Let St. Lucie County’s Guided Nature Programs
Help You Fall in Love with the Outdoors
If you haven’t taken a trip to a St. Lucie County preserve, you’re missing an experience like no other. Come explore old Florida with the Environmental Resources Department staff and volunteers through an award-winning guided nature program series. There are more than 11,000 acres of protected land for you to discover.
Topics for the October 2023 programs include:
- Friday, October 20th - Welcome to the Weekend Hike with Eva at Indian Hills Recreation Area from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM. After a busy week, a refreshing hike in nature to recharge and rejuvenate is the perfect prescription. This is a "fresh air & scenic views" hike with an emphasis on enjoying some of the benefits of St. Lucie County’s greenways, wildlife and gorgeous landscapes (minimum age: 12).
- Saturday, October 21st - Impact of Invasive and Native Resilience with Bill at Petravice Family Preserve from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM. On this site, which is a former nursery, we will talk about invasive plants as we hike the preserve. We will explore what makes them invasive, what conditions allow them to invade and how native habitats can fight back (minimum age: 10).
- Saturday, October 21st - Scrub-e-scape Hike with Eva at Walton Scrub Preserve from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM. Journey within an intracoastal scrub. This site features beaches, specially adapted native plants, interesting fungi, and some interesting "backyard" (minimum age: 12).
- Sunday, October 22nd - Florida's Wading Birds with Kirk at D. J. Wilcox Preserve from 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM. Come learn about wading bird biology and nesting as you enjoy the sights and sounds of D.J. Wilcox Preserve. This preserve boasts one mile of interpretive trail and is home to flatwood, hammock and swamp habitats. The species discussed will include our native herons, egrets, spoonbills and woodstorks (minimum age: 12).
- Sunday, October 22nd - Spooky Swamp Walk with Emily at Petravice Family Preserve from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM. Alligators, bats, spiders, bugs and snakes. The stuff of nightmares or just friendly Florida residents? Join us on our approximately 1.5-mile swamp walk to find out. We will wander along the beautiful St. Lucie River and make several stops to discuss the spooky creatures of the swamp. While we do not expect to come across any of these critters, we will keep our fingers crossed to experience some beautiful river wildlife (minimum age: 6).
- Friday, October 27th - Start Your Morning Right Hike with Eva at Gordy Road Recreation Area from 7:30 AM to 9:30 AM. This hike includes a misty morning trek around an old quarry lake and a stroll through the scrub to spy on the wildflowers in bloom. Usher in Friday with nature and recreation (minimum age: 12).
- Saturday, October 28th - Full Moon Night Hike with Eva at George LeStrange Preserve from 6:30 AM to 8:30 PM. Listening to and observing wildlife at dusk, as the daylight transitions to the night, reveals much about a habitat's natural rhythms. The "changing of the guard" from daytime to nighttime brings a host of transformations to the preserves in terms of which creatures are active and gives us extraordinary moonlit viewing opportunities (minimum age: 12).
- Sunday, October 29th - Preserve Pals Community Stewardship Day with Megan at Ocean Bay Preserve from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM. Do you love our preserves and want to help protect them? Join our Preserve Pals Community Stewardship Days held once a month on a select weekend from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM. Each month is hosted at a different preserve with a different action project. This month is at Ocean Bay Preserve for a beach cleanup as well as trash pickup in the parking lot. We will also bring equipment to trim back any extra growth on the trails. All equipment will be provided and all ages are welcome. Go from a passive hiker enjoying nature to an active steward protecting nature.
- Sunday, October 29th - Hootin’ Halloween Hike with Emily at George Lestrange Preserve from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM. Join us on a sunset hike to learn more about one of Halloween's soaring superstars: owls. We hope to hear some hoots on our 1.5-mile hike through George Lestrange Preserve. We will make a few stops along the way to discuss Florida's owl species, learn some fun facts and attempt to uncover how owls became a popular symbol of fall and Halloween (minimum age: 6).
Visit www.SLChikes.org for more information and to register. For more additional information, call: 772-462-2536 or email slchikes@stlucieco.org. Nature hikes and family programs are free; however, reservations are required as space is limited. The Guided Nature Program season runs from October 2023 through June 2024. There are various topics, locations and distances all designed for different ages and abilities.
Purchased through a voter-approved bond referendum, St. Lucie County manages more than two dozen preserves that are open to the public for passive recreation. For more information about St. Lucie County’s Environmentally Significant Lands, visit: www.stluciepreserves.com.
