2011 Summer Calendar

June – Radical Reptiles

All Month:   “Radical Reptiles” at the Oxbow Eco-Center; free; Tuesday through Friday from 12-5pm, Saturday from 10am-5pm; 772-785-5833 or oxbow@stlucieco.org. Visit the center for some free fun activities, and check out our glass display showcasing some of Florida’s radical reptiles.

June 4: Spirit of Nature Art Class “Making Beads from Paper” at the Oxbow Eco-Center; $20 per participant; 10am – 12pm; RSVP; 772-785-5833 or http://www.oxboweco.com/. The Treasure Coast Art Association teams up with the Oxbow Eco-Center to present this nature-inspired class for adults exploring the art of making beautiful beads with paper.

June 8:   Swamp Tales at Oxbow Eco-Center; FREE; 3:45pm; 772-785-5833 or oxbow@stlucieco.org.  Join us each month for a “novel” adventure with Miss Kitty, our fabulous storyteller. Each month the story changes but the fun never stops! Story and activity appropriate for ages 3 to 6.

June 11:   Nature for Families - Hey youngsters bring your Dad out for a Reptile Adventure! Meet different types of our scaled friends, have your picture taken with one of Oxbow’s slithering ambassadors and make your own reptile to take home or give to dad for Father’s Day,  at Oxbow Eco-Center; $3 per participant; 12:30-2:30pm; RSVP; 772-785-5833 or oxbow@stlucieco.org.  Appropriate for ages 5 and up.

June 15:   Oxbow and the Natives at the Oxbow Eco-Center; FREE; 3:45pm; 772-785-5833 or oxbow@stlucieco.org. Learn interesting facts about Florida's native reptiles and then watch as the Oxbow animal ambassadors enjoy their favorite foods.

June 17:   Oxbow Treehouse Time at the Oxbow Eco-Center; FREE; 9:30am; 772-785-5833 or oxbow@stlucieco.org. Warm-up your cold-blooded bodies with our naturalists by moving like a reptile and, each month, experience a different side of nature with your little one. Appropriate for ages 2 to 5 with an adult.

June 18:   Brown Bag Lecture—“Sea Turtles of the Treasure Coast” at the Oxbow Eco-Center; FREE; 12 noon; 772-785-5833 or oxbow@stlucieco.org. Erik Martin, Scientific Director with Ecological Associates, Inc. will present Sea Turtles of the Treasure Coast – their biology and conservation. Martin will discuss the biology of the five species of sea turtles that occur along the Treasure Coast, and the natural and human related threats to these ancient creatures. The presentation is sure to have some amazing photographs, and participants will walk away with a greater understanding about how they can help protect sea turtles.

June 20 – June 24: Going Wild summer camp – at the Oxbow Eco-Center; $85; 9am-1pm; 772-785-5833 or oxbow@stlucieco.org. Campers 8 to 12 years old will travel through time and meet some of the massive animals that once roamed Florida, from the mastodon to the megalodon. Then learn about their relatives that live among us today. Campers will travel to Busch Wildlife Sanctuary where they will be able to get an up-close view of some of Florida’s mammals! Bring your own snacks and lunch. Extended hours available. Visit http://www.oxboweco.com/ for information and registration forms.

June 28 – June 30: Spirit of Nature Art Camp – at the Oxbow Eco-Center; $60; 8:30am-12:30pm; 772-785-5833 or oxbow@stlucieco.org. Campers ages 7 to 10 years old will set their creative spirit free and learn the art of creating beautiful paper and creating journals or memory books. Participants will also learn the art of zentangles, creating artist trading cards and puzzle books and more!  Bring your own snacks. Visit http://www.oxboweco.com/ for information and registration forms.

July – Fire in the Flatwoods

All Month:   “Fire in the Flatwoods” at the Oxbow Eco-Center; free; Tuesday through Friday from 12-5pm, Saturday from 10am-5pm; 772-785-5833 or oxbow@stlucieco.org. Visit the center for some free fun activities, and check out our glass display highlighting the creative role of fire in Florida’s landscapes.

July 2: Spirit of Nature Art Class “Making Booklets for Trading Cards and Memories” at the Oxbow Eco-Center; $20 per participant; 10am – 12pm; RSVP; 772-785-5833 or http://www.oxboweco.com/. The Treasure Coast Art Association teams up with the Oxbow Eco-Center to present this nature-inspired class for adults exploring the art of making booklets from recycled envelopes and paper. Booklets can be used for artist trading cards, concert tickets, or a journal or memories book.

