Around the Bend celebrates Heritage Month in Manatee County

BRADENTON -- Celebrate Manatee County’s Heritage Month by taking a walk in one of several area parks with expert naturalists from the Around the Bend Nature Tours.

Karen Fraley created a way for people in the community to enjoy Manatee County Heritage Month by foot.

Last week Around the Bend celebrated 11 years in Manatee County, and this month founder Karen Fraley wants folks to celebrate by taking a walk through a park to experience its rich history.

“During Manatee County’s Heritage Month, we are providing a series of interactive walking tours to celebrate our local heritage,” she said. “We have several walking sites that are in our area parks accessible to the public. If you go with one of our expert guides you will learn a much deeper story than you would just by walking the trails.”

Fraley said that the walking tours are scheduled at Emerson Point, De Soto National Memorial, Durante Park, Manatee Mineral Springs, Rye Preserve, and Leffis Key.

During a month set aside to recognize the culture and history of Manatee County, Fraley added that the best place to start is on foot through its wilderness.

For example, at Emerson Point park Around the Bend is hosting a native technology tour.

This isn’t necessarily technology related to computers and modern gadgets, but replica tools used by Native Americans.

“People can try them out see what it was like to use a tool as a Native American,” Fraley said. “We have a really rich heritage here in Manatee County and it started way before the 1800’s because of the Native Americans that lived at places like Emerson Point.”

In fact, Fraley said that records prove these native inhabitants lived here from over 200 years ago and even earlier.

“It’s a story not known to the average person living here, and it is very fascinating,” she said.

Groups of youth can do a Mangrove Walk tour with expert naturalist Russel Owens with Around the Bend.

Around the Bend is also hosting an archaeology tour this month to celebrate our local history and heritage.

There is a simulated dig folks of all ages can do at Manatee Mineral Springs.

This natural spring is listed on the Florida register of natural springs and at one time it was a marvelous flowing creek, prior to being tapped.

“About 100 years go the City of Bradenton tapped the spring and covered the creek, so now all you can hear is the creek running underground,” she said. “We have such a rich history in layers of time, if you can just imagine. That’s why it’s so great to have an interpreter tell you about our history.”

Although Fraley’s love for natural history inspired her to create Around the Bend, she was also educated in ornamental horticulture from the University of Florida.

“When I started doing research about the stories of people that used our native plants and animals and combined everything,” she said, “it got really exciting.”

So, she’s on a mission to share that excitement of the natural experience and great outdoors with the community.

“The more people understand this is where we all live, the more people will want to preserve it,” Fraley said. “It just adds to the quality of life to have wild places to go to.”

Naturalist Karen Fraley said to contact her by phone at (941) 794-8773, if you or a group would like to do a Manatee County's Heritage Month walking tour.

Erica Newport is a daily reporter for The Bradenton Times. She covers art, culture and community. If you have a story that might interest Erica, please e-mail her using erica.newport@thebradentontimes.com address.  She also takes your questions related to our weekly theme days and provides advice and opinions for our readers.

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