Sarasota: North Water Tower Park is in the process of a total transformation. From 2015-2018 Around the Bend Nature Tours was a part of this exciting process thanks to EPA funding through the Gulf of Mexico Alliance. Upper Elementary through High School field trips tour the site, learn about and perform invasive exotic plant removal, participate in water quality monitoring. This funding has ended and the program was successful because we now offer it at several sites!
Manatee: Visit 5th Street in Palmetto - Award-winning LID Demonstration Site – view firsthand the LID concepts in practice on 5th Street in Palmetto including pervious concrete, tree box filters, bioswales (rain gardens) and permeable pavers. After the tour the bus proceeds to Emerson Point to allow students to practice water quality monitoring and view the natural systems that are being modeled in the urban landscape of 5th Street. Alternate site Oscar Scherer State Park.
N. Water Tower Park, Emerson Point Preserve or Oscar Scherer State Park
1. Water Quality Testing – using LaMotte Kits measure temp, pH, dissolved oxygen, phosphate, nitrate, salinity
2. Nature Walk – identify and classify native and exotic plants
3. Spud-busting - service learning exotic plant removal
4. Shore Explore – Shoreline walk to discover estuary, watershed and mangrove concepts
Click here to access lessons (password required)
Manatee: Visit 5th Street in Palmetto - Award-winning LID Demonstration Site – view firsthand the LID concepts in practice on 5th Street in Palmetto including pervious concrete, tree box filters, bioswales (rain gardens) and permeable pavers. After the tour the bus proceeds to Emerson Point to allow students to practice water quality monitoring and view the natural systems that are being modeled in the urban landscape of 5th Street. Alternate site Oscar Scherer State Park.
N. Water Tower Park, Emerson Point Preserve or Oscar Scherer State Park
1. Water Quality Testing – using LaMotte Kits measure temp, pH, dissolved oxygen, phosphate, nitrate, salinity
2. Nature Walk – identify and classify native and exotic plants
3. Spud-busting - service learning exotic plant removal
4. Shore Explore – Shoreline walk to discover estuary, watershed and mangrove concepts
Click here to access lessons (password required)

This activity is suitable for middle and high school students.
If you are unable to take your class out into the field - you can check out our LID Tech Kit for 2 weeks from the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program. Contact Info@sarasotabay.org
Alternate Sarasota Sites - Oscar Scherer State Park or Bay Preserve in Osprey
If you are unable to take your class out into the field - you can check out our LID Tech Kit for 2 weeks from the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program. Contact Info@sarasotabay.org
Alternate Sarasota Sites - Oscar Scherer State Park or Bay Preserve in Osprey