Bring the kids and explore this wilderness together. Come join Sarasota County volunteers David Reynolds and Jonah Sklaroff (expert off road bicyclists) for a fun and educational ride through the beautiful Carlton Reserve. View exciting wildlife in their environment and be one with nature as you roll along a mostly graveled/dirt road in hopes of catching a glimpse of Big Al at the turnaround point. Close-toed shoes and helmet required for all participants. Must be able to ride an off road bicycle. Technical biking skills not needed. Children must be accompanied by parent(s)/legal guardian(s). Bring: Bicycle suitable for riding off the road (wide tires/Mountain bikes preferred, but not required), water, hat (for during breaks), sunscreen, insect repellent, (optional, but encouraged - bike gloves, binoculars and snacks/lunch). Routes may vary depending on trail conditions and group participants' skill levels on the day of the ride. (Some trails may have unexpected wild hog damage.) After you register your family, contact David (941) 412-5575 or Jonah (845) 399-9039 for meeting location. Pre-registration is required.

Join Sarasota County Environmental Specialist Jeff Weber for this rare opportunity to experience the preserve as day turns to night. Learn about our creatures of the night and interesting plants that bloom and are pollinated at night. If skies are clear, participants will also be treated to beautiful views of the stars, planets and constellations and the full moon rising over the park.

Join a Sarasota County Environmental Specialist on a hike along the trails of Curry Creek Preserve to learn about habitat restoration including invasive plant management in natural area parks of Sarasota County. A portion of this walk may go off trails through areas of the preserve along Curry Creek with a focus on the floodplain marsh communities. Participants should bring drinking water, closed toe shoes and be comfortable walking on uneven surfaces.

Want to know more about bugs, snakes, owls and other critters? This camp provides in-depth exploration into where they live, what they eat, all the fun facts and gory details! Campers will learn about spiders, slimy and slippery amphibians and reptiles, the “good, the bad and the ugly” insects as well as how to identify skulls and wildlife paw prints. Park naturalists will lead nature walks, conduct safaris and provide interactive presentations. Indoor activities include live “show and tell” specimens, owl pellet dissections and take-home crafts. Campers should wear hats and closed-toe shoes and bring a plain white t-shirt to decorate, sunscreen, water and a snack each day.

SURFit incorporates the stand-up paddleboard, surfing, ocean swimming, ocean safety, and marine biology into every camp day (weather permitting).

Classes are led by certified lifeguards and have a low teacher to student ratio (1:6). Many kids sign up for more than one week because camp is a lot of fun!

Extended day options are offered at Turtle Beach until 3:30 pm.