Ranger led nature hike at Camp Helen State Park Jan. 2
Enjoy a ranger-led nature hike at Camp Helen State Park on Thursday, Jan. 2, 20245 from 10 – 11 a.m.
Join in for a ranger-guided nature hike. Camp Helen boasts nine distinct natural communities throughout the park with varied flora and fauna. Learn about our rare coastal dune lake, Lake Powell, as well as the park wildlife. Hike is suitable for all ages. Dress for the weather; water and bug spray are recommended.
The Friends of Camp Helen are excited to be open for kayak and SUP rentals 7 days a week from 9 am – 5 pm. Reservations can be made online at www.friendsofcamphelen.org or by calling (850) 238-1900. Walk ins are also welcome.
Park Fees
There is an honor entrance station. The fee is $4.00 per vehicle and $1.00 per bicyclist or pedestrian. Click here for park website.
Driving Directions
Camp Helen is located at 23937 Panama City Beach Parkway, Panama City Beach, FL, just west of the Phillips Inlet bridge on the Bay County and Walton county line. The entrance is south of U.S. Hwy 98. ::MAP::
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History tour at Camp Helen State Park Jan. 4
Enjoy a history tour of Camp Helen State Park from 10 – 11 a.m. on the first Saturday of the month.
Join park ranger staff for a guided history tour of the grounds at Camp Helen. Follow along as staff share park history from the Hicks family building the historic structures that still stand on the grounds, all the way through the colorful history of Avondale Textile Mill’s utilizing the property as their employee summer retreat. Please dress appropriately for the weather, and bring water and insect repellent.
Program is free with paid park entry of $4 per vehicle.
Event Essential Eligibility Criteria
For further questions, feel free to contact the office at Camp Helen at (850) 233-5059.
Driving Directions
Camp Helen is located at 23937 Panama City Beach Parkway, Panama City Beach, FL, just west of the Phillips Inlet bridge on the Bay County and Walton county line. The entrance is south of U.S. Hwy 98. ::MAP::
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Guided plant walk at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park Jan. 20
You’re invited to a plant identification walk at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park on the third Monday of the month.
The walk starts at 9:00 am at tram stop #2, and is led by Bill Kuenstler, Master Gardener and Master Naturalist. Learn about the many native plants at the park.
Driving Directions
Located in Santa Rosa Beach, the park is located 1/4 south of U.S. Hwy 98 on western end of Scenic Hwy. 30A. ::MAP:
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Americana concerts return to Camp Helen with a music festival finale
Americana Concerts in the Lodge at Camp Helen State Park are back and better than ever Saturdays from January 11-March 1 at 6:00pm.
Tickets will be available for purchase for a suggested donation of $15 directly on the Friends of Camp Helen website (www.friendsofcamphelen.org) beginning Friday, November, 29 at 8 am. Members of the Friends of Camp Helen will receive a secret link Friday, November 22 to purchase their tickets early. Ticket price includes park admission, food, and beverages.
There will be limited seats available for each show. The doors open at 6 pm and the music begins at 6:30 p.m.
January 11, 2025 – Little Mercies, a young trio of talented Tallahassee musicians who trade instruments around like passing a plate of biscuits around a table full of hungry children, kick off the season January 11. Nikki Talley along with exquisite guitar and harmonies by hubby Jason Sharp are a sweet trip down the Appalachian trail with a little Florida seafaring thrown in for texture will perform January 25th.
February 8, Ben Gage takes the stage. Although he comes from the rust belt of Ohio, he is anything but rusty.
February 22 – Crowd favorites, Mike and Maggie Mckinney are back on February 22. Lucky Mud SwampyTonk, Folkabilly, harmony and discord, dark and light from a Florida and beyond perspective.
The last Saturday show March 1 features Paul Kamm & Eleanore MacDonald, quintessential folk musicians with the rarest quality of combined stellar songwriting, beautiful musicianship and unreal vocals and harmonies.
For the first time ever, the grand finale of the series will be the Roots and Wings XII Festival Sunday, March 2, from 10 am – 6 pm.
Tickets are $50 and include parking, lunch, concerts, and workshops. Tickets will be available to the public Friday, November 29.
Roots and Wings XII is a one day music festival which includes morning workshops and afternoon concerts by some of the finest touring Americana singer/songwriters in the country today.
The festival begins at 10am with one hour morning workshops, free with the purchase of a ticket, in guitar/mandolin/fiddle (choose your specific instrument) (workshop I) followed by vocal/harmony (workshop II) and ends with songwriting (workshop III). These workshops follow each other so that everyone can attend all three. They are totally immersive and interactive, everyone gets involved. It’s a sharing experience when we believe everyone, at any level, has something to add.
Scholarships will be offered to younger musicians. Concerts begin after our lunch break (1pm to 1:45), also included with the purchase of a ticket, at 2pm with local favorite duo Lucky Mud, purveyors of SwampyTonk & Folkabilly, Florida style, followed by David Singley, jazz influenced guitarist, former touring backing guitar player and former Minnesota professor with poetic lyrics and soulful melodies turned solo singer/songwriter. The duo Paul Kamm & Eleanore MacDonald from Northern California are the quintessential folk singer/songwriters who are the complete package of vocal/harmony beautiful songs with meaningful, heartfelt messages for today and always. Our final performer, Wyatt Espalin hails from the heart of Appalachia, Hiawassee, Georgia. He brings big beautiful vocals, multi instrumental talents and powerful songwriting.
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Learn about birds and bees in Graytom Beach Feb. 5
The Walton County Master gardeners are hosting a lecture at 10 a.m., Feb. 5, 2025 in Graytom Beach. The lecture will be presented by Carrie Stevenson, Escambia County Coastal Sustainability agent and lead instructor of the Florida Master Naturalist program.
Carrie will teach you how to stage a pollinator love fest in your garden just in time for spring.
The lecture will be held at the Walton County South extension office, 70 Logan Lane, Santa Rosa Beach. Reserve your spot my calling 850-892-8172 or email walonmg@ifas.ufl.edu