usf walking tour

Sarasota-Manatee Campus

Sarasota-Manatee campus tours are designed to help students gain an appreciation for the culture of the campus and local community, and help prospective students see why Sarasota-Manatee students choose to receive a preeminent education in a small school atmosphere. Guests take a guided tour of our campus: walking our halls, stepping into the classrooms, and laying beneath the pines in one of our hammocks. The tours are conducted by our Campus Experience guides who share the history and statistics of the campus, while helping flesh out the experience through their unique student lens.

Prior to the tour, students will receive an information session from an admissions counselor. This presentation will help to set the context for the tour, explain the programs and opportunities available on campus, and explain the application and scholarship process.

Tours typically last between 30 to 45 minutes, and are offered Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays at 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.  Tour schedules may change during summer semesters and holiday hours.

To schedule a Sarasota-Manatee campus tour, please register at https://www.sarasotamanatee.usf.edu/admissions/visit-usf-sarasota-manatee.aspx .  If you have questions about the tour or other visit opportunities, such as Open Houses, please contact the Campus Experience team at 941-359-4331.

University of South Florida

Office of Admissions

Main navigation, sarasota-manatee campus tours.

Get to know USF's Sarasota-Manatee campus, which feels just like visiting your beloved hometown. Take a tour that will introduce you to the personalized programs you'll find at this scenic setting along Sarasota Bay.

Student-Led Campus Tours

Our student-led tours give you an up-close view of our academic facilities and programs, recreational amenities and other points of pride. In addition, you will hear from current students about what life is really like on our dynamic Sarasota-Manatee campus!   Your tour includes an information session presented by an Office of Admissions professional, where you’ll get an overview of the university, admission requirements, scholarships and campus life.   Before scheduling a visit, please keep the following in mind:

• Dates:  Tour space is limited to provide our guests with a positive experience. Please have a few dates in mind before making your reservation in case your first choice is not available.
• Academic calendar: To get the best feel for the Sarasota-Manatee campus, check our academic calendar and visit when there are students on campus attending classes. Campus visits are not offered during university holidays.
• International students:  Please send us an email to add a meeting with an International Admissions Advisor to your tour.
• Weather: The Sarasota-Manatee campus is located in a subtropical climate, and our tours are held outdoors. Wear comfortable shoes, sunscreen, hats, sunglasses and temperature-appropriate clothing. And don't forget to bring a water bottle to stay hydrated! It can get hot in Sarasota, especially on a walking tour of campus.

Register Now

Group Tours (10+ Students)

Customize a tour of the Sarasota-Manatee campus for your group today! Whether you want to take a quick tour of campus, take advantage of our campus dining, participate in interactive college-preparation games or just get to know our campus community, we are here to provide a great visit. These visits are comprised of groups of 10-100 students.   To ensure all group visits are coordinated effectively, we ask that requests be submitted at least three weeks prior to the week you intend to visit.

Submit Request

If you have questions about scheduling a group tour, please send us an email at [email protected] . 

Virtual Tours

Explore USF’s Sarasota-Manatee campus online – from anywhere! Led by student guides, our virtual tour offers you 360-degree panoramic views of our beautiful campus located on Sarasota Bay.   Picture yourself in our state-of-the-art student center. Discover the exciting, hands-on learning at Mote Marine Laboratory and Bloomberg Lab. Imagine yourself stretched out in a hammock under the Florida sun – in February! It all starts with one click.

Disability Accommodations

Please contact the tour staff at 941-359-4200 or send us an email at least five working days in advance for mobility assistance, visual impairment assistance, or American Sign Language interpreting.    USF is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access Institution and therefore complies fully with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and all other federal and state laws and regulations prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability or handicap.