July 9:   Nature for Families—“Mr. Golly’s Underground Party” at Oxbow Eco-Center; Join us as we adventure into the world of the Gopher Tortoise and learn how they act as landlords to many of Florida’s animals during wildfires.  $3 per participant; 12:30-2:30pm; RSVP; 772-785-5833 or oxbow@stlucieco.org.  Appropriate for ages 5 & up.

July 13:   Swamp Tales at Oxbow Eco-Center; FREE; 3:45pm; 772-785-5833 or oxbow@stlucieco.org.  Join us each month for a “novel” adventure with Miss Kitty, our fabulous storyteller. Each month the story changes but the fun never stops! Story and activity appropriate for ages 3 to 6.

July 15:   Oxbow Treehouse Time at the Oxbow Eco-Center; FREE; 9:30am; 772-785-5833 or oxbow@stlucieco.org. Warm-up with our naturalists by moving like an animal and, each month, experience a different side of nature with your little one. Appropriate for ages 2 to 5 with an adult.

July 16:  Brown Bag Lecture—“Fire in the Florida Landscape” at the Oxbow Eco-Center; FREE; 12pm; 772-785-5833 or oxbow@stlucieco.org.

July 18 – 22: Spirit of Nature Art Camp at the Oxbow Eco-Center; $120; 8:30am-3:30pm; 772-785-5833 or oxbow@stlucieco.org.  Campers 11 to 16 years old will set their creative spirit free and learn the art of creating beautiful paper and creating journals or memory books. Participants will also learn the art of zentangles, creating artist trading cards and puzzle books and more!  Bring your own snacks. Visit http://www.oxboweco.com/ for information and registration forms.

July 20:   Oxbow and the Natives  -- NOTE: there will be no Oxbow and the Natives in July due to summer camp activities.

August -- Prehistoric Florida

All Month:   “Prehistoric Florida” at the Oxbow Eco-Center; free; Tuesday through Friday from 12-5pm, Saturday from 10am-5pm; 772-785-5833 or oxbow@stlucieco.org. Visit the center for some free fun activities, and check out our glass display showcasing prehistoric Florida.

August 1 – August 5:  Surviving the Wild Summer Camp at the Oxbow Eco-Center; $90; 9:00am – 1:00pm; 772-785-5833 or oxbow@stlucieco.org. Campers ages 12 to 16 years old will become survivalists and learn the skills it takes to survive in the wild, including making cordage or rope, constructing a shelter with nothing but natural materials, building a fire using primitive tools, and making a compass to find your way home. In addition to survivalist training, participants will spend time as archeologists digging up the past, and as ethnobotanists learning about the plants that indigenous people used to survive! Bring your own snacks and lunch. Extended hours available. Visit http://www.oxboweco.com/ for information and registration forms.

August 6: Spirit of Nature Art Class “Making Baskets from Nature” at the Oxbow Eco-Center; $20 per participant; 10am – 12pm; RSVP; 772-785-5833 or http://www.oxboweco.com/. All ancient civilizations produced baskets. Not only were they useful in their daily lives, baskets were used in religious ceremonies, buried in graves, and elaborately decorated to become cultural art forms. Step into the past at the Oxbow Eco-Center on August 6th while the Treasure Coast Art Association introduces the art of basket-making using only materials found in nature.

August 10:   Swamp Tales at Oxbow Eco-Center; FREE; 3:45pm; 772-785-5833 or oxbow@stlucieco.org.  Join us each month for a “novel” adventure with Miss Kitty, our fabulous storyteller. Each month the story changes but the fun never stops! Story and activity appropriate for ages 3 to 6.

August 13:   Nature for Families—“Florida’s Giant Animals” at Oxbow Eco-Center.  Giant Sloths, American Lions and Mastodons oh my! Participants will take an in-depth look at Megafauna that roams Florida today and the ones who lived here during the last ice age.  Make a fossil to take home with you.  $3 per participant; 12:30-2:30pm; RSVP; 772-785-5833 or oxbow@stlucieco.org.  Appropriate for age 8 and up.

August 17:   Oxbow and the Natives at the Oxbow Eco-Center; FREE; 3:45pm; 772-785-5833 or oxbow@stlucieco.org. Learn interesting facts about Florida's prehistoric native animals and then watch as the animal Oxbow ambassadors enjoy their favorite foods.

August 19:   Oxbow Treehouse Time at the Oxbow Eco-Center; FREE; 9:30am; 772-785-5833 or oxbow@stlucieco.org. Warm-up with our naturalists by moving like an animal and, each month, experience a different side of nature with your little one. Appropriate for ages 2 to 5 with an adult.

August 20: Brown Bag Lecture—“Pre-Historic Florida” at the Oxbow Eco-Center; FREE; 12pm; 772-785-5833 or oxbow@stlucieco.org.