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.

Events & Activities

Cycles of Nature
When: 7 to 8 a.m., Sunday, September 23,  7:30 to 8:30 a.m., Thursday, October 8 and 22
Where: Butler Park East, 5860 A1A South, St. Augustine, FL
Details: Join St. Johns County Park Naturalist Kelly Ussia and Marineland for a beautiful and educational sunrise walk on the beach. Just like the sun rises and sets every day, there are lots of things in nature that occur on a cyclical basis. This walk will focus on how nature tends to repeat itself and how humans can help protect these delicate cycles. This program is free and open to all ages, but registration is required. Register  for Cycles of Nature. For more information, contact Kelly Ussia at kussia@sjcfl.us or 904-209-0335.

Trout Creek Kayak Trips
When: 10 a.m. to  1 p.m., Thursday, September 10, Friday, September 11, Saturday, September 12, Sunday, September 13
Where: Trout Creek Park, 6795 Collier Road, St. Augustine, FL
Details: Join County naturalists for a beautiful guided trip of Trout Creek and learn about the unique history and diverse wildlife of the area. Fees are SJC Resident Providing Own Boat: $20 per person, Non-resident Providing Own Boat: $30 per person, SJC Resident Using a County Boat: $40 per person, Non-resident Using a County Boat: $50 per person. Pre-registration is required for a trip but does not guarantee your spot. Space on a trip is allocated on a first come, first served basis. Pre-register for Trout Creek Kayak Trips. For more information, contact Kelly Ussia at kussia@sjcfl.us or 904.209.0335.

904 Naturalist Series – Exploring the Life of Plants
When: Online Classes are 6 to 8:30 p.m., Wednesdays, September 16, 23, and 30. Field Trips are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on September 19, 26, and 27.
Location: Online through Zoom. Field trip locations to be announced during classes
Details: In this 904 Naturalist Series, study and research 10 native plants in their habitat. This program is free, but you must sign up for all six classes, and is open to those 18 or older. Register for 904 Naturalist Series – Exploring the Life of Plants. For more information, contact AyoLane Halusky at ahalusky@sjcfl.us.

ACA Quickstart Kayak Course
When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, September 20
Where: Trout Creek Park, 6795 Collier Rd., St. Augustine,FL
Details: This course will focus on the fundamentals of kayaking, including kayak designs, trip planning, and water safety. In addition, participants will get the opportunity to learn and practice basic paddle strokes and rescue techniques. The course will be led by two Level 2 Certified ACA instructors. This program costs $80 per person. Register for ACA Quickstart Kayak Course. For more information, contact Kelly Ussia at kussia@sjcfl.us or 904-209-0335.

Sunset Stroll at Canopy Shores Park
When: 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, September 25
Where: Canopy Shores Park, 804 Christina Dr., St. Augustine, FL
Details: Join Park Naturalist AyoLane Halusky and learn about the different flora and fauna found in Canopy Shores Park while enjoying the sunset. Bring your questions and journals to record your findings. This program is free and open to all ages. To comply with CDC guidelines and State of Florida executive orders, you must register for Sunset Stroll at Canopy Shores Park. For more information, contact AyoLane Halusky at ahalusky@sjcfl.us or 904.209.0348.

Wild Edibles and Medicinal Plants Guided Walks
When: 9 - 11 a.m. on Friday, October 2
Where: Canopy Shores Park, 804 Christina Dr., St. Augustine
Details: Join Park Naturalist AyoLane Halusky and learn about wild edibles and medicinal plants found in our parks. Bring your questions and journals to record your findings. This program is free and open to all ages. Guided Walk Registration. For more information, contact AyoLane Halusky at ahalusky@sjcfl.us.

Moultrie Creek Kayak Trips
When: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., Saturday, October 3, Sunday, October 4
Where: Moultrie Creek Boat Ramp, 4805 Shore Dr., St. Augustine
Details: Join County naturalists for a beautiful guided trip of Trout Creek and learn about the unique history and diverse wildlife of the area. For more information, contact Kelly Ussia at kussia@sjcfl.us or 904.209.0335. Moultrie Creeking Kayak Trips Details & Pre-Registration

Sunset Strolls
When: 6:30 - 8 p.m., Vaill Point Park - Wednesday, October 7 & Thursday, October 22, Canopy Shores Park - Friday, October 9, Alpine Groves Park - Wednesday, October 14
Details: Join Park Naturalist AyoLane Halusky and learn about the different flora and fauna found at St. Johns County's parks while enjoying the sunset. Bring your questions and journals to record your findings. This program is free and open to all ages. For more information, contact AyoLane Halusky at ahalusky@sjcfl.us or 904.209.0348. Sunset Strolls Details & Registration

Speaking with the Birds
When: 9 - 11:30 a.m., Vaill Point Park - Thursday, October 15, Canopy Shores Park - Friday, October 16
Details: Join us as we learn to interpret and identify the language of birds and gain a deeper understanding of these fascinating animals. This program is free and open to all ages and registration is required. For more information, contact AyoLane Halusky at ahalusky@sjcfl.us or 904.209.0348. Speaking with the Birds Details & Registration

Owl Prowls
When: 6:30 - 9:00 p.m., Canopy Shores Park - Friday, October 23, Vaill Point Park - Thursday, October 29, Alpine Groves Park - Friday, October 30
Details: Join us to learn these fascinating creatures of the night and explore the park at sunset in search of our resident owls. This program is free and open to all ages and registration is required. For more information, contact AyoLane Halusky at ahalusky@sjcfl.us or 904.209.0348. Owl Prowls Details & Registration

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.