Building an Oyster Reef at Eden Garden State Park

Lookout for 2013 - Back to Nature Festival 12

The 12th annual Back to Nature festival sponsored by the South Walton Community Council (SWCC) took place Thursday through Sunday, October 17-20. My comments follow each event description.

An Ideal Event for Me

For me, an ideal Back to Nature Festival event would be eco-active and have new elements for a familiar place following a sunrise meditation event for the day. Being an elder senior citizen, I have limited $ and limited energy for a day. I can only do one active event per day, so for me Back to Nature Festival would be free and have one of the events I would like to have attended each day during a week. I'd also see photos and reports on events I couldn't attend so the B2N Festival would be online. I expect this isn't practical financially and logistically for SWCC, but it is what I would like and be able to fully attend.

An ideal event would combine features of the events I attended and continue online.

Being eco-active is like building an oyster reef. There are multiple stake-holders for rich perspectives from nature-loving organizations, such as FWC, CBA, AmeriCorps and SWCC in addition to the nature-loving people willing to work to support the nature they love in South Walton. Having new elements for a familiar place means a new leader and/or new knowledge, since this is an annual event, many residents and returning guests have been to our natural areas but there is always so much new to learn. At the Oyster Reef either I missed the intro by being late or there was no information about oysters or reefs at Eden Gardens. I completely enjoyed taking part in the activity but wondered why.

At Deer Lake State Park I was entranced by new information from the expert Christian Wagley and enjoyed a hike I do often, but wondered what we could have done to become involved actively supporting the park. It would be nice to experience the number of participants in the joy of a shared commitment and activity that was present in building the reef.

Events I attended

• Sunrise Meditation with Nancy James - Greet the dawning day with a 30-minute meditation on the beach. Everyone is welcome, whether you meditate on a regular basis or are a beginner. Meet at 6:30 am on Saturday and Sunday on the beach, using beach access #30 (between Seaside and Watercolor). A public parking lot is available just north of county road 30A. Bring your own chair or cushion. Meditation instruction for beginners will be given at 6:20 a.m. Others should prepare to be seated by 6:25 a.m. Dress for cool weather. Pre-registration is not required and there is no cost for this event. Just come and celebrate the beginning of a beautiful day. Event cancelled if it is raining. Nancy James leads this activity.

  It's naturally enlightening to feel safe and comfortable on the beach, lulled by waves, and gradually rising and awakening to the light of day.

• Oyster Reef - See photos on Facebook. Build an Oyster Reef. Create a Living Shoreline at Eden Gardens State Park. Help the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance (CBA) build oyster habitat in Tucker Bayou on Saturday, 19 Oct., from 10 am to 1:30 pm. Learn about living shorelines as an alternative to seawalls and hard structure for the protection of coastal property. Living shorelines incorporate oyster shell and shoreline grasses to restore intertidal habitat which supports life in the Bay while protecting coastal property against wave energy and storm effects. Participants will move bagged oyster shell weighing 20 to 25 pounds each. Expect to wade in water up to 3 feet deep. Wear sunscreen and close-toed shoes. The finished site will be a focal point for education and outreach on Choctawhatchee Bay, including interpretive programs, educational signage, and programs for schoolchildren. Contact: Alison McDowell at mcdowel2@nwfsc.edu

  The description doesn't include my activity which was to cut and tie mesh bags to double broken bags and to keep for future oyster reef projects.

• Deer Lake State Park - See movie and photos on Facebook. Sunday 11 am. The Beaches Are Moving. The beaches of the northwest Florida coast are forever in motion, ebbing and flowing with wind, waves, and tides. Join naturalist Christian Wagley for a fun beach walk to explore the natural forces that shape the shoreline, build and destroy dunes, bring sand ashore, and provide habitat for a fascinating variety of plants and animals. Learn about beach features like cusps, ridges and runnels, overwash fans, how seaweed and hurricanes benefit beaches, and the issues presented as buildings crowd the dynamic shoreline. The Sunday event starts at 11 am, from the parking area at Deer Lake State Park. $10 per person. Limited to 15 people. $5 Park charge per carload of participants.

