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July 25, 2008
Shelley Szafraniec, APR
Community Information Specialist

EXPERIENCE VOLUSIA COUNTY CONSERVATION LANDS WITH AUGUST OUTINGS

See and experience Volusia County conservation lands on guided hikes of easy-to-moderate difficulty. Learn about the diverse habitats of the county and the plants and animals that make them special. Hikes include hands-on learning and fun adventures.

• 2 - 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16: Mollusks and their shells wading hike -- Observe and learn about the fascinating and diverse world of mollusks and the shells they produce during this free outdoor adventure. The hike will be led by Joel Wooster, a master naturalist, who will discuss their biology and process of identifying shells. Participants are encouraged to bring shells they have collected for identification. The hike is at Smyrna Dunes Park, 2995 N. Peninsula Dr., New Smyrna Beach.
   
• 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 22: Longleaf Pine Preserve nighttime eco-buggy tour -- Take a nighttime riding eco-buggy tour of the latest Volusia County conservation land purchased with Volusia Forever funds. Participants will experience the sights, smells and sounds of pine flatwoods, cypress domes and swamps that make up this 7,000-acre site. Participants also can look for animals as a spotlight shines in the woods. Longleaf Pine Preserve is off of S.R. 44 and encompasses 7,000 acres. The preserve has two entrances, one approximately two-and-a-half miles east of the Volusia County Fairgrounds, DeLand, and one off of Pioneer Trail. For this outing, participants need to meet at the east entrance. Space is limited and registration is required.
   
• 8 - 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 30: Longleaf Pine Preserve wetland wading hike -- To learn about wetlands and the plants and animals that live in them, make plans to attend this free outdoor learning adventure. Dr. Bill Grey, a Rollins College field botany professor, will lead this wet hike through cypress domes and swamps of Longleaf Pine Preserve to observe its plants and animals that call it home. Longleaf Pine Preserve is off of S.R. 44 and encompasses 7,000 acres. The preserve has two entrances, one approximately two-and-a-half miles east of the Volusia County Fairgrounds, DeLand, and one off of Pioneer Trail. For this outing, participants need to meet at the east entrance. Space is limited and registration is required.

Participants need to wear appropriate clothing and comfortable hiking or walking shoes and should bring binoculars, a camera, insect spray and water to drink on the outdoor hikes. For the wading hikes, participants need to wear shoes that can get wet.

For more information or to reserve a space, please contact Bonnie Cary at (386) 736-5276 or bcary@co.volusia.fl.us. For more information about Land Acquisition and Management’s Conservation Lands Outreach programs, please visit www.volusia.org/growth/outreach.htm.

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