Course Description: This exclusive tour with the staff of Battle Axes will offer a thrilling and unique experience for adventure enthusiasts. Participants will enjoy an overview and participate in axe throwing, archery and batting cages, complete with real time scoring and changing targets. Participants will have to sign a participation agreement release of liability form before the tour. This one-time tour will meet on Monday, September 22, 3:00 to 5:00.

Class Leader Bio(s): Three close friends got together to form Battle Axes – each having their own specialty to invest. Keith Oliver and the staff at Battle Axes have spent a majority of their lives in the community. Keith Oliver is a retired PE coach and started the archery program in Okaloosa County Schools. He led many teams to state and national championships. All staff at Battle Axes are trained in each area of this facility.

Notes: This one-time tour will meet on Monday, September 22, 3:00 to 5:00 at: Battle Axes 201 Lovejoy Road Fort Walton Beach

Course Description: Chef Lasheeda will show you how to make this delicate pastry dough used in many pastries. Each guest will have the opportunity to taste a delicious cream puff that’s filled with pastry cream and topped with craquelin. This one-time cooking class will meet on Tuesday, September 23, 10:00 to 11:30.

Class Leader Bio(s): Chef Lasheeda Perry is known as the Queen of Flavor. She is a pastry chef by profession and a dessert queen by heart. She has worked as a pastry chef at various Four Seasons throughout the country. She appeared on the Food Network, where she Beat Bobby Flay. She has been featured in a number of publications, including the LA Times, The Atlanta Tribune, Food Network Magazine, and the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Notes: This one-time cooking class will meet on Tuesday, September 23, 10:00 to 11:30 at: Queen of Flavor Unit 119-B Racetrack Rd NW Fort Walton Beach, FL

Course Description: This one-time tour will be a cultural and environmental experience. Veterans Park includes 1700 ft. of ADA accessible paved sidewalks and wooden boardwalks along the Choctawhatchee Bay coastline. Monuments of women who have served and made significant contributions in the U.S. Military are arranged along a picturesque trail of our native wildlife and vegetation’s natural beauty. This one-time tour will meet on Wednesday, September 24, 10:00 to 12:00 at Veterans Park on Okaloosa Island, 1300 Miracle Strip Pkwy S.E. in Fort Walton Beach.

Class Leader Bio(s): County Commissioner Carolyn Ketchel has been recognized many times for her illustrious and altruistic contributions to our community. Carolyn led the idea for the park by advocating for the preservation of its natural beauty while simultaneously giving recognition to the women who have served the United States in combat.

Notes: This one- time tour will meet on Wednesday, September 24, 10:00 to 12:00 at Veterans Park on Okaloosa Island, 1300 Miracle Strip Pkwy S.E.in Fort Walton Beach. Park on the northeast corner of the Emerald Coast Conference Center.

Course Description: Fused glass creations are beautiful and easy to create. This is not stained glass or blown glass but is known as kiln formed glass. During the 2-hour tour we will make 2 projects with sheet glass, noodles, stringers and dots of glass. We will fire your projects within 2 weeks following the tour date. The art glass we are using is handmade, very unique and beautiful. It is very expensive glass, and we fire the pieces in the kiln for up to two firings that take almost 24 hours each. You will be amazed at what you create! A $30 fee will be collected on September 25 to cover materials and firing. We will meet on September 25 from 1:00 to 3:00.

Class Leader Bio(s): Anita Vasquez and Rosanne Painter Maas are lifelong crafters and love making things out of glass. You can see pictures at our website for Paradise Glassworks at paradiseglassworks.com.

Notes: A $30 fee will be collected to cover materials and firing. We will meet on September 25 from 1:00 to 3:00 at: Paradise Glassworks 2 David Street, Unit E Fort Walton Beach. Students need to wear close-toed shoes in the studio. Eyeglasses are required in the studio which we provide or you may use your own.

Course Description: At the Destin History and Fishing Museum, Destin’s history is preserved by stimulating interest in and understanding of the village of Destin, its history, and its fishing and tourism industries, through experiences that educate and inspire. The museum features the history of the early pioneers from the 1830s and the history of the fishing industry from seine boats to the boats seen on Destin Harbor today. This one-time tour will be on Friday, September 26, 10:00-12:00.

Class Leader Bio(s): Vivienne Williams grew up in Shalimar, FL and received both of her degrees from UWF (Bachelor’s in History and Master’s in Public History). She has experience as an historic interpreter at the UWF Historic Trust. After working two Public Program Internships at the Mystic Seaport Museum, she became the director at the Destin History and Fishing Museum. She has served in that position for four years and loves it.

Notes: This one-time tour will meet on Friday, September 26, 10:00-12:00 at: Destin History and Fishing Museum 108 Stahlman Avenue Destin, FL

Course Description: Each student will build and take home a cheese and charcuterie board with ingredients sourced and provided by The Board Chef. You will taste and cut a minimum of 8 cheeses and 3 charcuterie items, learn how to make salami roses, and have an opportunity to play with added accoutrements such as dried fruits, olives and sweetie peppers. This tour will meet on Monday, September 29 at 10:00 and last between 1.5 to 2 hours. A fee of $25 will be collected at the door to cover ingredient costs.

Class Leader Bio(s): Annmarie has been in the food industry since her first job at the age of 14 in a Southern California pie shop. Since then, she has worked on every side of this amazing industry, not only as a brands manager for a national broad liner as a center of the plate specialist, but also as a successful entrepreneur. She took a leap during Covid, took out every tool, called on every business relationship she had, made a plan, moved to Fort Walton Beach and started The Board Chef.

Notes: This one-day tour will meet on Monday September 29 from 10:00 to 11:30 or 12:00 at 322 Harbor Place SW, Fort Walton Beach. This is Annmarie’s residence. There is plenty of street parking available. A fee of $25 will be collected at the door to cover the cost of the ingredients.

Course Description: This tour will show the operations of the 911 Center. It is the primary answering point for all of Okaloosa County for sheriff, fire, and medical rescues. This tour is on Wednesday, October 1, at 10:00.

Class Leader Bio(s): Capt. Leslihan Suhi-Moore is an 18-year veteran with the sheriff’s department. Prior to leading the 911 Center, she worked in criminal investigations and was a patrol officer.

Notes: This one-time tour will meet on Wednesday, October 1, 10:00-12:00 at: 911 Center (located on the Northwest Florida State College Campus) 100 E. College Blvd, Niceville, FL. The building is located next to the Raider Arena.

Course Description: This one-day tour will be a leisurely walk through the Fort Walton Beach Veterans Park Rookery to observe and identify local bird life. Our guide is an experienced member of the local Audubon Society. The rookery is a beautiful 1.5 acre park and the home of heron and many other bird species. The Audubon Society has identified over 240 species of birds that migrate through our area. The rookery is on the migratory path of the Monarch butterfly. Come enjoy nature on this educational walk through the park at 1300 Miracle Strip Parkway SE, FWB. This tour is Friday, October 3, 9:30 to 10:30.

Class Leader Bio(s): Our guide, Jim Anderton, is a member of the Audubon Society. He has led many bird walks in the rookery and other local locations. Jim is highly experienced at locating and identifying birds as well as identifying them by sounds.

Notes: This one-time tour will meet Friday, October 3, from 9:30 to 11:30, at the NE corner of the Fort Walton Beach Conference Center parking lot, 1300 Miracle Strip Parkway SE, Fort Walton Beach. Closed-toe shoes and binoculars are recommended. Park and meet in the northeastern corner of the lot.