nature and kayak programming for St. Johns County Parks and Recreation for the month of March.

*Below you will find all of our nature and kayak programming for St. Johns County Parks and Recreation for the month of March*.

****NEW FREE INTERMEDIATE LEVEL GUIDED KAYAK TRIPS: MARCH 2ND, 3RD, 4TH, & 5TH**

St. Johns County Parks and Recreation is happy to announce that we will be partnering with the Florida Park Service to bring you a new and exciting kayak trip! In March we will launch from the Usina Boat Ramp, located at 603 Euclid Ave., St. Augustine, FL 32084. The Usina Boat Ramp is a Florida Communities Trust Park, meaning St. Johns County Parks and Recreation gets to offer this great trip for FREE! During the trip we will paddle down the Tolotmato River and into the marsh to visit Fort Mose Historic State Park. Due to the nature of the currents in this area this is considered an intermediate level trip and is not for beginners. Trips are scheduled for Thursday, March 2nd at 9am, Friday March 3rd at 10am, Saturday March 4th at 11am, and Sunday March 5th at 12pm. Seats are limited. To RSVP for a seat, or for additional information, please contact Kelly Ussia as 904.209.0335 or **[email protected]**. When setting up a reservation please include a phone number, e-mail, date of the trip you would like to attend, and if you will be using a county kayak. Please note that if you are brining your own kayak it must be at least 12ft long.

**OWL PROWL: MARCH 13TH & 14TH**

Join the St. Johns County Naturalist for an exciting new guided walk on Monday March 13th or Tuesday March 14th at Canopy Shores Park, located at 804 Christina Drive St. Augustine, FL 32086. The walk will begin at 7:30pm. Participants will get to learn about the creatures of the night, including the resident owls. Those who wish to attend should dress for the weather and bring a flashlight, bug spray, and water. For more information or to register for the program please contact AyoLane Halusky at 904-209-0348 or e-mail him at **[email protected]**. When setting up a reservation please include a phone number, e-mail address, and indicate the number in your party.

**CHILDREN SHOREBIRD NESTING PROGRAM: MARCH 14TH**

Looking for a fun educational opportunity during spring break? St. Johns County has partnered with St. Johns County Audubon to present our very first shorebird nesting program. This program is for children third grade and up. Participants will get the opportunity to learn about the unique birds that nest along our beaches. In addition, children will get the opportunity to participate in activities that mirror what the real bird biologists do to protect our local nesting sites. The program is FREE and will take place on Tuesday March 14th at 10am at Nease Beachfront Park, located at 3171 Coastal Highway, Vilano, FL 32084. For more information or to register for the program please contact Kelly Ussia at 904-209-0335 or e-mail her at **[email protected]**. When setting up a reservation please include a phone number, e-mail address, and indicate the number of children in your party.

**HOW TO READ NATURE NEWS, THE STORY IS IN THE TRACKS: MARCH 19TH**

Join St. Johns County Naturalist, AyoLane Halusky, to learn the ABC of tracking. The program will take place Sunday March 19th at 10am and 3pm at Gourd Island Conservation Area, 10182 Russell Sampson Rd, St. Johns, FL 32259. The program will provide the participants with a crash course in animal tracking, including gate patterns, pressure points, and track identification. This program will last 2 ½ to 3 hours. For more information or to register for the program please contact AyoLane Halusky at 904-209-0348 or e-mail him at **[email protected]**. When setting up a reservation please include a phone number, e-mail address, and indicate the number in your party.

**ACA KAYAK QUICKSTART COURSE: MARCH 25TH**

The St. Johns County Parks and Recreation Department is hosting an ACA Kayak Quickstart Course on March 25th at Trout Creek Park, located at 6795 Collier Road, St. Augustine, FL 32092 from 9am-5pm. The course will focus on the fundamentals of kayaking including kayak designs, trip planning, and water safety. In addition, participants will get the opportunity to learn and practice basic paddle strokes and rescue techniques. The course will be led by two Level 2 Certified ACA instructors. The program is $80 per participant. Spots are limited. For more information or to make a reservation please contact Kelly Ussia at 904.209.0335 or **[email protected]**. When setting up a reservation please include a phone number, e-mail, and if you will be using a county kayak.

**As always if you have any questions please feel free to e-mail or call.**

***Hope you have a beautiful day and take the time to get outside and explore!***

**Kelly Ussia**

Kelly Ussia

Environmental Education Instructor

St. Johns County Parks and Recreation

Office: 904-209-0335

Cell: 904-669-6109

Nease Beachfront Park

3171 Coastal Highway

St. Augustine, FL 32084