June Ridge Ranger Events

Everyone is welcome to participate in Ridge Rangers events. Please click on the links for the full details and to register.

See a monthly calendar view of Ridge Ranger events

Saturday, June 7: Ridge Rangers Chainsaw Training at Highlands Hammock State Park. Please contact the Ridge Rangers Coordinator if interested in taking this training.  

Thursday, June 12: Plant Clasping Warea seedlings at Crooked River Preserve . This is the first planting on this property, which is a combined effort by BOK Towers and Florida Forestry Service to expand the range of this endangered plant onto to protected conservation lands. Near  Clermont.

Friday, June 20: Remove Invasive Natal Grass at Lake June Scrub State Park . We'll be hand pulling the natal grass growing in and around federally protected and indangered plants. The grass pulls right out of the ground with minimum effort and will then be bagged to prevent seed dispersal. Near Lake Placid.

Saturday, June 28: Workday still in planning, stay tuned on the Ridge Rangers Calendar

Reference Links

Ridge Rangers Home Page: http://www.myfwc.com/ridgerangers

See where Ridge Rangers help

For Land Managers: Workday Request Form

Would you like to find out about the Ridge Rangers program, including how to participate? Send an email to the Ridge Rangers Coordinator

You can now apply for the Ridge Rangers online .

The Ridge Rangers Online Calendar has our schedule of upcoming volunteer events.

For Ridge Rangers working independently: find out how to report your hours at this link

Would you like to make a donation to help support Ridge Ranger workdays? See Ridge Rangers 501 (c)(3) Fund

On Flickr? Join the Ridge Rangers group at http://www.flickr.com/groups/ridgerangers

Find us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

In this issue ...

• June Ridge Ranger Events
• Reference Links
• 4,357!
• Video: Out in the State Forest ...
• Learn about Wildflowers of the Everglades

4,357!

4,357 – That’s the count of scrub oak sprouts in last week’s inventory of the Royce native plant nursery by Ridge Ranger Julie Haviland and the Ridge Rangers Coordinator. These sprouts were grown from acorns gathered last fall by Ridge Rangers, potted in trays by attendees at community festivals, and then maintained over the winter and spring by Julie and other Ridge Rangers.

Picture of damaged habitat at the FWC Royce Unit where the oak sprouts will be planted in July for restoration.

We'd love to have you participate in the plantings! Please see the Ridge Rangers Calendar for the dates.

Video: Out in the State Forest ...

Ridge Rangers and FFS staff use hand tools, elbow grease, and foot power to rehab a plow line.  [Video]

Last week in the Lake Wales Ridge State Forest, Ridge Rangers and Florida Forest Service Staff helped rehab sensitive habitat from a plow line used to stop a wild fire. Plowlines are necessary to stop fires, but obviously can leave an impact. It was a great day in a beatiful habitat, and over 500 feet of line were restored!

Learn about Wildflowers of the Everglades

Jennifer Navarra from the Florida Forest Service is inviting all Ridge Rangers to the June 17 meeting of the Heartland Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society, where Roger Hammer will be presenting “Wildflowers of the Everglades”.  At Circle B Bar Reserve near Lakeland, for the full details see this posting.

Did you know you can now apply online to the Ridge Rangers? It’s quick and easy, and also allows for error-free entry into our database system.  See Ridge Ranger Online Application.