Creepy Crawly Land Crabs of Florida and Beyond, presented by Bob Montanaro of the Pelican Island Audubon Society, will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24, at Raw Space, 1795 Old Dixie Highway, Vero Beach. Hosted in conjunction with the Stewards exhibition, the free public program will explore crabs in mythology and popular culture while examining the life histories of the Florida ghost crab and great Atlantic land crab. Montanaro’s presentation will offer an informative look at two of Florida’s more unusual coastal creatures. Admission is free. For information, visit Stewards-IRC.org.
Golden Hour in the Garden Lifestyle and Media Auction will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24, at Spirit of Sebastian Heritage Hall, 1213 Main St. The event will benefit the Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce and will include a lifestyle and media auction. Tickets are $35 for chamber members and $45 for nonmembers. For tickets and information, visit
SebastianChamber.com.
Art of the Ocean, a six-session environmental art program for children ages 6-10, begins this Saturday, Sept. 26, at the Environmental Learning Center, 255 Live Oak Dr., Vero Beach. The drop-off program will meet from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays through Oct. 24, with a family and friends art show planned from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1. Students will explore ocean and lagoon topics while completing hands-on projects inspired by marine life, conservation and coastal habitats. The opening session, “The Ocean We Leave Behind,” will focus on marine debris and include a cleanup and collaborative mural using collected materials. The program will continue with coral reef sculpture, pressed-seaweed art, a mangrove mural, ocean-themed writing and Japanese-inspired gyotaku fish prints. Tuition is $150 per child and includes all six classes, art supplies and the final exhibition. Space is limited. The ELC also offers a Full Moon/Sunset Guided Kayak Excursion at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26. The two-hour guided paddle will take participants on the Indian River Lagoon during sunset and the rising full moon, with travel through mangrove-lined channels. Participants must be able to paddle continuously for two hours and should arrive 30 minutes before the scheduled departure. Single kayaks are $65, and tandem kayaks are $130. For registration and information, call 772-589-5050 or visit DiscoverELC.org.
The Vero Beach Museum of Art is opening registration for a couple of popular programs. First is its Film Studies program. Two five-week programs, which run at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, begin Oct. 13 and cover “All Creatures Great and Small: Animal Friends and Their Human Connections.” This first series explores the portrayal of animals, which has long been a compelling element in cinema, with five films. The second series begins on Nov. 17 and focuses on “Latin Vibes: Thought-Provoking Tales from the Southern Hemisphere.” This second series explores films from South America reflecting diverse cultures and complex historical forces including the political turbulence following World War II. The third series, “Please Rewind: Revisiting Memorable Films from Past Seasons,” begins Jan. 5, and revisits notable films from previous Film Studies programs. The classes are led by Diane Thelen. Participants may attend classes at the museum or stream films at home; registered students will receive weekly emails with handouts, streaming links and viewing instructions. In-person attendees also may participate in optional post-screening talk-back discussions. Tuition is $80 per series for museum members and $96 for nonmembers. The Vero Beach Museum of Art is at 3001 Riverside Park Dr. For registration and information, call 772-231-0707 or visit VBMuseum.org.
