The Head Spring OCT. 2022
Meet our Board Members
Donna Cobb is a long-time member of the Friends of Blue Spring State Park. Her roles include chair of the bingo committee, adviser for the Junior Ranger program, instructor for visiting school classes, and past vice-president. Donna helps out at Blue Spring because she enjoys the outdoors and likes to share it with others. She kayaks with her grandkids, and is a member of the 37th Alabama Civil War reenactment group. Donna is also a board member for the Orange City Historic Preservation Society.
The bricks have arrived and are ready to be installed! The date for installing the bricks and the distribution of the small souvenir bricks will be determined soon. Keep an eye on our website and Facebook page for updates.
Volunteering
All of us have heard the words “volunteers needed”, but have you ever wondered about what volunteers actually do? Or who they are? Volunteers are often the unsung heroes that keep your favorite events and places running smoothly. The Friends of Blue Spring need volunteers like you – individuals, families, professionals, retirees, scout groups, and church groups. You are the backbone of our group and the state park! If you don’t think you have a lot to offer, just remember the words of tennis great Arthur Ashe: “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” Everyone has something to offer, and we welcome all the help we can get. Volunteering is a great opportunity to not only help the park and spend time in an incredible natural setting, but to meet visitors from around the world. Would you like to get involved?
Our Annual Membership Meeting will be Saturday November 5th from 2-4 pm in the Roadside Pavilion in the lower parking lot. Learn all about the Friends of Blue Spring, meet the members and explore our various committees. This is a fun, social event. Beverages and light snacks will be provided. You do not need to be a current member to join, but pre-registration is required.
Upcoming Events
10-21-22 Jay Walk (Scrub Jay walk) 10 – 11 am
10-24-22 Blue Spring Boardwalk Tour 10 – 11 am
10-28-22 Fall BioBlitz morning 7:30 - 10:30 am
Fall BioBlitz afternoon 2:00 – 4:00 pm
11-5-22 Annual Membership Meeting 2-4 pm
Other Opportunities
As the summer season comes to an end and we get ever closer to manatee season, interpretive programs are increasing in the park. There are many opportunities for volunteers to get involved including tabling, boardwalk tours, children’s activities, fall birdwatching tours, as well as tours of the historical Thursby House. For these events, park staff often looks for 1-2 volunteers to assist when they are expecting large groups. For additional questions, interested volunteers can contact Park Services Specialist Connor Wagner.
Manatees will soon be returning in large numbers to Blue Spring State Park. The park is the largest aggregation site for manatees along the St. Johns River and a protected warm-water sanctuary for manatees where they can rest and go about their natural behaviors without being disturbed by boats, paddlers, or swimmers. Last season a record number of 721 manatees was seen in the spring in one single day (!!) and over 800 individual manatees visited the spring during the winter season. For the winter months, the park is looking for Manatee Rovers, who provide interpretation to visitors along the boardwalk. Many visitors come back to see the manatees year after year, but for others this is their first time seeing a manatee, so they have lots of questions. A training session for interested rovers will be held Saturday November 5th at 3:30 p.m. Interested volunteers should register with Park Services Specialist Connor Wagner.
Keep an eye on the newsletters and website for more events, and we hope to see many of you this winter and throughout the year!
This year’s annual Orange City Christmas Parade will be on Saturday, December 10th at 5 pm, and as every year the Friends of Blue Spring, alongside Save the Manatee Club, will be participating! We need volunteers to help us decorate the float in the afternoon and walk alongside the parade. Contact Connor to sign up!
Critter Corner
Nine-banded Armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus)
Our local armadillos (“little armored one” in Spanish) actually have between 7-11 bands of armor-plating. Although the armor helps protect them from predation, they can’t roll up into a ball (only three-banded armadillos can do that). Armadillos like warm wet climates, and can swim or walk along the bottoms of streams to get where they want to go. They will eat hundreds of different food items, including cockroaches, yellow jackets, fire ants, spiders, and grubs. Armadillos have a reputation as a carrier of leprosy, and although they are the only animals besides humans that can get leprosy, cases of humans contracting leprosy from handling an armadillo are rare. Fun facts about armadillos are that they always give birth to identical quadruplets, and when scared they will jump straight up in the air! Jumping straight up isn’t such a great idea when they are scared by an approaching car on a highway and it often ends badly.
Manatee Rescue/Release Ramp
We are continuing to make good progress raising money for the Manatee Rescue/Release Ramp, even though Hurricane Ian slowed everything down. Look at how high the water is! Dark water from the river is now touching the main walkway turning the steps that we normally take as we carry manatees into the spring into a hidden hazard. With that being said, we are ramping up our Ramp fundraiser this winter to have the new ramp build next fall after the next stage of the bank restoration is finished. You can help us reach our goal by make a donation.
The Head Spring-AUG. 2022
Meet our Treasurer: Sally Andrews is a native Floridian, and has been around manatees most of her life. She moved to Tennessee, where she met her husband and raised their son, but the family moved back to Florida to be closer to family in 2013.
