Volunteer Events From: Florida Trail Association

Join the Florida Trail Association and the Choctawhatchee Chapter for a Volunteer Work Party in Nokuse Plantation!

The FTA Suncoast Chapter will be clearing and mowing trails in the Citrus Tract of the Withlacoochee State Forest south of Inverness, FL Oct 11-15. We welcome those who want to help us in this annual endeavor. This event is posted on Meetup https://www.meetup.com/suncoast-florida-trail-hiking/events/ for several days, so please sign up for each day you want to volunteer.

Oct 10 is for campers to set up at Holder Mine Campground. Camping is free for volunteers. Clearing and mowing will take place Oct 11-15 beginning at 8:00am each morning. We plan to finish by Oct 14. On Oct 15 campers will break camp and head home if we've finished. Otherwise, there may be some additional work that day after breaking camp.

We will gather at the campground at 8:00 a.m. each day and depart for the worksite at 8:30 a.m. If you arrive late, it will be difficult to join your crew. The latest we expect to be back at the campground is 5:00 p.m. We may be back earlier depending on weather conditions and if the trail section planned for that day is done.

Crews consisting of three or more workers will be assigned trail to clear and mow. Workers should be capable of walking 5-6 miles a day in varying weather conditions. Tasks to be performed are mowing, clearing the trail of large limbs ahead of the mower, and some lopping of limbs growing into the trail without slowing down the mowing and at the same time keeping the work crew together. Crew members will rotate mowing. We can train you to mow on-site. We will need a few drivers with four-wheel drive vehicles to deliver gas, water, etc. to the crews.

When you sign up please indicate in the question if you want to camp, mow, clear, lop, and/or drive. You can indicate more than one. You will be placed on the wait list when you sign up and moved to going as we fill the work crews. Those who can stay several days will be given priority for camping. Tent camping is preferred because of the limited number of campsites we have reserved.

On Meetup.com please send host Wes Calhoun your full name and a way to quickly contact you (phone, email) with any questions. You can do this privately by clicking Wes Calhoun in the attendees list and then clicking Chat with Wes. If you prefer not to use Chat, just say so. I will send you my email and phone number in case you have questions.

If you do not use Meetup.com, you may respond to this event below or contact any of the following people to sign up for the event.

     Wes Calhoun 727-542-7876 wescalh@gmail.com

     John King ‭‭203-812-0882‬ johnkng1122@gmail.com

     Jamie Hobba 765-414-4371 jamiehobba@aol.com

Each day volunteers will sign in on a form like the one at this link. https://floridatrail.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/FTA-Assumption-of-Risk-March-30th-2022.pdf . If you would like credit for the hours you work, please set up a volunteer profile on the FTA Volunteer Hours Entry System at this link https://floridatrail.galaxydigital.com . Click Sign Up at the top of the page.

Trail maintenance safety information is provided for General Maintenance and Mower & Brushcutter Operation under Job Hazard Analysis at this link. https://floridatrail.org/volunteer-resources/.

Join the FTA and the Sandhill Chapter in our annual maintenance event based at Stephen Foster State Park in beautiful White Springs, FL from October 23-27, 2025. 

It's been three years since the Suwannee River section of the Florida Trail has seen regular trail maintenance. Since 2023 all of our work on the 70 miles of river trail has been focused on disaster response in the wake of several major hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods. This season we hope to give the trail the much needed clean up that it needs!

Make new friends, join old ones, work hard, and then feast with us as we enjoy one of the first work parties of the season.

Join the FTA and Indian River Chapter for work in several beautiful WMAs! 

We will be doing trail work in Forever Florida, a private conservation land, Bull Creek WMA and Triple N WMA. Crews will need to be transported to work sites. Carpooling will be encouraged but all work sites on off of developed roads and most vehicles should have no problem navigating these. 

Camping: Our crew will be camping at the hunter's campground near the check station in Herky Huffman/Bull Creek Wildlife Management Area, located here. This is a primitive campsite with a vault toilet. This is an active hunter's camp but there will be no hunting during our maintenance period. Volunteers should expect to camp among hunter's trailers and tents in a field area. People will begin arriving on the afternoon of Thursday October 23.  You are welcome to attend the entire event or whatever days and times you are available.  Work will begin Friday morning October 24 at 8:00 AM. 