Directions to Campus

Address USF Sarasota-Manatee Campus 8350 North Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34243 Campus Map   From I-75

• Take 1-75 to University Parkway, Exit 213W.
• Go west on University Parkway for approximately 6.5 miles to US-41 (Tamiami Trail).
• Turn right onto US-41 (Tamiami Trail) and head north for approximately 0.5 mile.
• The Sarasota-Manatee campus will be on your left.
• The Sarasota-Manatee campus of USF is located one mile north of University Parkway in North Sarasota, across the street from the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport

Parking on Campus

You may use reserved visitor spaces, or if your length of stay will exceed the time limitations of the visitor space, you may secure a temporary visitor permit from the Parking Services Department or the receptionist.   Temporary Visitor Permits may be obtained at no charge from USF Department Office Managers, at the USF Parking Services Office or at the Reception Desk. Temporary Visitor Permits may not be used in visitor spaces.

Disabled guests may park in any disabled space on campus with an appropriate state disabled placard/license plate and a valid temporary visitor permit. Both the disabled placard/license plate and USF temporary visitor permit must be visibly displayed.

Hotels and Accommodations

If you're visiting from out of town, there are a number of convenient hotels located near our Sarasota-Manatee campus. This is not a comprehensive list, so visitors are encouraged to search for other hotels near the campus they are visiting.   Many of the hotels listed offer a special USF rate. If you choose one of these hotels, state that you are visiting the University of South Florida to access the special rate. Some also offer free shuttle service to the campus.

Home2 Suites by Hilton Sarasota Bradenton Airport 8260 North Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34243 941-500-1899   Hilton Garden Inn Sarasota-Bradenton Airport 8270 N Tamiami Trail Sarasota, Florida, 34243 941-552-1100   Holiday Inn Sarasota - Airport 8009 15th St E Sarasota, FL 34243 877-859-5095

Explore Sarasota (and Beyond)

One of the best parts of attending USF’S Sarasota-Manatee campus is our location. Our friendly campus on scenic Sarasota Bay is just south of the Tampa Bay region and is renowned for its world-class beaches, abundant nightlife and vibrant arts scene. USF offers something for everyone, from beach lovers to art aficionados.    Download our Gulf Coast Visitor Guide to make the most of your trip and explore everything our Gulf Coast region has to offer, from sports to nature. 

Download Guide

Contact the Sarasota Manatee Campus

Have questions about life at USF or want to learn about visiting the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus? Contact our team! Email: [email protected] Phone: 941-359-4200

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Campus attractions at the university of south florida.

By Florence Snyder

The University of South Florida (USF) in Tampa was the first state university planned and opened in the 20th century, as well as the first to be located in a vibrant and rapidly expanding urban setting.

As west central Florida grew into a megalopolis stretching from Tampa Bay to southwest Florida, USF in Tampa expanded to become “the USF System” with independently accredited campuses in St. Petersburg and Sarasota. Each offers leisure activities that appeal to students and faculty taking a break between classes, as well as to visitors from around the neighborhood and around the world. The Sarasota-Manatee campus is an hour’s drive to the south of the main campus, and the St. Petersburg campus lies in between, so you’ll want to do some advance planning if you’re planning to take in all three. A good place to relax and get organized is the Marshall Student Center, located at the northern entrance to the Tampa campus. Don’t let USF’s bellicose mascot fool you: the true nature of the Bulls is best reflected in USF’s description of the Marshall Center as a place "where lifelong associations and friendships are developed; memories are created; and lives are enriched. The Marshall Student Center aspires to be the first and fondest thought that students, staff and faculty have when they remember their time at USF.” You’ll find Bulls of all ages refueling at the eight fast food venues in the Center, or enjoying a special celebration at On Top of the Palms , which offers “sophisticated dining” and a birds-eye view of USF’s  MLK Plaza . Traffic picks up at the Marshall Center on Wednesdays during the fall and spring semesters, when vendors and bargain hunters meet at USF's outdoor “Bull Market .” The Center’s Ballroom and Oval Theater are home to guest lectures featuring nationally prominent speakers .

