Volunteer Events From: Florida Trail Association

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 

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