Sally has been a bookkeeper for over forty years, working with non-profit sports leagues including baseball, football, and basketball, and the local auxiliary fire department.
In 2017 Sally got involved with Blue Spring State Park after attending a seminar on how to spot manatees in their natural habitat. Sally is now a permanent part of the Manatee Observer Program at Blue Spring State Park. With all the bookkeeping skills that Sally brings to the table, the Friends of Blue Spring State Park could not have elected a better Treasurer.
Events
Wednesday Night Bingo at Riverwalk Pizzeria and Brew Pub in Orange City is still very popular. Some of the prizes we have given away include: gift certificates, passes for entry into any state park, key chains, park pins, and everyone’s favorite, a handmade stuffed and cuddly manatee. Bingo starts at 6:30 pm and continues until four games are completed. There is nothing like a family night out with good food and a friendly game of bingo! We are always looking for volunteers to help out on bingo nights. We need volunteers to help with calling and selling bingo cards to patrons. If you’d like to help, please email our bingo team at fundraisingbluespringcso@gmail.com
Jay Walk: takes place on the third Friday of the month, so check out the weblink and put August 19 and September 16 on your calendar if you love birds. These are informative walks and great opportunities to snap a few shots of the park’s cheeky scrub jays for your scrapbook.
Our first Brick Campaign has ended with sales of 77 bricks. Unfortunately, there has been a delivery delay of several weeks from the manufacturer. Lightning struck the facility and some repairs to the machine that produces the bricks are currently being made. We hope to install the bricks in September and will keep everyone informed of the brick status and our next campaign through our newsletter, website, and on Facebook.
Our annual Members River Cruise is being planned for this fall. Keep your eye on the website or Facebook for further details and the date!
Gopher Tortoise Burrow: At the next big park function, when all the display booths are out, look for the park’s Gopher Tortoise Burrow. This is an educational display designed for children to see how a gopher tortoise lives. As kids crawl through the display they will come across replicas of the tortoise’s roommates (bugs, snakes, and other creepy crawlies). The burrow has been well received by the children that have gone through the burrow and many have even visited second and third times!
Species of the Month
Bluefin killifish (Lucania goodei)
These tiny fish are one of the most colorful fish you will see in the spring run, but since they are only about an inch and a half long, you have to look closely to find them. If you are snorkeling along the west side of the spring run, you may see these feisty little fish flaring their bright blue fins at each other and chasing each other around. Why are they doing that? It is both a territorial and courtship display. Another interesting feature of killifish are their upturned mouths (you can also see this in mosquitofish and sailfin mollies). This allows them to take advantage of the more highly oxygenated water at the air-water interface to supplement the very low oxygen levels in the rest of the spring run. The next time you go snorkeling, look for some of our small fish species! In this video you will see the male bluefin killifish flaring their fins, the females (no blue fins), and then up near the water’s surface you will see a lot of mosquitofish and a sailfin molly.
Bluefin Killifish Male bluefin killifish flaring their fins
Tips to Help Protect Your Favorite Park
Many visitors have expressed how wonderful Blue Spring State Park is to visit. Unfortunately, parks that are very popular sometimes get loved to death, so here are a few tips to help make your visit safe, enjoyable, and help maintain the natural beauty of the park for all visitors.
Tips to prevent erosion:
Areas along the bank have just been restored and are currently very sensitive. Any human disturbance can be detrimental.
Remember to not climb up the banks, especially at the spring head (boil).
If you see people climbing up the banks, trampling or pulling out vegetation or jumping from the banks, provide a friendly reminder that this is against park rules.
If you need to sit down and rest, sit on the exposed rocks around the spring head instead of the banks.
Tips to keep our park clean:
If you see any bits of garbage along the sides of the spring run, on the bottom of the spring or anywhere on land, please pick them up. Also, please remember that food and beverages are prohibited in and around the swimming areas. These areas include the swimming platforms, boardwalk leading to spring, and in the swimming area itself. Not only is it good to keep our spring clean, but it will also help curious manatees who can get entangled in garbage or ingest it, and can become very sick or even die.
Tips when encountering a manatee while in or on the water:
In collaboration with Save the Manatee Club, Volusia County, and Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute, the park has volunteer observers who keep an eye on the manatees visiting the spring during the summer months. Volunteers can provide lots of information, answer questions, and make sure manatees are not harassed by visitors.
Remember to give manatees space and do not approach, follow, chase or touch them (learn more from the video link).
If you’re in a kayak, try to stay 2 kayak-lengths away from the manatee (learn more from the video link).
Pay special attention to mothers and calves. Calves depend on their mom for up to 2 years and if they get separated the calf can not survive on its own. Give them extra space.
Some manatees are outfitted with satellite tracking devices (pictured below). These manatees have been rehabilitated and are just getting used to being in the natural environment. Do not touch them or encourage their “friendly” behavior. The tracking devices contain several weak links, so if the tag gets caught on something, it will break off.