The Tampa campus’ Yuengling Center is the home of USF’s men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball teams and a rowdy place to be when fans put on their school colors, green and gold, and come out to cheer the Bulls.

- Eve Edelheit for VISIT FLORIDA

The Tampa campus’ Yuengling Center  is the home of USF’s men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball teams and a rowdy place to be when fans put on their school colors, green and gold, and come out to cheer the Bulls. The 10,000 seat venue is large enough to attract artists like nine-time Grammy Award-winner Mary J. Blige, and speakers like actor and activist George Takei, yet small enough that you don’t need screens to see them. USF’s Music Building and Concert Hall is among the top acoustically perfect performance spaces in the nation and a magnet for internationally known artists who frequent USF to teach and perform. Theater and dance round out USF’s arts calendar.

Nature lovers will delight in the Tampa campus’ 16-acre USF Botanical Gardens . Come early in the day, because you won't want to rush as you explore the Gardens’ vast collection which includes fruit trees and palms from around the world, along with orchids, begonias, mallows, bromeliads, gingers, ferns, aroids, cycads, and carnivorous plants.

Keep an eye out for native insects, gopher tortoises, and more than 60 species of birds, all enjoying the herb and scent gardens, as well as the butterfly garden. Check the website often for special events offered throughout the year, as well as up-to-the minute information about current weather conditions in the Gardens.

USF’s Graphicstudio was founded in 1968 and has been on the forefront of contemporary art ever since. Internationally known artists come to Tampa to “pursue new directions to advance their practice” and to inspire students and faculty. You can see examples of their work at the USF Contemporary Art Museum (CAM), where exhibits focus on “current cultural trends” from Florida as well as from other continents.

CAM’s holdings include contemporary photography and African art, as well as graphics and sculpture by internationally acclaimed Graphicstudio artists in residence, such as Roy Lichtenstein, Robert Rauschenberg and James Rosenquist.

Enjoy the view from the bridge as you cross Tampa Bay to continue your adventure at the Bulls’ St. Petersburg home .  From modest beginnings as an “overflow campus,” USF St. Petersburg has emerged as the “Jewel on Bayboro Harbor” and a major contributor to St. Petersburg’s downtown renaissance. USF St. Petersburg offers daily 90-minute walking tours; on Fridays, the tour expands to two hours and features a short faculty lecture. Public lectures on a variety of topics are offered weekly in the University Student Center, a striking building which features a 65-foot-tall multicolored glass-enclosed circular staircase for the campus’ residential tower, and an 8,000-square-foot curtain of glass along 6 th Avenue South. The Reef dining hall is open to the public and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week.

The Sarasota-Manatee campus is the newest “bull run” in the USF system. With its main building surrounding an expansive and attractively landscaped courtyard stocked with hammocks and seating areas, you might mistake the place for a resort.    

But students and faculty are focused on the serious business of “personal growth and intellectual development.” See for yourself in the beautiful 200-seat Selby Auditorium, where the Knowledge-a-Bull Speaker Series hosts public intellectuals from every corner of academia to “engage the community in cutting-edge conversations with experts on subjects that mean something to our lives.”

When you go… University of South Florida 4202 E. Fowler Avenue Tampa, Fla. 33620 813-974-2011

PLACES TO REMEMBER

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UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA

Admit-a-bull // official admissions blog, how to prepare for a campus tour.

By Holly Koly | Last Updated: Nov 16, 2017

You’ve reviewed their official college website, looked through their brochures and followed their social media pages. Now you think you know what it’s like to be a student there, right? Not quite. Viewing a college through the lens of a website or brochure can give you an idea of what it is like to be there, but no words can describe it better than actually being there. Here are tips on how to prepare for a campus tour to keep you ahead of the game.

What Are the Benefits of a Campus Tour?

