[Floridastateparks] August 2011 E-Newsletter, Florida State Parks

Tue Aug 2 10:57:55 EDT 2011

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August 1, 2011 – Follow us on Twitter @FLStateParks

www.FloridaStateParks.org/enewsletter/<http://www.FloridaStateParks.org/enewsletter/>

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Cape Florida lighthouse at
Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park.

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Boca Grande Lighthouse at
Gasparilla Island State Park.

Sunday, August 7 is National Lighthouse Day
~ Lighthouses have guided mariners for thousands of years. ~

In Florida, 32 historic lighthouses remain along the state’s coastline.

Florida's first coastal navigational aid was a 1586 Spanish watchtower at St. Augustine in northeast Florida. The first true lighthouse was a 73-foot harbor light built there in 1824, although it fell into the sea in 1880. The current 165-foot tower was built in 1874. Six flights of stairs offer access to a spectacular view of the coastline and Anastasia State Park<http://www.floridastateparks.org/anastasia>, although the lighthouse is not part of the state park.

Four historic lighthouses can be found at state parks.

Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park<http://www.floridastateparks.org/capeflorida> is the home of a historic lighthouse built in 1825 and reconstructed in 1846, and is the oldest standing structure in Miami-Dade County in southeast Florida. Guided tours of the lighthouse and lighthouse keeper´s cottage are given twice daily, Thursdays through Mondays, at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. A climb of 109 steps is required to access this unique view of Key Biscayne.

The centerpiece of Gasparilla Island State Park<http://www.floridastateparks.org/gasparillaisland> is the restored Boca Grande Lighthouse built in 1890. The lighthouse is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, November through April. From May through July and September it is open Wednesday through Sunday. The lighthouse is closed during August. The Boca Grande Lighthouse Museum and Visitor Center houses exhibits about the lighthouse and southwest Florida.

Accessible only by private boat, Egmont Key<http://www.floridastateparks.org/egmontkey> is home to a lighthouse that has stood since 1858. The Egmont Key Lighthouse is 133 foot tall and can be seen for 22 miles. The light flashes every 15 seconds and a foghorn operates during poor visibility. Located at the mouth of Tampa Bay, the island serves as a wildlife refuge. The lighthouse is not open for tours.

Accessible by private boat or ferry, a picturesque 1887 lighthouse stands as a sentinel on the southern end of Anclote Key Preserve State Park<http://www.floridastateparks.org/anclotekey> just west of Tarpon Springs. Two ferry services leave from Tarpon Springs' historic Sponge Docks. The lighthouse is not open for tours.

To learn more about Florida’s lighthouse, visit the Florida Maritime Heritage Trail<http://www.flheritage.com/archaeology/underwater/maritime/lighthouses/lighthouses.cfm> website created by the Department of State’s Division of Historic Resources.

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Lighthouse at Egmont Key

Lighthouse at Anclote Key Preserve State Park

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View of the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail from Suwannee River State Park.

Paddle Florida plans 7-day, 123-mile trip on Suwannee River Wilderness Trail
~ Register now for a paddle adventure that will begin October 13 at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park and end at Manatee Springs State Park in Chiefland. ~
What better way to experience the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail than to paddle it? While you can drive from town to town to explore this quaint part of Florida, seeing it from the river is ideal for adventure paddlers.

Participants will gather on the first evening, Thursday, October 13, at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park before starting the 7-day, 123-mile paddle down the Suwannee River. The trip will begin with a 21-mile paddle featuring views of the steep limestone bluffs above the narrow riverbed of the Suwannee. Friday night will be spent camping at Suwannee River State Park after lunch at Holton Creek River Camp.

The next day will be the longest of the trip (25 miles) and will feature lunch at Advent Christian Village and camping at Lafayette Blue Spring State Park. The shortest leg of the trip will happen on Sunday, October 16, with a 13-mile paddle to Suwannee River Rendezvous Resort and Campground with a stop for lunch at Peacock Slough River Camp.