Meals: Meals from FRIDAY DINNER to Sunday lunch will be provided.   You will need to bring food for Thursday dinner, and Friday breakfast and lunch.  The workdays will be on Friday, Saturday & Sunday.  We need people to help with cooking and to stay in the camp while the rest of us do maintenance.  If you want to help with the food, please contact us.

Directions: Volunteers should take 192 to Crabgrass Road and follow it all the way back until it ends at the check station. It is a paved road all the way back and you will see many FTA signs along the way. 

What to bring: For all projects you will need to bring a day pack, trail runners or boots, and appropriate clothing. Long pants are required to do trail work and long-sleeved shirts are recommended. Sunscreen and bug spray are also advised.  It is a good idea to bring your own gloves and you will need some kind of glasses to cover your eyes.  You will need to provide your own camping gear.  This includes a tent, sleeping bag, lunch container (baggie or tupperware) and personal items.   

For questions regarding your registration status contact volunteer@floridatrail.org.

For questions regarding the event, contact Mark Romagosa at rtm-centralsouth@floridatrail.org or Bill Alexander at bill.m.alexander@gmail.com. 

Email Bill Alexander if you wish to help on Friday at bill.m.alexander@gmail.com.

Join the Black Bear Chapter of the FTA for a volunteer trail maintenance project on the Florida Trail in the Ocala National Forest.  Camping is provided at the OHV center on the National Forest and work will be done from Rodman Dam heading south to Pat's Island as well as the Western Corridor from Salt Springs to Silver Springs State Park.

Please arrive after 4pm on Thursday October 30th.  This is not a work day, but time to set up camp.  Work begins the morning of Friday October 31st and runs until Monday November 3rd.  

Camping: Camping is provided at the OHV center on FR 11 in the Ocala National Forest. The OHV center as full bath facilities as well as a covered pavilion with electricity. RVs are allowed here but there are no RV hookups at the OHV Center. Please contact the FTA crew leader ahead of time if you plan to bring your RV.

Meals: All meals will be provided by the FTA and cooked in our large camp kitchen.

What to expect: We will do routine trail maintenance on the Florida Trail starting at Rodman Dam and working south. Expect to hike up to 5 miles per day at moderate difficulty. Breakfast is served at 7am and our workdays begin at 8am. We will finish our work each day by about 3pm.

What to bring: For all projects you will need to bring a day pack, sturdy footwear, and appropriate clothing. Long pants are required to do trail work and long-sleeved shirts are recommended. Sunscreen and bug spray are also advised. You will need to provide your own camping gear, this includes a tent, sleeping bag, lunch container (baggie or tupperware,) and personal items.

Directions: From intersection of Rt. 19 and Rt. 316 at Salt Springs, go west on Rt. 316 for 6.2 miles to FR 11 go north on FR 11 for 2 ½ miles to OHV camp on the right.

For questions regarding your registration status contact volunteer@floridatrail.org

For questions regarding the event, contact Jeff Glenn jeffg@floridatrail.org  

Join the Florida Trail Association's Next Generation Coalition for a Volunteer Work Party in Ocala National Forest! FTA will provide all the tools, training, and food, and you can help us maintain the Florida Trail!

The Next Gen Coalition is a group of young leaders dedicated to welcoming the next generation of Florida Trail volunteers & hikers. This Volunteer Work Party will be an opportunity to meet the Next Gen and inspire future involvement among young people. This event is geared towards volunteers who meet the demographic of the Next Gen Coalition (age 18-35).

Camping: Our crew will camp at Alexander Springs recreation area in Ocala National Forest. Take a dip in the cool springs after a day of trail work!

Meals: All meals Friday dinner thru Sunday lunch will be provided. Please plan to arrive no earlier than 4pm on Friday November 14th to set up camp and enjoy dinner with the crew. The work days will be Saturday and Sunday.

What to expect: We will use a combination of power tools and hand tools to bring the trail back up to standard. Expect to hike 3-4 miles per day. We will provide the tools, training, and PPE.

What to bring: For all projects you will need to bring a day pack, sturdy boots, and appropriate clothing. Long pants are required to do trail work and long-sleeved shirts are recommended. Sunscreen and bug spray are also advised. You will need to carry two liters of water on the trail each day. You will need to provide your own camping gear, this includes a tent, sleeping bag,lunch container (baggie or tupperware, and personal items. If you don't have these items, please contact us and we will loan you the appropriate gear.

