Volusia County Plans Explore Volusia Programs For February

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Volusia County, FL- Learn about Volusia County’s conservation lands and land management practices during free Explore Volusia programs in December. Environmental specialists will lead guided hikes, paddling trips,

eco-buggy tours and bike-abouts.

Reservations are required; call 386-736-5927.

Upcoming events include:

Bike-about Green Springs: 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 6. Ride the first

segment of the East Central Regional Rail Trail from Green Springs to

State Road 415 and back. All ages are welcome on this 11.4-mile round

trip. Bicycles and helmets are required. Meet at Green Springs Park, 994

Enterprise-Osteen Road, Enterprise.

Geocaching in Hickory Bluff: 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7. Learn how

to use a GPS device to find caches in the preserve. Bring your own

device or borrow one from staff for this fun adventure. Meet at Hickory

Bluff Preserve, 598 Guise Road, Osteen.

Riverbreeze Park paddle: 9 to 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 12. Explore the

northern end of the Indian River Lagoon while paddling from Riverbreeze

Park to surrounding areas. Participants may see manatees, dolphins,

white pelicans and other native wildlife. Bring a kayak, canoe or

stand-up paddleboard along with a life preserver and whistle. Meet 250

H.H. Burch Road, Oak Hill.

Longleaf lunch and learn: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 14. Ride

Volusia County’s eco-buggy through Longleaf Pine Preserve while

learning about its plant life and the importance of the lands. The

eco-buggy will stop at the pavilion, where participants may eat lunch

and learn about the county’s marine mammals and their connection with

conservation lands. Bring a bagged lunch and meet at the preserve’s

west entrance, 3637 E. New York Ave., DeLand. The eco-buggy will be

parked one-tenth of a mile from the parking lot; if you are unable to

walk this distance, ask for accommodations when you register.

Guided hike of Wiregrass Prairie Preserve: 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb.

20. Take a hike of the 1,400-acre preserve, which is almost entirely in

the St. Johns River Valley. Explore upland and wetland natural

communities that include wet flatwoods, cypress domes and wet prairies.

Learn about land management practices while hiking the diverse ecotones

of the land. Meet at 1751 Lopez Road, Osteen. Do not use a GPS to find

the location.

Bike-about Lake Woodruff: 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22. Ride a dirt

path around a segment of the beautiful Lake Woodruff National Wildlife

Refuge. Learn about cypress and mixed hardwood swamps while riding areas

of water impoundments where a variety of wildlife can be seen.

Participants must have a bicycle and helmet. Meet at 2045 Mud Lake Road,

DeLeon Springs.

Painting in nature: 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 24. Join local

artist Holly Esch as she leads a watercolors program on painting in

nature at Hickory Bluff Preserve. This beginners workshop, which is open

to adults and children, will teach general techniques such as shading,

highlighting, blending, brush strokes and mixing colors. Supplies will

be provided. Meet at 598 Guise Road, Osteen.

Hontoon Island paddle: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 27. Not for the

beginner paddler, this 10-mile paddle will leave from Hontoon Island

State Park and loop down Snake Creek and back up the St. Johns River

channel. The trip will take five to six hours. Participants are

encouraged to bring a bagged lunch for a picnic stop. Bring a kayak,

canoe or stand-up paddleboard along with a life preserver and whistle.

Meet at 2309 River Ridge Road, DeLand.

Volusia County’s Environmental Management Division sponsors Explore

Volusia to acquaint residents with the county’s diverse natural

habitats and land management practices.

Participants should bring water and insect repellent. They should wear

comfortable clothes and hiking or walking shoes.

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