Cortez, Fla. (April 14th, 2023) – The historic fishing village of Cortez will be bustling with experiential learning opportunities on Saturday, April 29. Between the Florida Maritime Museum (FMM) and the Cortez Cultural Center (CCC), families can experience two FREE, hands-on events in one convenient and memorable trip!
On FMM grounds, students from Rowlett Academies will teach families the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People® through fun, interactive activities. Hands-On Habits is an engaging event that features activity booths visitors can move through at their own pace between 10:00 a.m. and noon, as well as scheduled student performances. More information about Hands-On Habits can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/events/720763376198213
Nestled in almost 100 acres of wetland preserve, the Cortez Village Historical Society will open up the CCC for their event Eco-adventurers Wanted! Running from 9:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m., explorers of all ages are invited to engage with our natural environment through hands-on games and crafts, and can even explore the FISH Preserve with a guided tour! Experts from these great outreach organizations will all have fun booths with free activities for all ages: Manatee County Water Conservation, Parks & Natural Resources, Sarasota Bay Estuary Program, Organized Fishermen of Florida, Manatee County Libraries, West Manatee Fire Rescue, and more. Further information about Eco-adventurers Wanted! can be found here: https://fb.me/e/2M0i0mXEd
Food trucks will be on-site serving food and frozen treats for a fee.
Parking for both these events is free and plentiful at the F.I.S.H. Preserve parking. Heading West on Cortez road, visitors should take a left at 116th St W—look for balloons marking the turn. Step-by-step driving directions can be found here: https://goo.gl/maps/kJAjSVChaZcqVvTc8
Suncoast Remake Learning Days is a 10-day festival of free events for children and families… think of it as the world’s largest multi-site open house from April 21 to April 30, 2023. Participating organizations in Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee, and Sarasota Counties are hosting over 200 free, hands-on, educational events. Learn more about Suncoast Remake Learning Days here: https://www.gradelevelreadingsuncoast.net/project/suncoast-remake-learning-days/
The Florida Maritime Museum, located at 4415 119th Street West in the historic fishing village of Cortez, offers a snapshot of old Florida through a collection of informative exhibits, educational programs, community events and research materials. Visit FloridaMaritimeMuseum.org for more information, or call (941) 708-6120.
ABOUT THE FLORIDA MARITIME MUSEUM
Serving the public since 2007, the museum’s mission is to collect, preserve and share traditional knowledge, cultural artifacts and personal stories specific to Florida’s fishing and maritime heritage. The Florida Maritime Museum is a part of the Manatee County Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller’s Historical Resources Department, with additional support from the Friends of the Florida Maritime Museum. Situated on the Cortez Nature Preserve, FMM grounds were purchased with funds from the Florida Communities Trust Preservation 2000 Program and the Manatee County Board of County Commission. Located in the 1912 schoolhouse in the historic fishing village of Cortez, the museum offers a snapshot of old Florida through a collection of informative exhibits, educational programs, community events, and research materials.
ABOUT THE CLERK’S OFFICE
The Clerk of Circuit Court was established as a public trustee by the Florida Constitution in 1838. The Clerk of the Circuit Court serves as the Clerk of Courts, the Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners, Auditor, Recorder, and Custodian of all County Funds. In Manatee County, the Clerk’s office also administers a local child support enforcement program, violence protection advocacy program, Manatee Teen Court, and the preservation of historical resources through its historical resources department. Located at 1115 Manatee Avenue West in downtown Bradenton, the Courthouse is open Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.. Please be sure to visit our website at www.manateeclerk.com and sign up for our electronic newsletter at https://bit.ly/MB-Sign-Up-Form.
ABOUT ROWLETT ACADEMY FOR ARTS AND COMMUNICATION K-8
Rowlett Elementary Academy has been proudly serving the families of Manatee County (and beyond) as a free-public charter school since 2014 and before that as a public elementary school. In 2017, Rowlett Middle Academy opened its doors, just minutes down the road. Both campus locations are dedicated to helping young people become creative leaders, who excel in the arts, communication, and academics.