After paddling another 16 miles and lunch at Little River Springs, you’ll camp at Ivey Memorial Park in Branford on Monday, October 17. You’ll notice very distinct changes in the river and the riverbank on this leg of the trip. You’ll paddle another 21 miles the next day before camping at Gornto Springs in Dixie County. Wednesday will have you paddling 20 miles to make Fanning Springs State Park for the night. The trip will end the next day at Manatee Springs State Park.

For those who need more, there is an extension of this trip to Anderson Landing River Camp in the town of Suwannee.
Most meals are provided. Temperatures range from 60-80 during the daytime and 35-55 at night. The fire each night will provide light, heat, ambiance, trash disposal and olfactory delight. Be sure to bring cameras.

Some campgrounds require separate reservations. Shuttle service is available for vehicles. Get complete information and register at www.paddleflorida.org<http://www.paddleflorida.org>.

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Jackson C. enjoys a boat tour on Pepper Creek with his grandfather at  Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs State Park.

Summer Challenge for Children Continues through September
~ While parents start to think about back-to-school preparations, there is still time to enjoy nature. ~

From hiking on a nature trail and catching a fish to climbing an observation tower and watching the clouds, children find lots of fun and learn about nature in state parks.

Children are encouraged to participate in the Outdoor Challenge<http://floridastateparks.org/thingstodo/outdoorchallenge/> for Children at Florida’s state parks. Just print the checklist of outdoor activities and the entry form. Visit a Florida State Park with a book and a camera. Read from a book and complete at least five more activities on the checklist. Send the documents and photos to us via email or regular mail and earn a FREE one day park pass to return for more fun. The Outdoor Challenge extends through the end of September.

Don’t miss your opportunity to keep the children busy having fun and enjoying nature.

Family Fun in August and September 2011

·         Help us plant trees in Florida. Visit Odwalla’s Plant a Tree<http://www.odwalla.com/plantatree> webpage and vote for Florida. The code is FLPV11.

·         Saturday, August 13, Craft Rendezvous<http://www.floridastateparks.org/thingstodo/events.cfm?sortpark=&viewevent=7038#7038> at Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park, White Springs.

·         Sunday, August 14, Folk Music<http://www.floridastateparks.org/thingstodo/events.cfm?sortpark=&viewevent=7000#7000> concert at John D. MacArthur Beach State Park, North Palm Beach, 2 p.m.

·         Friday, August 26, Celestial Treasure Hunt<http://www.floridastateparks.org/thingstodo/events.cfm?sortpark=&viewevent=6925#6925> at Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park, Keystone Heights, 8:30 p.m.

·         September is Florida State Parks Literacy Month and Library Card Sign-Up Month.

·         Thursday, September 8, International Literacy Day.

·         Sunday, September 11, admission is waived to all state parks* for anyone who has a library card, a book checked out from a library or donates a new or gently used book.

·         Saturday, September 17, International Coastal Cleanup.

·         Saturday, September 24, National Public Lands Day.

*Excludes Skyway Fishing Pier State Park.

Special Events around Florida
·         Northwest Florida<http://www.floridastateparks.org/thingstodo/events-northwest.cfm>
·         Northeast Florida<http://www.floridastateparks.org/thingstodo/events-northeast.cfm>
·         Central Florida<http://www.floridastateparks.org/thingstodo/events-central.cfm>
·         Southwest Florida<http://www.floridastateparks.org/thingstodo/events-southwest.cfm>
·         Southeast Florida<http://www.floridastateparks.org/thingstodo/events-southeast.cfm>

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The Department of Environmental Protection values your feedback as a customer. DEP Secretary Herschel T. Vinyard Jr. is committed to continuously assessing and improving the level and quality of services provided to you. Please take a few minutes to comment on the quality of service you received. Simply click on this link to the DEP Customer Survey<http://survey.dep.state.fl.us/?refemail=Parks.Newsletter@dep.state.fl.us>. Thank you in advance for completing the survey.
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