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, October 6 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, October 6, 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: The Magnolia Grill is located in downtown Fort Walton Beach and is equal parts museum and restaurant. The home was ordered from a 1910 Sears Catalog. It is filled with pieces of local and military history. Tom and Peggy Rice, the owners, have deep family roots. Tom Rice will lead you through the entire restaurant explaining the significance of many items. He will also walk you around the outside to explain unique construction. This tour will meet Wednesday, October 8th from 9:30-11:00.

Class Leader Bio(s): Tom Rice is not only a restaurant owner, but a pillar of the Fort Walton Beach community having won many awards for his civic contributions. To name just a few, he received the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award by establishing the Fisher House of the Emerald Coast for veterans and their families and serves on the Board of Directors of Veterans Florida raising funds to construct the Veterans Tribute Tower at Beal Memorial Cemetery.

Notes: This one-day tour of the Magnolia Grill located at 157 Brooks Street SE, Fort Walton Beach, will meet 9:30-11:00 on Wednesday, October 8. Following the tour, you are invited and encouraged to stay for lunch (at your expense) to meet other tour attendees and enjoy the vast and varied menu.

Course Description: The Emerald Coast Science Center’s mission is to inspire and grow a scientifically engaged community. The indoor and outdoor exhibits include robotics, electricity, color, light, sound, space, reptiles, and our ecosystem, to name just a few. The sciPad exhibit, embodies a learning environment where every person is up, moving, and collaborating. The center is a nonprofit that strives to inspire and grow a scientifically engaged community. This one-time class will meet on Thursday, October 9, 10:30 to 12:30.

Class Leader Bio(s): Diane Fraser is the Executive Director of the Emerald Coast Science Center. Diane solicits community involvement and support to keep the Science Center and her passion for all things science alive and growing.

Notes: This one-time tour will meet on Thursday, October 9, 10:30 to 12:30 at Emerald Coast Science Center 31 SW Memorial Parkway Fort Walton Beach

Course Description: Mary Esther Community Garden encourages residents to grow organic produce, and employs the practices of composting, collecting rainwater, recycling and the use of environmentally safe pest management. They give back to the community by inviting residents, schools, community centers, and food banks to manage a garden plot for their needs. Ten garden plots are designated for charity donations. Come see this exciting work and learn how you can join in. This one-time tour will meet on October 10, 9:00 to 10:00, at the Mary Esther Community Garden in Springdale Park on Mary Esther Drive.

Class Leader Bio(s): Ruth Sykes is the Community Garden Coordinator. Ruth has managed the Community Garden since 2013 and, with the help of Master Gardeners, educates the member gardeners about the growing process and best practices for plant production. The Community Garden members have harvested and donated over 2000 pounds of vegetables to local charities and food banks.

Notes: This one-time tour will meet on October 10, 9:00 to 10:00, at the Mary Esther Community Garden in Springdale Park on Mary Esther Drive (not ME Cutoff) next to the water tower. Ample parking is available Participants are encouraged to wear gardening clothing.

Course Description: This one-time class will meet on Tuesday, October 14 at UWF. Jessica Valek, Natural Resources Manager, will cover general sea turtle information and the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Natural Resources Team’s Sea Turtle Program.

Class Leader Bio(s): In March of 2021, Jessica Valek became the Natural Resources Manager for the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Natural Resources Team where her main focus is running the County’s Sea Turtle Conservation and Nesting Program. She also manages marine debris removal efforts and assists the team with lionfish removal, research and restoration projects, as well as education and outreach efforts.

Notes: This one-time class will meet on Tuesday, October 14 at 10:15 at UWF.

Course Description: This tour of Fort Walton Beach Fire Station #6 is your opportunity to learn how the missions to provide protection of life, property and the environment from the effects of fires, medical emergencies and hazards is accomplished through training, highly technical equipment and the dedicated men and women who serve as firefighters. Fire fighters are trained paramedics, often arriving on the scene before the EMS to instantly begin medical attention to save lives. Following this tour, you will depart with a new appreciation and understanding of our local fire station and firefighters. This tour will meet on Wednesday, October 15, 10:30 to 12:30.

Class Leader Bio(s): Fort Walton Beach Fire Chief Jeremy Morgan began his career with the department over 22 years ago. He oversees two fire stations and approximately 40 personnel. During his career, he served in Okaloosa County’s Special Operations Unit which included rope-based rescue and hazmat response teams. Chief Morgan has been a paramedic for 20 years and has earned numerous state certifications and multiple fire science degrees.

Notes: This one-time tour will meet on Wednesday, October 15, 10:30 to 12:30, at: FWB Fire Station #6 5 Hollywood Boulevard Fort Walton Beach Park in the Fort Walton Beach Police Station parking lot which is adjacent to the Fire Station. Use the parking lot walkway, walk to the west and enter through the door into the Fire Station receiving area.

Course Description: This exclusive tour with the staff of NBSTCC will begin with Sweet Pea, the resident green sea turtle and continue in the Shanna Litterist Education portion of the center to meet other aquatic marine species, terrestrial and aquatic reptiles, and learn more about the unique natural resources of the Florida panhandle. This one-time tour will meet on Wednesday, October 22, 9:00 to 11:00.

Class Leader Bio(s): Cristen Weaver is the Outreach Coordinator for NBSTCC. Darby is the Volunteer Support Team member who will conduct the tour.

Notes: This one-time tour will meet on Wednesday, October 22, 9:00 to 11:00. Participants are to arrive no later than 8:30 at: Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center 8740 Gulf Blvd Navarre, FL

Course Description: This one-time class will meet on October 23rd at UWF. Ashley Bailey from the Crime Prevention Unit will discuss how AI is currently being used in frauds and scams and ways to prevent being a victim.

Class Leader Bio(s): Ashley Bailey is the Crime Prevention Manager with the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office. She has been working for the Sheriff’s Office for over 20 years educating citizens, business owners, and tourists in Okaloosa County. In addition, she started and continues to manage numerous programs and services for residents.

Notes: This one-time class will meet on Thursday, October 23, at 1:00 at UWF.