Taking a campus tour of a college you are interested in gives you a chance to imagine what it's like to be a student there and helps you determine whether or not it's a good fit for you. Here are the benefits of a campus tour:

• Get an up close and personal view of the campus
• Learn fun facts about the college, including its history
• Ask questions that are not answered in any of the college’s resources
• Speak to current students about their experiences
• Participate in activities on campus and learn about campus life
• Check out campus amenities, student resources and stadiums
• Taste the different types of food served on campus
• Find out if the atmosphere and vibe is what you are looking for
• Meet with various departments and personnel in your field of interest

Make the most of your campus tour by scheduling time to prepare beforehand. Tours typically include an information session and a walking tour of the campus, but they may not include additional interactions that may be beneficial. 

For example, if you are interested in financial aid information, be sure to call and schedule an appointment with the college’s financial aid office for the day of your tour. The staff will be able to answer your specific questions and help you determine the next steps to making sure your financial needs are met.

Talking with a professor in a field that interests you or with an academic advisor can help you learn more about the department. Request a meeting with a professor in your field of interest or an advisor to get a better understanding of the class format and curriculum.

Ideas for Questions to Ask During Your Campus Tour:

Before your tour, also consider reviewing the college’s official website, brochure and any additional materials the college has sent you. Use the information you learn to create a list of questions for admissions officers, tour guides and current students during your visit.

Questions about Academics:

• What is the four-year graduation rate?
• What is the average class size for introductory classes compared to upper-division courses?
• What academic resources are available for students?
• Are there internship opportunities available?
• Are there undergraduate research opportunities available for students?
• How involved are academic advisors?
• Are there any unique academic experiences offered for eligible students? (Honors College, special living learning communities, service-learning programs, etc.)
• What is the reputation of college of interest?
• How many classes are taught by professors, and how many are taught by teaching assistants?
• How diverse is the student population?
• What study abroad opportunities exist for students?
• How well will this college prepare me for my career?

Questions about Student Life:

• What extracurricular activities are offered?
• Can you describe what Greek life is like here?
• What are the meal plans like?
• How is the dining hall food?
• What is it like to live in a dorm?
• What do students do for fun on campus?
• What activities are available in the surrounding community?
• How easy or difficult is it to get around campus?

Questions for Current Students:

• Why did you choose this college?
• What is your favorite and least favorite thing about going here?
• How friendly are the people here?
• What’s the social vibe like on campus?
• What do students typically do on the weekends?
• Which majors are the strongest, and which ones are the weakest?
• What is it like to live here?

What Should You Bring to a Campus Tour?

In addition to preparing a list of questions, it is also important to pack campus tour necessities. Be sure to review colleges’ websites for special tips on what to pack for their specific tour.

Before heading out for your tour, review your campus tour confirmation e-mail thoroughly. The confirmation e-mail will typically include important information that is unique to each college. Remember to pay special attention to parking details in the e-mail because most campuses have specific parking instructions that you need to follow.

Being prepared makes it easier for your to navigate parking, find your way around, and feel ready to learn about the college.  Also, consider bringing the following must haves with you.

What to Bring:

• Notebook: This should be used to reference the questions you want to ask, as well as take notes throughout the tour.
• Cell phone with camera: Take photographs of the campus during your tour to help you remember what impressed you. This will also help you later on in remembering which campus made you feel more at home.
• Map: Print out a map of the campus before your visit. Be sure to circle landmarks you would like to see and determine the most effective route to get to all of them in one day.
• Water: Pack a bottle of water to stay hydrated because you will likely walk around campus for a couple of hours.
• Appropriate clothing: Dress according to the weather and pack an umbrella. Most tours will be held rain or shine.

You’ve prepared yourself for this moment and are ready to take in the campus experience. Remember to ask your questions, take notes, snap photographs and most importantly, enjoy yourself!

What Should You Do After the Campus Tour?

So, you took a tour of all of the colleges you were interested in, now what? It’s time to pull out your notebook, photographs and campus materials. Make a chart and compare the pros and cons of all of the colleges.  Which photographs impressed you most? Which college ranked the highest on your pro/ con list? Where could you imagine yourself being for four years?

