Brooker Creek To Celebrate Earth Day

Pinellas County is encouraging residents to celebrate Earth Day in April with a visit to Brooker Creek Preserve, 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs.

Billed as Pinellas County's Wildest Place, Brooker Creek Preserve is the county's largest natural area, boasting more than 8,000 acres of pine flatwoods and forested wetlands. Visitors will find several nature trails, over 10 miles of equestrian trails and a 1.75-mile self-guided hiking trail.

A free Twilight Walk will be offered on Earth Day, Wednesday, April 22, 7 p.m. The program will begin with a salute to the occasion and a short walk to see how the world changes when the sun starts to set. This event is free, and registration is required.

Also in April, visitors may enjoy the preserve with help from nature experts during Spring Migration Bird Hikes, Footprints on the Land Hikes or Saturday Morning Guided Walks. Even younger nature lovers can sign up for Young Birders Morning Walks and a Youth Naturalist Walk.

There will be a special training workshop for teachers on Saturday, April 18, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Earth Day materials will be distributed during this session to help teachers better connect classroom concepts to the natural world at the preserve's education center.

The preserve is open to the public seven days a week. Located in the Preserve, the Environmental Education Center welcomes visitors Thursday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. To register for a program at Brooker Creek Preserve, call 727-453-6800 or visit Pinellas County's Environmental Lands Division.