2018
June 2018
Thursday 7 June 2018
Thu 7 Jun. Led by ACT staff. Prairie Creek Preserve, 7204 County Road 234, Gainesville, 32641. 352-373-1078. Alachua Conservation Trust - [email][events]
May 2018
Saturday 26 May 2018
Sat 26 May. Led by Buck Snelson. Prairie Creek Preserve, 7204 County Road 234, Gainesville, 32641. 352-373-1078. Alachua Conservation Trust - [email][events]
April 2018
Saturday 28 April 2018
Sat 28 Apr. Swamp Head Brewery, 3650 SW 42 Avenue, Gainesville, 32608. 352-373-1078. Alachua Conservation Trust - [email][events]
Sunday 22 April 2018
Sun 22 Apr. Rockwood Park, 2221 NW 22 Street, Gainesville. 352-373-1078. Alachua Conservation Trust - [email][events]
Saturday 21 April 2018
Sat 21 Apr. Workshop by Conservation Burial Inc. Prairie Creek Lodge, 7204 County Road 234, Gainesville, 32641. 352-373-1078. Alachua Conservation Trust - [email][events]
Saturday 14 April 2018
Sat 14 Apr. Led by Jiri and Andrea Hulcr. Prairie Creek Preserve, 7204 County Road 234, Gainesville, 32641. 352-373-1078. Alachua Conservation Trust - [email][events]
Sunday 8 April 2018
Sun 8 Apr, 8 am. Getting started with birdsong can seem like a challenge, but once you learn the more common and distinctive songs, you will have a foundation that is easy to expand upon. We will spend the morning listening and watching as many birds as we can find in a few hours, and with nesting and migration in full swing, we should have a good chance of finding many different species.
Birds we should see include: Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Eastern Bluebird, Downy Woodpecker, Eastern Towhee, White-eyed Vireo, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-throated Vireo, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Red-headed Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Palm Warbler, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, and hopefully much more. Santa Fe River Preserve, 27025 North State Road 121, Alachua, 32615. 352-373-1078. Alachua Conservation Trust - [alachuaconservationtrust][email][events]
Saturday 7 April 2018
Sat 7 Apr. Prairie Creek Lodge, 7204 County Road 234, Gainesville, 32641. 352-373-1078. Alachua Conservation Trust - [email][events]
Sat 7 Apr, 10 am. Last year’s rains and storms have kept the Santa Fe River running high. Depending on conditions, we will attempt to paddle the 8-mile stretch above Worthington Springs. This length of the upper Santa Fe River can be an adventure since there can be more than a few trees blocking the way. However, the scenery is spectacular, and we should see some wildlife.
RSVPs are required since we need to organize the boats. Let us know if you have a kayak or canoe or any extra boats you would be willing to let others borrow. If you do not have one, we will try to get something for you.
Insect repellant, sunscreen, water, and a sense of adventure. We may need to make shortage portages along the route so good footwear is advisable. Santa Fe River Preserve, 27025 North State Road 121, Alachua, 32615. 352-373-1078. Alachua Conservation Trust - [alachuaconservationtrust][email][events]
March 2018
Sunday 25 March 2018
Sun 25 Mar, 10 am. Caroline Hament will lead us on a leisurely walk along the Santa Fe River Trail teaching tree ID with a unique focus on bark. Caroline is a Nature Assistant for the Nature Operations Division of The City of Gainesville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department.
Please wear close toed shoes, bring water, and a notebook if you would like to jot down what you learn.
Santa Fe River Preserve, 27025 North State Road 121, Alachua, 32615. 352-373-1078. Alachua Conservation Trust - [alachuaconservationtrust][email][events]
Saturday 17 March 2018
Sat 17 Mar, 5:30 pm. Each year, Alachua Conservation Trust honors individuals in our community who are influential in a wide variety of ways - the arts, historic preservation, and particularly, in protecting our wildlife and natural resources. Please join us at Prairie Creek Lodge on Saturday, March 17th as we acknowledge the 2018 Conservation Stewards, Michael Drummond and the late John Hankinson, Jr.
This year, we are celebrating three decades of conservation success – with your support, we’re bringing about a healthier and more sustainable future for our community. Since its incorporation in 1988, Alachua Conservation Trust has helped preserve more than 50,000 acres of land in north central Florida, directly participating in the purchase of 19,000 of those acres.
