Education Matters

Fun, Learning and More Through Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources

By Ryan G. Van Cleave
February 2021

Besides the vibrant arts scene and the irresistible weather, the biggest area attraction has to be the world-class beaches, right? Well, it’s the Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Department we should be thanking, since they take care of those, from daily trash removal and facility cleaning to managing artificial reefs and marine signage to providing land stewardship and environmental management of beach and dune areas, wetlands, bay waters, and other protected habitats. Add in their care of 100+ athletic fields, 100+ parks, and 50,000+ acres of the county’s natural areas and trails, and it’s hard to grasp the range of all they do. 

But in addition to all that, the Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources department also has more programming and events than anyone might expect. For example, they’ve fully embraced online delivery, offering activities in art (“Water Plant Art” and “Owl Crafts and Facts”), wildlife (“Snakes of Florida at Shamrock Park” and “Solutions to Pollution at Siesta Beach”), and nature (“Pedicab Ride Along the Legacy Trail” and “Nature Walk at Old Myakka Preserve”). That’s just the start of it, though.

Recent specialty programs have proven to be a hit, such as the 16th annual Breakfast with Santa at Newtown Estates Park, which was reformatted to a drive-through event thanks to COVID-19. Every participant got a to-go breakfast and each child 12 and under also received a toy. Another successful December event was the Sandy Claws Beach Run. For similar safety reasons, it shifted from live to virtual—participants were asked to choose their distance and run at any location they wanted, including any of six parks (Nokomis Beach, Phillippi Estate Park, Rothenbach Park, Shamrock Park, Siesta Beach, and Ted Sperling Park at South Lido Beach) where each had a Sandy the Crab photo frame to help create some social-media-worthy keepsakes. All proceeds benefitted Sarasota County’s Summer Camp scholarship fund.

One of the more exciting upcoming programs is the Afternoons at the Mansion lecture series, which serves as a fundraiser for the renovation of the Historic Keith Farmhouse. For $20 on Feb. 21 and March 28, you can enjoy an afternoon at the historic mansion at Phillippi Estate Park while learning about Sarasota’s history and enjoying light refreshments in a socially distanced, limited-capacity setting. 

Program Coordinator Priscilla Brown notes that the 1916 Edson Keith Mansion lends itself well to small lectures in an historic setting. When they celebrated the 100th anniversary of the estate in 2016, people requested more information about the history and archaeology of the site. That’s where the concept of Afternoons at the Mansion program was developed. 

Brown adds that she hopes people bear with them as they negotiate “the often-changing CDC guidelines and protocols to try to keep all attendees safe while enjoying fascinating historical facts, interesting tales of the early days of Sarasota—even before we became a county 100 years ago this year—and well-informed speakers who have a vast knowledge of the various historical aspects of the Sarasota community. We always end our presentations by the speakers opening the floor to questions and comments, which has provided some in-depth discussions and often a bit of hilarity. History is not dead; it is exciting information to stimulate the minds of us all.”

Another upcoming event of note is Beach University, a series of educational environmental seminars that began in 2006 as a collaboration between popular Beach Ambassador Program volunteers and county staff. Jonathan Poyner—one of the program’s organizers—adds that the impetus for the free classes really came from Dr. Bruce Broadbent, a retired University of Pennsylvania professor who winters in Sarasota and serves as a Beach Ambassador. “Dr. Broadbent, his wife Joyce, and other Beach Ambassadors are still involved in the planning and setup of this series,” Poyner says. 

Each year, the program offers a variety of interactive seminars that teach about life along the shore and how we can help preserve the dynamic but delicate ecosystem. The topics in this year’s programming include: Invasive Vegetation and How it Relates to You; Beach Safety 101; Climate Action—Plant for Birds; Life in the Dune; A History of Siesta Beach and the Key; and Ecology Research from Mote Marine Laboratory.

Poyner says, “Sarasota County wants to welcome all to this environmental education series that is sure to inspire people to help protect our precious resources and life along the Gulf shoreline. Come discover what nature and history have been trying to teach us all along.” 

Beach University takes place from 9:30-10:30am at the Siesta Beach main pavilion every Thursday in March (4, 11, 18, and 25) as well as two additional Saturday dates (March 13 and 27). Co-organizer Catherine Wunderlich notes that “this year, we ask for participants to bring their own chairs, and we recommend social distancing and wearing a mask if unable to social distance.” If you can’t make it live, the March 4 meeting will also be available on Facebook @SRQCountyPlay for anyone who would like to tune in virtually.

This is just a sampling of the many things Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources helps make happen. If you care about concerts, farmer’s markets, guided walks, informative talks, beaches, and parks, consider looking into becoming a volunteer—the need is great, and the options are many. 

Whether you’re a volunteer, a program participant, or simply an appreciator, come be part of all the parks offer. It’s more than you imagined!

FOR MORE INFORMATION on Sarasota County Parks, Recreation  and Natural Resources, please visit  www.scgov.net/government/parks-recreation-and-natural-resources or call 941-861-5000.