Brooker Creek Preserve Summer Camps and Youth Programs
Brooker Creek Preserve, 3940 Keystone Rd, Tarpon Springs, FL 34688
About
Brooker Creek Preserve Camps and Youth Programs include hands-on and nature-focused activities such as Herpetology Summer Camp, Book Time at Brooker, Bird Hikes, and Nature's Hidden Wonders Walk. Children and families can attend programs like Stories & Songs with the East Lake Library, The East Lake Library presents Mr. Brad, Reptiles and Adaptations with the East Lake Library, and Why Snakes are Cool. Additional offerings include “Walk” The Watershed (Webinar), Oysters at Work: How Vertical Oyster Gardens Help Our Waters, Stormwater Adventures Day, and Off the Beaten Path Hike with the FoBCP - Cypress Swamp.
• Ages: 0–11 years old
• Schedule: Yearly summer camps and week-long educator workshops, plus recurring and single-day programs on weekdays and weekends
• Price: Herpetology Summer Camp $200 per camper; ECO Teacher Training Workshop free; Off the Beaten Path Hike with the FoBCP - Cypress Swamp $25 per hike per person
Herpetology Summer Camp runs June 22–26, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day and is described as a popular, hands-on, science-based nature day camp that includes up-close encounters with gopher tortoises, frogs, lizards, and snakes. Book Time at Brooker takes place every Thursday from 10:30 to 11:00 a.m., connects children to the natural world through a nature-related story and a craft, and is geared toward 3- to 5-year-olds and led by Brooker Creek volunteers. Stories & Songs with the East Lake Library is for children ages 0–5 and their caregivers, and some children’s programs specify that drop offs are not permitted and that accompanying adults should attend and be engaged.
Reptiles and Adaptations with the East Lake Library is scheduled for Saturday, June 6, with sessions from 10:00–10:45 a.m. and 11:00–11:45 a.m. Bird Hike is scheduled for Sunday, June 7, from 8:00–9:30 a.m. “Walk” The Watershed (Webinar) is scheduled for Tuesday, June 9, from 12:15–1:00 p.m., and Oysters at Work: How Vertical Oyster Gardens Help Our Waters is scheduled for Thursday, June 11, from 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Stormwater Adventures Day is scheduled for Saturday, June 13, from 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. Off the Beaten Path Hike with the FoBCP – Cypress Swamp is scheduled for Sunday, June 14, from 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m., involves plunging into the swamp, and notes that butterfly orchids should be in bloom, with a reminder to plan to get wet.
The 2026 ECO Educator Workshop is a nationally award-winning, week-long environmental education workshop offered by UF/IFAS Extension Pinellas County’s Natural Resources Agent, runs Monday, June 15–Friday, June 19, 2026, from 9:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. each day, and is the 14th annual offering. The ECO Teacher Training Workshop is also described as a nationally award-winning, week-long environmental education workshop, is offered by The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension Pinellas County’s Natural Resources Agent teamed up with a St. Petersburg College, College of Education professor, runs June 15–19, 2026, from 9:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. each day, and aims to provide participants with tools and information to interpret the natural world and impart the need for resource conservation to their audience.
Nature’s Hidden Wonders Walk is scheduled for Saturday, June 20, from 9:00–10:30 a.m. and explores wet and dry habitats of “Our Wildest Place.” The East Lake Library presents Mr. Brad on Saturday, June 20, from 10:00–11:00 a.m. Stories & Songs with the East Lake Library is scheduled for Friday, June 26, from 10:00–11:00 a.m. Why Snakes are Cool is scheduled for Saturday, June 27, from 10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Herpetology Summer Camp is back for its 18th year and is led side-by-side with herpetologist George L. Heinrich. “Why Snakes are Cool” is presented by local herpetologist and environmental educator George L. Heinrich. “Walk” The Watershed (Webinar) is presented by Lara Milligan, Natural Resources Agent for UF/IFAS Extension Pinellas County, and “Oysters at Work” features Dr. Megan Moore, Pasco County Sea Grant Agent. The leadership team named in these programs includes George L. Heinrich, Lara Milligan, and Dr. Megan Moore.
