The 9th Annual Hiking Spree Kickoff Event
Stephen J. Wortham Park
Four days of field and boat trips, expert seminars, keynote speakers, and a free nature expo!
Representative Lindsay Cross' Welcome LetterTwo days of seminars from experts in their fields. Attend live on Friday and Saturday, from 9 am to 6 pm. All seminars are included with registration, including access to YouTube talks after the Festival. Look over the schedule to not miss your favorites!
Free of charge, our Expo will be full of nature organizations, original artwork, and more. Come meet the groups working hard to protect the environment, and shop! Open 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Friday & Saturday.
The free bird shows will take place on Saturday at 11:00am and 2:30pm.
Donations have come in from vendors, individual supporters, and more. Items will be on display during the Expo, with buy-it-now pricing.
After registration, add-on a field or boat trip (Thu-Sun) - many of which will take you to sites not normally accessible to the public - for $25 to $60. Many of our popular trips sell out, so get your tickets early!
Check out the birding checklist from the 2021 Festival.
At 5:30 pm on Friday & Saturday, come enjoy a buffet and then listen to renowned experts give a Keynote presentation (at the Firehouse Cultural Center in Ruskin). Registration is not required. Keynotes are $40 with the full buffet, plus access to YouTube presentations after the Festival. Our new KEYNOTE SERIES ticket saves you money! Check the KEYNOTES.
Other details...
Lunch will be available for purchase from 11 am to 2 pm on Friday and Saturday.
Scroll down for the Schedule Overview and use the button for the full 2024 Schedule Details. And click here to meet this years' experts!
The PLATINUM PASS!
Of the Florida Birding & Nature Festival
The Florida Birding & Nature Festival could not exist without our wonderful sponsors who generously contribute financial aid and in-kind services! Consider joining our great sponsors!
(Click on a logo to open their website in another tab.)
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Suncoast Youth Conservation Center
Address: 6650 Dickman Rd
Apollo Beach, FL 33572, United States
Address: St. Andrew Presbyterian Church at 1239 W Del Webb Blvd
Sun City Center, FL
Address: Sun City Center Community Center at 1009 N Pebble Beach Blvd
Sun City Center, FL
Our kindhearted Festival volunteers get free access to the seminars or a keynote talk - outside of their shift(s) on the day they work.
Day shifts also get a free lunch. Evening keynote shifts get a free buffet. Most shifts are approximately 3-hours, and you can volunteer on more than one day.
LOCATIONS: Day shifts are at the Suncoast Youth Conservation Center at 6650 Dickman Rd in Apollo Beach. Evening shifts are at the Firehouse Cultural Center at 101 1st Ave NE in Ruskin.
Volunteer spots are assigned on a first-sign-up basis. Sign up now to grab the spot(s) you want.
Stephen J. Wortham Park
Lake Apopka North Shore