We have just returned from our inaugural Santa Fe Springs Celebration!  Four days, three rivers, countless springs and the great food, spa and pool at Ellie Ray’s  made this trip a great experience for all.  We appreciate the assistance of Florida State Parks and Ellie Ray’s in helping us to stage this event with such short notice.

Join us on December 7-9 at Camp Chowenwaw in Green Cove Springs as we work with Clay County to stage the Black Creek Paddling Festival at this former Girl Scout Camp.  Due to Hurricane Ian, and the damage caused along the Great Calusa Blueway, we have moved the location of our February trip.  We will be staging the Florida Keys Challenge – February 15-21, 2023.  We have partnered with Florida State Parks and an educational non-profit, and we will offer both short and long paddle choices, and an educational component. 

Included in this issue are: “On borrowed time - Why coastal Florida keeps rebuilding after storms like Hurricane Ian"; "How wildlife cameras are helping us to protect and co-exist with our most loved creatures", and a reminder of "How to enter and exit your kayak".  

We hope you enjoy this issue.

“Southwest Florida has already answered the immediate question after Hurricane Ian slammed into the coast, killing dozens of people and destroying thousands of homes with record-high storm surge: Will we rebuild? The answer — yes, of course — is practically a given in storm-prone Florida, despite the double whammy of an exploding population on the coast and climate change raising the risk of hurricanes with deadly coastal flooding. That combination may one day force the conversation on retreating from these dangerous places, but for now, in Florida, the focus has shifted to how we will rebuild. Elected officials like U.S. Sen. Rick Scott have already talked about updating the building code, renovating older buildings and leaning into stricter building standards. But the best window into what post-storm rebuilding may look like may be in the Florida Panhandle…” Alex Harris writes for the Miami Herald.

“The technology is simple, a motion-activated camera in a box, but the results are extraordinary. Wildlife cameras placed in backyards across Florida are helping shape how to protect and co-exist with our most loved creatures. Imagine sitting out on your back patio and seeing a bear, panther, or family of river otters. One Florida homeowner gets to do that every day, well, sort of. All those animals have traveled through Lucas Eastham's backyard, but he sees them in digital images and video recorded from two trail cameras…” Michael Paluska covers for ABC Action News.

Support Paddle Florida and our GREEN dish program by purchasing our NEW Paddle Florida Coffee Mug for $30 (add $10 to have it shipped to you), or we can bring it to you on your next trip!

* Powder-coated finish, double-wall stainless steel 18oz tumbler that has a clear push-on acrylic lid.

* Vacuum insulation helps keep a drink hot or cold for hours.

How To: Get Into and Out Of a Kayak Smoothly
From PaddleTV

Click herefor video.