The Conservation Stewards Awards is one of the largest gatherings of community leaders and conservationists in the region, and features a cocktail hour, dinner, awards ceremony and live mu ... Prairie Creek Lodge, 7204 County Road 234, Gainesville, 32641. 352-373-1078. Alachua Conservation Trust - [more][alachuaconservationtrust][email][events]
Sunday 11 March 2018
Sun 11 Mar, 10 am. The northern part of Alachua County has plant communities very different from the rest of the county, and we will hike the trails at Santa Fe River Preserve and learn about some of the species that make this area so special. Hopefully, the native azaleas will be in bloom since this area has large patches of these beautiful plants.
Grace Howell, ACT’s Land Management Specialist, will be leading the walk and is very experienced with the identification of local plants.
The Santa Fe River Preserve is part of a much larger effort to protect the entire Santa Fe River and ensure that it stays a complete and viable conservation corridor – for water, wildlife, and recreation. Santa Fe River Preserve, 27025 North State Road 121, Alachua, 32615. 352-373-1078. Alachua Conservation Trust - [alachuaconservationtrust][email][events]
Saturday 10 March 2018
Sat 10 Mar, 9-11:30 am. Join ACT for a pancake breakfast at the cabin on Tuscawilla Prairie. Free and open to the public - only thing you need to bring is your appetite. Tuscawilla Cabin, Tuscawilla Preserve, 211 SE Tuscawilla Road, Micanopy, 32667. 352-373-1078. Alachua Conservation Trust - [alachuaconservationtrust][email][events]
January 2018
Friday 26 January 2018
Fri 26 Jan, 7:30 pm. Advance reservations strongly suggested. $20 suggested donation (cash or check at the door) to benefit non-profits Alachua Conservation Trust and Prairie Creek Conservation Cemetery.
The Kennedys, both East Coast natives, met in Austin, Texas, joined forces with Nanci Griffith's Blue Moon Orchestra for a couple of years, and set out on a road that, for two decades, has led them not only west but all over the US and the UK many times. They have spent over twenty years as both as a band and a married couple. In 2015 they both released well received solo CDs, as well as "West," an instant classic Kennedys duo set that seamlessly weaves their influences over the last two decades; Buddy Holly style roots, the tuneful cadences of the Everly Brothers, and the ringing 12-string jangle of the early Byrds, interspersed with darker moments that recall British folk rock a la Fairport Convention.
Jacob Johnson is a top flight instrumentalist, ... Prairie Creek Lodge, Sandhill Stage, 7204 County Road 234, Gainesville, 32641. 352-373-1078. Alachua Conservation Trust - [more][email][events]
2017
December 2017
Friday 15 December 2017
Fri 15 Dec 2017, 6:30-9 pm. Mix and mingle, join us for cocktails and nibbles. Gather around the fire, and celebrate the season with friends, music and good cheer!
What
In appreciation of another successful year, ACT invites you and your family to Prairie Creek Lodge for hors d'oeuvres, drinks, and holiday cheer. Bring your friends and family and learn more about the work Alachua Conservation Trust is doing in our community.
Thank you to First Magnitude Brewing Co., Cypress & Grove Brewing Co., and Swamp Head Brewery for sponsoring the event and providing the brew!
Live music from the Porch Band.
No RSVP required and the event is free and open to the public. Donations are welcome in support of ACT's mission. Prairie Creek Lodge, 7204 County Road 234, Gainesville, 32641. 352-373-1078. Free. Alachua Conservation Trust - [email][events]
November 2017
Saturday 18 November 2017
Sat 18 Nov 2017, 10:30 am-2 pm. You are cordially invited to the opening of Santa Fe River Preserve near Worthington Springs, Florida. Encompassing over 900 acres, the preserve protects several miles of riverfront and riparian forest along the upper Santa Fe River - important land for regional water resources and wildlife such as the endangered Oval Pigtoe.
The Santa Fe River Preserve is a collaborative project between Alachua Conservation Trust and Alachua County, and is part of a much larger effort to protect the entire Santa Fe River and ensure that it stays a complete and viable conservation corridor - for water, wildlife, and recreation.
Please join us as we celebrate the culmination of this work, and open the new trails and the preserve to the public.
Schedule:
10:30 am Opening Ceremony and Ribbon Cutting
11:30 am Guided Hikes, Guided Bicycle Tours and Guided Canoe and Kayak Trips
2:00 pm Event Ends
Santa Fe River Preserve, 27025 North State Road 121, Alachua, 32615. 352-373-1078. Free. Alachua Conservation Trust - [email][events]
Tuesday 14 November 2017
Tue 14 Nov 2017, 6-7:30 pm. Presentation by Chris A. Johns.
