AUGUST 2022 CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Download a printable version of the August Calendar of Events
Friday, Aug 5th, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM – Marine Explorers Day Camp – Students will become official "Manatee Marine Explorers" as they are introduced to the marine environment and conduct citizen scientist activities. Campers will investigate local biology and conservation with Dr. Angela Collins, Florida Sea Grant Agent, who will help Explorers collect water samples and filter them looking for pollutants. Environmental Horticulture Agent, Michelle Atkinson, will introduce the importance of clean water and lead students through a lesson in dip-netting local critters at Emerson Point. Through hands-on activities, campers will use STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) skills to discover facts about our local marine environment. Program suitable for children ages 8 - 12 years old. Program sponsored by Manatee County UF/IFAS Extension in partnership with Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources. Please bring a spare set of shoes and clothes that can get wet. Students will be wading in the water in the afternoon. Lunch and snacks will be provided. Should your child have special dietary requirements please plan to provide their snacks and lunch. Reservations are required. To register please visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/366835664347. For more information please contact [email protected] or call (941) 722-4524. $25 Registration Fee. Payable Online. Emerson Point Preserve – Classroom
Saturday, Aug 6th, 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM – Leffis Key Planting Volunteer Day – Volunteers will be planting native grasses and groundcovers at Leffis Key Preserve. Afterward, free lunch will be provided by the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program for all volunteers. Meet at the pavilion at Leffis Key, located across the street or east of the Coquina Beach Cafe. Program suitable for all ages. Program sponsored by Sarasota Bay Estuary Program in partnership with Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources. Tools, gloves, and plants will be provided. Participants should wear long clothing and closed-toe shoes comfortable for working outdoors, wear sun protection, and bring a water bottle. Water coolers will be provided. The nearest restrooms are across the street at Coquina Beach. Students may earn three community service hours for volunteering. Reservations are required. To register please visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/377280334637. For more information please contact [email protected]. Leffis Key Preserve – Pavilion
Monday, Aug 8th, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM – Sunset Tai Chi at the NEST – Join us for this monthly class on the lawn of the NEST! At sunset on the second Monday of the month, Dr. Brian Nell, a certified Tai Chi instructor, will lead the group through the gentle movements of Tai Chi. This is a great way to shake off the stressful work week. Improve your balance, loosen your joints, and improve flexibility as you relax and breathe. This class is perfect for beginners and will include an exploration of several different styles of Tai Chi and Qigong. This class is held rain or shine - in case of weather, we will move into the NEST. Program Suitable for adults. Program sponsored by Cypress Pillar Healing Arts in partnership with Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources. Reservations are required. To register please visit https://parks.mymanatee.org/wbwsc/webtrac.wsc/search.html?primarycode=100004. For more information please contact [email protected]. $10 Registration Fee. Payable Online.. Robinson Preserve – Mosaic NEST Lawn
Saturday, Aug 13th, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Science by the Sea Family Workshop: Critters of Tampa Bay – Join us for a morning of marine science to experience our local watershed. The Science by the Sea programs are intended to provide accessible science experiences for kids from historically excluded groups in STEM including gender minorities, racial/ethnic minorities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and people from low-income or underserved communities. Program suitable for all ages. Program sponsored by Minorities in Shark Sciences and the Tampa Bay Estuary Program in partnership with Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources. Reservations are required. To register please visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSefx_DThpOLrsyX1sN-ZnDvUem4ZDzLba2ObEnsLB-ED84oww/viewform. For more information please contact [email protected]. Emerson Point Preserve – Classroom
Wednesday, Aug 17th, 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM – Citizen Science: Sea Level Rise Susceptibility Training – Calling all citizen scientists and environmental enthusiasts! Are you curious about the potential impacts of sea level rise on infrastructure in our community? Citizen scientist volunteers are needed to monitor the susceptibility of man-made structures such as docks, sea walls, and drainage pipes throughout the Sarasota Bay area. Staff from the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program are compiling data to show which structures could be threatened by sea level rise by 2050. In this training, citizen scientist volunteers will learn how to collect and record data to contribute to this important study. Program suitable for volunteers 16 and older. Program sponsored by Sarasota Bay Estuary Program in partnership with Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources. Participants should bring a smartphone with data service, a tape measure, and a notebook to record observations. Students can earn volunteer service hours by participating. Reservations required. To register please visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/389577686347. For more information please contact [email protected]. 500 15th St W, Bradenton, FL 34205 – Parking Lot
Friday, Aug 19th, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM – Food Truck Friday – Join Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast, Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources, and the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program for our August Food Truck Friday Night at Bay Preserve! Educators will be onsite with fun activities for the whole family. Enjoy delicious food as you take in a beautiful summer sunset on the shore of Little Sarasota Bay. August food trucks include Killik’s Kitchen serving up modern Asian-Hawaiian fare, Quiero Mas Tacos Flavors of Mexico with all your favorite Mexican offerings, and Carousel’s Soft Served Icery of Manasota. Program suitable for all ages. Program sponsored by Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast in partnership with Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources. Attendees are encouraged to bring a chair or blanket to sit on at this picnic-style gathering. To ensure the trucks have plenty of food and we have plenty of parking, we ask that you RSVP if you plan on attending. Reservations are required. To register please visit https://www.conservationfoundation.com/events/detail/2022/08/19/august-food-truck-Friday-night/. For more information please contact [email protected] or call (941) 918-2100. Bay Preserve at Osprey
