Photography by Robin Francis INSIDE THE GREAT OUTDOORS • TITUSVILLE, FLORIDA
Robin and her husband, Steve, have a great retirement plan... travel throughout the country in their RV and enjoy their home here in TGO, all while photographing and documenting wildlife and birds. Robin has been a fixture at TGO for over a decade after she and Steve made their perma nent move from Arizona. When she’s home, you can see her daily on the nature trail and throughout the park with her camera, searching for the next perfect photo-op.
Cover: Northern Cardinal instagram.com/robin.francis.5
Robin loves photographing birds, probably due to the difficulty it takes to capture the right image. Light, motion, the proper angle, timing... all become a factor when photographing. You also need a lot of patience - which she obviously has. While traveling, campgrounds come alive with flowers, birds, and animals to photograph - even the bugs become photo subjects. Robin has only been into photography for a handful of years. When Covid started changing the world, Robin saw it as an opportunity to improve her newfound passion. She has worked hard to improve her skills and develop the patience and the “eye” to create that perfect photo. “My day is not complete if I do not get out there with my camera - seeing and enjoying ev erything nature has to offer birds, butterflies, bees, and bugs along with water and skies,” says Robin. “The camera has truly enhanced my joy of being outside - it has enhanced my life.”
Photo by Amy Hughes Oehlenschlager
Robin’s work has become increasingly popular due to her online presence on Facebook and Instagram. Visit Florida, Anastasia State Park, Panama City Beach, Florida’s Historic Coast, along with the Florida Space Coast and the city of Titusville and Ocala/Marion County, have utilized her images to promote their Wedestinations.hopeyou enjoy her work in this 2023 Nature Center Calendar.
Meet Nature Center Member Robin Francis “My day is not complete if I do not get out there with my cameraseeing and enjoying everything nature has to offer...”
The UCP - The Universe Of Colour Photography - is a web-based, international photo platform that has selected some of Robin’s photos for their “Best of the Week” galleries - winning several awards. October 2022 S M T W T F 1S 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 November 2022 S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 December 2022 S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 September 2022 S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Visit Central Florida included Robin’s Bobcat image as part of their Top 10 Places to Spot Wildlife in Central Florida. Photo taken at the Circle B Bar Reserve. “ In order to see birds, it is necessary to become a part of the silence.” -Robert Lynd-
January 2023 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 New Year’s Day Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Nature Center Flea Market in the Manor Great Blue Heron Nature Program at the Manor - 7:00 pm Nature Program at the Manor - 7:00 pm NTM - Addison - 9am NTM - Betty Salter - 9am NTM - Pisarz - 9am NTM - Karen Earley - 9am NTM = Nature Trail Maintenance GNH = Guided Nature Hikes on Trails GNH - Addison - 9am GNH - Betty Salter - 9am GNH - Pisarz - 9am
February 2023 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28Valentine’s Day Presidents’ Day Ash Wednesday 1 2 3 4 Groundhog Day Roseate Spoonbill Nature Program at the Manor - 7:00 pm Nature Program at the Manor - 7:00 pm Nature Program at the Manor - 7:00 pm NTM = Nature Trail MaintenanceNTM - Indian Mound - 9am NTM - Watson - 9am NTM - C&E Carlson - 9am NTM - Mattila - 9am GNH = Guided Nature Hikes on Trails GNH - Indian Mound - 9am GNH - Watson - 9am GNH - C&E Carlson - 9am GNH - Karen Earley - 9am Nature Program at the Manor - 7:00 pm
March 2023 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 St.31Patrick’s Day First Day of Spring World Wildlife Day Daylight Saving Time Begins 1 2 3 4 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY YardTGOSATURDAYParkWideSale Red-bellied Woodpecker Nature Program at the Manor - 7:00 pm Nature Center Spring Festival 10am to 2pm GNH = Guided Nature Hikes on Trails GNH - Mattila - 9am
April 2023 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 Passover ends Good Friday Easter National Wildlife Week 30 Passover Earth Day Arbor Day 1 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY Palm Sunday Great Horned Owl
