Second annual Environmental Fair

Historic City News readers are invited by the Friends of A1A Scenic & Historic Coastal Byway to attend the second annual Environmental Education Fair on Saturday, May 21st in the Town of Marineland.

The free event begins at 10 a.m. at the River to Sea Preserve West, just south of the Marineland theme park on State Road A1A. Activities will include educational presentations, nature work stations, storytelling, games and face painting, music, nature trail walks, kayaking opportunities on the Intracoastal Waterway and beach cleanups.

There will also be educational exhibits and vendors and a raffle at 3 p.m. for vacation packages along the Byway.

The Fair, which will also feature scavenger hunts, a visit with pirates and food vendors, is designed to increase the awareness of coastal conservation needs along the nationally designated scenic Byway, which stretches for 72-miles along St. Johns and Flagler counties.

Area businesses and sponsors and the Flagler County Chamber and Tourist Development Council want to promote community stewardship and increase eco-tourism in the area.

The night before the event, Friday, May 20, the public is invited to the Lohman Auditorium at the University of Florida’s Whitney Lab for a 5 p.m. interactive lecture by renowned author and publisher Frank Gromling.

The topic, “Giving Nature a Hand,” will explain the needs of the Ocean Conservancy and how to preserve our precious coastal resources. Food vendors will be on hand.

An hour prior to the lecture, the public may view the area’s best science projects and tour the touch tanks at the Lab. After the lecture, a gathering of 12 area environmental and A1A authors will be available for book signings.

That same day, at 10 a.m., 200 fourth graders from Rymfire Elementary will experience Ocean Literacy lessons up close with a field trip to the River to Sea Preserve East at Marineland Beach.

During their three-hour trip, they will visit learning stations, learn about litter abatement, the value of ocean habitats and other conservation activities consistent with Florida school standards.

During the day, the students will sign “I Pledge to Give Nature a Hand” commitments and will don red shirts and hats and create interactive art on the boardwalk, which will be captured in a flyover by an aerial photographer.