Once you have compared all of the colleges and answered these questions, you’re ready to make a decision on which college is the best fit for you!

USF Campus Tours

USF’s campus tours are the best way to get an up-close view of our top-rated academic facilities, spacious suite-style residence halls, delicious dining options, student support offices, high-tech recreation center and many other points of interest.

Our tours are student-led by Green and Gold Guides who love to share the history, facts, traditions and family they have found here at the University of South Florida. You will be able to hear about their experiences as students and learn what life is really like on our dynamic campus!

Register online for a campus tour . If you are unable to visit in-person, check out our virtual tour .

About Holly Koly

Holly Koly is the Buyer Engagement Strategist for USF’s Office of Innovative Education. She enjoys writing blog articles that provide meaningful insight into the opportunities and resources available for students and their families throughout the college admissions process.

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USF Home > College of The Arts > Institute for Research in Art

INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH IN ART

• Contemporary Art Museum
• Graphicstudio
• Events Calendar
• Exhibitions
• Social Engagement

Cuban artist Glexis Novoa shares insights about his work during the gallery tour for CAM's exhibition Climate Change: Cuba/USA . (photo: Anthony Wong Palms)

Tours + Field Trips

As part of CAM's educational mission, we offer a wide range of object-based learning opportunities, including guided tours and field trips, centered around a series of major interdisciplinary exhibitions and the permanent collection. We encourage direct encounters with artwork as a means to understand diverse cultures, concepts, current issues, and materials. We also offer customized class tours, assignment collaboration, and learner-centered facilitated art discussions (VTS) that are valuable to many disciplines. Guided tours and presentations by CAM's educators and curators are available to connect with specific classroom objectives.

Guided Tours

USF Contemporary Art Museum schedules public curator-led gallery tours with each exhibition. Check our events page for upcoming scheduled tours.

Guided tours are available upon request by emailing [email protected] at least two weeks in advance. Self-guided groups are also welcome during regular hours. For groups larger than 10, please email or call (813) 974-4133 to reserve gallery time.

Please contact Amy Allison at [email protected] for any questions or to schedule a tour.

Curator of Education Leslie Elsasser leads a field study tour of the exhibition Hope Ginsburg: Sponge Exchange (2020).

Field Trips

USF Contemporary Art Museum offers free exhibition tours including field trips for K-12 students and class tours for the USF and Tampa Bay education communities. Please see guidelines for choosing, scheduling and conducting your tour.

Please contact Amy Allison at (813) 974-4164 or [email protected] for any questions or to schedule a field study.

Field Trip Guide  

Download a pdf copy of this  field trip guide for everything you need to know before bringing your students to CAM!

The Contemporary Art Museum (CAM) offers free exhibition tours for students of all ages. However, some exhibitions may contain mature content and we recommend teachers and group leaders visit the exhibition before bringing their students. Groups can also visit the Collections Vault and Preparator Shop for a behind-the-scenes look at the tools, skills, and staff required to mount exhibitions and care for the University’s permanent art collection. 

Tours can be tailored to specific subject areas, interests, projects, or lesson plans. Please discuss with Amy Allison when scheduling. If students are given a school assignment to be completed during the visit, please discuss with Amy when scheduling or at least five days prior to visiting the museum, so that appropriate accommodations can be made. 

Tour Policies

• Guided tours are available to school groups Monday – Friday, from 10am – 4pm.
• Tours must be scheduled at least 3 weeks in advance.
• The allowance of maximum students is dependent on the exhibition.
• School groups should arrive 10 minutes before the start of the tour.
• Group leaders should review the Museum Manners with students and chaperones before entering the museum.
• Bookbags, backpacks, large bags and umbrellas must be checked in at the security desk.
• Students/chaperones are encouraged to enjoy free time in the museum after each exhibition tour. Museum staff will be available to answer questions.
• Make a day of it! Bring a lunch to enjoy on the lawn, visit the Carolyn M. Wilson Gallery and Centre Gallery. *Tours for the Carolyn M. Wilson Gallery and Centre Gallery must be arranged separately.
• Chaperones are required for all museum student tours. Please see below for guidelines.

