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Many of Florida's natural landscapes depend upon fire to develop and maintain healthy ecosystems and reduce the risks of wildfire. Join Environmental Specialist Matthew Hodge in this edition of the Biologists Tell the Story as he describes planning for a prescribed fire and measuring the success of this tool.

This February, show parks some love! Volunteering at Florida State Parks is fun and rewarding. We talked to a volunteer about her experience at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park.

The 2019 Florida State Parks Fall Photo Contest winners have been chosen, and we still enjoy looking at these great photos. We talked to a Florida Park Service biologist about the science behind these images and how the beauty in a single image is connected to the ecosystems that state parks protect.

The theme of 2020 Florida Black History Month is “Celebrating Untold Stories and Contributions of African Americans in Florida.” Florida State Parks protect landmarks and places significant to black history in Florida. These state parks and historic sites tell compelling stories about the impact African-Americans have had on Florida’s history and culture.

Silver Springs State Park, a popular destination for visitors who enjoy glass-bottom boat rides with a storied past, has been added to the National Register of Historic Places. Silver Springs is one of many places in Florida State Parks where you can experience history up-close.

On December 17, 2019, Florida teen Charles Richardson, 19, set out to complete a “year-defining” journey by running 184 miles across Florida in one week, from Daytona Beach to Honeymoon Island State Park in Dunedin.

We picked out some of the best Florida State Parks for fitness, including group classes, exercise trails and opportunities to get your feet moving and explore.

Join us in celebrating the 85th Anniversary of Florida State Parks! Each week in 2020, we will celebrate the birthdays of our parks across Florida with special celebration events featuring food, games and storytelling.

We’re excited to welcome the New Year, and what better way to celebrate than with a walk in the woods? First Day Hikes is a national event where tens of thousands of people get outdoors on New Years’ Day. It’s a celebration of the new year and a way to start it right with a relaxing walk outdoors.

The Florida Conservation Corps (FLCC) is an AmeriCorps National Service Program that recruits members to work on essential projects in Florida State Parks. Do you want a great opportunity to learn about biology, land management, volunteer recruitment and park outreach? FLCC is recruiting for the upcoming term of service!

Florida is known for the variety and abundance of its native wildlife, and Florida State Parks are a great place to catch a glimpse of the state’s most iconic creatures. We put together a guide to famous Florida wildlife and the state parks they inhabit. Check it out!

Florida State Parks are a great place to celebrate the holiday season. From visits with Santa to holiday hikes and spectacular light displays, many parks are hosting special holiday events throughout the month of December. Most of Florida’s state parks and trails will be open 8 a.m. to sunset on Wednesday, Dec. 25.

If you build it, they will come. That’s what Biologist Laurie Dolan found with a population of Florida scrub-jays along the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway. With Florida Park Service management of a 446-acre parcel of land, the population has grown from 25 birds in 2008 to more than 100 birds in 2019.

For 2019, most of the sea turtle nests have hatched and the adult turtles are migrating back to their feeding grounds. Here in Florida, park rangers, biologists and volunteers are still telling stories and planning for 2020.

Imagine drifting along the coffee-colored waters of the Suwannee River. Trees clinging to the steep limestone cliffs arc out over the water, and the calls of mockingbirds and red-shouldered hawks echo off the calm river surface. November is Florida Paddlesports Month, and the weather is perfect for a relaxing trip on the water.

Every park needs a friend! Staff at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park and Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park are happy to announce that the parks have a new friends group.