Everglades Astronomical Society presents the sun as you have never seen it before! Look through specially designed telescopes and safely view the sun. See sunspots and solar prominences, and if you are really lucky, a solar flare.
• Educational materials including sundials that work will also be available.
• Please note that directly viewing the sun requires specially manufactured equipment and should never be attempted with any homemade materials. Blindness would be the likely result.
• Stay after the sungazing for an evening program and a view of the starry night sky through telescopes with the Everglades Astronomical Society.
• Events are weather permitting. Call the park the day of the event for update.
Join us at the Kimbell Education Center for our Noon Year's Eve celebration! This family-friendly event is perfect for little ones who can't stay up until midnight, but everyone is welcome to ring in the new year with us at noon! We'll have a dance party, eco-friendly resolutions, a variety of fun activities, and much more. Come celebrate with us as we kick off the year in a joyful and sustainable way!
This 1–2 hour hike through the park's natural ecosystems will focus on forest bathing, a mediative practice where one can immerse themselves in nature, giving themselves an opportunity to reconnect with themselves and nature. This will be a guided walk with one of our park rangers. Please use the sign-up genius link provided below to sign up for the walk: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0949ACA62EA5FACF8-53955237-forest
Start the new year off right by joining us for our first guided hike of the year! We'll meet at the Ranger Station at 9am and set out on an extended version of the popular Scrub Jay hike. At 1.5 miles, this trail is perfect for all skill levels, offering a chance to enjoy the beauty of Jonathan Dickinson State Park's natural communities. Lace up your boots, grab your water bottle, and let's hit the trails together—what better way to begin the year than by exploring the great outdoors?
Come join us for Holiday Activities at Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, fun for the whole family! Meet Santa, participate in a photo opportunity with Santa and his Elf, take home nature themed holiday stickers, & coloring sheets, enjoy Holiday tram rides and a candy cane giveaway, and listen in to a special reading of a park-themed "Twas the Night Before Christmas" at the Terramar Visitor Center.
Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park staff will host a first day hike to celebrate the new year. The hike will be guided by park rangers who will provide information about the environment and park ecosystems.
Join us to see the magic of the springs at night during this month's Full Cold Moon. It truly is a thing of beauty!
On December 15th, plan to arrive at the park around 5:00 PM.
At 5:30 we'll gather in front of the Manatee Outpost located in the Lower Parking Lot next to the restrooms.
The park closes at 5:45 PM; you will receive an after-hours pass for your dashboard upon entry to the park.
What to bring:
Flashlights
Bug spray
Closed-toe shoes
Water
Important Notes:
No flashing or light-up sneakers
Please don't bring pets on the hike
The hike will cover 1-1.5 miles, depending on trail access, and last until around 7:00 PM
The terrain includes sidewalks and sandy soils with some roots and trip hazards.
Tickets are $3 per person and are now available at the link below:
https://www.zeffy.com/.../b561a3cc-03ed-405e-93db...
*Park entry fees are not included with event admission*
The hike will be canceled in case of inclement weather.
At the conclusion, all visitors will be asked to promptly exit the park.
We hope to see you there!
Come enjoy a first day hike and scavenger hunt on a nature trail. The park will hold a scavenger hunt on our nature trail. Participants will track down and record a series of hidden letters throughout the trail and decipher the hidden message these letters present. Nature trail is open for recreational wandering.
Every 2nd Saturday of 2025 we will be hosting a marine debris cleanup. The first cleanup will be on Indian Fills with more to follow.
Participants will meet on the south side of Deaton's bridge in the parking area. Hike will be 1.2 miles along the Chain of Lakes Trail where hikers will see old growth Atlantic White Cedars, the white sandy bars of the Blackwater River, old oxbow lakes, and end the trek through endless pines to enjoy the view of a sandhill pine community.