Dedication and Opening of New Lake Osprey Trail

Posted on May 26, 2010 by Ed Burns

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

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A Saturday Too Remember

Posted on April 25, 2010 by JT Eldreth

Hello all just an update on Nature Programs at Oscar.

April 24th was a happening day at the Lake Osprey Nature Center.

Elsa’s Nature Programs was the name of the game, with a record number for Fish Printing. The first class had 19 children, then a mother came in, a family reunion group from Tampa and ask if they could have a class. At 2:00 PM they started, 17 kids and about as many adults PLUS we had some of the seniors from Venice group painting as well. It was the most people I have seen at the Nature Center all interacting at one time for any program in the past.

I had a personal emergency Saturday and was unable to do the guided walk for Nature Detective … BUT… The Florida State Park Volunteer Of The Year, Russ Delaney lead the group thirsty for nature knowledge, on their return we gained a few more who wanted to paint the plaster bobcat tracks and view Oscar’s Nature Detectives slide show.

I would like to say thanks to all the year round volunteers such as Joyce, Ed and Diana who make our programs pop with their enthusiasm and effort.

Thank you Lynn and Lisa for coming back this summer to help with our programs!

This is the schedule for Saturdays Nature Programs in May.

May 1st    9:30   Paper Making & 11:30 Fish Printing
8th   9:30   Paper Making & 11:30 Fish Printing
15th  9:00  Nature Detective & 11:30 Fish Printing
22nd 9:30   Paper Making & 11:30 Fish Printing
29th  9:00  Nature Detective & 11:30 Fish Printing

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…

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Elsa’s Youth and Nature Programs

Posted on March 28, 2010 by JT Eldreth

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…

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Earth Day Celebration

Posted on March 18, 2010 by Ed Burns

2010-Earth-Day-Flyer

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10th Anniversary Scrub Jay 5K and 10K Runs, 2010

Posted on March 14, 2010 by George Ulrich

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

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Posted on March 14, 2010 by Bob Sendrey

GAYLON  PETERS  AND  ALL  HIS  VOLUNTEER  HELPERS  DID  ONE  FANTASTIC  JOB  PUTTING  ON  THE  2010 SCRUB JAY  5/10 K   RACE – BE  SURE  TO  CLICK  ON  IT  AND  ENJOY – IT’S  A  TERRIFIC  VIDEO. THANKS   TO   ALL.

BOB SENDREY

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Elsa’s Youth Programs Saturday March 6th

Posted on March 4, 2010 by JT Eldreth

Elsa’s Youth And Nature programs will not take place this weekend as we will be having the 7th annual Sarasota Folk Festival that will be held Saturday and Sunday, March 6 & 7, at Oscar Scherer State Park.
Programs will resume on the 13th of March.

Thank You
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…

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Sarasota Folk Festival

Posted on February 28, 2010 by Ed Burns

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.

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10th ANNUAL Scrub-Jay 5K/10K RUN

Posted on February 16, 2010 by JT Eldreth
10th ANNUAL Scrub-Jay 5K/10K RUN 
 Saturday, February 20, 2010            

      • TIME: 5K Run @ 7:45 AM
        10K Run @ 8:30 AM
        1 mile Walk/Hike @ 8:10 AM

 
  The course is mostly hard-packed sand and grass trails through the Park’s rare scrubby flatwoods. Lots of shade trees, Finish on paved Legacy trail. Water stations and guides
on course; spectacular refreshments; shirts to first 800 registrants; lots of door prizes and participation ribbons for age group finishers. Pasta In The Park and Silent Auction
Friday Night February 19th, 2010 5:30-8:30PM
Green Salad, Specialty Breads, Pasta with a choice of red sauces
and/or meat sauce on the side, Brownies, Cookies, Water, Gatorade or Tea
$9.95 for Adults, $6.00 for Children under 12, $12.95 night of the event.

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…

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Elsa’s Fish Printing

Posted on February 15, 2010 by JT Eldreth

Elsa’s Fish Printing started of slow on Saturday with a German couple and there two children, they couldn’t believe we would have the class just for them, they were thrilled. About half way through the slide show another couple came in, then another, we had a total of nine for the program. Some great prints left the Nature Center on Saturday along with some very Happy Kampers.

As always Joyce did a GREAT job with the kids !

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…

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