Ridge Rangers July Newsletter

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Ridge Rangers at work

July 2014

July Ridge Ranger Events

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

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See a monthly calendar view of Ridge Ranger events


No Ridge Rangers workday on July 5 ... have a safe and wonderful July 4th holiday weekend!

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To take advantage of the summer afternoon rains, the Ridge Rangers will be doing restoration plantings on Saturday mornings in July.  (see Project Acorn in the right hand column)

All plantings are from 8 AM to around noon (unless otherwise stated) and are at the FWC Royce Unit, near Lake Placid, FL. 

We'd love to have your participation! Click on the links below for more information and to register.

Saturday, July 12: This planting date is full.

Saturday, July 19: http://outreach.myfwc.com/event/RoyceJuly19

Saturday, July 26: http://outreach.myfwc.com/event/RoyceJuly26


In June 2014, Ridge Rangers completed chainsaw operator training at Highlands Hammock State Park, planted rare Warea amplexifolia seedlings at several preserves around central Florida, did bluebird surveys and maintained oak seedlings at the FWC Royce Unit, mapped butterfly nectar sources at Disney Wilderness Preserve, and removed natal grass and intruding sand pines at Lake June Scrub State Park!


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

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In this issue ...


Chainsaw Qualified

Ridge Rangers practice disassembling a chainsaw

At a remote section of Highlands Hammock State Park on June 7, 2014, Ridge Rangers Chan Clarkson, Elysia Dytrych, Liane Plumhoff, and Rodney Jamison successfully completed Chainsaw Operator training! This course consisted of self-paced online instruction and then field training by Brian Pinson of Florida State Parks, and included each person cutting down several unwanted trees with a chainsaw.  Ridge Rangers Jerry Fortner, Orrin Schaal, and Shawn Haggerty also participated in the course as a refresher, and by the end of the training several acres of scrub jay habitat had been cleared of intruding sand pines while following strict safety procedures.  

All the participants would also tell you that they had more than enough practice disassembling and reassembling their chainsaws!

FL State Park’s Brian Pinson explains tree felling procedures to the course participants during field training.

FL State Park’s Brian Pinson explains tree felling procedures to the course participates during field training.

A special note of appreciation goes to Instructor Brian Pinson for his extra effort in making this course happen, and congratulations to all the graduates!


Project Acorn - Time to Plant!

Oak Sprouts in Nursery

The scrub oak acorns gathered last September by Ridge Rangers and potted by community festival attendees in November have resulted in over 4,300 sprouts! These baby oaks were maintained by Ridge Rangers in a native plant nursery over the winter and spring, and are now ready for planting to restore a damaged oak-scrub habitat at the FWC Royce Unit near Lake Placid, Florida.

We’re looking for planting help on Saturday, July 19 and on the following Saturday, July 26 .  The planting will be easy and you’ll be helping to restore scrub jay habitat!

All plantings are from 8 AM to around noon (unless otherwise stated) and are at the FWC Royce Unit, near Lake Placid, FL.

 

Pot an acorn, save a scrub jay

Project Acorn is a multiyear effort by the Ridge Rangers to gather and pot scrub-oak acorns, maintain the sprouts, and plant the resulting baby oaks in damaged scrub oak habitat on the Lake Wales Ridge. See pictures and learn more on the project website.


Ridge Rangers Phone ...

Ridge Rangers have been patient for many months as new landlines for the FWC Royce Office (where the Ridge Ranger Coordinator is located) were being installed. This construction project was completed in June and phones and voice mail are now working! Please contact the coordinator as needed at 863.699.3742 or at  bill.parken@myfwc.com.