Florida State Parks celebrate Literacy Month with free entry Sept. 10 – 12

September 4, 2010

Special events at Topsail, Henderson Beach and Rocky Bayou Sept. 11, Eden Gardens Sept. 17

To celebrate Literacy Month, Florida’s state parks are offering free entry to state parks Sept. 10 – 12 (excluding the Skyway Fishing Pier State Park).

Just bring a library card, a book checked out from a library or donate a new or gently used family-friendly book.

Local State Parks hosting special events:

Breakfast with a Ranger and Children’s Book Reading at Topsail Sept. 11

Location: Topsail Hill Preserve State Park

Time:  9 a.m. Breakfast with a Ranger 9:30 Book Reading

Come and join the Rangers of Topsail Hill and ask them all the questions you can think of about park life.  To celebrate literacy month, the par will also be having a reading of Paul Lowery’s “Do You Know Where Sea Turtles Go?” accompanied by an educational sea turtle display.  To cover the cost of food please bring $4, which goes to Friends of Topsail Hill Preserve State Park to enhance the park, or bring your own breakfast.  Donations of new and gently used family friendly books for literacy month will also be collected.  Park at the Day-Use area off Hwy 30A and take a short hike to the clubhouse.

For more information call (850) 267-8330

Celebrate Literacy Month at Henderson Beach State Park Sept. 11

Date: September, 11th 2010 11 a.m. – 12 Noon
Henderson Beach State Park will host a reading of the popular children’s
book “Where The Wild Things Are”; Sept 11th, 2010 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00pm.
Pack a picnic lunch, bring the family and join the Park Rangers and staff as they celebrate
Literacy Month. The event will be held at Pavilion C in the new day use area. Park
entrance fees will be waived for visitors who bring a library card, library book, or who
donate a new or gently used family book.
For more information call (850) 650-5928.
Henderson Beach State Park
17000 Emerald Coast Parkway
Destin Fl, 32541
(850) 650-5928
Location
Henderson Beach State Park, Destin

Celebrate Literacy Month at Rocky Bayou State Park Sept. 11

Time: 11 a.m. – 12 Noon
Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park will host a reading of the popular children’s book “The Salamander Room”; Sept 11th, 2010 from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Pack a picnic lunch, bring the family and join the Park Rangers and staff as they celebrate Literacy Month. The event will be held at the Red Cedar Pavilion in
the day use area. Park entrance fees will be waived for visitors who bring a library card, library book, or who donate a new or gently used family book.
For more information call (850) 833-9144
Fred Gannon rocky Bayou State Park
4281 S.R. 20
Niceville, FL 32578
(850) 833-9144
Location
Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park, Niceville
•    Friday, Sept. 10-Sunday, Sept. 12 – free for Literacy Month for visitors who bring a library card, library book, or who donate a new or gently used family-friendly book.
•    Thursday, Nov. 11 – Veterans Day.

The Great Word Hunt and Readathon at Eden Gardens State Park Sept. 17

Time: 10 a.m.
Eden Gardens State Park is sponsoring a fun-filled afternoon of reading events, including The Great Word Hunt in which the students will search the gardens for letters and then utilize those letters to create words; the team creating the greatest number of words will win a small prize. The day will be finished off with reading time facilitated by different costumed characters reading to the children at various locations within the park.
Participation Requirements
Fees: Park entrance fees will be waived to participants.
Contact: (850) 267-8322
Directions: Eden Gardens State Park is located in Point Washington, off U.S. 98 on C.R. 395.