The June Florida State Parks Monthly Newsletter

A Monthly Newsletter of Florida State Parks  |  #FLStateParks

June is National Camping Month! Florida's state park system is one of the largest in the country, with 174 parks, trails and historic sites spanning nearly 800,000 acres and 100 miles of sandy white beach offering year-around outdoor activities for all ages. June is National Camping Month and there is no better way to honor the great outdoors than pitching a tent, telling stories around the campfire under the starlight and waking up to a beautiful Florida sunrise.  If you and your family are looking for a great place to enjoy a family vacation or to camp for the weekend, make sure to visit ReserveAmerica and use the "camping this weekend" feature to see what's available. From RV camping to traditional tent camping, our campgrounds, recreation opportunities and natural beauty will not disappoint. Pack up your tent and your sleeping bag, and head over to one (or all) of your favorite camping spots at Florida State Parks.

This month at State Parks, Trails and Historic Sites

National Get Outdoors Day June 11 is the 9th National Get Outdoors Day (GO Day). You are encouraged to discover healthy, active outdoor fun at sites across the nation. Florida’s state parks are the perfect place to visit during Great Outdoors Month to enjoy walking along miles of beaches, tubing rivers and swimming in cool freshwater springs. During the month of June, we encourage visitors and residents to get outdoors and enjoy all the recreational opportunities our parks have to offer, while gaining an appreciation for nature.  National Fishing and Boating Week National Fishing and Boating Week is a national celebration that highlights the importance of recreational boating and fishing. This year, the event will take placeJune 4-12. Boating and fishing are fun, stress-relieving activities that you can enjoy with your family and friends anytime. Florida's state parks and trails have a wide selection of locations for fishing. For free fishing days in Florida, click here.  Don't forget to share your moments with us by tagging us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with #FLStateParks! National Trails Day isJune 4th More than 1,660 miles of trails call Florida State Parks and Trails their home, and the Florida Park Service wants you to come and explore and take full use of each mile.  Dedicated by the American Hiking Society, National Trails Day is the nation’s largest celebration of trails. On June 4, people from all across the nation will take to the trails through hiking, biking, horseback riding, paddling and more. Many Florida State Parks have hiking trails of their own, but you can find a full list of those activities here.

Events in June

Women's Fishing Clinic Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park, St. George Island Saturday, June 4, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. This one-day, shore based event is presented by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Designed to educate and introduce women to saltwater fishing and how to be responsible, ethical stewards of Florida's marine resources. You must pre-register by contacting Heather Sneed at (850) 487-0554 or Heather.Sneed@MyFWC.com. This is a catch and release only event. Participants must be at least 18 years of age and have a valid recreational saltwater fishing license unless exempt.   >> View Event   Sea Turtle Walk and Talk John D. MacArthur Beach State Park, North Palm Beach Friday, June 10, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Each June and July the park offers evening turtle walks so that visitors can have a chance at viewing loggerhead sea turtles laying their eggs. This ancient ritual is a sight not to be missed! Turtle Walks fill up quickly so register early on-line through www.macarthurbeach.org. Price is $10 per ticket, non-refundable unless the event is cancelled by park staff. Registration launches on May 31 at 9 a.m. Walk schedule starts on June 6 and runs through July 29 (M, W & F with the exception of July 4).   >> View Event   Wildlife Ranger Camp Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, Homosassa Monday, June 13 - Friday, June 17, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Wildlife Ranger Camp program is held at Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. Camp topics include learning about Florida's wildlife, preserving natural resources and wildlife habitats. Indoor and outdoor activities are included. The program is limited to 20 campers. The June Wildlife Ranger Camp is for children ages 8 and 9 years old. The camp hours are from 9:00 am until 2:00 pm each day.   >> View Event   River Rhythms Silver Springs State Park, Ocala Friday, June 24, 4:00 p.m. Join us from 4:00 p.m. to sundown on the 4th Friday of every month, for an evening full of music and entertainment featuring a live drum circle. Please bring your own percussion instruments, as there will be a minimal amount of drums provided. Also, we recommend that you bring a blanket or a chair. Singing and dancing are highly encouraged! An audience is always needed so feel free to watch and listen. For more information about the hosts of this event, please visit their website.   >> View Event   Nature Trail Walk Curry Hammock State Park, Marathon Tuesday, June 28, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Join a Ranger for a one-hour guided walk along our moderately difficult, 1.5-mile hiking trail. Enjoy a stroll through our rock-land hammock and take in the flora and fauna of the Florida Keys. Along the way, you will gain an appreciation for the difficulties plants and animals face in the sub-tropical ecosystem. Bug spray, drinking water and closed-toed shoes or hiking boots are recommended. The narrow trail limits the walk to twelve people, therefore reservations are recommended.   >> View Event

Other Important News

Mobile App for Smartphones Plan your state park adventures using the new Pocket Ranger® app for your smartphone. The FREE Florida State Parks Pocket Ranger® mobile app is available now on iTunes, Android Market and PocketRanger.com. Get Your Annual Pass Today Shop our online store at Shop.FloridaStateParks.org for annual passes, passports, shirts, water bottles, backpacks and more. Gift Cards Are Now Available Give the gift of sleeping under the stars in Florida State Parks! Florida State Parks offers Gift Cards which can be used to make reservations for camping and cabins at participating Florida State Parks. The Real Florida Passport The Real Florida Passport is your perfect companion while visiting Florida State Parks! The Pioneer Edition contains 56 pages of fun facts, space to make notes and so much more.Order your Passport today and visit a park near you! Limited Edition FSP Tumbler Tumblers keep your drinks hot or cold on the go, and with the Florida State Parks Limited Edition design you can take a little of your favorite state parks wherever your adventure leads. What's Available This Weekend? Are you looking for a cool place to camp this weekend? VisitReserveAmerica.com and click on our new camping this weekend feature to find state park campgrounds with open campsites for the weekend!

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