Herpetology Summer Camp is sponsored by Heinrich Ecological Services. The ECO Teacher Training Workshop is a collaboration between UF/IFAS Extension Pinellas County and St. Petersburg College, College of Education. The East Lake Community Library partners on multiple programs at Brooker Creek Preserve, UF/IFAS Extension Pinellas County is involved in multiple educational programs, and Friends of Brooker Creek Preserve (FoBCP) are involved in the Off the Beaten Path Hike. Free admission is offered, with donations welcome, and yearly summer camps and teacher camps are sponsored by partners.
Last updated May 31, 2026.
• Ages: 0–11 years old
• Schedule: Yearly summer camps and week-long educator workshops, plus recurring and single-day programs on weekdays and weekends
• Price: Herpetology Summer Camp $200 per camper; ECO Teacher Training Workshop free; Off the Beaten Path Hike with the FoBCP - Cypress Swamp $25 per hike per person
Herpetology Summer Camp runs June 22–26, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day and is described as a popular, hands-on, science-based nature day camp that includes up-close encounters with gopher tortoises, frogs, lizards, and snakes. Book Time at Brooker takes place every Thursday from 10:30 to 11:00 a.m., connects children to the natural world through a nature-related story and a craft, and is geared toward 3- to 5-year-olds and led by Brooker Creek volunteers. Stories & Songs with the East Lake Library is for children ages 0–5 and their caregivers, and some children’s programs specify that drop offs are not permitted and that accompanying adults should attend and be engaged.
Reptiles and Adaptations with the East Lake Library is scheduled for Saturday, June 6, with sessions from 10:00–10:45 a.m. and 11:00–11:45 a.m. Bird Hike is scheduled for Sunday, June 7, from 8:00–9:30 a.m. “Walk” The Watershed (Webinar) is scheduled for Tuesday, June 9, from 12:15–1:00 p.m., and Oysters at Work: How Vertical Oyster Gardens Help Our Waters is scheduled for Thursday, June 11, from 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Stormwater Adventures Day is scheduled for Saturday, June 13, from 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. Off the Beaten Path Hike with the FoBCP – Cypress Swamp is scheduled for Sunday, June 14, from 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m., involves plunging into the swamp, and notes that butterfly orchids should be in bloom, with a reminder to plan to get wet.
The 2026 ECO Educator Workshop is a nationally award-winning, week-long environmental education workshop offered by UF/IFAS Extension Pinellas County’s Natural Resources Agent, runs Monday, June 15–Friday, June 19, 2026, from 9:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. each day, and is the 14th annual offering. The ECO Teacher Training Workshop is also described as a nationally award-winning, week-long environmental education workshop, is offered by The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension Pinellas County’s Natural Resources Agent teamed up with a St. Petersburg College, College of Education professor, runs June 15–19, 2026, from 9:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. each day, and aims to provide participants with tools and information to interpret the natural world and impart the need for resource conservation to their audience.
Nature’s Hidden Wonders Walk is scheduled for Saturday, June 20, from 9:00–10:30 a.m. and explores wet and dry habitats of “Our Wildest Place.” The East Lake Library presents Mr. Brad on Saturday, June 20, from 10:00–11:00 a.m. Stories & Songs with the East Lake Library is scheduled for Friday, June 26, from 10:00–11:00 a.m. Why Snakes are Cool is scheduled for Saturday, June 27, from 10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Herpetology Summer Camp is back for its 18th year and is led side-by-side with herpetologist George L. Heinrich. “Why Snakes are Cool” is presented by local herpetologist and environmental educator George L. Heinrich. “Walk” The Watershed (Webinar) is presented by Lara Milligan, Natural Resources Agent for UF/IFAS Extension Pinellas County, and “Oysters at Work” features Dr. Megan Moore, Pasco County Sea Grant Agent. The leadership team named in these programs includes George L. Heinrich, Lara Milligan, and Dr. Megan Moore.
Herpetology Summer Camp is sponsored by Heinrich Ecological Services. The ECO Teacher Training Workshop is a collaboration between UF/IFAS Extension Pinellas County and St. Petersburg College, College of Education. The East Lake Community Library partners on multiple programs at Brooker Creek Preserve, UF/IFAS Extension Pinellas County is involved in multiple educational programs, and Friends of Brooker Creek Preserve (FoBCP) are involved in the Off the Beaten Path Hike. Free admission is offered, with donations welcome, and yearly summer camps and teacher camps are sponsored by partners.
Last updated May 31, 2026.
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