May 2023 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Memorial Day Mother’s Day Endangered Species Day 1 2 3 4 5 6World Migratory Bird Day Sandhill Crane Colt
June 2023 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Flag Day First Day of SummerFather’s Day World Oceans Day 1 2 3 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY Yellow-rumped Warbler
July 2023 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 Independence Day 1 30 31 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY Great Egret
August 2023 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 5 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY Least Bittern
September 2023 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Labor Day 1 2 Grandparents Day First Day of Autumn SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY Cattle Egret
October 2023 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Indigenous Peoples’ Day 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Halloween Tricolored Heron Nature Center Fall Fun Day 10am to 2pm NTM = Nature Trail MaintenanceNTM - Addison - 9am NTM - Betty Salter W - 9am NTM - Betty Salter E - 9am NTM - PisarzGNH9am=Guided Nature Hikes on Trails GNH - Addison - 9am GNH - Betty Salter - 9am
November 2023 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Daylight Saving Time Ends 1 2 3 4 Thanksgiving Election Day Veterans Day TGO Park Wide Yard atChristmasNatureSaleCenterSalethePavilion SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY Florida Wild Turkey NTM = Nature Trail MaintenanceNTM - Karen Earley - 9am NTM - Indian Mound - 9am NTM - Watson - 9am GNH = Guided Nature Hikes on Trails GNH - Karen Earley - 9am GNH - Indian Mound - 9am GNH - Watson - 9am GNH - Pisarz - 9am
December 2023 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 1 2 First Day of Winter 31New Year’s Eve Christmas SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY TGO Golf Cart Parade Snowy Egret NTM = Nature Trail MaintenanceNTM - C&E Carlson - 9am NTM - MattilaGNH9am=Guided Nature Hikes on Trails GNH - C&E Carlson - 9am GNH - Mattila - 9am
www.tgonaturecenter.org
Living in Harmony with Nature Graphic Design Services by 541 Marketing Printing by L&L Printers - Donated by Alan & Marie Peel - TGO residents The Nature Center at The Great Outdoors 400 Nature Center Trail, Titusville, Florida, 32780
The building is open 365 days a year from 8am to 5pm. During our “in-season” months, we offer educational programs, organized walks on our multiple trails while enjoying and learning about our wildlife and environment, field trips, educational nature videos and slideshows and educational bulletin board topics. We also communicate announcements and articles on the Nature Center pages of the community newspaper, The Happenings.
The T.G. Carlson Nature Center is a 1,984 square foot building housing our museum of nature displays, library, meeting room, kitchen and enclosed porch.
The building sits on the bank of the picturesque Addison Canal and the enclosed climate controlled porch is a popular and tranquil place to enjoy your favorite beverage while reading one of the library’s books, enjoying the serenity of nature or visiting with friends. Picnic tables are available outside under the shade trees.
In addition to the learning experience of the nature displays, the Nature Center building has child-appropriate activities to entertain and educate. Kids and grandkids love visiting the Nature Center with the scavenger hunts being a popular activity! Additionally, during our “in-season” months, we host other activities such as a “Fall Fun Day” and “Spring Festival” where we have crafts and activities for kids from 1 to 101. To learn more about us, pick up a brochure at The Welcome Center, the Nature Center or visit us online at www.tgonaturecenter.org. The Nature Center website contains hundreds of photographs to help you learn to identify our Florida species of wildlife and plants. You can become a member for only $10 per year. Come join us! The Nature Center at The Great Outdoors is a self-supporting Florida not for profit 501(c)(3) organization. Our purpose is “To promote the awareness, appreciation and conservation of nature’s plants, animals, birds, fish and reptiles.” We accomplish our purpose through our museum, library, educational activities and the Nature Center website.We also have wildlife rescuers available to perform rescues.
Family Friendly and Kid Approved
