Chris Gollon
The Lyonia Environmental Center in Volusia County is preparing to host a packed series of events throughout the month of November. The Center, located at 2150 Eustace Ave in Deltona, is one of Volusia County's premier locations for education about natural resources and wildlife.
Highlights at the Center include live animals, a 425-gallon saltwater aquarium, a scrub hiking trail, lunch pavilion, and programs for families, field trips, and summer camps alike. Its normal operating hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, and Sunday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
The upcoming slate of events is as follows, with descriptions provided by a release from the Volusia County government.
- November 2nd (Saturday): Tiny Trekkers
- 10:00 am - 11:00 am
- "Children ages 2 to 7 will listen to a book about nature, take a short hike in Lyonia Preserve, and make a mushroom craft."
- November 2nd (Saturday): Rain Barrels 101
- 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
- "Discover the importance of using rain barrels to collect water and learn how to assemble and properly place your barrel. A limited number of rain barrels will be available for purchase as a fundraiser for the Friends of Lyonia Environmental Center. This program is recommended for adults."
- November 3rd (Sunday): Critter Corner
- 2:00 pm - 2:30 pm
- "Stop by the LEC for a meet and greet with one of the center’s resident animal ambassadors. Explore the ambassador's life at the center and learn how that animal survives in its natural habitat. This program is appropriate for all ages."
- November 6th (Wednesday): Wildlife Wednesday Walk
- 9:00 am - 10:00 am
- "Volunteers will lead this exploratory hike through Lyonia Preserve. Wear closed-toe shoes, bring water, and be prepared to hike on sugar sand. This walk is designed for ages 8 and up."
- November 9th (Saturday): Lyonia Photography Club
- 10:00 am - 11:00 am
- "Lyonia Preserve has unlimited opportunities for photographing birds, reptiles, and plants. Volunteers from West Volusia Audubon Society lead this monthly program series, which includes in-class instruction and field opportunities to hone skills. All skill levels and ages are welcome."
- November 9th (Saturday): Books, Buttons, and Bouquets
- 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
- "Learn the technique of upcycling old books and buttons into beautiful fall flowers in this fun, festive workshop. Employees will share stories of their favorite books over tea and cookies, and one lucky participant will take home a book-and-button floral arrangement. This program is recommended for ages 12 and up. Space and materials are limited. Refreshments will be provided by the Friends of Lyonia Environmental Center."
- November 10th (Sunday): How to Recycle (Even with Curbside Recycling)
- 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
- "The whole family can earn how to reduce, reuse, and recycle regardless of age, address, or access to curbside recycling. After the presentation, participants can make a craft with upcycled materials. This program is recommended for ages 8 and up."
- November 14th (Tuesday): Red-Cockaded Woodpeckers
- 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
- "Monica Folk of Wild Folk will share information about this fascinating species and how bird experts are using technology to save it from extinction. The red-cockaded woodpecker is a federally endangered species that once lived in old-growth pine forests throughout the Southeast. Now it’s restricted to large remote forest lands, usually in state parks and national forests. This program is recommended for ages 12 and up."
- November 15th (Friday): Eco-Buggy Ride Through Lyonia Preserve
- 9:00 am - 11:00 am
- "Learn about the importance of scrub habitat as LEC and Explore Volusia staff guide you on a ride through the unique habitat. Keep an eye out for scrub jays, gopher tortoises, and other wildlife! This program is limited to 25 people. All ages are welcome."
- November 16th (Saturday): Photography Club Hike
- 8:00 am - 9:00 am
- "Lyonia Preserve has unlimited opportunities for photographing birds, reptiles, and plants. Budding photographers can take advantage of this hike to hone their skills. All skill levels, ages, and camera types (from cellphones to fancy digital cameras) are welcome."
- November 16th (Saturday): 'Fall in the Air' Hike
- 9:00 am - 10:00 am
- "Explore the scrub habitat of Lyonia Preserve and look for signs of fall on this 1.5-mile hike. This program is recommended for ages 8 and up."
- November 16th (Saturday): Nibbles with a Naturalist
- 2:00 pm - 2:30 pm
- "An LEC staff naturalist will focus on sharks during this casual program for ages 12 and up. Snacks will be provided by the Friends of Lyonia Environmental Center."
- November 17th (Sunday): Marvelous Manatees
- 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
- "November is Manatee Awareness Month. Show your appreciation for these gentle giants by creating some upcycled projects, embracing sustainability, and creating your own bookmark and book cover. This program is appropriate for ages 10 and up."
- November 22nd (Friday): Autumn Stroll
- 9:00 am - 10:00 am
- "Lace up your hiking shoes and join LEC staff for an exploratory hike of Lyonia Preserve. The group will look for the plant and animal species that call scrub habitat their home. This program is recommended for ages 8 and up."
- November 23rd (Saturday): Wild Turkeys
- 10:30 am - 11:00 am
- "Wild turkeys can have over 5,000 feathers! Learn more fun facts about the largest game bird in North America and view LEC’s taxidermied turkey to learn about their anatomy. This creature feature is recommended for ages 6 and up."
- November 23rd (Saturday): Reptile Read Along
- 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
- "Practice your reading skills while helping LEC’s animal ambassadors with enrichment. Bring your favorite book, pull up a chair to our animal enclosures, and read to Kai and Frank, Brooks and Pearl, Blaze and Egor, or Jewel. Reading is scheduled in 20-minute increments, and registration is required. This program is appropriate for ages 6 and up."
- November 24th (Sunday): STEMS-Giving Science
- 2:00 pm - 2:30 pm
- "Celebrate Thanksgiving with some fun food science activities. This program is appropriate for participants ages 7 and up."
- November 30th (Saturday): 'Burn, Baby, Burn' Hike
- 9:00 am - 10:00 am
- "Did you overindulge a bit on Thanksgiving? Burn calories and learn about prescribed burns on this guided, two-mile hike along Lyonia Preserve’s blue trail."
- November 30th (Saturday): Upcycled Denim Ornaments
- 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
- "Get into the holiday by spirit by upcycling old jeans into cute holiday ornaments you can use on your tree or on a package. Light refreshments will be provided by the Friends of Lyonia Environmental Center. This program is recommended for ages 10 and up."