Who: Approximately 100 children from the Boys & Girls Club of Hernando County and Southwest Florida Water Management District staff
What: The District is coordinating a field trip at the Weekiwachee Preserve for children who attend the Boys & Girls Club of Hernando County. The youth will learn about land management techniques by seeing staff demonstrate a variety of equipment they use in the field.
They will also participate in a guided hike, a watershed education exercise, a fossil exhibit and water quality testing. The goal is to expose the kids to wildlife in their area, while teaching them about the importance of protecting our land and water resources.
When: Wednesday, Aug. 5, 9:30 a.m.
Where: Weekiwachee Preserve, 2121 Osowaw Boulevard, Spring Hill, 34607
District Contacts: Amy Harroun, senior communications coordinator, 352-279-7751 or 813-781-9817 (cell phones) or Cynthia Hausman, land use and protection specialist, 813-394-4005 (cell)
Boys & Girls Club Contact: Josh Kelly, executive director, 352-666-0068
Directions: Take US 19 north to Osowaw Boulevard, turn left directly across from Spring Hill Drive, turn left at the stop sign, the entrance is approximately one-half mile on your right.
Weekiwachee Preserve field trip
•The Weekiwachee Preserve is located along the Hernando County coast, west of the Weeki Wachee River.
•The preserve was acquired in 1995 with funding from the Florida Forever Program.
•The 9,000-acre preserve is made up of a variety of habitats including several miles of Weeki Wachee River frontage, dense hardwood swamps, fresh and saltwater marshes, and pine-covered sandhills.
•Approximately 100 boys and girls from Kindergarten through 5th grade will be taking part in the field trip.
•The field trip will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2009 from 9:30 a.m. until noon.
•The children will participate in four activities that focus on the natural environment, watershed education and water quality. The youth will explore the Weekiwachee Preserve via a walking tour of the trails, identify plants and animals commonly found in a pine flatwoods ecosystem, discuss what makes up a watershed and the importance of protecting it, learn water quality testing techniques and participate in land use management practices.
•This is the third year the District has worked with the Boys & Girls Club to organize the field trip.