St. Johns County Naturalist Programs

Explore St. Johns County

AyoLane Halusky, County Naturalist   |   P: (904) 209-0348   |   F: (904) 209-0321   |   E: ahalusky@sjcfl.us

Activities at St. Johns County Parks may be scheduled for school trips, home school groups, Scouts, 4-H and other youth or adult groups. Park Naturalist Programs are free and open to the public. Contact AyoLane Halusky, County Naturalist at ahalusky@sjcfl.us or call (904) 209-0348 to schedule activities.

Announcements, Events, Activities

Treasures of the Beach
When: Tuesday, June 25
Time: 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Where: Anastasia Island Library, 124 Sea Grove Main St., St. Augustine
Details: Our East Coast beaches are constantly changing and bringing new items up for us to see. Shells, sea beans, grasses, shark’s teeth, and marine debris; come learn how to identify these items, where they come from, and so much more! Join Park Naturalist Kelly Ussia for an engaging talk about the amazing treasures you can find at the beach. Treasures of the Beach Details. This event is FREE. Seating is first-come, first-served. For more info, contact Kelly Ussia at kussia@sjcfl.us or 904-209-0335.

Living with Snakes & Gators
When: Wednesday, June 26
Time: 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Where: Ponte Vedra Library, 101 Library Blvd., Ponte Vedra Beach
Details: Join Park Naturalist Kelly Ussia for a family-friendly presentation about the snakes and alligators found throughout the State of Florida and maybe even in your backyard. Learn about the various species of snakes in our area as well as how to live with the amazing crodillian neighbors. This program is open to all ages and is FREE. For more info, contact Kelly Ussia at kussia@sjcfl.us or 904-209-0335.

Nocatee Sunset Kayak Trips
When:

  • Thursday, June 27
  • Friday, June 28
  • Saturday, June 29
  • Sunday, June 30

Time: 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Where: Nocatee Landing, Tolomato Rd., Ponte Vedra
Details: Come explore the marshes of the Tolomato River with St. Johns County Naturalists. Participants will paddle the marsh and learn about the unique things that live there and why estuaries are so important. At the end of the tour participants will get to experience a beautiful sunset on the water.
Fees:

  • SJC Resident Providing Own Boat $20: per person
  • Non SJC Resident Providing Own Boat: $30 per person
  • SJC Resident Using a County Boat: $40 per person
  • Non SJC Resident Using a County Boat: $50 per person

To register, contact Kelly Ussia at kussia@sjcfl.us or 904-209-0335. When setting up a reservation, include a phone number, email, date of the trip you would like to attend, residency status, and if you will be using a county kayak. There is a 12-foot boat length minimum for participants bringing their own boat.

Sharks: Misunderstood Creatures of the Sea
When: Wednesday, July 17
Time: 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Where: Ponte Vedra Library, 101 Library Blvd., Ponte Vedra Beach
Details: Sharks are one of the most feared creatures of the sea, but what do you really know about them? Come learn about the shark species that frequent our waters, the unique adaptations these animals have, and the real facts about shark attacks. This program is FREE and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. For more info, contact Kelly Ussia at kussia@sjcfl.us or 904-209-0335.

Trout Creek Sunset Kayak Trips
When:

  • Thursday, July 18
  • Friday, July 19
  • Saturday, July 20
  • Sunday, July 21

Time: 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Where: Trout Creek Park, 6795 Collier Road, St. Augustine
Details: Come explore Palmo Cove with St. Johns County Naturalists. Participants will paddle the creek out to the St. Johns River and learn about the unique history and diverse wildlife of the area. At the end of the tour, we will get to experience a beautiful sunset on the water.
Fees:

  • SJC Resident Providing Own Boat $20: per person
  • Non SJC Resident Providing Own Boat: $30 per person
  • SJC Resident Using a County Boat: $40 per person
  • Non SJC Resident Using a County Boat: $50 per person

To register, contact Kelly Ussia at kussia@sjcfl.us or 904-209-0335. When setting up a reservation, include a phone number, email, date of the trip you would like to attend, residency status, and if you will be using a county kayak. There is a 12-foot boat length minimum for participants bringing their own boat.

Sharks: Misunderstood Creatures of the Sea
When: Tuesday, July 23
Time: 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Where: Anastasia Island Library, 124 Sea Grove Main St., St. Augustine
Details: Sharks are one of the most feared creatures of the sea, but what do you really know about them? Come learn about the shark species that frequent our waters, the unique adaptations these animals have, and the real facts about shark attacks. This program is FREE and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. For more info, contact Kelly Ussia at kussia@sjcfl.us or 904-209-0335.

Sunset Dolphin Walk
When: Tuesday, July 23 & Thursday, July 25
Time: 7:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Where: Vilano Beach Beach Access, 2750 Anahma Drive, Vilano Beach
Details: We have partnered with Marineland Dolphin Adventure to offer a FREE, educational beach walk. Staff will guide participants on a beach walk while looking for dolphins and enjoying a beautiful sunset. During the walk, you will learn about dolphin anatomy and behavior as well as other marine species. This program is FREE, but you must register to attend. Sunset Dolphin Walk Registration. For more info, contact Kelly Ussia at kussia@sjcfl.us or 904-209-0335.

Kids Nature Journaling
When: Wednesday, July 24
Time: 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Where: Anastasia Island Library, 124 Sea Grove Main St., St. Augustine
Details: Join Park Naturalist Kelly Ussia for an interactive class about nature journaling. Can’t draw? No problem! There are many different ways you can create a journal to log your experiences in nature. Kids Nature Journaling Details. This program is FREE and no registration is required. For more info, contact Kelly Ussia at kussia@sjcfl.us or 904-209-0335.

Sharks: Misunderstood Creatures of the Sea
When: Friday, July 26
Time: 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Where: Main Library Branch, 1960 N. Ponce De Leon Blvd., St. Augustine
Details: Sharks are one of the most feared creatures of the sea, but what do you really know about them? Come learn about the shark species that frequent our waters, the unique adaptations these animals have, and the real facts about shark attacks. This program is FREE, but you must register to attend. Sharks Registration. For more info, contact Kelly Ussia at kussia@sjcfl.us or 904-209-0335.


Vision

To provide St. Johns County residents and visitors with opportunities to become better educated about the wilderness systems, historical relevance and sharing St. Johns County's Blue and Green-Ways areas along side the natural communities, mutually benefiting from each other.

Mission

To provide opportunities for the visitors and citizens of St. Johns County to experience and learn about our local natural and historical areas, creating a deeper connection while supporting sustainable communities that work with the Earth's natural systems.

Goals and Values

  • Education: Offering programs that teach individuals and groups about our environment, flora and fauna, local history, and the interaction between natural systems and the developed world. These programs are designed to foster connections with the environment by dispelling fears and fables and empowering individuals with knowledge, safe wilderness practices, and positive experiences.
  • Exploration: Come kayak and hike through our Green- and Blue-way spaces with a trained naturalist. Develop a life-long connection with the environment while exploring our passive parks and waterways. Offering group and individual tours, special events and programs. Public and private, day and overnight trips can be arranged seasonally.
  • Preservation: As we come together as a community that understands the value of our natural areas, we can develop ways to promote, protect, and preserve local wilderness and waterways for future generations. The St. Johns County Naturalist Program will work with local conservation groups and volunteers in environmental programming, events, and clean-ups.

Programs & Activities

  • Nature Walks and Programs
  • Kayaking
  • Master Naturalist Classes
  • Volunteer & Educational Opportunities
  • Explore Blue-way and Green-way Trails

SJC Parks and Recreation – Where everybody plays.