Beach University, a Sarasota County-run environmental education program that is free and open to the public, will start welcoming students again in March. The hour-long outdoor sessions feature hands-on curriculum related to the coastal environment and how best to care for its ecology. This year's classes cover sharks, habitat restoration, shells, manatees, invasive vegetation and how best to preserve our beaches. Classes will take place each Thursday and Saturday in March, beginning March 5, from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at Siesta Beach's main pavilion. No registration is required, but seating is limited and attendees are encouraged to bring their own chair. For more information, call (941) 861-5000 or visit scgov.net.