Philodoria are a group of rare, microscopic moths only known from the rainforests of the Hawaiian Islands. Chris' scientific and photographic work examines the evolutionary history of these moths and what they can teach us about the world's most remote landmasses.
Chris A. Johns is a science multimedia specialist and PhD student in the Biology Department at the University of Florida, in the Kawahara Lab/Florida Museum of Natural History. He is also a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow and National Geographic Explorer. Prairie Creek Lodge, 7204 County Road 234, Gainesville, 32641. 352-373-1078. Free. Alachua Conservation Trust - [email][events]
Sunday 12 November 2017
Sun 12 Nov 2017, 9 am-12 pm. Join ACT's land management team for a quick hike around Tuscawilla Prairie. Mark Larson (former Assistant Land Manager for ACT) will lead the way on a walk that will explore Native American burial mounds and various habitats on Tuscawilla Prairie including basin marsh and mesic hammock.
Please bring a water bottle, closed toed shoes, bug spray, and sun screen.
Parking at Micanopy Native American Heritage Park. Tuscawilla Preserve, Micanopy. 352-373-1078. Alachua Conservation Trust - [email][events]
Saturday 4 November 2017
Sat 4 Nov 2017, 9:30-11:30 am. We will not have to venture too far to find a wide variety of plants to identify and discuss. Starting from the trailhead, we will learn our natives from the non-natives, and the importance of knowing your plant families.
Join Alachua Conservation Trust for a guided hike through the various habitats of Tuscawilla Prairie and fine tune your identification skills.
About our leader:
Susan Marynowski (M.S.) grew up in north Florida. She holds degrees from UF in fine arts and wildlife ecology, with an emphasis in public education. Susan has pursued a passionate interest in native plants and has been a student and practitioner of herbal medicine for 20+ years, having studied with a number of nationally known herbalists.
Parking at Micanopy Native American Heritage Park. Tuscawilla Preserve, Micanopy. 352-373-1078. Alachua Conservation Trust - [email][events]
Thursday 2 November 2017
Thu 2 Nov 2017, 6-7:30 pm. Meet some of Florida's more obscure inhabitants.
The small creatures comprising the vast majority of Florida's fauna are frequently overlooked despite their often fascinating natural histories and important ecological roles. This program will introduce a select few of these fascinating animals.
About the speaker:
Paul Moler lives in Gainesville. He retired from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in 2006 after 28 years as a research herpetologist. Prairie Creek Lodge, 7204 County Road 234, Gainesville, 32641. 352-373-1078. Alachua Conservation Trust - [email][events]
October 2017
Saturday 28 October 2017
Sat 28 Oct 2017, 6-11 pm. Eye of newt, and toe of frog, Wool of bat, and tongue of dog, Adder's fork, and blind-worm's sting, lizard's leg, and owlet's wing - just a few of the beasts we hope to resurrect with our creation on the upper Santa Fe River.
Join us for another Halloween Ball. Support a fantastic project that adds nearly 300 acres to the Santa Fe River Preserve. Protect over 3 miles of riverfront.
Costume contest (no clear theme this year, there will be many categories), food, drink, music and more.
The event is free, but a donation will get you brew and more importantly, help us protect another part of the Santa Fe River. First Magnitude Brewing Company, 1220 SE Veitch Street, Gainesville, 32601. 352-373-1078. Alachua Conservation Trust - [email][events]
Thursday 19 October 2017
Thu 19 Oct 2017, 6-7 pm. Presentation by Michelle Hoffman, Curator of Reptiles and Amphibians, Central Florida Zoo's Orianne Center for Indigo Conservation.
The Eastern Indigo Snake was listed as a Threatened species in 1978 under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. This species has been experiencing decline throughout their range due to habitat loss and fragmentation. Animal professionals, academics and government organizations were able to team up to begin reintroducing the Eastern Indigo Snake back into areas where they have been completely extirpated.
The Eastern Indigo Snake repatriation project is a complex combined effort to bring a critical species back into the environment. The Central Florida Zoo's Orianne Center for Indigo Conservation (OCIC) is the sole facility that breeds and raises these snakes for reintroduction. Located on 25 acres of land that was historically occupied by the Eastern Indigo Snake in Eustis, Florida, the OCIC is ideally ... Prairie Creek Lodge, 7204 County Road 234, Gainesville, 32641. 352-373-1078. Free. Alachua Conservation Trust - [more][email][events]