Hello paddlers! We are excited to kick off our 16th season with the Suwannee, Santa Fe, and Ichetucknee rivers. These rivers boast the largest concentration of springs in the world. During our adventures, we have paddled, swam, and snorkeled in the springs. We have also had the opportunity to learn from speakers from organizations such as the Florida Springs Institute, Florida Defenders of the Environment, Aqua Pure, and others. Through these experiences, we have made new friends and reconnected with old friends, fostering a sense of camaraderie. Our next upcoming trip will take us to the Peace River and Fisheating Creek. We are eagerly looking forward to exploring the unique beauty of these waterways, including the fascinating cypress knees.  We hope to see you there.

Florida is a water wonderland. Nearly surrounded by oceans and receiving an average of 50 inches of rain each year, predevelopment Florida was blessed with an unusual abundance of saltwater and freshwater wetlands. It is not surprising that Florida’s three national parks are focused on water. North Florida is graced with aquatic habitats just as spectacular as South Florida, and yet none of North Florida’s iconic springs, rivers, and lakes are protected in a national park.

Florida is The Land of a Thousand Springs – 1,090 is the current count of Florida’s artesian springs. Many more unrecorded springs exist, primarily north of a line from Orlando to Tampa. [Read More…]

Aside from a few private roads leading down to the water and the train trestle next to the Highway 27 overpass near the town of Palmdale, Fisheating Creek is a true wilderness waterway.

Ancient bald cypress trees tower over this free-flowing stream, while immense alligators bask on small patches of sandy shoreline. The creek teems with bream, bass, and crappie. On the higher ridges massive live oak branches reach out over the water, their limbs covered with resurrection fern and bromeliads. Deer, wild boar, and wild turkeys can often be spotted along the shoreline, and swallowtail kites and crested caracaras hover overhead. [Read More…]

The wood stork is a large, long legged wading bird that reaches a length of 35-45 inches (89-114 centimeters) with a wingspan of 60-65 inches (152-165 centimeters).  The primary and tail feathers are black (J. Rodgers pers comm. 2011).  The head and upper neck of adult wood storks have no feathers, but have gray rough scaly skin.  Wood storks also have a black bill and black legs with pink toes.  Adult wood storks are voiceless and are capable of only making hissing sounds.  [Read More …]

Get your very own Camp Coffee Mug! $20 to help support our environmentally friendly dish program

How To: Protect Florida’s Springs

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