Summer 2019

Posted by Friends of Blue Spring on October 21, 2021

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.

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.

INTRODUCING CORPORATE SPONSORS

We are now offering memberships for corporate sponsors! The following levels are available:

Gopher Tortoise - $100/year: Includes certificate of sponsorship, 12 free park entries/year, 2 coupons for 50% off the firefly program.
Scrub Jay - $250/year. Includes certificate of sponsorship, 12 free park entries/year, 3 coupons for 50% off the firefly program.
Black Bear - $500/year. Includes certificate of sponsorship, 12 free park entries/year, 4 coupons for 50% off the firefly program.
Manatee - $1,000/year. Includes certificate of sponsorship, 12 free park entries/year, 5 coupons for 50% off the firefly program.

EVENTS

The Firefly event (pictured below) was a big success. Proceeds from this event help with park improvements, such as upgrades to the ranger station and the recent purchase of a shed to store firewood.

Thank you to everyone who came out to the DeLand Water Festival on April 27th, 2019 (pictured on the next page). We had a great turnout and signed up some new members! We’re always looking for volunteer help for these events!

STAY TUNED FOR UPCOMING "MEMBER ONLY" EVENTS

Admission to "Members Only" events is included in the yearly membership fee!

Our next Members-Only event this summer - We are planning a Scrub Jay Walk at Blue Spring State Park to learn more about these unique birds endemic to the Florida scrub and the park's endeavors in banding them to learn more about their habitat and distribution.

SUMMER FUN AT THE PARK - WATCH OUT FOR MANATEES!

Some manatees like to visit the spring in the summer time while it is open to swimming, tubing, snorkeling, scuba diving and paddling. Here are a few tips on what to do when encountering a manatee:

• Give the manatee space and observer from a distance, do not approach or follow the manatee.

• Don't touch the manatee or initiate contact. Manatees that are too habituated to people may lose their natural fear of humans and readily approach docks and motorboats which can put them in harms way.

• Don't separate a mother from her calf. Calves depend on their moms for 1-2 years after being born and can not survive on their own.

• If the manatee approaches you, stay still and take your hands out of the water. Wait for the manatee to swim on. If it "pursues" you, consider leaving the area until the manatee moves on

• A Manatee Observer Volunteer is usually present on a kayak or boardwalk. Please follow instructions from the volunteer. If you have any manatee-related questions, the volunteer will be happy to answer those!