Planning Your Visit

Museum manners.

• Do not touch the art.
• Be aware of your movements so you don’t accidentally bump into or brush up against the art.
• Food, beverages, and gum are not permitted inside the galleries.
• Only pencils and small notepads are allowed in the galleries.
• Be respectful of other visitors and each other by using quiet voices.
• Cell phones should be turned to silent.
• Stay with your group.
• Still photography is permitted. Flash and tripods are not allowed.
• Please follow the instructions of security guards. CAM reserves the right to dismiss any group for misconduct.

During Your Visit

Buses should unload groups in front of CAM. Bus parking is available in the University Mall parking lot, located 2 miles from the museum. Individuals wishing to park at the museum must park in the 3B Lot. Kiosks are available to take credit card payments and located adjacent to the Dance building (FAD).

Accessibility

The University of South Florida Contemporary Art Museum (USFCAM) is fully accessible to visitors with disabilities. There are disabled parking spaces outsde of the museum, an accessible entrance, good lighting and accessible restrooms. 

The museum follows the USF guidelines regarding service animals . 

USFCAM faculty and staff are pleased to work with organizations that provide cultural opportunities for visitors with disabilities to tour the Museum. For more accessibility information please call (813) 974-4133 or email [email protected] .

Donate now to support our exhibitions and related educational programs!

USFCAM Mailing List

Email sign up for USF Contemporary Art Museum updates!

Upcoming Events

Visit the events page to see all our upcoming public programs.

Video Archive

Please visit our YouTube channel and subscribe! Explore hundreds of hours of past artist talks, conversations, sympoia, performances and more.

If you have questions or would like to learn more about our education programs, please email Curator of Education Leslie Elsasser at [email protected] .

Copyright + Reproduction

The electronic images and information available on this site are subject to copyright and may be covered by other restrictions as well. The images are made available to the general public as a representation of USF Contemporary Art Museum’s programs. Copy or redistribution in any manner for commercial use is not permitted. Anyone wishing to use any of these images for commercial use, publication, or for any purpose other than personal fair use must first request and receive prior written permission from the University of South Florida Institute for Research in Art. Please contact USFCAM at (813) 974-4133 for more information.

Please note that Internet Explorer is incompatible with this site.

We recommend upgrading to the latest Microsoft Edge , Google Chrome , or Firefox .

• Patient Care

Shared Student Services

Quick links, usf health tours, usf health tour program, visit usf health.

Click here to watch a short video introducing USF Health before your tour!

USF Health Tour Dates & Times

Join us for an in-person tour of the USF Health campus and learn more about our programs, facilities, and the Tampa Bay area! Future tour dates will be added in fall 2022, check back soon to view the available options!

Register for a USF In-Person Tour!  

If you require accommodations or have questions, please contact the Office of Preadmissions and Outreach. 

Hear the Herd: Unmasking the USF Health Student Experience

Listen to our current students as they discuss their academic programs, student involvement, and the culture at USF Health.

To view recordings of past panels, as well as access other information for prospective students, please  visit our Digital Resource Library.

USF Office of Admissions Campus Tours

Are you interested in a tour of the USF Tampa, St. Petersburg, or Sarasota campuses? Visit the Office of Admissions Campus Visit webpage to register for a tour and learn more about the USF system!

USF Campus Visits

USF Health Office of Preadmissions and Outreach

Contact the office at:

[email protected]

How to see lots of public art in an hour? Take USF’s free Public Art Tours

Read more articles by Caitlin Albritton .

