Fall 2019
Posted by Friends of Blue Spring on
WHO WE ARE
The Friends of Blue Spring is a non-profit Citizen Support Organization (CSO) dedicated to generate additional support for Blue Spring State Park. The funds we raise can provide additional equipment, buildings, programs and renovations according to the needs of the park. You can find our meeting agendas here.
Joining the Friends helps to ensure Blue Spring State Park remains a fun, interesting, educational, and beautiful place to visit! We have monthly meetings every second Monday of the month at 6 p.m. in the Admin Building at Blue Spring State Park. You can also join one of our committees to help us organize events, fundraisers, and more. Contact Us
NOT A MEMBER YET? JOIN US
Memberships are $15/year for individuals and $25/year for families and include 12 free visits to Blue Spring State Park per year.
UPCOMING: ANNUAL MEETING
We will be having our annual meeting in January 2020 and ALL members are welcome. We will be holding our board of directors election and introduce our committees. We'll be looking for members who would like to help out with event planning, fundraising, and membership. Stay tuned for an official announcement in October!
THE PARK NEEDS VOLUNTEERS!
Blue Spring State Park provides visitors with numerous opportunities for recreation, and for experiencing natural & cultural resources. Volunteers are an integral part to our parks success. There are a wide variety of areas where we could use the help of volunteers ranging from assisting at our Ranger Station, performing interpretive tours, various maintenance projects or lending a hand at special events. Whatever skills that you have to offer can be used to help support the park. Anyone interested can register to become a Florida State Park Volunteer at https://volunteers.floridastateparks.org/. Be sure to select Blue Spring State Park for the park that you wish to volunteer at. For more information, please contact Darrell Thomas at 386.775.3663 or Darrell.R.Thomas@dep.state.fl.us.
Learn more about the various volunteer position the park has below. In addition, we are also looking for volunteers to help us coordinate membership, events, and outreach. If you are interested in joining one of our subcommittees, please email us at bluespringcso@gmail.com
General Field Volunteering
This position covers a wide range of activities including grounds, facilities and equipment maintenance. You will also be providing general information to park visitors and utilizing park interpretive materials and programs to teach visitors about the park’s natural and cultural resources. Skills in all of these areas are not necessary, but, a willingness to learn and work efficiently are essential. Volunteers are expected to assist park staff and have the ability to work on their own with projects identified by park management.
Lawn Maintenance
The volunteer is expected to assist park staff with mowing and trimming throughout the Park which includes Main Park Drive, Admin area, campground, cabins, retention ponds, sewer treatment plant and trails.
Ranger Station Attendant
Volunteer are expected to assist park staff with greeting visitors at the Ranger Station, answer phone line, answer visitor questions, help keep pamphlets/brochures stocked, help with traffic control and assist with campground/cabin check-in/out.
The Traffic & Parking Attendant is expected to assist park staff with directing traffic at the Park entrance, French Ave and the two parking lots; arrange/remove traffic cones at park entrance; monitor park capacity and parking space availability; close/open parking lots based on capacity; maintain parking spaces and repaint parking space lines; assist Park Staff at the Ranger Station with answering phone line, answering visitor questions and assisting with campground/cabin check-in/out.
The Interpreter will share facts about the Florida manatee informally to visitors along the boardwalk and day use area, assist Park Staff with obtaining the morning manatee count, assist Manatee Interpreters with visitor services during the children manatee presentations, assist Park Staff with visitor services during the general public manatee presentations, keep record of visitor contacts while roving the boardwalk and keep record of attendance during manatee presentations.
MEMBER APPRECIATION EVENT - BLUES CRUISE
Our third annual Blues Cruise on September 21st, 2019 was a great success! During the 2-hour long narrated cruise we saw alligators, turtles, and many birds and plants. A big Thank You to the St. John's River Cruises for supporting this annual event!
UPCOMING EVENTS
This summer we participated in a number of Clean Up Events at the park in collaboration with Volusia County, Save the Manatee Club, and Seminole Scuba (pictured on the top of our newsletter). We have 2 more Clean Ups coming up and volunteers are needed!
- Blue Spring Clean Up for Manatees THIS WEEK! Saturday, September 28th, 2019 8:30 a.m. More info & registration here.
- Blue Spring Clean Up and Dive Against Debris Saturday, October, 26th, 2019, 8:30 a.m. More info & registration here.
The Clean Up events are family-friendly and we'll have a task for anyone who wants to help. All supplies are provided. Clean Ups are based on-land, but you can bring your own kayak, canoe, or paddleboard if you'd like.
- Birds in Blue October Skies - Friday, October 25th, 2019, 8 a.m. - 10 a.m. Join Chuck Honaker for a 2-hour guided walk to learn more about birds at Blue Spring! With the weather cooling down this is a beautiful opportunity to get outdoors, visit the park and experience some of its natural beauty! Meet at the Outpost Cafe in the lower parking lot. This event is open to everyone, you do not need to be a Friends of Blue Spring member.
- Orange City Christmas Parade - On Saturday, December 14th, 2019, we will be participating in the annual Orange City Christmas Parade in collaboration with Save the Manatee Club. We will need volunteers to walk alongside the big manatee float. You do not need to be a member to participate. Check back on our website and stay posted for more details!
- Save the Date! On Saturday, January 25th, and Sunday, January 26th, 2020, Orange City is hosting the next annual Manatee Festival! We will need volunteers to help us load buses going from Valentine Park to Blue Spring State Park and volunteers to help us at our education table. Stay tuned for more details to come!
THE PARK'S VOLUNTEER VILLAGE NEEDS A NEW WASHER!
If anyone is interested in donating a used or new washer, please contact Darrell Thomas at 386.775.3663 or Darrell.R.Thomas@dep.state.fl.us.
