SCC Audubon Club Field Trips Dates and Information

FIELD TRIPS ARE IN DRIVING DISTANCE. WE CAR-POOL WHEN POSSIBLE.

Members of the club and their guests can join us on our field trips. Details and a sign up sheet are available at our meetings, and there is a sign-up form at the top of this page. You may also call the field trip leader (announced at our meetings) to sign up. Once you sign up, you will receive further instructions from the trip leader. Most of the time, we meet in a parking lot to carpool. Sometimes we go to lunch together after we tour the site. Details, again, will be available when you submit the form to the left, or when you sign up at our meetings. YOU MUST SIGN UP TO ATTEND A FIELD TRIP. 

GUESTS MAY ATTEND ONLY ONE FIELD TRIP BEFORE THEY NEED TO JOIN THE CLUB AND PARTICIPATE IN ADDITIONAL FIELD TRIP.

Thursday, May 23, 2024 - Clearwater Marine Aquarium

We will begin our summer slate of field trips with a facility we have visited before - the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. It is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of sick and injured marine animals, public education, conservation, and research.

The Aquarium opened in 1972 at its current location on Clearwater Beach, in a former water treatment plant. Numerous forms of marine life are permanent residents, all of which have serious injuries that prevent their return to the wild. The Aquarium's best known permanent resident was Winter, a bottlenose dolphin who was rescued in December 2005 after having her tail caught in a crab trap. She was subsequently fitted with a prosthetic tail, which brought worldwide attention and later was the subject of the "Dolphin Tale" movies. She has since passed away.

Residents of the Aquarium include North American river otters, Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, Rough-toothed dolphins, green sea turtles, Kemp's ridley sea turtles, cownose rays, southern stingrays, nurse sharks, great white pelicans, and a variety of fish species. including gag groupers, hogfish and red drum.

They also offer guided eco-boat tours (optional) in Clearwater Bay, where we will observe data collection by their field scientists.  Following the boat ride, we will dine at a cafeteria on-site.

The entry fee per senior will be $35.95, payable at the gate. The one-hour boat ride is $21.95 per person. We may want to reserve seats in advance; we can handle this as the date draws nearer. They have a parking garage ($15), or street parking nearby. Veterans get 1/2 off; bring your card!

We will meet at 9 AM at the Community Hall on South Pebble Beach Blvd., and carpool from there.

Tuesday, June 11, 2024 - Jiggs Landing Boat Ride

Just south of SCC you will find Jiggs Landing Outpost, in Bradenton. One of the many activities offered there is a one-hour covered boat ride on the Evers Reservoir. An experienced captain will be our guide, and will tell us the ins and outs of the reservoir and the Braden River. There is a limit of 20 people for this ride; the cost is $25. Plan to bring your own lunch.

We will meet at 8:30 AM for this 10 AM boat ride, at the Community Hall on South Pebble Beach Blvd. Payment must be submitted THREE WEEKS IN ADVANCE, (by May 20.) Please prepare a check for $25, payable to SCC Audubon Club, and mail it to:

Ms. Pam Viner

314 Stoneham Dr.

Sun City Center, FL 33573

Friday, July 19, 2024 - Grape Hammock Airboat Ride

This has been an extremely popular trip in the past; the last time was two years ago. The ride originates at Grape Hammock Fish Camp in Lake Wales, about an 85 - mile drive from SCC at the south end of Lake Kissimmee. Their two guides are both experienced pilots - and birders! Our ride will begin around 10 AM: they will point out the birds and other wildlife along their one - hour path. Following our ride, we will stop for lunch at Jay Bees Restaurant, on SR 60.

The cost of this ride is $45, payable in advance. Please prepare a check for $45, payable to SCC Audubon Club, and mail it to:

Ms. Pam Viner

314 Stoneham Dr.

Sun City Center, FL  33573

Please be aware that mid-July will be hot and humid! Be certain to bring water and wear a hat.

We will meet at 8 AM at the Community Hall on South Pebble Beach Blvd. and carpool from there.