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Oxbow Bugs Out For the Month of August!

August 3, 2012
Florida is full of bugs. Find out which ones are the good bugs, and which ones are the bad bugs at the Oxbow Eco-Center during the month of August. Center hours are Tuesday through Friday from noon- 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.  The trails are open daily from dawn until dusk. 
Programs planned for the month of August include:
  • The Oxbow’s Brown Bag Lecture presents “Bugs in Your Garden” on Saturday, Aug. 4 at noon.   Gobbling grasshoppers and aphids can wreak havoc in your garden, but some beetles and bees can make it grow lush.  County Extension Director and Horticulture Agent Anita Neal will help make sense of managing pests the eco-friendly way, while discussing the plants and bugs that will make your landscape work for you. This is a free lunchtime lecture. No reservations are required.  
  • There are still a few spots available for the Junior Naturalist Day Camp, running Aug. 7-10 from 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Designed for age 4 – 8, bring your little ones to day camp and let them get a little wild. Each day will focus on a different family of animals ... where they live, what they need to survive, and some of the strategies they use to outsmart their predators. Campers will have loads of fun while learning and being creative. Choose one day or all four! Bring your own snacks. The cost is $10 per day and pre-registration required.
  • The Oxbow's Swamp Tales returns on Thursday, Aug. 9 from 3:45 - 4:15 p.m. This free storytime is appropriate for ages 3 - 6. Join Missy Kitty for a “novel” adventure as she reads and environmentally-themed story. Each month the story changes, but the fun and adventure never does.
  • The Oxbow's Nature for Families presents "Poopers or Pollinators” on Saturday, Aug. 11 starting at 10:30 a.m. Pollinators and poopers make the world go ‘round. Without them, strawberries, corn and other delicious plants would be unable to grow. Learn strategies and adaptations of bees, moths, butterflies, beetles, millipedes and worms. Participants will get to play a round of bug jeopardy and experience the natural world through the eyes of a bug.  Appropriate for ages 5 and older. The cost is $4 per participant. Space is limited, so reservations are required: 772-785-5833 or oxbow@stlucieco.org
  • Relax the mind and body with Introduction to Tai Chi on Saturday, Aug. 11 at 2 p.m. at the Oxbow. Join Hilde and Hector Ruiz-Puyana as they introduce the art of Tai Chi, a mind-body exercise often referred to as a "moving meditation." This introductory course is free. Hilde and Hector are Tai Chi practitioners who will be leading weekly classes at the Oxbow.
  • Oxbow and the Natives presents “The Mysterious Dragonfly” on Thursday, Aug. 16 at 3:45 p.m. Butterflies have a lot of fans because of their beautiful colors, while dragonflies are often overlooked. Visit the Oxbow to learn about some of our colorful dragonflies and their interesting life history. This is a free program for ages 5 and older. No reservations are required. 
  • Explore “The Ant Colony” at the Oxbow’s Treehouse Time taking place Friday, Aug. 17, starting at 9:30 a.m. Participants will become “Ants” playing follow the leader, the scent game, and trying some ant “weight-lifting.” This is a free program appropriate for ages 3- 5 with an adult. 
  • The Treasure Coast Art Association teams up with the Oxbow staff to present “Painting on Palm Boots” Art Classes on Saturday, Aug. 18 at 10 a.m. – noon for adults (ages 16 and older) and from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. for youth (ages 8-15). The Treasure Coast Art Association teams up with the Oxbow to present a nature-inspired class that uses cabbage palm boots as canvasses for some unique works of art.  The cost is $20 per participant, including all supplies. Reservations are required: 772-785-5833 or oxbow@stlucieco.org.     

Situated on a 225-acre preserve on the North Fork of the St. Lucie River, the Oxbow offers a rare glimpse of "the real Florida" with nature trails, boardwalks, observation towers and an interactive environmental learning center. 
The Oxbow Eco-Center is located at 5400 NE St. James Drive, Port St. Lucie (across from the Publix Shopping Center). For more information call the staff at 772-785-5833 or visit www.oxboweco.com.