Events I would like to have attended

• Deer Lake Beach Eco Walk. Deer Lake is one of the rare gems of the Emerald Coast, with its undisturbed dunes, swaying sea oats, and shorebirds running along the sugar white beaches. On Sunday, from 9-11 am, join Ranger Patrick Hartsfield for an interpretive walk along the park’s quarter-mile boardwalk for a panoramic view of the beach dune system. We then go out on the beach for a closer viewing. On the walk you will not only observe shorebirds, seabirds, and other area birds but also learn about the beach dune eco-system and the unique coastal dune lakes. Parking is at Deer Lake State Park, between Eastern Lake and WaterSound, on County Road 30A. $10 per person. $5 park charge per carload of participants.
• Grayton Beach State Park Interpretive Hike. Join Ranger Patrick Hartsfield for a 2-3 hour nature hike through the forest of Grayton Beach State Park. Learn about the native flora and fauna and if we’re lucky, see some of the native wildlife that call the park home. Participants will meet on Saturday at 9 am at the park’s ranger station and will hike out across 30-A and into the forest. Hikers are encouraged to bring a hat, sunscreen, insect repellant, at least 32 oz. of water, a light snack, and camera. Clothing should be comfortable hiking attire with closed toe hiking boots or athletic shoes. Come and discover the “Real Florida”. $10 per person. Space is limited to the first 15 people. There is an additional $5.00 per vehicle park entrance fee payable the day of the event at the park ranger station.
• Tracking the Wild Critters. Ever wondered what animal made those tracks in the sand? Or what animals eat, and how they find each other? Take a guided hike on Saturday at 9 am at Topsail Hill State Park. Learn how to find animals in the wild and to identify tracks made by raccoons, mice, coyotes, fox, alligators, and other animals. Event leader Laura Sell is an environmental educator with the E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center. You’ll track the critters for two to three hours in the beautiful setting of Campbell Lake. Limit 20 people. $10 per person, in addition to the park entry fee. Enter the park from west 30A. Your event leader will meet you at the parking lot. I've attended this event before, but with a different leader.
• Swamp Tromp. Join Forester Daniel Taylor and wildlife biologist Charlene Hopkins on an exploration of a local swamp and wetlands. Ms. Hopkins is working on the Ephemeral Pond Sampling Project in the Point Washington State Forest. The walk will introduce you to the local wetlands, the basic botany and zoology, and how their interactions are valuable to mankind. We will meet at the State Forestry Office on highway 98, in between the intersections for county road 395 and Camp Creek Road, on Saturday at 9 AM. The group will be limited to 20 participants. I've attended this event before, but with a different leader.
• Wildflowers and Butterflies. Take a walk on the wild side of nature. Enjoy an interpretive hiking tour where you have the opportunity to explore natural habitats, meet local flora and fauna face to face and experience the hidden wonders of Walton County. Learn about native plants, wildflowers, migrating and local butterflies with Joe Wyatt, master naturalist, in this tour of Topsail Hill State Park. Meet on Saturday, 11 am at the parking area just inside the Topsail Park entrance, near the west end of County Road 30A. Limit 15 participants. $10 per person in addition to the park entry fee, $6 per car. I've heard Joe Wyatt before at Hammock Bay.
• Night Hike.  Hiking through the woods during the day is a pleasant stroll, but most of the wildlife find it easy to hide.  Try the night hike at Topsail Hill State Park with Ranger Jeff Talbert, and find out how lively the woods are as darkness sets in. Meet at the tram stop at 6 pm on Saturday, just inside the entrance to Topsail Park. Wear hiking, walking, or running shoes. Bring some water, a light jacket, and a small flashlight. Limited to 15 hikers. $10 per person plus the park entry fee of $6 per car.

Back to Lookout or Lookout 2002, Back to Nature 1.