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"...people have learned not from books, but in the fields, in the wood, on the river bank.
Their teachers have been the birds themselves, when they sang to them,
the sun when it left a glow of crimson behind it at setting, the very trees, and wild herbs."
- Anton Chekhov (1860-1904), Russian author

A World of Moths

Our understanding of the scientific order Lepidoptera, which includes butterflies and moths, has come a long way since the days of Mothra, the giant moth that made multiple appearances in Japanese sci-fi films in the 1960s and beyond. Today moths are often overshadowed by their more “glamorous” butterfly cousins. They can be just as fascinating, however, as you’ll learn if you take part in activities in observance of National Moth Week, at Long Key Natural Area & Nature Center in Davie. These fun programs will help you gain a greater appreciation of the importance of moths to the planet’s ecosystems.

     

     

 

Don’t Miss Out!

The annual Sea Turtles and Their Babies program at Anne Kolb Nature Center in Hollywood is filling up fast. It’s on Wednesdays and Fridays starting on July 6 and ending on September 5, but July is mostly booked already, and August has started filling up as well, so reserve online now. No walk-ins are accepted. The program starts at 8 p.m. with a video presentation and lecture, followed by a hatchling release at nearby Hollywood North Beach Park. The fee is $10/person prepaid. For more info, call 954-357-5161, ext. 0.

July IS Park and Recreation Month!

July is many things to many people – hot weather, the height of summer break from school, a time to go on vacation. To the National Recreation and Park Association, July Is Park and Recreation Month, a tradition launched in 1985. Both the Florida Recreation and Park Association and Broward County Parks and Recreation Division have long supported the initiative by reminding people of the benefits of parks and recreation, which include the following:

• Parks and recreation programs enhance our quality of life by contributing to a healthy lifestyle, increasing communication skills, building self-esteem, teaching life skills, and providing places for enjoyment.
• Parks and recreation programs boost the economy, enhance property values, attract new business, increase tourism, and reduce crime.
• Recreation builds family unity, strengthens neighborhood involvement, offers opportunity for social interaction, enhances education, develops creativity, and promotes cultural diversity.
• Our parks and trails ensure ecological beauty, provide space to enjoy nature, help maintain clean air and water, and preserve plant and animal wildlife.
• Recreation, therapeutic recreation, and leisure education are essential to the rehabilitation of individuals who have been ill or disabled.

Get out and experience these benefits at a Broward County park. Our nearly 50 locations include regional parks and nature centers, neighborhood parks, and natural areas, and we’re open 364 days a year, closing only on Christmas Day.

Sherlock Junior

Let your youngster(s) end July and kick off August by playing detective at Fern Forest Nature Center in Coconut Creek. From Monday, July 30 through Friday, August 3, the park will offer its annual Nature Detectives summer camp, available in half-day sessions from 9 a.m. to noon daily. Each day campers ages 8 to 11 will investigate a different theme, exploring the nature center’s distinctive habitats through hands-on experiences, crafts, and other activities. The fee is $75 per camper for the full week. For more information call the park at 954-357-5198. Fern Forest is accessible via Broward County Transit Routes #31 and #42.