Lemon Bay Park 9

LEMON BAY PARK

570 Bay Park Blvd., Englewood

Also features: nature trails and boardwalks overlooking the bay. This park offers indoor and outdoor reservable space/pavilions. Visit scgov.net (keyword reservations) or contact 941-861-PARK (7275).

ACTIVITIES

LEMON BAY F.I.S.H. PROJECT

Year-round / Ages: 8 and up / Fee: Free / Park / Second Saturday of every month, 9:30-11 a.m. Get a little wet, have a little fun, learn a lot! Join American Littoral Society biologist Chuck Idelberger on a search for marine life in Lemon Bay. Using hand and seine nets, you will search shallow waters and seagrass beds, observing, collecting and discussing the natural history of some of the many interesting fishes and other animals that inhabit the bay. For registration, call Chuck Idelberger at 941-488-8998.

SPECIAL EVENTS

MAGNIFICENT MANGROVE NATURE WALK

Aug. 2, Aug. 24 / Ages: 12 and up / Fee: Free / Meet in front of the Environmental Center / Monday, Tuesday, 8:30 a.m. Join local Sea Grant agent Armando J. Ubeda for a mangrove walk as he discusses the importance of our native mangrove species and their role in the livelihood and protection of our coastline community. Participants are encouraged to wear closed toe shoes, hats and have drinking water available. For more information call 941-861-5000 or email parksonline@scgov.net.

MAGNIFICENT MANGROVES INDOOR LECTURE

Aug. 2 / Ages: 12 and up / Fee: Free / Meet in front of the building / Monday, 3 p.m. Join local Sea Grant agent Armando J. Ubeda as he discusses the importance of our native mangrove species and their role in the livelihood and protection of our coastline communities. This will be an inside lecture and social distancing may be encouraged. For more information call 941-861-5000 or email parksonline@scgov.net.

TAKE A CHILD OUTSIDE WEEK: DISCOVERY WALK

Sept. 25 / Ages: 4-10 / Fee: Free / Meeting Room / Saturday, 9-11a.m.

Join a UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County educator and a Sarasota County Parks Specialist to explore outdoors, on a family-fun discovery walk followed by a nature craft. Parental registration and supervision required; siblings welcome. To register, visit eventbrite.com/e/154013978957.

THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES YOUTH ART CONTEST

Oct. 15 / Ages: 5-17 / Fee: Free / Lemon Bay Park meeting room / Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Public voting) / 3-3:30 p.m. (Walk through and awards ceremony) Let your art tell a story and your imagination come to life! Artwork must depict a threatened or endangered species that lives or migrates through Florida and/or its waters. All submissions must be original and hand created on 12x16 paper; computer-generated images will not be accepted. Park visitors and participants may vote for their favorite artwork within the following four categories: Grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12. To register and drop off artwork, please email ndsmith@scgov.net. For details, call 941-861-5000.

CREEPY CRAWLY CRITTERS AND CHILDREN’S NIGHT HIKE

Florida Scrub Jay Oct. 22 / Ages: 4-12 / Fee: Free / Meeting room / Friday, 6-8 p.m. Bring out the kids for hands-on activities, eerie animal sounds, and a spooky room of live animals and glow in the dark insects. A guided night hike through the moonlit mangroves will begin at 7 p.m. Participants are encouraged to wear closed toe shoes and should bring bug spray and flashlights. Adult supervision is required. For more information and registration, call 941-861-5000 or email parksonline@scgov.net.

SEASONS AND SERENDIPITY - LET’S MUCK ABOUT IN THE MANGROVES

Nov. 5, Dec. 3 / Ages: 12 and up / Fee: Free / Meet in front of the Environmental Center / Fridays, 9-11 a.m. Have you ever wondered how to tell one mangrove species from another? What is that nasty smell around mangroves? How do mangroves thrive in salt water? How do mangroves benefit fish, birds and humans? If you would like to learn the answers to these and other questions about mangroves, join Master Naturalist Kate Borduas as she explores the park’s mangrove fringe along beautiful Lemon Bay. Hats, closed toe shoes, sunscreen and water are recommended. Social distancing may be encouraged. For more information call 941-861-5000 or email parksonline@scgov.net.

LAST OLD-GROWTH FORESTS: WHEN WILL WE SEE THE FOREST AND THE TREES?

Nov. 18 / Ages: 12 and up / Fee: Free / Meeting Room / Thursday, 6:30 p.m. Vast swaths of old-growth virgin forest-from American chestnut to longleaf pine once covered America east of the Mississippi. Most have been felled for lumber or have succumbed to disease. We now understand that forests are not simply a commodity to be exploited,