September 9 “The Florida Trail and YOU.” Get inspired at our hiking season kickoff meeting! See some short videos–including a brief history of the Florida Trail. Learn about building it, supporting it, and hiking it. Hear about the Trail’s current status. Find out how to get hiking information. Honor our Chapter’s volunteers–past and present–and learn how you, too, can help. 7 p.m. at Woodcrest Office Park, 325 John Knox Rd., Bldg. F (first bldg. on the right). Look for Florida Trail signs on wooden door at east end of building. Free. Contact: Linda Patton 850-668-4334.
Sept 13 Saturday P/L Orientation Tour of Phipps Park Trail for Potential Maintainers. Would you like to be a Trail Master right in Tallahassee? We’ll visit the various trail sections by car and foot so you can see whether you’d like to be responsible for a mile (or more) of the seven-plus miles of our trail in the park. If you’re interested, but can’t make it on this date, contact me to set up another time. Linda Patton 850-668-4334.
Sept 19 Friday P/L Phipps Park Trail Care Hike. Easy late-morning lopping/clipping along a short section of trail. Have fun with your fellow hikers. Optional picnic lunch afterward at the Oak Hammock. Linda Patton 850-668-4334.
Sept 20 Saturday P/M Trail Care Hike From US 319 To FR 321. This will be a fun and exciting time bonding with fellow hikers as we improve this trail by clearing brush, repainting blazes, and mowing grass. Participants will need to dress for the weather, bring a lunch, water, and bug spray. The hike will be approximately 4 miles. Richard Graham, 850-878-3616 r_graham@lycos.com
Sept 25 Thursday P/L Phipps Park Trail Care Hike. Easy late-morning lopping/clipping along a short section of trail. Have fun with your fellow hikers. Optional picnic lunch afterward at the Oak Hammock. Linda Patton 850-668-4334.
Sept 27 Saturday M/M National Public Lands Day — Aucilla Wildlife Management Area Cleanup. The Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Suwannee River Water Management District have invited FTA, along with the Apalachee Canoe & Kayak Club, to participate in the cleanup along the Aucilla River and Sinks. Camping will be available on the 26th at the Goose Pasture Group Camp for those who wish to camp. Adam Young from FWC’s Hunter Education Program will demonstrate the sport of archery and there may be opportunities for canoeing after the cleanup. Additional information: 1. Please bring an ingredient to throw in the stewpot for the group meal Friday night or a side dish or dessert to share. We will have a venison stew and a vegetarian option. This is the only meal provided. [See additional information below] You are responsible for your own breakfast and lunch on Saturday. 2. Please bring your own water bottle. We will have drinking water in coolers for refills. Please leave bottled water out of this event. 3. Bring your own canoe or kayak for the afternoon fun paddle on Saturday. Remember a life jacket and whistle. If you need a boat, please call Liz Sparks to reserve one. If you have extra boats to share, that would be welcome–please let Liz know. If you plan to attend and/or camp, contact Liz Sparks of FWC, 850-922-6160 or Barbara Donner, 850-514-4284.
Additional information:
From: Sparks, Liz
Sent: Friday, September 05, 2008 2:44 PM
Subject: Details for Aucilla NPL day Friday 9/26-Saturday 9/27
We are excited about the upcoming plans for the National Public Lands day event at Aucilla WMA Sept 26-27th. Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is partnering with the Suwannee River Water management District (SRWMD) for this second annual event to share our appreciation and support for our wonderful public lands.
This year will be a little different with addition of creating native plant plots at the public camping area to provide a sustainable food source for birds, butterflies, and other pollinators that are sadly losing critical habitat. We will also do a litter cleanup on Saturday and a paddling event after the work is done. We hope you can join us for the fun activities at the group camp Friday night including an archery range, an FWC K9 demonstration, group dinner, and storytelling around the fire. You can also learn about creating native habitat in your own backyard and how to identify and handle invasive plants at workshops offered by biologists.
We will begin activities after work Friday afternoon around 4:30 at the Goose Pasture SRWMD private group camp and should wrap things up Saturday around 2 p.m. See schedule below.
Directions to Goose Pasture: From Tallahassee take Tram Rd to the town of Wacissa, turn right at the light (south) and take SR 59 fourteen miles south to US 98. Turn left (east) onto US 98 traveling for about 8.5 miles and turn on the third road on the north side of US 98 (Powell Hammock Grade) after crossing the Aucilla River. Take this road north for about four miles to a graded limestone road, turn left, and follow the end of the road which ends at Goose Pasture campground. The gate will be open to the private group campground – follow the road just past the pump out station.
Please bring the following:
Sunscreen
Bug spray
Wear long sleeves and long pants
Sun hat
Swimsuit
Work gloves
Your own lunch on Saturday
Snacks
Please NO bottled drinking water! We will give away free water bottles (compliments of the Office of Greenways & Trails) and will have plenty of ice water for refills
Camping gear: tents, sleeping bag, flashlight
Folding chair
If you’d like to participate in a music jam bring your acoustic instruments for Friday night
Bring newspaper for mulching the plant plots if you can – non-glassy and non-colored only please
Friday, Sept 26th
4:30-6:00 Archery range
6:00-6:30- FWC K9 demonstration
6:30 – 7 How to identify and treat common invasive plants – Beau Willsey, biologist, SRWMD
7 – Group dinner
Storytelling around the campfire with Susan Anderson: Art, Games, and Stories of the Indians of the Southeast
Music?
Saturday, Sept 27th
8:00 group breakfast
8-8:30 Workshop - creating native plant habitat in your own backyard with Jeff Norcini UF/IFAS
9:00 – begin native plant installation and litter cleanup
11:30 meet back at group camp, lunch
12:30 Shuttle to Welaunee Landing for paddling trip
2:00 Return to Goose Pasture and depart
We would appreciate your help with the group meals! We will divide up the food as follows;
If your last name begins with A – G please bring a dessert to share for Friday night
If you last name begins with H - P please bring a gallon of ice tea, Gatorade, or lemonade to share
If your last name begins with Q - Z please bring something for breakfast Saturday morning: fruit, pastries, bagels and cream cheese, etc.
** Friday night group dinner will be compliments of FWC and SRWMD with venison stew, a vegetarian stew, and garlic bread.
Please bring a kayak or canoe for Saturday paddling after the work is done; we will do a short trip from Welaunee Landing to Goose Pasture. Please remember your life jacket and whistle. Our good friends at The Wilderness Way have offered to donate canoes and kayaks if needed. Please call Liz Sparks at 850-922-6160 for reservation of a boat.
Please be aware that flooding in this area on that weekend is a good possibility with the current hurricane forecast and we may have to cancel. Please visit the SRWMD website for a message about cancellation of the event SRWMD home page or call Liz Sparks at 850-922-6160.