WOW factor: Festival to offer fun, learning
PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE CITIZEN Sandhill cranes enjoy a morning walk at Harns Marsh.
One of Lehigh Acres’ finest gems – a beautiful lake and marsh area, known as Harns Marsh – is the setting again for what promises to be one of the best WOW Festivals.
Hosted by the Lehigh Acres Municipal Services Improvement District, WOW or Wings Over Water Festival will be held Jan. 29-30, all designed to help the public discover the beauty of Southwest Florida’s water, land and wildlife.
Carla Ulakovic, LA-MSID’s community specialist, promises that the annual festival celebrates Southwest Florida’s natural resources and includes presentations from experts, an array of exhibits from local organizations, children’s activities, food, guided walks and a rubber duck race.
And admission to the festival is free with ample parking.
She said LA-MSID’s mission is to preserve and protect the water resources within its boundaries.
“In the early 1980s, ECWCD transformed the 578-acre farmland into an active stormwater facility, Harns Marsh, to filter water and reduce flooding to the Orange River. The water control structures have helped create a lush habitat for snail kites, limpkin and more than 160 animal species.
To get to the WOW Festival, drive from Lee Blvd. heading north on Sunshine Blvd. Turn left on Olive Ave. N., and then turn left on 38th St. W., and continue into Harns Marsh.
“The WOW Festival showcases to the importance of LA-MSID’s mission and provides a unique opportunity for community members to connect with local organizations and experience nature through an array of interactive experiences,” said J. Nathan Stout, chairman of the LA-MSID board.
If you get there a little earlier than the 9 a.m. opening, LA-MSID will present a program “Explore the history of Harns Marsh; learn about its water control features and discover the flora and fauna. LA-MSID Manager David E. Lindsay will talk about the future plans and development for Harns Marsh and also the East Marsh area.
Admission is free but reservations are preferred; To RSVP, go online and go to: www.eventbrite.com/e/wings-over-water-festival-presentation-harns-marsh-history-function-and-futuretickets-5760961190.
A special treat this year as a special addition, Mark Renz will host a special early morning walk on Saturday, January 30 from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. before the festival opens.
The topic of the walk will be “How to be Yourself Behind a Camera.” Before the walk, Renz will briefly discuss such topics as “Overcoming Immaculate Clean Camera Syndrome,” “Timing is Everything,” “Think Click,” “Anticipating Your Next Shot,” “Get There Early and Stay Late,” “Don’t Overthink – Feel” and “Zen Bonding With Your Camera.”
Renz’s photographs have been published internationally in magazines, newspapers and books.
Samples of his Harns Marsh photos can be seen on Facebook at “Friends of Harns Marsh,” or “Florida Time Forgot.” Again admission is free, but space is limited. Reservations are required. Go online to: https://www,eventbrite.com/e/wings-over-water-sat-jan-30-early-morning-photograhy-walk-tickets-20278393220.
Ulakovic noted that Mark Renz is a fossil guide and author of numerous books on Florida fossils “How to Find Fossils in Florida.” Renz will discuss being prepared, knowing what to look for, having the right tools, keeping it safe and legal, preserving your finds, and offering scientifically significant specimens to the Florida Museum of Natural History so that current and future generations can learn from our discoveries.
Curious what a giant ground sloth claw looks like? How about a tooth from a 60-foot long shark or a huge mammoth molar? If you’re new to collecting vertebrate fossils, samples will be on display.
Others to be featured at the two-day Wow Festival include:
– Steve “Snakeman” Masek will bring his live animal educational sessions back for another year. He introduces guess to a variety of invasive exotic animals that are threatening native populations of Southwest Florida animals through hands-on presentations.
– Adrienne Diaz, Edible Landscape Seminars. Learn how to liven-up your landscape with edible plants. Diaz is a certified spare foot gardening instructor, Lee County master gardener, and certified seed saver with Seed Savers Exchange.
– Matt Smith, Learning takes flight as the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey travels to Harns Marsh to present live raptor ambassadors. Four non-releasable birds of prey, including a bald eagle, provide an up-close and meaningful encounter with some of Florida’s top predators. Participants will discover the extraordinary senses and physical adaptions that make these birds master of the sky.
“We receive positive feedback from event surveys each year and helps grow our ability to showcase the great work of local environmental and community groups,” Ken Thompson, vice chairman of the LA-MSID board, said. “For our fifth annual event, we have ramped up the educational offerings and activities and look forward to the continued participation of Lehigh Acres residents and businesses.”
If you would like more information, visit: www.wingsoverwaterfestival.com.
