[Floridastateparks] October 2011 Enewsletter - Florida State Parks
Parks Newsletter
Parks.Newsletter at dep.state.fl.us
Mon Oct 3 09:23:34 EDT 2011
[cid:image017.jpg at 01CC81A2.EA1A77F0]
October 3, 2011 – Follow us on Twitter and Facebook @FLStateParks
www.FloridaStateParks.org/resources/enewsletter/<http://www.FloridaStateParks.org/resources/enewsletter/>
[cid:image018.jpg at 01CC81A2.EA1A77F0]The Wakulla Station, Tallahassee-St. Marks Historic Railroad State Trail
Take to the trails for Greenways & Trails Month
~ Whether hiking, bicycling, paddling or riding a horse, October is the perfect time to enjoy Florida’s trails. ~
Governor Rick Scott has proclaimed<http://www.dep.state.fl.us/secretary/news/2011/09/files/gwt_month.pdf> October as Florida Greenways and Trails Month. The celebration begins on Thursday, Oct. 6 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the completion of a major improvement project for the Tallahassee- St. Marks Historic Railroad State Trail. Designated as a National Recreation Trail, this 16-mile multi-use trail was Florida’s first, paved rail-trail.
No matter where you live or play, there are many opportunities to enjoy Florida’s scenic beauty from a trail. If you prefer hiking, bicycling, horseback riding or paddling a canoe or kayak, there are trails just for you or multi-use trails to share.
Our suggestions for events and family fun:
Hiking
· Walk the Beach<http://floridastateparks.org/thingstodo/events.cfm?sortpark=&viewevent=7368#7368> with a ranger at Little Talbot Island State Park on Sun., Oct. 9 at 2 p.m.
· A Road Back in Time<http://floridastateparks.org/thingstodo/events.cfm?sortpark=&viewevent=7266#7266> – living historians at Dade Battlefield Historic State Park tell of the hardships and heartaches of frontier on the old Fort King Road on Fri., & Sat, Oct. 21 & 22 from 6:30 to 10 p.m.
· Wonders of Wekiwa<http://floridastateparks.org/thingstodo/events.cfm?sortpark=&viewevent=7376#7376> at Wekiwa Springs State Park on Sat., Oct. 22 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., guided walks, kayaking, photography, birding and more.
Bicycling
· Fat Tire Festival<http://www.suwanneebike.org/ftf.htm> in White Springs (Thurs., Oct 20-Sun., Oct 23). While in the area, be sure to try the 8-mile Foster’s Hammock Loop Trail (single track) at Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park<http://floridastateparks.org/stephenfoster>.
· Low Tide Bike Ride<http://floridastateparks.org/thingstodo/events.cfm?sortpark=&viewevent=6471#6471> at Anastasia – Sat., Oct 22 at 10 a.m. Bring your own bike or rent one of ours.
· Cross Florida Greenway Ride of the Living Dead Bike Tour on Sat., Oct. 29. Register at Active.com<http://www.active.com/mountain-biking/dunnellon-fl/omba-ride-of-the-living-dead-2011>.
Equestrian
· Rent a horse at Silver River State Park<http://www.floridastateparks.org/silverriver> for a trail ride. You can bring your own mount, too.
· 19th Annual Miracle Trail Ride<http://www.GOCMN.org> at Rock Springs Run State Reserve<http://floridastateparks.org/thingstodo/events.cfm?sortpark=&viewevent=7390#7390> on Sun., Oct. 16, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Raise money for Children’s Miracle Network and ride your own horse for a 10-mile trail ride. $50 donation requested to cover meals and T-shirt.
Paddling
· Fri., Oct 7 – Moonlight Paddle<http://floridastateparks.org/thingstodo/events.cfm?sortpark=&viewevent=7010#7010> at Manatee Springs State Park in Chiefland. Bring your own canoe or rent one from the outfitter. Call 352.493.6072 for reservations and equipment.
· There are several opportunities to paddle along the Hidden Coast<http://hiddencoast.net/> in October. Several weekend adventures are available.)
· Join American Canoe Adventures<http://aca1.com/> in White Springs for the 10th Annual Suwannee River Challenge, Sat. & Sun., Oct. 15 & 16. It’s a 100-mile race full of adventure.
Find more Greenways & Trails events in their newsletter<http://www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/newsletter/enewsletter/Winter2011.html>.
[cid:image019.jpg at 01CC81A2.EA1A77F0]
A volunteer helps with a field trip at Savannas Preserve State Park.
Volunteer Opportunities are plentiful in October
~Make a Difference Day is Saturday, Oct. 22. ~
Now that the weather is cooling off a bit, it’s a wonderful time to be outside and volunteering is a way to help, too.
Saturday, Oct. 22 is Make a Difference Day, but most state parks can use your help at anytime. Sometimes the job is as simple (and demanding) as picking up litter, but sometimes it’s as complicated as building a park bench. Each park has different jobs available. If you would like to lend a hand, just ask at any ranger station.
In October:
· Wed., & Thurs, Oct. 12 & 13, Great Exotic Bamboo Plant Removal<http://www.eco-volunteerusa.org/projects> project at Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park, 10 a.m.
· Adventure Day-Volunteer Recruitment Fair<http://floridastateparks.org/thingstodo/events.cfm?sortpark=&viewevent=7364#7364> at Rainbow Springs State Park, 2-6:30 p.m.
· Sat., Oct. 15, Road and Sink Hole Clean Up<http://www.eco-volunteerusa.org/projects>, Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park, 10 a.m.
· Sat., Oct. 22, International Coastal Cleanup<http://www.eco-volunteerusa.org/projects> at Washington Oaks Gardens State Park, 8:30 a.m. There is also a garden clean-up<http://floridastateparks.org/thingstodo/events.cfm?sortpark=&viewevent=7364#7364> project, 9 a.m.
