Discover Volusia County’s native plants and wildlife during outdoor hikes and indoor programs at Lyonia Environmental Center (LEC), 2150 Eustace Ave., Deltona.
The free programs will begin in the center’s classroom. Reservations are required; call 386-789-7207, ext. #21028.
Here’s May’s lineup:
Wetland wonders hike: 10 to 11:30 a.m. Sunday, May 1. LEC staff and volunteers will lead this hike to the ephemeral wetland in Lyonia Preserve. Participants will look for frogs, toads and other species that depend on this body of water. They will also be on the lookout for the beautiful, carnivorous pink sundew plant. Wear closed toe shoes that may get wet, bring water and be prepared to hike on unpaved sugar sand trails.
Mosquitoes: 2 to 3 p.m. Sunday, May 1. What’s bugging you? Rebecca Harshaw of Volusia County Mosquito Control will discuss the general characteristics, life cycle and virus transmission of mosquitoes. She will also describe the integrated pest management program used by Mosquito Control. Participants can join in person or virtually for this classroom presentation. An online link will be provided upon registration.
Eco-buggy brunch and learn: 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, May 7. Treat your mom or someone special on Mother’s Day. Learn about the importance of scrub habitat as LEC And Explore Volusia staff lead this riding tour through Lyonia Preserve. After the ride, staff will share fun facts about a native reptile while the group enjoys brunch provided by the Friends of Lyonia Environmental Center. Wear closed toe shoes and bring water.
Tiny trekkers: 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, May 7. Children ages 2 to 7 can take a short hike, make a take-home craft, and listen to the book “Waiting for Wings.” Wear closed toed shoes, bring water and be prepared to hike on unpaved sugar sand trails.
Creature feature: 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 7. Stingrays and manta rays are beautiful sights as they glide through the ocean, flapping their “wings” with grace and ease. Rays, which are distant relatives of sharks, are part of a superorder of cartilaginous fishes known as batoids. Learn about the anatomy, diet, differences between the two rays, and threats they face. Participants can join in person or virtually for this classroom presentation. An online link will be provided upon registration.
Making memories hike: 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Sunday, May 8. Bring someone special, learn about the importance of scrub habitat, and look for the threatened Florida scrub jay during this guided hike in Lyonia Preserve. Participants can bring home a keepsake photo to remember this special day and are invited to bring a picnic lunch to enjoy in the covered pavilion following the hike. Wear closed toe shoes, bring water and be prepared to hike on unpaved sugar sand trails.
Nature film: 2 to 3 p.m. Sunday, May 8. Great things come in small packages, and animals are no exception. Watch the PBS film “Nature’s Miniature Miracles,” which will take viewers across the world, through vast savannahs to rocky plateaus and down to the depths of the seas to shine a light on the tiny survivors of the animal kingdom.
Coastal wildlife 101: 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 12. Jennifer Winters, Volusia County’s sea turtle habitat conservation plan manager, will discuss seasonal ocean processes and how these variations can affect sea turtles, shorebirds and other animals. Participants can join in person or virtually for this classroom presentation. An online link will be provided upon registration.
Poisonous plants in your Florida garden: 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 14. Learn about some poisonous Florida plants you may want to remove from your yard, especially if you have young children or pets. Participants can join in person or virtually for this classroom presentation. An online link will be provided upon registration.
Fabulous fungi: 10 to 11 a.m. Sunday, May 15. Learn the fungi basics, how to identify them and what they do for the ecosystem during this stroll through Lyonia Preserve. Wear closed toe shoes, bring water and be prepared to hike on sugar sand trails.
Sunday fun day: 2 to 3 p.m. Sunday, May 15. Children ages 5 and up can make butterfly lifecycle bracelets with their families. Staff will share fun facts about butterflies, their lifecycle and importance to the ecosystem.
Seeds for birds: 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday, May 19. Native plants produce seeds that are important to birds throughout all seasons. Birds flock to these plants for these seeds as well as their fruit and nectar. Join Steve Kintner, vice president of West Volusia Audubon Society, in the LEC pollinator garden as he discusses different types of seed producing plants that do well in Volusia County. Participants will receive a free native plant.
Jay walking: 8:30 to 10 a.m. Saturday, May 21. This program spotlights the threatened Florida scrub jay. Participants will start in the classroom by learning their calls and facts about their lifestyle. Then they will take a stroll with LEC staff into Lyonia Preserve to immerse themselves in scrub habitat in hopes of spotting a scrub jay. Bring binoculars and cameras if you have them. Wear closed toe shoes, bring water and be prepared to hike on sugar sand trails.
Nature film: 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 21. Watch “Wings of Life,” an intimate and unprecedented look at butterflies, hummingbirds, bats, bees and flowers. Narrated by Meryl Streep, the film is a celebration of life as a third of the world’s food supply depends on these incredible and increasingly threatened creatures.
Native plant hike: 10 to 11 a.m. Sunday, May 22. Join Sonya Guidry of the Florida Native Plant Society on a guided hike that will focus on flowering plants that have adapted to life in the unique scrub habitat of Lyonia Preserve. Wear closed toe shoes, bring water and be prepared to hike on unpaved sugar sand trails.
Totally turtles: 2 to 3 p.m. Sunday, May 22. Celebrate World Turtle Day during this classroom presentation as you learn how to protect turtles and meet the LEC’s resident turtle ambassadors. Afterward, participants will make a repurposed bottle top turtle craft to take home. This program is recommended for participants ages 6 and older.
Turfgrass talk: 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday, May 26. Brittany Council-Morton, an urban horticulture agent with the University of Florida/Volusia County Extension, will explain how to identify lawn turf and scout for insects. She will also discuss common turf grass diseases and provide a set of procedures for individualized care and maintenance. Participants can join in person or virtually for this classroom presentation. An online link will be provided upon registration.
Nature film: 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, May 28. “The Incredible Journey of the Butterflies” flies along with monarch butterflies on their incredible across North America, visiting spectacular locations they call home and meeting the dangers they encounter along the way. Movie watchers will receive native milkweed seeds to plant at home to help this beautiful species survive.
Magnificent monarchs workshop: 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 28. Increase your knowledge about some of Volusia County’s butterflies and their host plants. Staff will lead participants in constructing rearing cases and give instructions on raising monarch butterflies at home. Participants will take home a milkweed plant to begin the process. The cost is $15 per rearing cage. Space is limited to 10 participants.
Saltwater tank feeding: 10 to 11 a.m. Sunday, May 29. Join staff at the saltwater aquarium as they feed the center’s marine animal ambassadors. Some of the menu items include krill, seaweed and shrimp. Discover which critters enjoy that menu, their unique eating methods, and the important role each plays in our ecosystem.
Critter corner: 2 to 3 p.m. Sunday, May 29. Explore the LEC and meet the center’s animal ambassadors. Animals will be handled by trained staff who will be happy to answer your questions.
Scrub strolls: 9 to 10 a.m. every Friday in May. Volunteers will lead these exploratory hikes through Lyonia Preserve.
If you will be walking through Lyonia Preserve, wear closed-toe shoes, bring water, and be prepared to hike on sugar-sand trails.
Lyonia Environmental Center offers insights into Volusia County’s fragile ecosystems through hands-on displays and educational programs. It’s part of the Deltona Regional Library complex at 2150 Eustace Ave., Deltona. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free.
Learn what’s happening at the LEC at www.lyoniapreserve.com.
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