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A walking tour of the USF Forest Preserve reveals a rich natural world within Tampa's urban sprawl

Put on your hiking boots because we're trekking through the USF Forest Preserve in Tampa. The University of South Florida has requested and received proposals to build on this undeveloped property. Student researchers, turned activists, show us what makes this parcel of land so special.

On a chilly early weekday morning, three scientists are leading a guided tour of the USF Forest Preserve, which is about 500 acres of undeveloped property belonging to the University of South Florida adjacent to the Tampa campus. They have learned and now teach on this land as PhD candidates for USF. Christian Brown specializes in animals, Jeannie Mounger is a plant expert and Stephen Hesterberg is a marine ecologist.

As we walk through the east metal gate, they tell me to picture this portion of wildlife corridor as having a gingerbread man shape, lying parallel to Fletcher Avenue with the head pointing toward the university. So, we start at its right foot and trek up toward its head, which is actually the connection point of the Cypress Creek and Hillsborough River watersheds.

If that connection were to be severed by development, Brown said it would create island habitats for the species that live there.

"A lot of species can't thrive in those island habitats. They need a way to move to acquire resources: mates, food, etc., and in order to move across the landscape, they need to have corridors between different habitats types,” said Brown.

Earlier this year, USF requested and received proposals to build on the parcel. That energized students and professors to develop a grassroots campaign to save their natural classroom.

The preserve is home to rare ecosystems, like critically endangered sandhill habitat and federally protected wetlands. Multiple threatened and endangered species live there too, such as the gopher tortoise, wood stork and ceraunus blue butterfly. And more than 400 plant species grow there, including four that are only found in Hillsborough County.

We're walking on dry, sandy soil passing the burrows of threatened gopher tortoises — some are naturally decorated with bright yellow honeycomb head flowers.

"There's a leopard frog right here. It's fast. There's a couple of them. There's a lot of them, actually,” said Brown as he quickly crouches down to catch one southern leopard frog among a leaping bunch.

It's about the size of a quarter with a light green hue and brown leopard markings down its back. Brown refers to local amphibians as canaries in a coal mine.

"They're really good bio-indicators so they basically show that the water is clean and healthy,” he said.

The dirt and sand path we're on, which was originally paved by cypress tree loggers, begins to wash out. You can tell water has flowed through here at one point. This is the transitional space between the dry and wet lands.

“You’re starting to see that there's a lot more vining vegetation in the trees. It's starting to get a little thicker here. There's a lot of really tall grass,” said Mounger.

She said this is a very important space to mitigate flooding in neighborhoods, specifically near Cypress Creek.

"So, all these surrounding communities, Tampa Palms, etc., they will flood if development continues to occur in these conservation lands,” said Mounger.

Then we stumble upon something really rare.

"That is a nighthawk! Wow! Lifer experience. Oh my gosh!” Mounger said with wide eyes and a dropped jaw.

Nighthawks are nocturnal. You can sometimes hear them calling at dusk but you don't often get to see them.

We catch up with the other two scientists to tell them about the sighting. And then Brown tells me we're about to step into a wetland.

"This is an old berm, like an old raised road, that kind of went right through the wetlands and so we're about to have standing water on either side,” he said. “It's a really cool access point for the students because they can see all of the wetland wildlife without having to wade through the swamps. We hang game cameras and observe otters here and it's just like a nice window into another world."

Students learn to find, capture, and identify wildlife. Some graduates who have studied out here now work at zoos, aquariums, private consulting firms, and government research projects.

We eventually get hit with this smell of rotting fish — that means we've made it to the otter latrine.

"It's basically an area where they all express their anal glands and drop feces and communicate with each other. Here's a pile right here. If you take a closer look you can see that it's pretty much composed of old crayfish or old crawdad parts," said Brown while kneeling over the heap of dry shellfish remnants.

