Category: Park Info

State, Federal and Private Camping Parks information

Help Needed at OLeno State Park and River Rise Preserve State Park

May 15, 2014 Jolene MacFadden

We have camped at OLeno State Parks twice in the last two years. However, timing and circumstances prevented us from visiting the River Rise Preserve State Park. We did ride by it and it looked like an interesting place to check out and we may still get a chance over the next couple of months. OLeno has two camping areas as well as a huge picnic area with primitive cabins for groups like the boy scouts to spend some time in right along the river. They, like most of the state parks in Northeast Florida have been troubled by river flooding. The park has the Sante Fe River running through it and that gets water from the Suwannee River. But the waters are receding everywhere for now and there will be a lot of clean-up needed. You can read our park review of OLeno State Park and look at the official web page for more information on both of these parks by clicking on the links below:

Campground Host Experiences, Park Info, RV and Campers, Volunteer At A Florida State Park, Workamping

DeLeon Springs State Park In the Summer Time

May 14, 2014 Jolene MacFadden

Deleon Springs State Park in the summer time may be hot and muggy but, hey, you got a nice cool spring you can jump into after working every single day. Now, Deleon Springs should not be confused with Ponce DeLeon Springs State Park. Ponce DeLeon Springs State Park is located in the Northwest Region of Florida and their volunteers are coordinated with the Falling Waters State Park Volunteers which we will address in another article later this month. Deleon Springs is a 600 acre State Park with a spring located in the Central Region of Florida closed to Deland in the town of DeLeon, Florida. They have canoeing, kayaking, fishing, snorkeling, scuba diving, picnic area with pavilions, Visitors Center, Concessions with a full service restaurant, hiking, a boat ramp, boating, and even a boat tours. Some of you students and professors at Stetson University might want to consider volunteering for the Summer!

Campground Host Experiences, Park Info, RV and Campers, Volunteer At A Florida State Park, Workamping

Letter From Wekiva River Basin State Parks

May 13, 2014 Jolene MacFadden

We really enjoyed our short stay at Wekiwa Springs State Park over the Easter weekend. However, we just didn’t have time to check out the Lower Wekiva River or Rock Springs Run State Parks while we were there. We spent some time at Rock Springs when I was in high school but it has changed quite a lot since we lived in the central Florida area. We took lots of pictures of Wekiwa Springs, have written a quick review but thought it would be nice to share this email we received from the Volunteer Coordinator. They really could use some help this summer and who wouldn’t want to spend a couple of months in one of the three loveliest parks right around Orlando. It is a great place to start as live on-site volunteers and when it gets too hot you can always jump into the springs to cool off!

Hello Jolene,

Thank you for inquiring about volunteering here at Wekiwa River Basin State Parks. We are always on the lookout for great people with the desire to help others!

Read More “Letter From Wekiva River Basin State Parks” »

Campground Host Experiences, Park Info, RV and Campers, Volunteer At A Florida State Park, Workamping

Spend the Summer at Savannas Preserve State Park

May 12, 2014 Jolene MacFadden

https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/Savannas

http://www.friendsofsavannas.org/

Hello,

Savannas preserve is a 7,000 acre preserve with fire dependent habitat in the heart of Port St. Lucie; we manage several day use areas and an amazing education center which houses over 195 different programs a year to all age brackets. We have a lot going on all the time, the need for volunteers is huge, and as you mentioned summer time is hard. We DO have 4 volunteer spots for 2-4 month stays and are working on the potential of a couple more short term spots.

Read More “Spend the Summer at Savannas Preserve State Park” »

Campground Host Experiences, Park Info, Volunteer At A Florida State Park, Workamping

Horse Lovers and Handipeople Needed

May 11, 2014 Jolene MacFadden

In response to some emails we sent out to all of the Florida State Parks about Campground Hosts and Park/Residential Hosts positions that get a campsite with amenities in exchange for working; most were what you would expect but this one struck me as different. I mean, how many parks have horses living and being take care by the park rangers and volunteers? That is just too cool.

The initial response to our email:

Hi Jolene. Listed below are the volunteer host opportunities I have available. Firewood is available as we remove trees that are blocking trails and roads. Unfortunately, the summer months are very difficult to encourage volunteers to camp with us. I have sent out probably 50 or 60 announcements like the one below with very little response. Currently my three sites are vacant. Fall, Winter and Spring are no problem.

Randy

Campground Host Experiences, Park Info, RV and Campers, Volunteer At A Florida State Park, Workamping

Cedar Key Museum State Park Volunteers Needed

May 10, 2014 Jolene MacFadden

Spend 16 weeks in OLD FLORIDA!

Cedar Key and the surrounding area has remained unchanged for decades. Rural Levy County is still one of the most remote areas in Florida- no fast food restaurants and no chain grocery stores, just untamed wilderness and old town charm. Cedar Key Museum State Park is located in Cedar Key and it’s exhibits tell the history of the island and inhabitants. Cedar Key Scrub State Reserve is located just inland from Cedar Key and has over 13 miles of multi-use trails. Waccasassa Bay Pre- serve is accessible by boat only and protects over 34000 acres of shoreline from Cedar Key to Yankeetown.

Campground Host Experiences, Park Info, Volunteer At A Florida State Park, Workamping