Marshmallows roasting over a campfire.
Photo by Leon Contreras
Okeeheelee Nature Center is hosting two events to ring in Halloween. Both “Family Owl Prowl” and “Creepy Critters & Crafts” require registration.
“Family Owl Prowl” is Oct. 21 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. for ages 6 and older. It costs $5 per participant. Participants meet and learn about nocturnal creatures in Florida through nature exploration, and s’mores around a campfire tie up the fun.
“Creepy Critters & Crafts” is an all-ages family event Oct. 29 from 1 to 2 p.m. It costs $3 each. Participants are invited to don their Halloween costumes and join animal-themed fun. One activity involves an up-close look at creatures including bats, owls and arachnids to learn about their contributions to their ecosystems. Participants also work on a creepy take-home craft.
You can register for these events by going here.
Okeeheelee Nature Center is operated by the Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department and has features including hands-on exhibits, animal experiences and a gift shop. The center sits amid 2.5 miles of trails through a 90-acre spread of pine flatwoods and wetlands. Potential animal encounters on the trails include white-tailed deer, Atala butterflies, gopher tortoises and wood ducks. Live animals within the center’s observation room include a screech owl, young alligators, snakes and turtles.
The nonprofit Friends of Okeeheelee Nature Center Inc. encourages appreciation for nature and emphasizes volunteer and fundraising efforts to benefit the center.
Okeeheelee Nature Center is at 7715 Forest Hill Blvd. in West Palm Beach. The nature center is open Wednesday through Friday from 1 to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Okeeheelee’s nature trails are open from sunrise to sunset.