After squeezing through some final foliage, we make it to the head of the gingerbread man, better known as Cypress Creek, which is a 30-mile tributary of the Hillsborough River. All around us, you can see the reflection of sky and cypress trees in the slow-moving water. It's quiet. You can only hear some birds, and the water bubbling up where an otter is cryptically coming up for air.

Hesterberg said when he first heard about the possible development of the area, he was really concerned about this, right here.

"This tributary flows into the preserve to the west. Over 300 acres of floodplain wetlands here that we have in the preserve that is filtering all of this water that is coming downstream and into our main drinking supply water here in Tampa which is the Hillsborough River,” he said. “As an ecologist, it can be really a difficult profession because [of] how much the world has changed, and how much has been lost.”

But Hesterberg said he has always considered the USF Forest Preserve as being a natural place that would remain safe, until now.

We turn back, down to the right foot of the gingerbread man where we started, and make our way up the left foot to end the hike on dry land in front of yellow, white and purple wildflowers. Here, Jeannie Mounger reflects on her feelings about the preserve.

"The thing that strikes me the most are the times that I do get to bring students out here, and I get to see their joy, and I get to see the light in their eyes,” she said. “You just know that they're forming memories that they're not going to forget."

USF will receive public comments on developing the preserve within the next month or so, and then a university advisory board — of which Mounger was appointed — will recommend what to do with the property.

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Digital Commons @ USF > USF Libraries > USF Digital Collections > Tampa Digital Collections > Tampa Special Collections > Florida Studies > THC > Ybor Walking Tour

Historic Ybor City Walking Tour

The USF Tampa Library collaborated with Dr. Gary Mormino, USF Department of History, to produce 14 video segments featuring Dr. Mormino at various historical spots in Ybor City, including Centenial Park, Joffrey's, The Columbia, and the Centro Asturiano theatre. Originally released as vodcasts, each segment is approximately 1 minute long.

Submissions from 2000 2000

Part 01 of 14: Ybor City State Museum Courtyard , Gary Ross Mormino

Part 02 of 14: Ybor City State Museum Mural , Gary Ross Mormino

Part 03 of 14: La Casita , Gary Ross Mormino

Part 04 of 14: Ybor City Centennial Park , Gary Ross Mormino

Part 05 of 14: 7th Avenue Balconies , Gary Ross Mormino

Part 06 of 14: José Martí Statue , Gary Ross Mormino

Part 07 of 14: Martinez Ybor Factory , Gary Ross Mormino

Part 08 of 14: Joffrey's , Gary Ross Mormino

Part 09 of 14: Centro Ybor , Gary Ross Mormino

Part 10 of 14: Centro Español Staircase , Gary Ross Mormino

Part 11 of 14: Max Argintar , Gary Ross Mormino

Part 12 of 14: Centro Asturiano Cantina , Gary Ross Mormino

Part 13 of 14: Centro Asturiano Theatre , Gary Ross Mormino

Part 14 of 14: The Columbia , Gary Ross Mormino

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PGA Tour Event Disrupted by Alligator Casually Walking Across Tee Box

• Author: Madison Williams

The Zurich Classic of New Orleans is used to having a special four-legged friend show up from time. to time on the course.

The guest, an alligator, halted play at the 17th hole during Thursday's first round. The groups of Bronson Burgoon and Jhonattan Vegas, along with Paul Barjon and Samuel Stevens, had to wait at the tee box for the alligator to cross in front of them before they could tee off. The animal didn't stop them from taking a few practice swings, though.

This isn't the first time an alligator has showed up at the Zurich Classic. The PGA Tour commentators reminded viewers that the tournament was used to a three-legged alligator gracing the course fittingly named "Tripod."

Now on the tee, from New Orleans, Louisiana ... A GATOR 🐊 pic.twitter.com/N8wEJh1pQ1 — PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 25, 2024

The alligator walked across the tee box without causing any issues with any golfers or fans. But it definitely took its sweet time to walk across.

Both golfing duos ended up paring the 17th hole despite the distraction.

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