florida state parks

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Free entry to Florida State Parks September 8

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Florida Park Service is celebrating National Literacy Month with special events at state parks. The month will be celebrated in conjunction with International Literacy Day on Monday, Sept. 8 and National Library Card Signup Month. Any state park visitor who brings a library card, a library book or who donates a new or gently used family friendly book will receive free* entrance in honor of International Literacy Day on Monday, Sept. 8. (*This offer...

Black skimmers successfully nest at Henderson Beach State Park

Learn about the shorebirds and see the chicks up close through a birdscope this Sat. and Sun. A pair of black skimmers have successfully nested and hatched three chicks at Henderson Beach State Park this summer. These beautiful shorebirds arrived at Henderson right after July 4, 2014. Approximately 4-5 days later, three eggs were laid three days in a row. Black skimmers are not often seen in the Okaloosa/Walton area, and this species typically nests within a colony of other...

Snowy plover family doing well at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park

As we enjoy our wonderful beaches in South Walton, many visitors and locals are not aware that we are sharing vital habitat for a variety of shorebirds. Our dune systems and coastal dune lakes provide perfect nesting areas and foraging habitat for a variety of species such as sandpipers, gulls, terns, and wading birds. One tiny species is the small, sandy colored snowy plover. The snowy plover (Charadrius nivosus) can be found year round along our beaches in Northwest Florida....

Ranger program, cookout and a movie at Camp Helen State Park Aug. 6

Camp Helen State Park is offering a movie, food, and fun with a family-oriented movie, environmental interpretive program, and old-fashioned campfire cookout. The event will start at 5:30 p.m. in the recreation hall with an interpretive program led by a Florida Park ranger. The program will be followed by a cookout including hotdogs and s’mores, provided by the Friends of Camp Helen.  Each evening will end with a family movie in the Recreation Hall, where seating will be provided. A...