December 26, 2007 - Oxbow Eco-Center Announces January Events
The Oxbow Eco-Center, St. Lucie County's environmental learning center, has several events scheduled for January, including the return of Nature at Night, weekly hikes and the Oxbow's Naturalist Training.- The Oxbow's ''Nature At Night'' returns Friday, Jan. 4 from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. with an ''Owl Prowl.'' Learn about your nocturnal neighbors, as the Oxbow staff and officials with Busch Wildlife discuss and display live owls, followed by a hike through the forest. The cost is $3 per participant. Reservations and pre-payment is required.
- The Oxbow's ''Wake-Up Lecture Series'' presents ''Conservation of Priceless Florida'' on Saturday, Jan. 5 at 11 a.m. Guest Speaker Dr. Reed Noss is the Shine-Davis Professor of Conservation Biology at the University of Central Florida and President of the Florida Institute for Conservation Science. He has spent decades studying biodiversity and ecology and has worked on numerous efforts to protect wildlife corridors on a regional level. This lecture is free.
- The Oxbow's ''Nature for Families'' will focus on ''Ribbit-ing Frogs'' Saturday, Jan. 12 from 12:30 - 2:30 p.m. Learn why these amphibians are called the ''canaries of the fields.'' Appropriate for ages 4 and up. The cost is $3 per person and registration is required.
- Become a trained ''naturalist'' at the Oxbow's two-part training session Jan. 27 and Feb. 3 from 1 - 5 p.m. Balancing classroom discussion with field experiences, the program will cover general ecological principles, watershed issues, species identification and conservation efforts. The program cost is $30 for the general public. This fee is waived for current volunteers who commit to a minimum number of naturalist-related volunteer hours at the Oxbow Eco-Center.
- Guided hikes continue at the Oxbow every Saturday at 10 a.m. Join an Oxbow naturalist as they lead visitors along a series of trails, discussing the plants and wildlife that live in the different habitats along the North Fork of the St. Lucie River.
Additionally, several club meetings and programs are held at the Oxbow Eco-Center:
- The Photography Club will hold its monthly meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 2 at 6:30 p.m. All photographers, from novices to experts, are encouraged to attend. Field trips take place the following Saturday.
- The St. Lucie Audubon Society will meet Thursday, Jan. 3 at 7 p.m. with Camille Yates, who will present ''Treasured Waters'' - a program about the Indian River Lagoon.
- The Florida Native Plant Society (Lakela's Mint Chapter) will hold its monthly meeting Tuesday, Jan. 8 beginning at 6:30 p.m.
- St. Lucie Regional Herp Society will hold its monthly meeting Wednesday, Jan. 16 at 7 p.m. Guests are encouraged to attend and learn more about snakes, lizards and other reptiles.
In addition to the various scheduled events, the Oxbow's trails are open every day from dawn until dusk, while the education center is open Tuesday through Friday from 1 - 5 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon - 5 p.m. 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 is located at 5400 N.E. St. James Drive, Port St. Lucie (across from the Publix Shopping Center). For more information call the staff at (772) 785-5833 or visit http://stlucieco.gov/erd/oxbow.