Oh what a great day it was sharing the wonders of nature and the outdoors at the Explore The Outdoors Festival Oct. 15. More than 800 attendees participated in hands on activities that included fishing, hydrobiking, boating, wildlife encounters, archery, interactive educational exhibits, nature-based crafts, giveaways and much more.
Activities included:
• Learning to fish on Black Creek
• FISH FLORIDA fishing rod/reel giveaways
• Freshwater fishing education with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
• Emerald Coast Hydrobike cruises
• Archery with Freeport Parks and Recreation
• Boating with Wounded Warrior Fishing
• Boating with Backwater Tours
• Birding with the Choctawhatchee Audubon Society
• Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission wildlife exhibit
• Topsail Hill Preserve State Park exhibit
• Eden Gardens/Camp Helen State Park
• Northwest Florida Astronomy club
• Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance touch tank
• Smokey the Bear and his friends from Forestry
• Snake exhibit with Scott Sweeney
• Sea Grant
• Freeport Town Planters Society crafts
• Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge exhibit
• Mattie Kelly Environmental Institute exhibit
• Beekeeping exhibit with Jeff Chesser
• Sea turtle exhibit with Valerie Lofton
• Nonie’s Ark Animal Encounters
• Walton County Master Gardeners
A hearty thank you to all the volunteers who gave their precious time to help make it happen: Sherry McCall, J. B. Hillard, Marilue Maris, Steve Roe, Kelly Calvert Roe, Terry Garland Przybylinski, Stan Przbylinski, Trinity, Sam McBroom, Judi Russell, Richard Bryan, Ann Welch, Harland Welch, and Joseph Gulak.
A big thanks for the support from Gulf Coast Insulation, Fish Florida, C.W. Roberts Contracting, Freeport Town Planters Society, The UPS Store, Copeland’s Gun and Tackle, and Ace Hardware DeFuniak Springs. Also for the beautiful venue and the great folks at Live Oak Landing in Freeport.