Did you know that Vinegaroons, or Whip Scorpions, can spray a vinegar-like substance when they feel threatened? Learn this and more about Vinegaroons in this episode of Animal Encounters!
Tag Archives: wellness
What’s that Plant? Cocoplum!
Did you know that Cocoplum berries are not poisonous, and it’s common for lots of birds and other animals to eat them? Watch this episode of What’s that Plant? to learn more!
History Comes Alive: Battle TACTICS
History Comes Alive at Loxahatchee River Battlefield Park features different topics from reenactors at the annual Battlefield Reenactment event. On this episode, Archie Marshall, Mark Lutz, and Matt Milnes represent U.S. Infantry Soldiers and demonstrate weapons and battle tactics during the Second Seminole War.
Power of Parks: Andres Avello
Welcome to Power of Parks, a podcast produced by the Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department, where we share inspiring stories from people who have benefited from nature, parks and recreation.
Episode 18 features Andres Avello, the co-founder of PADL, a self-service, solar-powered paddle boarding startup with stations throughout South Florida, including in three PBC Parks — Burt Reynolds, Ocean Inlet, and Juno Park. These stations provide easy access to the county’s waterways without having to own a paddle board.
Destination Recreation: Pups in the Park
On this episode of Destination Recreation, we walk you through the many ways you and your dog can explore and enjoy PBC Parks. From dog parks where your pups can run free, to a stroll along a trail, find out how you and your best friend can enjoy a day out at a county-operated park!
Know Before You Go: Portuguese Man O’ War
Have you ever spotted an object on the beach that looks like a harmless blue plastic bag? These animals are called Portuguese Man O’ War – and they can deliver a painful shock to anyone who picks them up or pops them. Watch this video to learn more about Portuguese Man O’ War and how you can protect yourself from these beach hazards.
For more information about Portuguese Man O’ War and other beach hazards, visit this webpage: https://discover.pbcgov.org/parks/Aquatics/Hazards.aspx
Grab your Nature Adventure Journal today!
PBC Parks is happy to introduce the Nature Adventure Journal! This unique journal lets kids of all ages complete outdoor- and nature-related activities that can be done anywhere – in parks, beaches, neighborhoods, even in their backyards.
The journal is designed to get kids outside and active in a natural setting, through a variety of fun activities. Activities include animal spotting, leaf tracing, making an outdoor bucket list, and more. As they go along, adventurers can earn sticker badges for completing various sections — they can even send PBC Parks their progress to be featured on PBC Parks’ social media!
Where can I pick up a Nature Adventure Journal?
Nature Adventure Journals are available at Palm Beach County Nature Centers, Palm Beach County Libraries, and the Parks and Recreation Administration Building inside John Prince Park. Please email pbcparks@pbcgov.org to explore additional locations.
For more information about the Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department, visit http://www.pbcparks.com.
What to know about Beach Wrack
Clumps of seaweed — usually Sargassum — as well as grasses and other marine algae and organisms that wash ashore have a name. It’s called beach wrack, and although some say it may look or smell unpleasant, it does not create a health risk to beachgoers. In fact, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, it’s “a pivotal part of the beach ecosystem.”
Beach wrack is beneficial to animals and marine habitats in a number of ways —
- It provides vital food for young sea turtles.
- It serves as fodder for crabs, beetles, and other small creatures, which in turn are food for shore birds.
- It’s used by baby birds as camouflage and foraging material.
- It forms the basis for sand dunes; as dunes start, sand blows along the beach and collects along the windward side of the wrack, forming sand dunes, which help to protect the coastline.
Seaweed is constantly present in the Atlantic Ocean and is washed ashore more frequently during sustained onshore winds with seasonal shifts in the Gulf Stream, particularly when the Gulf Stream nudges closer to the coast in the summer. Occasionally, weather conditions exist in which an unusual amount of beach wrack is washed ashore continuously over a period of time. Before you head to the beach, be sure to check PBC Parks’ Beach Conditions page for locations where concentrations may be heavy.
Audubon Florida’s educational presentation in this video provides a good overview of the importance of beach wrack: https://youtu.be/9m8o5ZRcNSI
You can help keep PBC Parks’ beaches clean by becoming an Adopt-A-Park partner, a program that gives participants a sense of park ownership and an outlet to give back to the community by maintaining parks, beaches, and trails through picking up litter, maintaining flower beds, painting, and more. You can also join or organize a beach cleanup. Learn more about volunteering with PBC Parks here: https://discover.pbcgov.org/parks/General/Volunteer.aspx.
PBC Parks Hosts Cleanup and Celebration on World Ocean Day
More than 70 volunteers joined forces on World Ocean Day, Tuesday, June 8th, to remove over 500 pounds of trash from the Atlantic shoreline and Intracoastal Waterway along Coral Cove Park in Jupiter. The cleanup was a partnership between the Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department, Visit Palm Beach, the Palm Beach Ecotourism Association, Palm Beach County Environmental Resources Management, and the Beach Bucket Foundation.
In addition to removing harmful items and trash from these locations, the event was an effort to educate participants on the importance of keeping key environments clean, and to inspire environmental stewardship among residents and visitors.
“More than 70% of the earth’s surface is covered by oceans and the ocean is the center of most living things,” said Eric Call, Director of Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department. “It’s important that we create opportunities to educate the public on the importance of keeping our oceans clean and vibrant now and into the future.”
Participants were invited to clean up the Atlantic shoreline and waterway by walking, kayaking, or paddle boarding. All cleanup supplies were provided, and all ages were welcome at the family-friendly event. More information for anyone interested in participating in cleanup events at Palm Beach County-operated parks and beaches is available at www.pbcparks.com.
Power of Parks: Sandy Mannon
Welcome to Power of Parks, a podcast produced by the Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department, where we share inspiring stories from people who have benefited from nature, parks and recreation.
Episode 15 features Sandy Mannon, a yoga teacher who teaches Yoga in the Park at Veteran’s Park, a Village of Royal Palm Beach-operated park. She prefers teaching outdoors so her students can experience the full benefits of nature in their practice. Sandy is also a Nurse Practitioner who focuses on wellness and aging gracefully and recognizes the role of nature and parks on both.