· Sat., Oct. 22, Great State Road 267 Clean-up<http://www.eco-volunteerusa.org/projects> at Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park, 9 a.m.
Find more opportunities on the events<http://floridastateparks.org/thingstodo/events.cfm> page for state parks or at Eco-Volunteer USA<http://www.eco-volunteerusa.org/projects>.
[cid:image020.jpg at 01CC81A2.EA1A77F0]
Jason DePue with his award and family at the Cabinet meeting.
Resource Manager of the Year Awards
~ Governor Rick Scott and the Cabinet recognized two Resource Managers of the Year from DEP on Tuesday, Sept. 20. ~
Congratulations to Lee Edmiston and Jason DePue, both were recently presented the Jim Stevenson Resource Manager of the Year Award by Governor Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet.
For more than 18 years, Lee Edmiston has worked tirelessly to improve the scientific understanding of the Apalachicola River and Bay system as the research coordinator at the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve. Because of his extensive knowledge of coastal ecosystems, Lee was appointed as the state’s Natural Resources Damage Assessment Trustee for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Lee has distinguished himself through tireless work and self sacrifice to protect Florida’s coastal resources.
Jason DePue is the lead biologist for District Three (Orlando area) of the Florida Park Service. Jason’s work ethic, experience and resourcefulness give him the ability to translate his resource management knowledge into action. Jason has actively assisted in achieving the resource management objectives of District Three parks and has been a great asset to prescribed fire, exotic plant, listed species and habitat restoration projects. Jason enthusiastically shares his knowledge of resource management and willingly answers questions from park staff and visitors. His dedication to the Florida Park Service ensures that Florida and its visitors will have invaluable natural and recreational benefits that will endure far into the future.
More Family Fun in October and November 2011
· Sept. 15-Oct. 15 is Hispanic Heritage Month<http://floridahispanicheritage.com/>.
· October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month<https://www.disability.gov/viewResource?id=14210691>.
· Sat., Oct. 1, Mangrove Day, mangrove tree planting at John U. Lloyd Beach State Park<http://www.floridastateparks.org/lloydbeach> by students from South Plantation High School
· Thurs., Oct. 6 is Read for the Record<http://www.jstart.org/site/PageServer?pagename=rftr_homepage> day. The book is “Llama Llama Red Pajama” by Anna Dewdney.
· Saturday, Oct. 8, Foster’s Hammock Loop Trail grand opening<http://floridastateparks.org/stephenfoster/events.cfm?viewevent=7420#7420> at Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park, 10 a.m.
· Wed., Oct. 12, Full Moon Beach Hike<http://floridastateparks.org/gamblerogers/events.cfm?viewevent=7393#7393> at Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area at Flagler Beach, 6:45 p.m.
· Saturday, Oct. 22, Make a Difference Day<http://www.usaweekend.com/section/MDDAY>. Volunteer at any state park.
· Friday, Nov. 11 is free admission to Florida State Parks for everyone, in honor of Veterans 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>
[cid:image021.jpg at 01CC81A2.EA1A77F0]<http://www.dep.state.fl.us/>
Follow FLStateParks
[cid:image011.png at 01CC81A2.E93C25E0]<http://twitter.com/flstatepar>[cid:image012.png at 01CC81A2.E93C25E0]<http://www.facebook.com/pages/Florida-State-Parks/768566755>
[cid:image022.jpg at 01CC81A2.EA1A77F0]<http://www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt>
[cid:image023.jpg at 01CC81A2.EA1A77F0]<http://www.floridastateparks.org/>
Please take a few minutes to share your comments on the service you received from the department by clicking on this link DEP Customer Survey<http://survey.dep.state.fl.us/?refemail=Parks.Newsletter@dep.state.fl.us>.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.dep.state.fl.us/pipermail/floridastateparks/attachments/20111003/bdd2cedb/attachment.htm
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image011.png
Type: image/png
Size: 483 bytes
Desc: image011.png
Url : http://lists.dep.state.fl.us/pipermail/floridastateparks/attachments/20111003/bdd2cedb/image011.png
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image012.png
Type: image/png
Size: 935 bytes
Desc: image012.png
Url : http://lists.dep.state.fl.us/pipermail/floridastateparks/attachments/20111003/bdd2cedb/image012.png
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image017.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 16316 bytes
Desc: image017.jpg
Url : http://lists.dep.state.fl.us/pipermail/floridastateparks/attachments/20111003/bdd2cedb/image017.jpg
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image018.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 9838 bytes
Desc: image018.jpg
Url : http://lists.dep.state.fl.us/pipermail/floridastateparks/attachments/20111003/bdd2cedb/image018.jpg
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image019.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 10412 bytes
Desc: image019.jpg
Url : http://lists.dep.state.fl.us/pipermail/floridastateparks/attachments/20111003/bdd2cedb/image019.jpg
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image020.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 10337 bytes
Desc: image020.jpg
Url : http://lists.dep.state.fl.us/pipermail/floridastateparks/attachments/20111003/bdd2cedb/image020.jpg
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image021.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 3644 bytes
Desc: image021.jpg
Url : http://lists.dep.state.fl.us/pipermail/floridastateparks/attachments/20111003/bdd2cedb/image021.jpg
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image022.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 3690 bytes
Desc: image022.jpg
Url : http://lists.dep.state.fl.us/pipermail/floridastateparks/attachments/20111003/bdd2cedb/image022.jpg
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image023.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 3738 bytes
Desc: image023.jpg
Url : http://lists.dep.state.fl.us/pipermail/floridastateparks/attachments/20111003/bdd2cedb/image023.jpg
More information about the Floridastateparks
mailing list