Tuesday, Aug 23rd, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM – Herbal Medicine Making: Teas – Registered Herbalist (AHG) Melissa “Misha” Nell will walk you through the steps of creating infusions and decoctions, two types of “teas” that can be used as herbal medicine. Participants will taste and try types of medicinal herbal tea and will gain hands-on experience making their own blend to take home. The fee for the class includes all of the materials you will need to blend and create your own medicinal tea, using Florida native plants and other traditional herbal helpers. Program suitable for adults. Program sponsored by Cypress Pillar Healing Arts in partnership with Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources. Fee includes handouts and all program materials. Reservations required. To register please visit https://parks.mymanatee.org/wbwsc/webtrac.wsc/search.html?primarycode=110009. $15 Registration Fee Payable Online. Robinson Preserve – Mosaic NEST
Saturday, Aug 27th, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM – Project/Aquatic WILD Educators Workshop – Calling all teachers, home school parents, scout leaders, volunteers, and educators at nature centers, zoos, and aquaria – join us for a free WILD Kingdom workshop at Emerson Point Preserve! Participants will receive two free environmental education curriculum guides – Project WILD and Aquatic WILD. In this hands-on workshop, educators will be introduced to both guides and participate in a selection of activities from each. Each curriculum guide is correlated to Florida Sunshine State Standards! This workshop is suitable for formal and informal educators ages 16 and older. Program sponsored by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in partnership with Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources. Participants are required to attend for the entire duration of the program to receive the free curriculum guides. Please bring lunch with you, as there may be limited time to leave and purchase food. There is no food available for purchase on-site. Reservations are required. To register please visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/382945057977. For more information please contact [email protected]. Emerson Point Preserve – Classroom
Recurring Programs
Wednesday, Aug 3rd and 31st, 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM – Soar in 4 Family Night – Soar in 4 occurs the first Wednesday of each month in downtown Bradenton. Families visit demonstration tables facilitated by Manatee County teachers, non-profit organizations, and volunteers to learn how to use various materials to support the ‘spotlight book,’ as well as incorporate take-home items to continue to play, create, learn, and explore at home together. These monthly events provide families with the resources and information to become their child’s best ‘first teacher’ at home. All activities are aligned to classroom learning. Program suitable for children and their families. Program sponsored by Soar in 4 in partnership with Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources. No reservations required. For more information please visit https://soarin4.org/. The Bishop Museum
Saturday, Aug 6th, 13th, 20th, and 27th, 7:00 AM – 8:00 AM – Robinson Runners – Join us weekly to breathe in the fresh air, challenge yourself, and create a community. Savor the trip along the 1.6 and 3.2-mile routes through Robinson Preserve and notice as life becomes a little more vibrant. The group leader will offer a warm-up, then participants may run, walk, or stroll at their own pace followed by a cool-down stretch offered at the finish. Participants will be rewarded for their efforts by our partners Fit 2 Run and Bayshore Nutrition. Program suitable for adults. Program sponsored by Fit 2 Run and Bayshore Nutrition in partnership with Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources. Reservations are required. To register please visit https://raceroster.com/events/2022/57766/robinson-runners. For more information please contact [email protected]. Robinson Preserve – Mosaic NEST
Saturday, Aug 6th, 13th, 20th, and 27th, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Saturday Mornings at the NEST – Join us at the Mosaic Center for Nature, Exploration, Science, and Technology for a morning of discovery. Walk the grounds of the historic Reasoner Tract and observe botanical giants collected from around the world. Explore the canopy boardwalk among the banyans, climb to the top of the crow’s nest, take in breathtaking panoramic views, and make an exciting exit from the building via slide. Learn about upcoming programs and exciting new additions to Robinson Preserve. Program suitable for all ages. No reservations required. For more information please contact [email protected]. Robinson Preserve – Mosaic NEST
Friday, Aug 12th, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM or 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Saturday, Aug 13th, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM or 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Escape the NEST – Trapped inside a bird research facility with a hurricane on the way, participants must solve interactive puzzles and collect clues to escape the NEST. Dr. Corvus, a world-renowned bird behavior scientist, has boarded up the building in preparation for the impending storm, accidentally barricading her fellow researchers inside. Can you find the key to the emergency exit? Program suitable for all ages. Sessions are limited to 6 participants. Parents or guardians are allowed to accompany their children throughout the experience. Reservations required. To register please visit https://parks.mymanatee.org/wbwsc/webtrac.wsc/search.html?primarycode=110008. For more information please contact [email protected] or call (941) 812-9849 ext. 6036. $10 Registration Fee. Payable Online. Robinson Preserve – Mosaic NEST
ONGOING/AS NEEDED: RIP SQUAD VOLUNTEER WORKDAY - Join this group that works directly with County natural areas land managers on various wildlife habitat improvement projects. Email announcements are sent out a few days in advance of each event that detail the purpose, goals, and meeting information for each upcoming event. Program suitable for volunteers ages 16 and older. To receive email announcements about the RIP squad volunteer events, please email [email protected]. Location and time TBA - chosen based on need.