The Trailblazer

  Welcome to our very first Junior Trailblazer feature! These shorter features will offer coloring pages, nature exploration, and more for our youngest conservationists.  Our first edition brings you a Bobcat coloring page.  It looks like this bobcat might be in one of our sites - what park or preserve might she call home?  Download, print, and color the page. When completed, scan and send a copy to CELMOutreach@HCFLogv.net to possibly be featured in a future Trailblazer! Creative Conservation These crafts and activities can be done at home with some adult supervision "Making Moth Sugar" Moths have antennae that look like little feathers. These antennae are like sensors or radio aerials, picking up far away signals. Doing so, they are able to scent attractive food from far away - including this "moth sugar." What you need: 3 tablespoons sugar water 1qt plastic jug paintbrush sponge What to do:  Fill the jug with water Mix sugar into the jug of water. Shake to bl...

Imagine basking in the sun on the beaches of Tampa Bay, canoeing along the meandering Alafia River, or taking a refreshing dip in the crystal-clear waters of Lithia Springs. These moments epitomize the Floridian experience for millions of people. Hillsborough County's waterways are not only idyllic spots for recreation but also vital lifelines providing the water we depend on every day. However, these essential wetlands are under constant threat from urbanization, pollution, and climate change. E.G. Simmons Conservation Park Images of dried lakebeds out west often circulate on our news feeds, reminding us of the potential consequences of water mismanagement. Despite the appearance of water abundance in Florida, we are currently grappling with extreme drought conditions. As reported by the National Integrated Drought Information System , Hillsborough County is enduring its worst drought in over a century. This is why organizations like the Southwest Florida Water Management Distric...

As you stroll along the boardwalk at Lettuce LakeConservation Park , you may spot the seasonal blossoming of spotted water hemlock plants (Cicuta maculata) . These small, umbrella-like clusters of flowers sit atop tall, branching stems. While these plants are toxic and inedible for humans, imagine your surprise as you discover caterpillars, resembling emerald gemstones, feasting on the flowers. Photo by Dr. Don Hall, University of Florida These caterpillars, exhibiting a stunning combination of green, black, and yellow hues, are the larval stage of the Eastern Black Swallowtail butterflies (Papilio polyxenes) . They primarily feed on plants such as the spotted water hemlock, which serve as essential host plants for their survival and growth. Host plants are crucial for many butterfly species, providing both sustenance and a secure habitat for caterpillars to mature and eventually transform. Photo by Dr. Don Hall, University of Florida You might be surprised to find butterflies on a lak...