Tag: hiking

ex•plore: Your Adventure Guide to Sarasota County

by Mike D'Imperio
October 30, 2025

Are you looking to find more ways for you and your family to ex•plore all Sarasota County has to offer? From award-winning beaches to natural areas and trails, from mangrove tunnels to fishing holes, birding sites, gardens and more, Sarasota ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Events, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Water, Work & Life
Tags: Events, Explore, Family, Family Friendly, Hiking, Outdoors, Pgm_Water

ex•plore: Turn off the Lights for Nature at Night

by Jackie Lebouitz
June 19, 2025

Have you ever wanted to experience one of our Sarasota County parks after dark? Consider attending one of our upcoming Nature at Night programs, part of the ex•plore series. What can you expect to see and do at Nature at Night? Keep reading ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Events, Forests, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Ecology, Explore, Hiking, Nature, Nature At Night, Pgm_Chemicals, Pgm_EcoNR, Urban Wildlife, Wildlife, Wildlife And Ecology

Weekly “What is it?”: Witches’ Brooms

by Carrie Stevenson
March 12, 2025

Our topic today might seem better suited to late October, but it can be observed in the woods year-round. During a recent Master Naturalist class, we discussed the various species of pines that grow in northwest Florida. All seven Florida ... READ MORE

Category: Forests, Natural Resources
Tags: Environmental Education, Hiking, Insects, Trees, Weekly What Is It

Weekly “What is it?”: Orb Weaver Spiders

by Carrie Stevenson
August 15, 2024

While 8-legged critters often spook people, my son has a soft spot for spiders. Years ago, he discovered one while in the shower, covered it with a cup to protect it from the threat of the drain, and released it safely outdoors. On a recent ... READ MORE

Category: Natural Resources, Wildlife
Tags: Hiking, Insects, Weekly What Is It, Wildlife

Weekly “What is it?”: Lion’s Mane

by Carrie Stevenson
May 23, 2024

My husband’s best friend was a nature nerd like me. If I didn’t know what something was, Anthony was the first person I’d send a photo to for identification help. We lost him unexpectedly last year, but he shows up in small ways for ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Forests, Natural Resources, Recreation
Tags: Edibles, Fungus, Habitat Conservation, Hiking, Mushroom, Weekly What Is It

Weekly “What is it?”: Wetland delineation

by Carrie Stevenson
April 17, 2024

Wetlands are beautiful, important, and valuable components of our ecosystems. But for a long time, they were considered little more than insect-riddled cesspools, places devoid of worth. While not everyone fully appreciates wetlands’ many ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Natural Resources, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Habitat Conservation, Hiking, Native Plants, Trees, Weekly What Is It

Weekly “What is it?”: Every Kid Outdoors

by Carrie Stevenson
January 29, 2024

The summer after my junior year of college, I took part in a nearly 40-day road trip with the geography department at my university. We headed west from Birmingham to New Mexico, then north to Banff National Park, traveling through fourteen ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Forests, Natural Resources, Recreation, Wildlife
Tags: Ecotourism, Environmental Education, Habitat Conservation, Hiking, Weekly What Is It, Wildlife

Weekly “What is it?”: Fox Squirrel

by Carrie Stevenson
October 25, 2023

Two weeks ago, I saw my first foxes in the wild. A week and a half ago, I saw my first fox squirrel (Sciurus niger)! While unrelated, the ecology geek in me loved the unlikely coincidence. I saw the fox squirrel as we were leading a kayaking ... READ MORE

Category: Natural Resources, Wildlife
Tags: Hiking, Trees, Weekly What Is It, Wildlife

Weekly “What is it?”: Big Lagoon State Park

by Carrie Stevenson
July 12, 2023

My favorite place in Escambia County is a waterlogged stretch of the coast near Perdido Key. Known formally as Big Lagoon State Park, the over 700-acre property has hiking, biking, and paddling trails, fishing and wildlife viewing opportunities, ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Recreation
Tags: Coastal Wildlife, Ecotourism, Environmental Education, Florida Panhandle, Habitat Conservation, Hiking, Weekly What Is It

Weekly “What is it?”: Blackberries

by Carrie Stevenson
May 31, 2023

Last fall, I led a group of 4th graders down a section of the Florida Trail at Ft. Pickens. As we walked, I would point out interesting plants or animals, noting some of the plants were edible. Several of the kids were so captivated with ... READ MORE

Category: Natural Resources
Tags: Hiking, Native Plants, Weekly What Is It

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