Discover Corkscrew

2009-2010

 

General information

  • Most programs require a minimum number of participants in order to hold the program and have limited space available, so please make your reservation early not only to insure that the program will be held, but to insure that you will be enrolled in the program.
  • Participants in adult programs must be 16 years of age or older.
  • Full refunds will be given for cancellations received at least two days prior to the program date. No refunds will be given within two days of the program.
  • Programs start at the times noted and field sessions leave on time. Audubon is not responsible for participants arriving late. No refunds will be given if a registered participant misses a program due to late arrival.
  • Cancellations due to weather or other emergencies will be made at least two hours prior to the start of the program and registered participants will be contacted by telephone. Audubon retains the right to cancel programs at any time. Full refunds will be issued if the program is canceled.

Registration

  • All registrations/reservations must be made by telephone.
  • Register Tuesday through Friday between 9 AM and 2 PM at (239) 348-9151, ext. 110. Payment arrangements must be made at the time of the reservation.

Programs

Early Bird Walks

Morning Walks

Sunset Strolls

Night Walks

Digiscoping

Wildflowers of Corkscrew

Solar Observations

Deep Sky

Sustainable Gardening

Florida Master Naturalist Program

 

Programs

Early Bird Walks

Experience the sights and sounds of the awakening swamp with a naturalist guiding you on the boardwalk to look for the early birds. Learn about the birds' life habits and the importance to these birds of the upland and freshwater wetland habitats that occur at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary.

Morning Walks

Join a naturalist for a guided walk on the boardwalk. You are welcome to explore the boardwalk on your own after the program. The size of the group is limited and reservations are required. Please meet the guide behind the admissions desk inside the Blair Audubon Center.

Sunset Strolls

This naturalist-guided walk leads you into the swamp as the day draws to a close. As twilight approaches, many creatures are winding down their days while nocturnal creatures are beginning theirs. Watch sunset from the observation tower, then listen to the changes in sounds as the day changes to night. Search for nocturnal creatures on the way back to the visitor center.

Night Walks

One of Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary's most popular and memorable experiences, this guided tour sneaks you in after hours when the swamp is dark and the nocturnal animals are out and vocal.

 

Unique Experiences

Digiscoping

So you hve a digital camera and you have a spotting scope and now you want to start digiscoping, but you don't know how to start? This clinic will focus on the basics of digiscoping with point-and-shoot as well as SLR cameras. We'll talk about vignette reduction, Kowa camera adapters, and camera settings. We'll spend about a half hour indoors and then, weather permitting, we'll go outside and start practicing what we've learned.

The leader will be Jim Danzenbaker, sales manager for the Sporting Optics Division of Kowa Optimed Inc.

Wildflowers Walk

Spring sparks a proliferation of bright, colorful blooms at Corkscrew. This walk helps participants learn to identify these spring beauties. Participants will also learn about each plant's own tale of natural history and folklore, which is often as colorful as its petals. Two separate walks are offered.

Solar Observations

Weather permitting, experts from the Everglades Astronomical Society will be set up on the boardwalk from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm showing solar activity through special telescopes. No reservations are required, but donations are gratefully accepted.

Deep Sky

Join the experts to explore the universe on a tour of the dark, new moon night sky. We provide specially designed telescopes to probe the deep sky for planets, constellations, galaxies, and other celestial bodies. Three separate classes are offered.

Building Habitat in your Yard: Sustainable Gardening

Learn about how sustainable gardening provides habitat for birds and other wildlife.  Ginny Stibolt, a botanist and author of Sustainable Gardening for Florida, will guide a discussion of easy-to-accomplish steps to welcome birds and butterflies to the yard. Questions and answers will follow the talk, and then Ginny will sign copies of her book. 

Sustainable Gardening for Florida was published by University Press of Florida in September, 2009, and has been nominated as book of the year as awarded by the American Horticultural Society. In addition to habitat development, the book covers a wide range of topics including, composting, growing edibles, rain barrels, and container gardens, plus hurricane and fire-scaping. 

Florida Master Naturalist Program

These unique courses are designed to educate and prepare participants to share information about Florida's freshwater wetland and upland habitats and wildlife. FMNP training benefits those interested in learning more about Florida's environment, seeking educational contact hours, or wishing to increase their knowledge for use in education programs as volunteers, employees, and ecotourism guides.

Offered in partnership with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF-IFAS), the course consists of classroom instruction, field trips, and practical experience in interpretation. Participants receive 40 hours of instruction in each module, a comprehensive reference workbook, and upon completion, a certificate, patch and pin recognizing their accomplishments in the module(s). Their names are placed in the UF-IFAS database as a Florida Master Wetlands Naturalist and/or Florida Master Uplands Naturalist.

Florida Freshwater Wetlands Module

This module is offered once during the year at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. The module meets six times.

Florida Uplands Module

This module is offered once during the year at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. The module meets six times.

Florida Uplands Module

This module is offered once during the year at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. The module meets nine times in the evening, but for a shorter period each time than the daytime module.

Registration is NOT available through Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. The $225 cost of each module must be paid by credit card, and registration is conducted on-line at www.master naturalist.org. Registration closes two weeks prior to the start date.

Class size is limited. Participants must be 18 years of age or older.