Nature   

Participants will receive a list of great trails within one hour of Ocala in this course. While in class, they will view images of these best walking trails, and see a 910-year-old giant Cypress tree, a trail with astounding live oak trees, and one with swinging footbridges over a ravine.

We live in a land of beautiful water, with many rivers, spring runs, and bays that are perfect for small paddle craft. This class will explore some of the options in kayaks, outfitters, local clubs, and favorite places. The sport has some physical demands that will be discussed and suggestions made about how to get started. Several kayaks of different types will be displayed.

Experience areas of Sholom Park that were not covered at your first Walk and Talk. Explore the Enchanted Forest, Fragrance Trail and the Olive Tree Promenade with Managing Director, Robert Colen and Park Manager, Brian DeVane at Part Two of Sholom Park's Walk and Talk.

Take a four-hour trip on over 1,000 acres of land to learn about all of the animals on the preserve, including the tortoises. Founded in 1996 to preserve critical uplands habitat for the future, Ashton Biological Preserve is named after its founders, Ray and Pat Ashton. The preserve conducts research on many types of wildlife native to the region, and specializes in tortoise care. They are one of the world's largest captive breeding facilities for the endangered radiated tortoise (Astrochelys radiata), and are actively involved in conservation of the native gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus), native to the region.

CLICK HERE FOR DIRECTIONS

 This class features a three-hour birding boat ride with an experienced river boat Captain. We start with a classroom session to discuss at all the birds we hope to see. The Rainbow is a "treasure trove" of water/wading birds. The Upper Withlacoochee offers a different look at "old Florida," as well as the more "modern" appearance and even more birds! Enjoy up close and personal views of magnificent birds with great photo opportunities.

This will be a slow-poking exploration, geared toward inquisitive paddlers who are more interested in learning wild lore than covering distance. Unlike our other paddle tour/classes, this one will only cover a couple of miles in total, allowing time to drift, observe and learn about the river's plants, animals, archaeology, history and other wild lore.

If you want to see more of the river and learn a bit less of its wild lore, I recommend one of the other great courses offered in this catalog. Difficulty: Easy paddle, going downstream and then returning against a light current. Skill level: Good for beginners.

There is a $6 Park Fee the day of class. The trip lasts approx. 2.5 hours.

Meeting time (at launch site): 9 AM for August; 10 AM for December. Kayaks are provided. After registering for the class, participants should call (386) 454-0611 during the week prior to the trip to discuss any special needs or requests and confirm an email address for launch site directions. Lunch not included in price.

This will be a slow-poking exploration, geared toward inquisitive paddlers who are more interested in learning wild lore than covering distance. Unlike our other paddle tour/classes, this one will only cover a couple of miles in total, allowing time to drift, observe and learn about the river's plants, animals, archaeology, history and other wild lore.

If you want to see more of the river and learn a bit less of its wild lore, I recommend one of the other great courses offered in this catalog. Difficulty: Easy paddle, going downstream and then returning against a light current. Skill level: Good for beginners.

There is a $6 Park Fee the day of class. The trip lasts approx. 2.5 hours.

Meeting time (at launch site): 9 AM for August; 10 AM for December. Kayaks are provided. After registering for the class, participants should call (386) 454-0611 during the week prior to the trip to discuss any special needs or requests and confirm an email address for launch site directions. Lunch not included in price.

On this 3.5 mile kayak/canoe exploration of the upper Ichetucknee, we will enjoy some of North Florida's most stunningly beautiful waterways while learning about its interesting geological formations, including beautiful limestone outcroppings and seven named springs.

Paddlers will also hear some of the rich history that has made this one of Florida's most famous rivers. For 14,000 yrs, these waters have quenched the thirst of Indians, Spanish missionaries and DeSoto's conquistadors!

Meeting time (at launch site): 10 AM. There is a $5 Park Fee. Trip duration: 2 hours. Difficulty: Easy paddle, going downstream with the current. Skill level: Good for beginners.

On this kayak/canoe tour of Cross Creek and portions of Orange and Lochloosa Lakes, we'll explore the wild realm made famous by Pulitzer prize winning author, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings.

The charming creek, beautiful lake vistas and abundant wildlife remain little changed since the early - mid 1900's, when Rawlings lived here and wrote such Florida classics as The Yearling and Cross Creek.

Good for beginners, basic lessons included. Please meet at the launch site at 10 AM. The trip is 2 - 2.5 hours. The difficulty: Easy paddle, going downstream and then returning against a light current.

After registering for the class, all participants should call (386) 497-4214 during the week prior to the trip to discuss equipment needs and confirm an email address for launch site directions.

Salt water environments require unique and interesting adaptions of the plants and animal species that live in them. Nowhere in North-Central Florida are these adaptations more beautifully revealed than in mangrove forests of the Suncoast Keys on Central Florida's Gulf Coast.

Better yet, the same conditions that make this area ideal for mangroves--shallow, calm water protected from winds and waves by numerous islands- also make it an ideal environment for kayak exploration.

Please meet at the launch site at 10 AM. The trip duration is 2.5 - 3 hours. Difficulty: Open water is easy if calm weather. Moderate if it's breezy. We won't go if the forecast is too windy (or inclement in any way). Skill level: Good for beginners & pros alike.

After registering for the class, all participants should call (386) 497-4214 during the week prior to the trip to discuss equipment needs and confirm an email address for launch site directions.

Lunch is not included in price.

Unlike other coastal regions, where civilization crowds shoulder-to-shoulder along the shore, like lemmings amassing for their mythical plunge into the sea, nature still rules in the Cedar Keys area of Florida's Big Bend. It's a low, wet country where the "shore line" defies definition, ever-changing, shrinking and expanding, with the ebb and flow of tides.

Difficulty: Open water is easy if calm weather. Moderate if it's breezy. We won't go if the forecast is too windy (or inclement in any way). Skill level: Good for beginners. Meeting time (at launch site): 10 AM

After registering for the class, all participants should call (386) 497-4214 during the week prior to the trip to discuss equipment needs and confirm an email address for launch site directions. Lunch is not included in price.