Special Events for Bahia Honda State Park

• 14TH ANNUAL EARTH DAY CELEBRATION
  Date: April 18, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
  
  Description: Bahia Honda State Park is having its 14th Annual Earth Day Celebration on April 18, 2009 from 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM. There will be live music provided by local musicians. The local Moose Lodge from Big Pine Key, with the help of Boy Scout Troop 573, will be cooking up some wonderful hot dogs, sloppy Joes and fixin’s for the event. Admission to the park is free (come early, parking is limited).
  
  Activities will include: face painting, puppet shows and sand sculpture contest.
  
  Save-A-Turtle Organization will co-host the event and have several activities and display booths. They will be selling raffle tickets to raise money for sea turtle research. There will be environmental exhibits and booths, marine life touch tanks and children’s activities. The Florida Keys Astronomy Club will set up telescopes with special lenses for viewing the sun.
  Fees: Free park entry.
  Contact: (305) 872-9807
  

Bahia Honda State Park Ranger Programs

• SAND AND SEA NATURE CENTER
  Thursday-Monday, 9 AM - 5 PM (Closed for lunch, 12-1 PM)
  Free with park admission. Visit our Nature Center, on the Gulf side of the Old Bridge, to learn more about the park. We have a sea life display, a small marine aquarium and several environmental activities to explore. Ask about our Junior Ranger Program for the kids. Or, just cool off in the air conditioning and watch a nature video! Park staff will be available to answer your questions. Dates and times subject to change.
  Call (305) 872-9807 for more details.
• AWESOME CONSTELLATION ENCOUNTERS!
  July 13, 9:00 - 10:00 PM
  Discover how to find the major constellations using the night skies over the Florida Keys - the ultimate naked-eye astronomy event. Find the North Star, the 'dippers,' and locate planets, hold an actual meteorite, learn about ancient mythological stories associated with the stars, find your own birth sign in the dark heavens above, and so much more! Join 'Big Dipper' Bill for an evening of astronomical discovery. Fun for all ages! For more info, visit www.bigdipperbill.com.
  
  For your comfort, bring something to sit on and a flashlight to light your way. Sorry, but this program is for overnight guests only.
  Call (305) 872-9807 for more details.
• PUPPET SHOWS
  July 11, 18, 25; 10:00 AM
  Join a ranger at the Sand and Sea Nature Center every Friday beginning July 11th for a 'cool' puppet show. Find out what happens to 'Pancake' the Loggerhead Sea Turtle, what life is really like in the Sea Grass beds or hear about the travels of a Miami Blue butterfly. Fun for the whole family!
  Call (305) 872-9807 for more details.
• NATURE AND HISTORY QUEST
  Thursday-Monday, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
  Learn more about the park by taking a self-guided walk at the west end of Bahia Honda. Your ‘quest’ will take you through six learning stations, for a total distance of about a ½-mile. Visit the Sand and Sea Nature Center to get started on your learning adventure. Fun for all ages!
  Call (305) 872-9807 for more details.