WOW factor: Festival to offer fun, learning
PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE CITIZEN Sandhill cranes enjoy a morning walk at Harns Marsh.
One of Lehigh Acres’ finest gems – a beautiful lake and marsh area, known as Harns Marsh – is the setting again for what promises to be one of the best WOW Festivals.
Hosted by the Lehigh Acres Municipal Services Improvement District, WOW or Wings Over Water Festival will be held Jan. 29-30, all designed to help the public discover the beauty of Southwest Florida’s water, land and wildlife.
Carla Ulakovic, LA-MSID’s community specialist, promises that the annual festival celebrates Southwest Florida’s natural resources and includes presentations from experts, an array of exhibits from local organizations, children’s activities, food, guided walks and a rubber duck race.
And admission to the festival is free with ample parking.
She said LA-MSID’s mission is to preserve and protect the water resources within its boundaries.
“In the early 1980s, ECWCD transformed the 578-acre farmland into an active stormwater facility, Harns Marsh, to filter water and reduce flooding to the Orange River. The water control structures have helped create a lush habitat for snail kites, limpkin and more than 160 animal species.
To get to the WOW Festival, drive from Lee Blvd. heading north on Sunshine Blvd. Turn left on Olive Ave. N., and then turn left on 38th St. W., and continue into Harns Marsh.
“The WOW Festival showcases to the importance of LA-MSID’s mission and provides a unique opportunity for community members to connect with local organizations and experience nature through an array of interactive experiences,” said J. Nathan Stout, chairman of the LA-MSID board.
If you get there a little earlier than the 9 a.m. opening, LA-MSID will present a program “Explore the history of Harns Marsh; learn about its water control features and discover the flora and fauna. LA-MSID Manager David E. Lindsay will talk about the future plans and development for Harns Marsh and also the East Marsh area.
Admission is free but reservations are preferred; To RSVP, go online and go to: www.eventbrite.com/e/wings-over-water-festival-presentation-harns-marsh-history-function-and-futuretickets-5760961190.
A special treat this year as a special addition, Mark Renz will host a special early morning walk on Saturday, January 30 from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. before the festival opens.
The topic of the walk will be “How to be Yourself Behind a Camera.” Before the walk, Renz will briefly discuss such topics as “Overcoming Immaculate Clean Camera Syndrome,” “Timing is Everything,” “Think Click,” “Anticipating Your Next Shot,” “Get There Early and Stay Late,” “Don’t Overthink – Feel” and “Zen Bonding With Your Camera.”
Renz’s photographs have been published internationally in magazines, newspapers and books.
Samples of his Harns Marsh photos can be seen on Facebook at “Friends of Harns Marsh,” or “Florida Time Forgot.” Again admission is free, but space is limited. Reservations are required. Go online to: https://www,eventbrite.com/e/wings-over-water-sat-jan-30-early-morning-photograhy-walk-tickets-20278393220.
Ulakovic noted that Mark Renz is a fossil guide and author of numerous books on Florida fossils “How to Find Fossils in Florida.” Renz will discuss being prepared, knowing what to look for, having the right tools, keeping it safe and legal, preserving your finds, and offering scientifically significant specimens to the Florida Museum of Natural History so that current and future generations can learn from our discoveries.
Curious what a giant ground sloth claw looks like? How about a tooth from a 60-foot long shark or a huge mammoth molar? If you’re new to collecting vertebrate fossils, samples will be on display.
Others to be featured at the two-day Wow Festival include:
– Steve “Snakeman” Masek will bring his live animal educational sessions back for another year. He introduces guess to a variety of invasive exotic animals that are threatening native populations of Southwest Florida animals through hands-on presentations.
– Adrienne Diaz, Edible Landscape Seminars. Learn how to liven-up your landscape with edible plants. Diaz is a certified spare foot gardening instructor, Lee County master gardener, and certified seed saver with Seed Savers Exchange.
– Matt Smith, Learning takes flight as the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey travels to Harns Marsh to present live raptor ambassadors. Four non-releasable birds of prey, including a bald eagle, provide an up-close and meaningful encounter with some of Florida’s top predators. Participants will discover the extraordinary senses and physical adaptions that make these birds master of the sky.
“We receive positive feedback from event surveys each year and helps grow our ability to showcase the great work of local environmental and community groups,” Ken Thompson, vice chairman of the LA-MSID board, said. “For our fifth annual event, we have ramped up the educational offerings and activities and look forward to the continued participation of Lehigh Acres residents and businesses.”
If you would like more information, visit: www.wingsoverwaterfestival.com.
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