C U R R E N T S
Happenings: 2009 Month by Month: 12 Simple Ways to Go Green Florida State Parks offer Green Vacation Tips Four Florida Parks Make Top 100 List for ‘08 Swiftmud has Plans for Conner Preserve
Tampa Bay Watch Seeks Volunteers
Seven GPS Paddling Trails Now Open
NEW RELEASE!
Click Here for more info and to Order Your Copy Now!
NY Paddlers Learn The Hard Way:
Three young New Yorkers are alive to tell about their helicopter-supported rescue, March 30 on Long Island Sound after their canoe overturned. But they'll also have to admit to stupidity and answer summonses for failing to wear life jackets. According to Newsday the three survived, despite 42-degree weather, by holding onto the sides of a kayak that had gone out paddling with them. Police said none of the four paddlers had Personal Flotation Devices. Sometimes dumb luck works, but PFDs save lives!
Florida...
For the Kids!
Afternoon on a Florida River - By Bill Dudley
Many thanks to Bill Dudley for sharing his tranquil water wanderings!
Want more? Visit Bill at www.BillDudley.com
in the sunshine state: |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
"Join Our Outreach Team! Crane Point (Marathon Key)
Crane Point is located at MM 50, bayside across from the Kmart plaza. Please call (305) 743-3900 for more information. Price is $10 and $5 for members of Crane Point.Join as a new member and admission is free!
According to Seth Rosenberg, President of Reserve America, the selections are based on testimonials and feedback provided by park rangers and campers. Nearly 4,000 U.S. parks were reviewed with the final 100 selections determined by specific family-friendly criteria ranging from educational programs and visitor centers to camping amenities and overall beauty and scenery. The sixth annual list includes a wide variety of ratings covering everything from best beaches to scenic views. Oscar Scherer State Park was again a favorite, landing in both the Top 50 Hiking Trails and Kid Friendly Park categories. St. Joseph Peninsula State Park in Port St. Joe placed in three categories—bird watching, fishing and beaches. In all categories, 20 Sunshine State facilities made it to this year’s list. Fort Clinch State Park-Fernandina Beach, FL Oscar Scherer State Park-Osprey, FL St. Augustine Beach KOA-St. Augustine, FL St. George Island State Park-St. George Island, FL Top 25 Amazing Spots John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park-Key Largo, FL Lake Kissimmee State Park-Lake Wales, FL Top 25 Biking Trails Oleta River State Park-North Miami, FL Myakka River State Park-Sarasota, FL St. Joseph Peninsula State Park-Port St. Joe, FL Top 25 Canoeing Spots Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park-Niceville, FL Top 25 Educational & Historical Facilities Highlands Hammock State Park-Sebring, FL Top 50 Fishing Spots John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park-Key Largo, FL Okeechobee KOA-Okeechobee, FL St. Joseph Peninsula State Park-Port St. Joe, FL Top 50 Hiking Trails Myakka River State Park-Sarasota, FL Oscar Scherer State Park-Osprey, FL Topsail Hill Preserve State Park-Santa Rosa, FL Top 25 Kid-Friendly Parks Oscar Scherer State Park-Osprey, FL Top 25 Park Beaches Anastasia State Park-St. Augustine, FL Little Talbot Island State Park-Jacksonville, FL St. Joseph Peninsula State Park-Port St. Joe, FL Sugarloaf Key/Key West KOA-Sugarloaf Key, FL Top 50 Scenic Views Blue Spring State Park-Orange City, FL Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park-Okeechobee, FL Top 25 Tours & Events Myakka River State Park-Sarasota, FL Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park-White Springs, FL Unique Cabins Silver River State Park-Ocala, FL Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park-White Springs, FL Seven GPS Paddling Trails Now Open The two-year effort to make the Ten Thousand Islands more accessible includes a system of seven canoe and kayak trails with GPS maps, created and verified by volunteer paddlers. Eventually the Blueway will connect the northern coastline of Collier County to Bonita Springs, joining with the Great Calusa and the Paradise Coast Blueways. When complete the trail system will be part of the Florida Saltwater Circumnavigation Trail, encircling the entire Florida peninsula from Jacksonville around to the Panhandle in the Gulf of Mexico. Maps and information about the Paradise Coast Blueway are available at: www.paradisecoastblueway.com. Information about the Paradise Coast Paddlers Club is available at their website: www.paradisecoastpaddlers.com Swiftmud has Plans for Conner Preserve The Southwest Florida Water Management District (Swiftmud) has approved a list of recreational uses for Conner Preserve, located off State Road 52, east of U.S. 41. Over the next two to three months, crews are expected to finish preparing and marking hiking, bicycling, and horseback trails as well as camping areas. The district acquired the 2,980-acre preserve five years ago to protect natural systems and water quality and to provide flood protection and opportunities for nature-friendly recreation. Long Name, Good Kayaking The Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve (GTM Research Reserve), just south of Jacksonville has been selected "Best place to canoe or kayak" in the 2008 Folio Weekly Reader's "Best of Jax" poll.
"The Guana River provides not only breathtaking natural scenery, but is historically significant as well," said Mike Shirley, Reserve Manager. "Archeologists estimate human occupancy of this area dates back some 5,000 years and it is here that Ponce de Leon is believed to have first claimed Florida for Spain, making the river a truly educational and spectacular experience to canoe or kayak." The Reserve also offers hiking, biking, fishing, and bird watching, all of which are based around the reserve's rich variety of natural resources. Local outfitters offer canoe tours that vary in length and price, or visitors to the 64,000-acre coastal reserve can bring their own canoes and kayaks. For only two bucks, visitors can browse through the Environmental Education Center's exhibit hall, aquariums, nature store and research lab. For more information on local tours or kayak and canoe rentals, visit www.rippleeffectecotours.com or www.shadyoysterfishcamp.com American Trails names Florida as Best Trails State in the Nation! Florida has embraced the value of greenways and trails with an enthusiasm and level of quality that is a model for the nation”, said Bob Searns, Chairman of the Board of Directors for American Trails. “Exemplary programs like the Office of Greenways and Trails online trails database and regional trails forums have set a standard. Local and regional projects are delivering a first class infrastructure for residents and an example for tourists to take back home.” Following its legislative mandate, the Office of Greenways & Trails (OGT) has played a lead role in working to establish a statewide system of greenways and trails including master planning, legislation, funding, and program implementation. OGT has entered into many forms of partnerships to accomplish the planning, acquisition, development and management required to bring greenways and trails projects to reality. For all that OGT and its partners have achieved in furthering the establishment and expansion of the state’s trails network during the past two years, Florida has been honored as the inaugural recipient of this award. American Trails is the only national, nonprofit organization working on behalf of all trail interests. Since 1988, American Trails has made it a part of its mission to promote cooperation among user groups and pursue a national infrastructure of trails and greenways that serves a full range of activities.
Tell us about yourself and your event:
|
