Saddle Creek Park Nature Trail is part of the Great Florida Birding Trail, and an excellent place to see flocks of herons roosting early in the morning and late in the day. The older trail was established by Boy Scout Troop 123 of Winter Haven, it is about 2 miles roundtrip.
Saddle Creek drains these low-lying floodplain forests southward into Lake Hancock, and this trail parallels its route, with some scenic views down into the floodplain. Tons of sweetgum and maple trees makes it a great shady foliage walk. https://floridahikes.com/saddlecreekpark
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Most visitors head straight down the shared portion of the Scrub Flatwoods and Shady Oak Trail to the preserve’s most popular destination: the Flatwoods Pond Boardwalk. Stretching at least a tenth of a mile across wetlands and pond, it offers a great perspective for birding and a covered observation deck for sitting and observing the wildlife that come to this rare water source in the ancient scrub forest. A round-trip to the boardwalk from the trailhead is a mile.
Students spent the day riding a tram thru the uplands, collecting plant data, having
discussions about animal characteristics, adaptations, and gopher tortoises. While in the Oak Hammock, they helped with the removal of an invasive species, Ceasar Weed. The City of Lakeland owns and operates Se7en Wetlands, a constructed wetland treatment system, which provides tertiary treatment, or final polishing, for all of the City’s wastewater. Located south of Lakeland, Se7en Wetlands is comprised of over 1,600 acres of marshes, swamps, uplands, and lakes.
The scene is set, an environmental crime has occurred, and the culprit needs to be brought to justice. Students analyzed six clues to infer what transpired, wrote detailed descriptions of the evidence, and then read about a bear attack in Ocala National Forest.
Check out these detectives in the making.... The multipurpose recreational site is located conveniently across the street from school. Just a quick jaunt across the road before students were able to explore a nature preserve full of wildlife, plants, shrubs and trees.
We will hike for about 2km on a self-guided tour, often pausing to observe and discuss Florida's natural treasures. The day was a success! The beautiful shade canopies provided a refuge from the extreme Florida sun. The classes will split into two groups with a tour guide for each, and set off for our environmental education programs.
The first rotation will include a brief explanation about natural springs and how sand and limestone can clean water. Then, the students can explore the Nature Center. There are several species of amphibians and reptiles native to Florida on display. The second rotation will explain what it takes to survive if you ever get lost in the wilderness. We will practice identifying poisonous plants and animals you may encounter in Florida. We collect drinking water from plants and built a shelter using only what we brought with us and what nature has to provide. **The students may get a little muddy. https://www.crystalspringsfoundation.org |