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Pinellas County Environmental Lands Division earns award
| Article published on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2008 |
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PINELLAS COUNTY - The Pinellas County Environmental Lands Division accepted the national “Trails and the Arts” Award on Nov. 17 in Little Rock, Ark. at a ceremony held during the National Trails Symposium.
Pinellas County’s ELD was chosen from more than 200 applicants countrywide.
The approach of Pinellas County’s Environmental Lands Division is to allow visitors to choose their own path, set their own pace, and discover for themselves the wonders of wild Florida. From this inspiration will come a desire for more education and, more importantly, a protective concern for the environment.
“Your nomination stood out to the board as an exceptional example of the inspiring work being done within the trails community,” Bob Searns, the chair of the American Trails Board, told Dr. Bruce Rinker, division director, and his staff in making the announcement. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the National Trails System Act.
The Environmental Lands Division maintains a total of nearly 26 miles of hiking, equestrian and paddling trails in its two largest preserves, Brooker Creek Preserve and Weedon Island Preserve. The Division has been recognized nationally and regionally for its model of urban ecology. It protects 15,000 acres of wild lands and waterways with more than 30 staff members, 500 volunteers, five law enforcement officers, three nonprofit organizations, and numerous conservation partnerships. Its facilities include two premiere environmental education centers with programs, exhibits and interpretive trail signage.
“We present visitors with thought-provoking information along our trails through an integration of art and science,” said Rinker. “When combined with interactive elements and engaging design, this discover-based strategy creates a meaningful and dynamic learning experience for people of all ages and learning styles.”
The goal of the immersive and experiential approach to environmental education is to inspire residents and visitors to adopt an ethic of individual stewardship and to become advocates and protectors of the environment, specifically of the wild lands and waterways of Florida.
Brooker Creek Preserve protects more than 8,000 acres of natural ecosystems and is located at 3940 Keystone Road in Tarpon Springs. The preserve is open to the public seven days a week and offers many outdoor activities. Located in the preserve, the Environmental Education Center welcomes visitors Thursday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. The center features interactive exhibits and 22 discovery-oriented experiences that are fun for the entire family. The center also holds a wide range of programs and events for people of all ages. Also featured is a resource center, an art gallery, and the “Discovering Nature” gift shop. One of the preserve trails provides a series of sculptures and colorful interactive signs to visitors that interpret the natural landscape.
Weedon Island Preserve protects more than 3,700 acres of natural ecosystems and is located at 1800 Weedon Drive N.E. in St. Petersburg. The preserve is open to the public seven days a week and offers many outdoor activities. In the preserve, the Cultural and Natural History Center welcomes visitors from Wednesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The center features the new, permanent exhibit, Connecting People and Place, which is an art-inspired, hands-on educational approach to the area’s history, ecology and people. The center also holds a wide range of programs and events for people of all ages. It, too, includes a gift shop, resource center, and art gallery along with two miles of newly reconstructed boardwalks. Through a series of colorful interpretive signage, hikers along the trails learn about thousands of years of human history in the region. To discover more about Weedon Island Preserve, visit its recently redesigned website at www.weedonislandpreserve.org.
For more information about Brooker Creek Preserve, Weedon Island Preserve, and Pinellas County’s Environmental Lands Division, call 727-453-6900 or visit www.pinellascounty.org/environment.
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Article published on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2008
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