Field Trips
Black Bear Wilderness Area – photo by Cecilia Carey
Remember:
hat, appropriate footwear, sunscreen, water, snack, and insect repellent
2024/2025 Field Trips
all trips open to the public!
Liability releases must be signed and submitted.
No pets on field trips. Service dogs allowed.
September 14, 2024 – Saturday
FULL!
We hope to see you on the next one!!
Bird Watching Cruise
St. Johns River Eco Tours offers the best possible way to learn first-hand about the rich history and the diverse wildlife of the river. You will experience our central Florida wildlife in a completely natural environment. The majority of our journey will be exploring the back waters on board our eco-friendly 35-foot hybrid gas/electric pontoon boat. Restrooms at the dock.
Meet 9:30 am at the dock
488 W. Highbanks Road, DeBary, FL
Meet by 9:30 am to pay. $35/person, $30 Seniors, Vets, First Responders & Students, $20 Children 12 and under. Our 2-hour tour departs promptly at 10 am. Limited to 28 people. Reservations required.
Contact Phyllis Hall at: phylliscath814@gmail.com
October 19, 2024 – Saturday
Chuluota Wilderness Area
CANCELLED!
DUE TO HIGH WATER
We hope to see you on the next one!! Stay safe, friends.
This is a 625-acre natural area located in the southeast corner of Seminole County. It contains a variety of natural systems such as mesic hammocks, pond pine flatwoods, hardwood swamps and some rare habitats such as sand pine scrub. These in turn provide food and shelter for an equally diverse population of birds and other wildlife. All levels and ages of birders are welcome.
Meet 7:30 am at the parking lot
3895 Curryville Rd, Chuluota, FL
We will be walking on trails that might be difficult to navigate with uneven surfaces. No restroom facilities.
Coordinators: Chuck Honaker and Connie Dolan cwh.jr@hotmail.com
We will do birding until 9:00 a.m., then join the Seminole Natural Lands butterfly field trip.
You need to register for Butterflies & Blooms, 9:00-11:00 AM
Join a local expert in search of fragrant colorful flowers, and the many pollinators that visit them. Ages 7+, children must be accompanied by an adult. $5/person.
Register each person attending. Register online at: recreation.seminolecountyfl.gov
Call 407-665-2211 for registration help and more information.
November 16, 2024 – Saturday
Spring Hammock Preserve
This preserve is an approximately 1,500-acre property surrounded by urban development except for the east boundary of Lake Jesup. This property is composed of floodplain forest, hydric hammock, upland mixed hardwoods and pine flatwoods. Moderate walking over uneven terrain.
Meet 8:00 am at the Environmental Center
2985 Osprey Trail, Longwood, FL 32750
All levels and ages of birders are welcome. No restrooms. Trip will end at 10:00 a.m.
Coordinators: Chuck Honaker and Connie Dolan cwh.jr@hotmail.com
December 14 2024 – Saturday
Lighthouse Point Park at Ponce Inlet
Lighthouse Point Park is a 52-acre inlet park located along the northern shoreline of Ponce de Leon Inlet. We will walk along the Intracoastal Waterway, jetty, and beach areas for approx. 2 miles looking for shorebirds.
Meet 8:00 am at the Main Pavillion
5000 S. Atlantic Ave., Ponce Inlet
Entrance to the park is $10.00/car. Moderate walking over uneven terrain. All levels and ages of birders are welcome. Restrooms are available.
Coordinators: Cecilia & John Carey
January 17, 2025 – Friday
Yankee Lake Treatment Facility: Florida Scrub Jays
This is a guided tour of the only habitat in Seminole County for Florida Scrub-Jays. Along with Audubon Florida, SAS was instrumental in getting this habitat preserved in 1993 when the treatment facility was being planned, so we visit this property each year.
Meet 8:00 am at Seminole County Northwest Water Reclamation Facility
501 Yankee Lake Road, Sanford, off SR46 – just before the entrance to the Seminole Forest
Restroom in the administration building. We will be riding in the management company’s pickup trucks. We may be joined on the tour by County administration staff. All levels and ages of birders are welcome.
Limited to 10 people – Reservations Required
Contact Phyllis Hall: phylliscath814@gmail.com
January 18, 2025 – Saturday
Gemini Springs Bio-Bingo
Play Bio-Bingo at Gemini Springs Park, DeBary, one of Florida’s Special Places. Bio-Bingo is a biology treasure hunt using a Bingo card. Explore the park to find the birds, flora, and fauna on your Bio-Bingo card. Play on your own or form a team of the best bird, butterfly, bug and plant people you know!
Meet at the park at 8:00 am
37 Dirksen Dr, DeBary, FL
When you enter the park, turn left when you see the red building and meet in the first parking lot. Moderate walking over uneven terrain on the trails. Concrete sidewalk pathways. Restroom available. All levels and ages of birders are welcome.
Coordinator: Leslie Martin woodstork.martin@gmail.com
February 15, 2025 – Saturday
Hal Scott Regional Preserve and Park
The property offers nearly 9,000 acres of unspoiled Florida wilderness. It is managed by the St. Johns River Management District. There are miles of unspoiled sanctuary trails for hiking along the scenic shoreline of the Econlockhatchee River with plenty of wildlife to view. Wildlife sightings may include bald eagles, sandhill cranes, red-cockaded woodpeckers (RWC), gopher tortoises, bobcats, river otters and indigo snakes. Preserve staff will lead the 2–3-hour tour on an eco-buggy trailer around the property with stops to view RCW cavity trees and to look for RCWs as they forage.
Meet 8:00 am in the parking lot
4500 Dallas Boulevard, Orlando, FL
There are no restrooms or other facilities available onsite. The eco buggy trailer used for the tour will have 3-4 stairs to climb to get on and off. The trailer has padded bench seating once on board, but is not equipped to accommodate a wheelchair.
Limited to 20 people – Reservations Required
Contact Leslie Martin: woodstork.martin@gmail.com
March 15, 2025 – Saturday
Deer Run Park
This golf course property was purchased by Seminole County in December, 2021. It is being developed into a passive park over the next several years including renovation of the clubhouse into a community center.
Meet 8:00 am – Meeting place to be announced depending on construction progress.
300 Daneswood Way, Casselberry, FL
Moderate walking over uneven terrain on the old golf cart trails. All levels and ages of birders are welcome. No restrooms available.
April 12, 2025 – Saturday
Mead Botanical Garden
Mead Botanical Garden is on 47 acres that include a boardwalk and trails through pine trees and a butterfly garden. We expect to see wading birds and migrating birds.
Meet at 8:00 am
1300 S. Denning Drive, Winter Park 32789
Parking with restroom available. Moderate walking over uneven ground. All levels and ages of birders are welcome.
Coordinators: Cecilia & John Carey
Adopt-a-Park
Lake Jesup Park
SAS adopted Lake Jesup Park as part of Seminole County’s Adopt-a-Park Program.
Lake Jesup Park is located at 5951 S. Sanford Avenue in Sanford
Bring gloves, trash grabber tools, garbage bags and any other equipment needed to collect trash, or sweep the pavilion.
If you’d like to sign up for the next cleanup day, contact Leslie Martin at woodstork.martin@gmail.com or Marguerite Terwilleger at mterwilleger51@gmail.com
Impromptu Field Trips!
want to join us? just for the fun?
Sometimes we’ll investigate unusual bird sightings or go out just for the fun of it. For notifications, be sure to join our newsletter list!