What’s a Mycorrhiza?
Career Day, Nature-Style
For the Birds
Positively Reptilian
All Natural
YouTube Spotlight – Airboat Rides at Everglades Holiday Park
Follow Us – On Twitter
Nature To Go
Your Opinion Counts!
Nature Centers of the Broward County Parks and Recreation Division
Special Attractions
Mission Statement
Broward County Board of County Commissioners
What’s a Mycorrhiza?
Did you know that approximately 98 percent of the world’s plant species have a symbiotic relationship with mycorrhizal fungi? That’s one of the fascinating facts you’ll pick up on if you attend the Mycorrhizae Magic Workshop, starting at 7 p.m. on Thursday, November 1 at Secret Woods Nature Center in Dania Beach. Participants will also learn nature’s way of making their plants more disease-resistant, drought-tolerant, and nutrient-rich through the cultivation and application of mycorrhizal fungi, and they’ll leave the workshop with their own inoculated plugs they can use in their home landscapes. A $20 donation to the Friends of Secret Woods volunteer group is requested, and preregistration is required. For more information, call Secret Woods at 954-357-8884. The nature center is accessible via Broward County Transit Route #6.
Career Day, Nature-Style
Thinking about a career in a nature-related field? Is science in your future? Interact with professionals working in these areas and explore your own possibilities when the Anne Kolb Nature Center in Hollywood hosts Working With Nature, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, November 10. The program, targeted at ages 7 to 12, costs only the exhibit hall entry fee of $1 per person. For more information, call the nature center at 954-357-5161. Anne Kolb is accessible via Broward County Transit Route #12.
For the Birds
Two park programs this month are geared toward our fine feathered friends. To see a variety of resident and migratory birds, sign up for the Bird Walk, scheduled for 8:30 to 10 a.m. on Saturday, November 3 at Deerfield Island Park in Deerfield Beach. Participants in the program, led by volunteer Gloria Cashin, should be at the dock at Sullivan Park by 8 a.m. to catch the boat shuttle to the island. The fee is $3/person, and preregistration is required by calling Quiet Waters Park at 954-357-5100.
For those more interested in where birds live, Secret Woods Nature Center in Dania Beach will offer a program called Avian Architecture, from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, November 4. Participants will learn about bird habitats and nests through displays, a bird gardening lecture, and other activities. Most activities are free, although the woodpecker box-building workshop at 3 p.m. requires preregistration and a $10 requested donation to the Friends of Secret Woods volunteer group. For more information, call the nature center at 954-357-8884. Secret Woods is accessible via Broward County Transit Route #6.
Positively Reptilian
Reptiles get a bad rap sometimes, which is why Secret Woods Nature Center in Dania Beach regularly hosts its Wonderful Reptiles program, to work toward correcting misinformation about this segment of the animal kingdom. This month’s program is from 10 to 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 17, and it’s free and for all ages. For further information, call Secret Woods (accessible via Broward County Transit Route #6) at 954-357-8884.
The next day, Sunday, November 18, Fern Forest Nature Center in Coconut Creek gets in on the act with its Nature Lecture: Snakes, which runs from noon to 1 p.m. The lecture will be followed by a question-and-answer session, and although live animals will be used in the presentation, the public will not be allowed or expected to handle them. A $5-per-person donation to the Fern Allies volunteer group is requested. For details, call Fern Forest (accessible via Broward County Transit Routes #31 and #42) at 954-357-5198.
All Natural
Satisfy your curiosity about nature at our nature centers this month with a variety of programs. On Friday, November 9, Fern Forest Nature Center in Coconut Creek will host a Family Night Hike, from 7 to 8 p.m., with a naturalist taking families out on the trails. The fee is $5 per person. For more information, call Fern Forest (accessible via Broward County Transit Routes #31 and #42) at 954-357-5198.
A similar evening event, a Nature at Night Hike, takes place on Saturday, November 10, also from 7 to 8 p.m., at Deerfield Island Park in Deerfield Beach. The fee is also $5 per person. For more information, call Quiet Waters Park at 954-357-5100. Deerfield Island is accessible via Broward County Transit Routes #48 and #50.
The next day, Sunday, November 11, Secret Woods Nature Center in Dania Beach offers its regular Delightful Flight program, focusing on Florida’s butterflies, from noon to 12:30 p.m. The fee is $1.50 per person. Call for details at 954-357-8884; Secret Woods is accessible via Broward County Transit Route #6.
Secret Woods also continues its Propagation Classes later that day, from 2 to 3 p.m., with a segment on “Cuttings” that includes a lecture as well as hands-on instruction. The class is $4 per person.
Then, on Tuesday, November 13, the Anne Kolb Nature Center in Hollywood has one of its regular (and free) Trail Strolls, from 1 to 1:45 p.m. The brief program lets participants take a guided introductory boardwalk stroll through the mangrove wetland. For more information, call Anne Kolb (accessible via Broward County Transit Route #12) at 954-357-5161.
Anne Kolb will also host a Muddy Bottoms program, from 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 24, featuring a seining and mud-grabbing demonstration. The fee is $5 per person.
