MANATEE COUNTY, FL (April 19, 2019) – An Earth Day-themed expo in the downtown County Administration Building Monday kicks off a series of Earth Day events sponsored by the County.
The national theme for the 49th annual Earth Day is “Protect Our Species.” From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Earth Day, Monday April 22, the expo will feature an exhibit on protecting endangered species and the planet. Decorated Bee Hotels will be on display and visitors can buy plants and items made from recycled materials.
Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources will host a series of events to get families outside to explore Mother Nature. Parks hosts an Oyster Baggin’ volunteer event tomorrow, April 20 from 9 - 11 a.m. at Perico Preserve. Visitors can create oyster bags that will later be placed in local estuaries to help create new oyster reefs that improve water quality and create habitat for native creatures.
The Manatee Audubon Earth Day Celebration is also tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Felts Audubon Preserve in Palmetto. Manatee County Audubon Society and Parks and Natural Resources will be on hand with programs on local habitats and wildlife, including a rescued gopher tortoise, Genbu.
Parks will show NOVA: Earth from Space tomorrow night at 8 p.m. is Movie Night at The NEST in Robinson Preserve. The movie is a two-hour exploration of the intricate, surprising web of forces that sustain life on earth. Bring lawn chairs for an evening of film under the stars.
For the rest of April, Parks and Natural Resources encourages Manatee County visitors and residents to explore local parks and preserves, join a volunteer service project, help collect citizen science data and celebrate the area's clean air, land, and water. Find a list of the Department's April activities online.
“For more than 13 years, Manatee County’s Parks and Natural Resources Department has provided free and low-cost environmental education programming year-round to the community, but this is a special worldwide initiative to honor our planet,” said Melissa Nell, Programming, Volunteer, and Education Division Manager. “These events will share the wonders of the earth and its environments by providing a variety of unique offerings for a wide range of audiences. It is our hope that these programs will help spark a connection to nature that will last for many years to come.”