• Image via Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Image via Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Oct. 12-18 is National Wildlife Refuge Week. To kick off the week-long celebration of nature, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is holding a family wildlife festival starting at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 11. The event will be filled with tons of wildlife-centric activities like a sea turtle obstacle course, live snake displays and much, much more.

And if you really wanna up your nature game, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is the spot where we went Bioluminescent Kayaking with A Day Away Kayak Tours. You'll get to experience a completely different facet of Florida wildlife. Wildlife nightlife? Whatever you call it, we highly recommend the trip.

Some of the days events will require registration in advance. See the details from the press release below:

Special events:

• Shorebird Photo Presentation and Driving Tour—Saturday, October 11 at 9 am. View a photo presentation to learn how to identify sandpipers and plovers. Then caravan in your own vehicle with a refuge volunteer in the lead to learn about the shorebirds. The guide will communicate with participants by two-way radio. Call 321-861-5601 for reservations.
• Rain Barrel Workshop –Construct your own Rain Collection Device. Saturday, October 11 from 10 am to 12 pm. Pre-registration is required. Please email or call Elizabeth.melving@brevardcounty.us or 321-633-2016 ext. 56721 or online. Cost is $50.00 and covers supplies and instruction.
• Butterfly Presentation and Walk —Saturday, October 11 at 11 am. View a photo presentation to learn to I.D. butterflies. Then assist volunteers & staff in conducting a butterfly survey. No experience necessary. Call 321-861-5601.
• Hawks and Owls Alive Presentation— Saturday, October 11 at 12:30 pm. Enjoy a presentations with live hawks and owls and learn about their natural history in the comfort of the visitor center auditorium. Call 321-861-5601 for reservations and information.
• All About Alligators—Saturday, October 11 at 2 pm. Learn about the natural history of this intriguing reptile by watching a photo presentation, handling gator bio-facts, bones and skulls and meeting a live gator Call 321-861-5601 for reservations and information.

All-day long activities:

• Nature Stations, Saturday, October 11 from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm.
• Live Hawks and Owl Display—Meet the raptors of Wild About Birds.
• Sea Turtle Obstacle Course—Children ages, 2 to 10, learn how to survive like a sea turtle. Free prize upon completion.
• Live Music by Laura—Laura will play beautiful flute music and bring a variety of musical instruments for children to play.
• Nature Crafts, Nature Scavenger Hunt
• Live snake and caterpillar displays
• Monofilament Line Recycling Collection