Outdoor Fest to Spotlight Florida Keys' Four National Wildlife Refuges March 11-18
FLORIDA KEYS — Adventure and learning activities at four Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuges await attendees at the second annual Outdoor Fest, a week of exploration into the richness and diversity of the Keys ecosystem.
Set for Saturday through Saturday, March 11-18, the festival showcases habitats that shelter some of the world's most endangered plants and wildlife species including the tiny Key deer. Events are scheduled in the island chain's National Key Deer Refuge, Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge and Key West National Wildlife Refuge.
The action-packed family-friendly festival features mostly free events designed to encourage attendees to move their bodies, interact with the Keys' environment and develop an appreciation for its wonders.
The schedule includes expert-guided birding, nature walks and backcounty boat trips; kayak excursions; a natural history bike trek; two family-fun wildlife fairs; and evening wildlife presentations. Athletes can test their stamina at the annual Run With Deer 5k on Big Pine Key, while creative spirits can discover "nature therapy" in sketchbook journaling, wildlife origami and photography workshops. In addition, a photo contest is to be staged that celebrates the refuges and their resident wildlife.
Events March 11-14 provide rare access to Key Largo's remote 37-year-old Crocodile Lake refuge, which typically is closed to the public because of its many endangered inhabitants that are sensitive to human impact. Highlights include March 11's Family-Friendly Wildlife and Outdoor Fair for kids and adults, a guided exploration into the habitat of the engaging Key Largo woodrat, a nature-based scavenger hunt for kids and an evening insect adventure with "Moth Man" David Fine.
The focus moves to the Lower Keys March 15-18 for events including on-the-water birding tours, reptile and marsh rabbit walks, butterfly encounters, a stargazing experience and the Lower Keys Family-Friendly Wildlife and Outdoor Fair set for Saturday, March 18, at Big Pine Community Park. At 8 a.m. Saturday, runners and walkers can compete in the Run With Deer 5k that begins and ends at the park.
The Outdoor Fest is presented by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuges Complex and the Friends And Volunteers Of Refuges, commonly called FAVOR. The event is designed to encourage responsible use and protection of the Keys' natural environment through conservation and sustainable practices.
Event information, schedule and registration: favorfloridakeys.org/outdoor-fest
Islamorada visitor information: fla-keys.com/islamorada or 1-800-FAB-KEYS
Key Largo visitor information: fla-keys.com/keylargo or 800-822-1088
Social: Facebook • Twitter • Instagram• YouTube• KeysVoices.com
The festival features mostly free events designed to encourage attendees to move their bodies, interact with the Keys' environment and develop an appreciation for its wonders.
Creative spirits can discover "nature therapy" in sketchbook journaling, wildlife origami and photography workshops.
A photo contest is to be staged that celebrates the refuges and their resident wildlife.