Audio Tour a new feature of Sarasota County's Watershed Awareness Week

News Release

A new way to learn about Sarasota County’s watersheds will be unveiled during this year’s Watershed Awareness Week, Oct. 12-18.

The Science and Environment Council of Sarasota County (SEC) has developed a Watershed Mobile Phone Audio Tour that can easily be accessed from any cell phone by calling 941-926-6813. The tour features 15 different watershed education messages, which coincide with locations people can visit.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Manasota Basin Board is co-sponsoring Watershed Awareness Week with the SEC. This is the second year of the event, that celebrates Sarasota’s watersheds, promotes watershed awareness and fosters good watershed stewardship.

The SEC is a group of nonprofit and government organizations that support conservation and science-based facilities. Many of SEC’s members are highly visible organizations, such as the Mote Marine Laboratory, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Sarasota County Government, New College of Florida, Oscar Scherer State Park, Myakka River State Park, Historic Spanish Point, G. WIZ – The Hands-On Science Museum, the Florida House Learning Center and the Ringling College of Art & Design. The organizations will showcase their commitment to protecting watersheds and promoting conservation by hosting a variety of events.

In addition to the audio tour, several fun, nature-based activities are scheduled during the week. Here’s a look at a few of the events. A complete list of Watershed Awareness Week events is available on the SEC web site atwww.secsc.org.

Oct. 12
Learn about the wild and scenic Myakka River on a guided nature walk sponsored by Sarasota County Government. Participants will meet at Sleeping Turtles Preserve at 9 a.m. The hike is free, but call 941-861-5000 for reservations.

Oct. 13
Kayaking 101, 9 a.m. with Mote Marine Laboratory. Learn the basics of kayaking in Sarasota Bay. The cost is $20 per person. Please call Miranda Wrobel at 941-388-4441, ext. 264 for reservations.

Oct. 14
Talk/walking tour “Green Roofs and Living Walls,” noon at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. Participants will meet at the Cooley Theater in the gardens’ Welcome Center, 811 S. Palm Ave., Sarasota. Please call 941-366-5731, ext. 221 for more information.

Oct. 15
Horticultural tour of native plants and the coastal environment, 10 a.m. at Historic Spanish Point, 337 N. Tamiami Trail, Osprey. The cost is $21 per person. To register, please call 941-361-6590 or visit www.ace-sarasota.com.

Oct. 17
The Florida House Learning Center is hosting a free special event with children’s activities, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Florida House Learning Center is located at 4454 Beneva Road in Sarasota. Please call 941-861-9801 for more information.

The Friends of Myakka River State Park is holding a cleanup at the park. Please call Mary Jelks at 941-366-0446 for more information.