For lecture programs, you can also count on Anne Kolb, where the Family and Friends Nature Series continues with a lecture called “All About Community Gardens.” The program is from 3 to 4:30 p.m., and light refreshments will be served. A $2-per-person donation to the Friends of Anne Kolb volunteer group is requested, and preregistration is required. Fern Forest gets into the lecture act on Sunday, November 25, when there’ll be a Nature Lecture: Spiders, followed by a Q&A session. It’s from noon to 1 p.m., and a $5 donation to the Fern Allies volunteer group is requested.
YouTube Spotlight – Airboat Rides at Everglades Holiday Park
Broward County Parks now has its own YouTube Channel at www.YouTube.com/BrowardCountyParks. Navigate the “River of Grass” by taking an airboat ride at Everglades Holiday Park. Watch our video and see what could be waiting for you next time you visit.
Follow Us – On Twitter
Broward County Parks in now on Twitter! Follow us at @BrowardParks and keep up to date with important information, events, programs, and other happenings. Twitter accounts have also been created for five of our parks including Secret Woods Nature Center (@SecretWoodsNC) in Dania Beach. Visit the Broward County Government Stay Connected Webpage to follow your favorite park.
Nature To Go
You can now take a little bit of Broward County nature home with you – thanks to a series of nature posters produced and sold by Broward County Parks. The six posters, all photographed in the county’s parks, nature centers, and natural areas, feature American white waterlilies, burrowing owls, a gray fox, live oak trees, a prairie iris, and a queen butterfly. The posters look great either framed or unframed, and they’re a distinctive way to bring a taste of nature into your home or office. They also make excellent gifts.
The offices at seven facilities have the posters available for purchase: the Anne Kolb Nature Center at West Lake Park in Hollywood, Fern Forest Nature Center in Coconut Creek, Long Key Natural Area & Nature Center in Davie, Markham Park in Sunrise, Plantation Heritage Park in Plantation, Tree Tops Park in Davie, and T.Y. Park in Hollywood.
The high-quality posters, which measure 18 inches by 24 inches, retail for $10, including Florida sales tax. You can also purchase posters by mail from Broward County Parks and Recreation, 950 N.W. 38th St., Oakland Park, FL 33309. Mail-order posters are $15 (includes Florida sales tax, shipping, and handling), with checks/money orders payable to Broward County Parks and Recreation. For more information, e-mail ParksMarketing@broward.org.
Your Opinion Counts!
We’d like to know what you think about our programs and facilities. Please take a moment to tell us how we’re doing by filling out this survey.
Nature Centers of the Broward County Parks and Recreation Division
For more nature activities, please go to www.broward.org/parks/calendar.
Special Attractions
Airboat Rides (Everglades Holiday Park) – Batting Cages (AllGolf at C.B. Smith Park) – Butterfly World(Tradewinds Park) – Cable Water-Skiing (Ski Rixen USA at Quiet Waters Park) – Campgrounds (C.B. Smith Park, Easterlin Park, Markham Park, Quiet Waters Park, T.Y. Park) – Dog Park (Barkham at Markham Park) – Educational Farm (Tradewinds Park) – Exhibit Halls (Anne Kolb Nature Center at West Lake Park, Fern Forest Nature Center, Long Key Natural Area & Nature Center, Secret Woods Nature Center) – Golf Facilities (AllGolf at C.B. Smith Park) – Softball/Baseball Fields (Brian Piccolo Park, Sunview Park, Tradewinds Park) – Observatory (Markham Park) – Riding Stables (Tradewinds Park, Tree Tops Park) – Skate Park/Track (Brian Piccolo Park) – Target Range (Markham Park) – Tennis Centers (Brian Piccolo Park, C.B. Smith Park) – Velodrome (Brian Piccolo Park) – Water Playgrounds/ Waterslides/Swimming (C.B. Smith Park, Central Broward Regional Park & Stadium, Quiet Waters Park, T.Y. Park)
Mission Statement
The Parks and Recreation Division is dedicated to providing a countywide park system with diverse facilities and recreation opportunities, along with natural area conservation and research-based educational outreach, to enhance the well-being of residents, businesses, and visitors.
Founded in February 1956 and accredited by the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies, Broward County Parks and Recreation Division manages nearly 6,500 acres, encompassing 19 regional parks and nature centers, six neighborhood parks, and 21 natural areas at various stages of development. Facilities include water parks, campgrounds, a target range, a stadium, a skate park, an observatory, mountain bike trails, an educational farm with stables, and a velodrome and other sports facilities. Hours and fees vary by location. For more information, visit www.broward.org/parks.
Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations in order to participate in County programs, services, and activities must contact the Special Populations Section at 954-357-8170 or TTY 954-537-2844 at least 10 business days prior to the scheduled meeting or event to request an accommodation.
Broward County Board of County Commissioners
Sue Gunzburger
Dale V.C. Holness
Kristin Jacobs
Chip LaMarca
Ilene Lieberman
Stacy Ritter
John E. Rodstrom Jr.
Barbara Sharief
Lois Wexler
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Parks and Recreation is a service of the Broward County Board of County Commissioners.