tightly enough not to be pulled off by the mud (water shoes or old sneakers are best). Wear sun protection and bring a water bottle, towel, and full change of clothes. Ages: 8 and over (with participating adult). Cost: $10/adult, $5/child. Check in 30 minutes before starting time. Reservations required. Call (561) 804-4985 to register.

March 8 — Sustainable Communities,The Nature Conservancy Winter Lecture Series, 2 p.m., Blowing Rocks Preserve, 574 S. Beach Rd, Hobe Sound. TNC Florida sustainable communities manager Christianah Oyenuga speaks about the Orlando Metro Cities Program and our work to improve urban life through conservation. Learn about our work to help manage natural resources to protect diversity and enhance the well-being of residents while prioritizing the needs of under-resourced communities, to ensure that sustainability is at the forefront of urban planning. All programs are available both in person and on Zoom and Facebook. In-person seating is limited. Click for more info and to register.

Wednesday 22 — The Power of Flowers on Floating Treatment Wetlands, The Nature Conservancy Winter Lecture Series, 2 p.m., Blowing Rocks Preserve, 574 S. Beach Rd, Hobe Sound. Florida International University Ph.D. candidate of natural resource management Jazmin Locke-Rodriguez speaks about her dissertation study on floating treatment wetlands. Learn about these floating rafts of plants that grow without soil and collect and store harmful nutrients, providing similar benefits as natural wetlands. Her work examines how this discovery could help Florida's economy and water quality. All programs are available both in person and on Zoom and Facebook. In-person seating is limited. Click for more info and to register.

APRIL

Wednesday 5 — The Mysterious Manta Rays of Florida, The Nature Conservancy Winter Lecture Series, 2 p.m., Blowing Rocks Preserve, 574 S. Beach Rd, Hobe Sound. Jessica Pate, founder and lead scientist of the Marine Megafauna Foundation's Florida Manta Project speaks about the discovery of a potential rare nursery habitat for manta rays in Florida. Learn about manta ray biology, global conservation and the discoveries that have been made about Florida's population of manta rays. Also, how you can become a community scientist and contribute toward manta ray research. All programs are available both in person and on Zoom and Facebook. In-person seating is limited. Click for more info and to register.



Published by Wild South Florida, PO Box 7241, Delray Beach, FL 33482.

Photographs by David Sedore. Photographs are property of the publishers and may not be used without permission.