Oscar Scherer State Park Blog

Make Reading Second Nature

Sept. 10, 11, and 12 it is free admission into Florida State Parks by showing a library card, a library book or donating a gently used or new family friendly book to the park. This goes the same for the event entrance. Otherwise it is a $5.00 park entrance fee for the event. $4.00 for a single occupant in a car.

Sept. 11th there will be information booths, nature activities, and games about reading and literacy awareness. Some of the activities include a basic music reading workshop, therapy dogs from the Humane Society of Sarasota and their “Read Fur Fun”, participants can chose a book and read it to a dog.

J.T. Eldreth
Elsa’s Youth and Nature Program Coordinator

Prepare the trail today,
For children to be tomorrow’s environmental caretakers of our unique natural resource.
Florida State Parks…

Saturday June 5, 2010 was a banner day for The Friends of Oscar Scherer Park. 

Ribbon cutting for the new Lake Osprey Trail

A brand new trail was opened that features barrier free access to all.  Now, families with children in strollers, people in wheel chairs and those just wanting a easy stroll in the woods can hike in the woods.

The trail offers scenic views of Lake Osprey. There are  several benches along the way, picnic tables and opportuinities to see nature up close. 

Access to the trail is just behind the Nature Center, by the main parking lot.

Hello Friends
May 29th……. what a day at Oscar Scherer Nature Center…..
The Nature Center was a buzz all day long…….

Ranger Tony lead a group from Everglades Collage around the park, as they came back from their tour I think he was surprised by the size of our group for Elsa’s Fish Printing…. about 45…. 32 youth and lots of mom’s and dad’s ….
We had about 15 for Oscar’s Nature Detective which is a nice group size, more than that we see little wildlife……..

Will be having a booth next Saturday to promote Elsa’s Nature Programs for the opening of the Lake Osprey Trail, and to round up some new volunteers for nature programs.
I am making over 100 animal tracks to be given away, sticker on back with date of Lake Osprey Trail.

Much work has been done in preparation of this trail and it looks fabulous!

June 12th we were to have Paper Making and Fish Printing, but hit a little snag, instead we will have Oscar’s Nature Detective at 9:30 and Fish Printing at 11:30

Hope everyone has a great holiday.

J.T. Eldreth
Elsa’s Youth and Nature Program Coordinator

Prepare the trail today,
For children to be tomorrow’s environmental caretakers of our unique natural resource.
Florida State Parks…

The Friends of Oscar Scherer State Park Inc. are pleased to announce the the new Lake Osprey Trail will be officially opened on Saturday June 5, 2010.

Ceremonies are from 12:30 – 2:00 PM.  More Information here.

The trail is a pleasant walk around the lake and is ADA Compliant. Please join us for the Grand Opening.

This beautiful new trail was made possible by:

$50,000 donation by Lee Wetherington Homes
Donated Labor by Friends of Oscar Scherer Park, Inc.
Planning by the Florida Park Service
Additional donations by AmeriCorps
H&H Signs • Hazeltine Nurseries • Vineyard Graphics

Saturday was  a busy day at the old Nature Center as all three youth programs had a GREAT crowd. In the afternoon Barb and Pat had their hands full with over 14 for Scrubby’s Paper Making, while in the morning (not a record) we had 19 and 22 for Oscar’s Nature Detectives and Elsa’s Fish Printing. Many thanks to Anne and Ed for the help with the morning programs on Saturday.
Elsa’s Youth and Nature Programs will not take place next week, as the annual Kiwanis Club Youth Fishathon will be held at Lake Osprey from 8-1

J.T. Eldreth
Elsa’s Youth and Nature Program Coordinator

http://www.friendsofoscarscherer.com/html/just_for_kids.html

Prepare the trail today,
For children to be tomorrow’s environmental caretakers of our unique natural resource.
Florida State Parks…

This February event gets bigger every year and with the addition of the 10K run and a completely re-designed 5K run,  it was bigger than ever.  The new race course was developed by Race Director Gaylon Peters in cooperation with Park management and Jim Julian who certified it for the Manasota Track Club. This is the Friends’ main fund raiser of the year and the net proceeds of $11,662 exceeded all expectations. The continued supporting grant from The Lee Wetherington Foundation through the Sarasota Community Foundation was critical once again in achieving the financial goals of this event.

A summary of the results from the combined runs follows:

Total registered runners 607; estimated one-mile walkers ~100

5K runners 368 (61%)

10K runners 239 (39%)

Female runners 336 (55%)

Male runners 271 (45%)

48 runners from out of state (one each from Ontario, Germany, & Guam)

Oldest runner was 86; Youngest was 4

The 7th annual Sarasota Folk Festival will be held Saturday and Sunday, March 6 & 7, at Oscar Scherer State Park, 1843 South Tamiami Trail,
(U.S. Highway 41) in Osprey, just south of Sarasota. There will be Eco-friendly vendors, local and statewide musicians, onsite parking, lots to eat,
many fine vendors selling excellent products, family music and fun for kids! On Saturday, the music starts at 11 am, with a dinner break at
5 pm – 6 pm. The Saturday evening concert is 6 pm – 10. On Sunday, the music starts at 11 am, and ends at 4 pm.
     Tickets can be purchase at the gate using cash or local check, or order them at a discount using a credit card by March 1 on
www.sarasotafolkfestival.org. Kids 12 and under are free.
     There will be 30 musical acts performing on three stages. The list of performers and the complete schedule is posted on the festival website. The
festival will include many types of music. While it will be primarily acoustic folk music and singer/songwriter performers, you will also hear
bluegrass, old time, acoustic blues, country, jazz, pop, and Irish. Bring the kids; there will be a Family Stage with some time slots designated
specifically for kids. There is a playground next to the Family Stage. There will be some kids-oriented games, crafts and vendor products.
The workshop area is where you can get some pointers on playing an instrument, singing harmony, writing songs, or other topics of interest.
There will be a jam area this year! Many of our performers will lead various jams throughout the two days. There will be a protest jam, an old time
jam, a Florida folk jam, a harmony jam and many others.
     The Festival will go on rain or shine, as all three stages are covered.

J.T. Eldreth
Elsa’s Youth and Nature Program Coordinator

http://www.friendsofoscarscherer.com/html/just_for_kids.html

Prepare the trail today,
For children to be tomorrow’s environmental caretakers of our unique natural resource.
Florida State Parks…