ECO ToURISM

with Chris Thalmann

Summer is a great time to get a better appreciation of our unique environment here in South Florida! Kids are out of school, everything is less crowded and there are lots of opportunities to learn more about our outdoor areas, their ecology and the wildlife living there!

One of my favorite nature-based group programs is called Adventure Awaits! It’s an entire series of outdoor experiences led by the wildlife and nature professionals at the Palm Beach County Department of Environmental Resources Management.

The Adventure Awaits program has been in existence for many years. And yet, it still manages to offer up new and different outings that appeal to a broad audience. Want to brush up on your wildlife photography with a workshop? Try freshwater or saltwater fishing at a clinic? Check out a new hiking, biking or paddling trail with a wildlife biologist at your side? You can do all that and much more through the Adventure Awaits series!

Owing to our weather this time of year, many Adventure Awaits programs are geared to early morning and late evenings. For evening events, especially anything west of the ocean beaches, I strongly encourage you to bring along your favorite bug repellent!

You can check out https://discover.pbcgov.org/erm/Pages/ Adventure-Awaits.aspx for upcoming events, including nighttime sea turtle walks and evening wildlife hikes.

The Adventure Awaits series has gotten much more popular in the last few years, so if you visit their page and see everything is “sold out”, don’t panic. Many events offer a wait list. And while it’s not the same as having a ticket, chances are decent you’ll find a spot if you’re patient.

The series also has a definite seasonal flow. For instance, there are usually pop-up turtle walks offered throughout the summer turtle nesting season. So, if you don’t get to go on a turtle walk this week or next, hopefully you can slide into the next one that’s offered.

Adventure Awaits uses Facebook pretty extensively to post upcoming events. But they also have a presence on Twitter, YouTube and Instagram. Whichever platform you prefer, I recommend following the series and Palm Beach County ERM to keep up with upcoming events.

And if group tours just aren’t your thing, feel free to contact us at Aqua Adventure Tours. We’ll be happy to set up an outing for just you, your family or friends and help you learn more about our unique coastal environments and the many amazing creatures who live here with us. Here’s to enjoying some time outdoors this month!