For questions regarding the event, contact Jane Pollack at janep@floridatrail.org 

Join Girls Who Hike FL and the Florida Trail Association Black Bear Chapter for a trail maintenance event at Rice Creek Conservation Area from November 21st - 23rd!

Our crew will be camping together - details will be provided upon registration.

Plan to arrive no earlier than 4pm on Friday, November 21st to set up camp and have dinner with the crew. 

You are welcome to join for the entire time or part of the time - just register for the days you wish to join. You are welcome to camp with us the night before any shift.

If you have any questions about registration please email janep@floridatrail.org

Join us at Work Week 2025!

The Tropical Trekkers have the task of preparing over 70 Miles of the Florida National Scenic Trail (FNST) for the 2025 hiking season. We have much to accomplish after a summer of growth along our section of trail. There is a job for everyone no matter what their skill set, and we hope to provide you with a great sense of accomplishment.

We promise awesome camaraderie and time with friends we may not have seen in far too long. In addition to the normal mowing, lopping, brush cutting, and painting we hope to install some additional puncheon bridges, depending on permissions and if we can acquire the materials in time. As you can see a large number of volunteers will be needed.

We ask that you bring your own PPE and tools you may have, such as hard hats, safety vests, gloves, eye and ear protection, and loppers. Closed toe shoes and long pants are required. We will provide you with whatever equipment you can’t furnish. You will need sunscreen, bug juice, and a way to carry your lunch and 2 liters of water. A small backpack or fanny pack works well. Be sure to check the weather forecast as you pack for the week as we may work hot and wet or cold and windy conditions. A few spare pairs of dry boots and socks is always a good idea.

The Florida Trail Association is excited to announce a large work party aimed maintaining the Suwannee River portion of the Florida Trail back to standard, before years of hurricanes, tornadoes, and flooding ravaged it over the past few years. 

The project begins at 4pm on Thursday December 18th which is a setup day where we will serve dinner. Work begins Friday morning on the 19th and runs through 3pm on the 22nd. Each day we will split into multiple crews.

This project will be based out of Suwannee River State Park and our crews will commute to different trail access points each day. All meals will be provided by the FTA and served out of a large camp kitchen. This project will be larger than an average work event as we have many miles of trail to maintain.

Join the Black Bear Chapter of the FTA in a week of work in the Juniper Wilderness on the Ocala National Forest.  The Wilderness is a unique part of the Florida Trail and it is maintained with hand tools only, bringing a legacy of skill and hard work to each day.  This project has a very long history and it is a great place to meet up with old friends, make new friends, and enjoy some fine Florida winter weather.

Camping: Camping is provided at the OHV Center on the National Forest near Salt Springs.  There are full bath house facilities and electricity in the kitchen area under a large pavilion.  RVs are welcome to this project but there are no hookups available. 

Meals: All meals, Thursday dinner - Tuesday lunch will be provided. Please by plan to arrive no earlier than 4pm on January 8th to set up camp and enjoy dinner with the crew. The workdays will be on Friday - Monday.

What to bring: For all projects you will need to bring a day pack, sturdy boots, and appropriate clothing. Long pants are required to do trail work and long-sleeved shirts are recommended. Sunscreen and bug spray are also advised. You will need to provide your own camping gear, this includes a tent, sleeping bag, lunch container (baggie or tupperware,), coffee mug, and personal items.

What to expect: Juniper Prairie Wilderness is in the Ocala Forest between Juniper Springs and Pat’s Island.  This is a unique project on the Florida Trail because of the exclusive use of hand tools without any mechanized equipment. Work can be strenuous at times and some crews will be required to hike up to 8 miles a day.

Directions: From intersection of Rt. 19 and Rt. 316 at Salt Springs, go west on Rt. 316 for 6.2 miles to FR 11 go north on FR 11 for 2 ½ miles to OHV camp on the right.

Latitude 29°23'58.17"N Longitude 81°48'23.81"W

For questions regarding your registration status contact volunteer@floridatrail.org

For questions regarding the event, contact Jeff Glenn jeffg@floridatrail.org