Governor Rick Scott greets visitors at Hillsborough River State Park.

On July 19, Governor Rick Scott conducted his 11th “Let’s Get to Work” Day at Hillsborough River State Park. This Tampa-area park is one of the busiest in the state, particularly during the warm summer months when its half-acre, ADA accessible swimming pool is the ideal destination for many vacationers. Through his participation in the day-to-day activities and tasks necessary to keep such a park going, the governor was able to experience a day in the life of a Florida Park Service Ranger.

The day began with Governor Scott greeting visitors and giving camping instructions to visitors. “Once Governor Scott was dressed in the ranger shirt, complete with a silver badge and name plate, he was no different from any other ranger,” said Assistant Bureau Chief BJ Givens. “During his ranger station assignment and without prompting, he was repeating the directions given daily at ranger stations with camping all over the state, ‘pull up to the right and come in.” 

Governor Scott went on to assist in landscape maintenance and an archaeological dig; conduct a tour of the Fort Foster Historic Site for park guests; and help park staff meet the demands of the pool-going crowd by working with the park’s concessionaire to serve food and rent equipment. He also spent time monitoring the pool area to help ensure guest safety. 

“Florida State Parks offer residents and visitors opportunities to enjoy our beautiful surroundings, and our dedicated park employees keep our guests returning year after year,” said Governor Scott.  “A healthy environment makes for a healthy economy, and I thank the Florida Park Service for their diligent work to protect and preserve our natural environment while providing excellent opportunities for people to get out and enjoy it.”

This work day allowed Florida citizens and park staff to communicate the true spirit of Florida State Parks to the governor. Park guests made sure to tell the governor how much they love state parks, while park staff did what they always do – they made sure Governor Scott got a little park on him.

The lighthouse at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park.

On August 7, 1789, Congress signed an Act for the establishment and support of lighthouses, beacons, buoys and public piers. On the 200^th anniversary of this signing, Congress passed a resolution declaring that August 7, 1989 was National Lighthouse Day. Today, people across the country still celebrate these beacons of light as a symbol of our national heritage.

There are 30 historic lighthouses still standing on Florida’s coasts today. Many are located on public lands where they can be easily viewed and admired. Some have even undergone extensive renovations to make them accessible to the public. One such lighthouse is located at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park in South Florida.

Originally built in 1825, this lighthouse is the oldest standing structure in Miami-Dade County. The tower has been modified and restored many times over the years. Most recently, both the lighthouse and the keeper’s cottage were restored by the Florida Park Service and the Dade Heritage Trust in 1996 to reflect their 1850s appearance and charm. Guided tours of the lighthouse and the keeper’s cottage are given at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., Thursdays through Mondays.

Gasparilla Island, Egmont Key and Anclote Key Preserve state parks also boast historic lighthouses on their grounds. Visit one of these pieces of history this August in support of lighthouses across the nation. For more information on lighthouses near you, please see VISIT Florida’s Lighthouse Trail webpage.

2011 Paddle Florida trip down the Suwannee River.

Paddle Florida, a water-oriented, non-profit conservation organization, has announced their paddling trip schedule for 2012-2013.  Through a partnership with Florida State Parks, Paddle Florida stages annual paddling trips all across the Sunshine State. From October through March, paddlers can visit the iconic Suwannee, Wekiva, St. Johns, Withlacoochee, Rainbow and Ochlockonee rivers, as well as the turquoise coastal waters of the Florida Keys on organized trips that showcase Florida's natural beauty and rich cultural heritage while promoting the non-profit’s mission.

Paddle Florida staff takes care of everything but the actual paddling on their trips, which are scouted in advance to ensure that waterway conditions are ideal and shoreline camping spots are available to maximize comfort and showcase nature's best view. Partnerships with local outfitters provide paddlers with canoes, kayaks and other gear to rent as needed. Meal plans and gear shuttling eliminates the need to weigh boats down with food and camping equipment. Lead and sweep boats guide paddlers on each day's journey. With this level of support, paddlers of all ages and skill levels can see and experience … the Real Florida (sm).   

The 2012-2013 paddling schedule features the following trips:

• October 26-31: Suwannee River Wilderness Trail (65 miles)

• November 30- December 3: Wekiva/St. Johns River Ramble (30 miles)

• January 18-21: Florida Keys Challenge (35 miles)

• February 13-18: Wild, Wonderful Withlacoochee (60 miles)

• March 16-22: Dam to the Bay, on the Panhandle’s Ochlockonee River (76 miles)

    
“I am excited about our slate of trips for the upcoming season,” said Bill Richards, Paddle Florida’s Executive Director. “We’re returning to some favorite destinations and breaking in new waterways with our first trip to the Withlacoochee and Rainbow rivers. In this time when water issues have become a feature of the daily news, it’s also great to be able to involve our paddlers in good stewardship of Florida’s most precious resource.”    

For more details and registration information, visit http://paddleflorida.org/.  

A walkway leads to the mound.

In conjunction with First Lady Ann Scott’s Summer Literacy Adventure, the Florida Department of Education and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection have continued to encourage students to head outdoors with a book this summer.

“The Florida Department of Environmental Protection encourages students to read at a state park because there is no better place to experience the power of a good book. Here, kids can let their imagination run wild through the trees, past the lakes, up the trails and on an exhilarating journey of learning,” said Florida Park Service Director Donald Forgione. “Our state offers many diverse natural areas and one-of-a-kind experiences for our young readers.”

The First Lady read to summer camp students at Ravine Gardens State Park on June 20 and at Wekiwa Springs State Park on July 17. She will be visiting one more park this summer, so stay tuned for another update.

To access the Summer Reading List and participate in the Summer Literacy Adventure, students can visit the Just Read, Florida! website at www.justreadflorida.com.