If a manatee approaches you, take your paddle or hands out of the water and do not encourage the manatee’s approach. Manatees who get habituated to people can lose their natural fear and are more prone to get hit by boats.
A manatee with a satellite tracking device. Photos © Save the Manatee Club
Remember that you are a part of what keeps Blue Spring State Park a wonderful place to visit.
The Head Spring-June 2022
Meet our Secretary Cora Berchem.
Cora joined The Friends of Blue Spring State Park in 2014 and has served on the board as secretary. A native of Bonn, Germany, Cora moved to the United States in 2002. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication/Filmmaking from the College of New Jersey and a Masters in Film/Media and American Studies from the Goethe University of Frankfurt/Germany. After working in the film/television industry in New York City for several years, Cora made an independent documentary about manatees in 2013, and shortly after, got an offer from Save the Manatee Club (SMC) to join their staff to assist with outreach efforts, educational videos, public service announcements, and the live webcams. Cora moved to Florida in 2014 and is currently SMC’s Director of Multimedia and Manatee Research Associate. Cora is involved with manatee research at Blue Spring State Park and assists the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission with manatee rescues, releases, and recoveries. She also helps oversee the Blue Spring Manatee Observer Volunteer Program and recently completed the graduate certificate program in Aquatic Animal Health and Conservation at the University of Florida. Outside of work, Cora enjoys traveling, photography, running, scuba diving and the outdoors. She has visited all 175 Florida state parks.
Cora and Wayne Hartley identifying and counting manatees in the spring run
First Brick Campaign is coming to a close on June 30th!
Are you looking for a way to recognize memories of your life achievements (e.g. wedding or anniversary, school graduation, child’s birth)? There are many occasions that people would like to shout out about at the top of their lungs, and here is a way to do that without straining the vocal cords. You could also give a shout-out to your company, Boy or Girl Scout Troop, or other organization. Our Brick Campaign offers a permanent way to mark those outstanding moments and groups permanently. Your brick and message will be placed along the walk leading to the Thursby House at Blue Spring State Park for all to see. For further information go to: https://friendsofbluespringstatepark.org/pages/brick-campaign
Events
Ranger Retires
It is with sadness we say goodbye to Donna Fitzpatrick who is retiring after eleven years with the Florida Park Service. Donna held many positions over the years including Park Services Specialist. Her main focus in this position was natural resources management, the Manatee Observer Volunteer Program, Scrub Jay census and banding, the removals of invasive plant and fish species, fighting natural fires, and setting and coordinating controlled burns. Donna wore many hats, however the one we will miss most is the one of friendship. She always had a smile and something nice to say, making everyone feel they were a part of the team. The CSO and park volunteers hosted a retirement party with food, music, fellowship, and a hammock for use on those lazy retirement days. Best wishes Donna from all of us at the CSO!
Scrub Jay Walks
Florida Scrub Jays are permanent residents of the park, and much like the manatees, are a protected species. Scrub Jays are also special because they are endemic, meaning they are only found in Florida! This year, Park Services Specialist Connor Wagner took groups on a walk to observe the birds in their habitat. As they walked, Connor explained the bird’s habitat, food sources, predators, and answered questions. The park is planning one Jay Walk a month, with the next walk scheduled for July 15th. If you have been on one of these walks before, keep in mind that each walk will be unique to the season and the year - scrub jays routines change with the habitat, food, and predators.
Another scrub jay event this month was “Jay Watch”, an annual event that gives the participants a chance to see the birds up close. During Jay Watch, birds are captured and banded by permitted biologists, so they can collect valuable data on the park’s birds. For more information about Scrub Jay events contact Connor Wagner during park hours.
Wednesday Night Bingo
Bingo is going strong. It seems as though each Wednesday the crowds get bigger. The participants are excited at the prospect of winning a stuffed manatee, park entrance passes, and gift certificates, as well as have a great meal. Due to the increase in participant numbers, we are always looking for volunteers willing to help. Those that help will become eligible to receive a CSO T-shirt as well as an opportunity to help grow the CSO.
Projects
Park Beautification
Over the past two months Blue Spring State Park has been sprucing up. The front entrance has been beautified with native wildflowers and grasses, and an ongoing maintenance program to keep the weeds down has been established. The park has also beautified the front of the Thursby House with native flowers planted in raised beds. Native plants only need minimal watering once established, and one of the ideas behind the use of native plants is to help those who have flower beds at home see how to incorporate these low maintenance plants in their home gardens. Any of you who enjoy getting your hands dirty and would like to help maintain the gardens should contact Connor at the park office (386-775-3625).
New landscaping in front of the ranger station.
New planting boxes in front of the Thursby House
Fundraising for the Manatee Rescue & Release Area is moving along!
Blue Spring is a vitally important warm-water winter sanctuary for the Florida Manatee and a number of manatees are rescued or released at Blue Spring each winter. The current manatee staging area needs major upgrades. Enough money has now been raised by the Friends and other donors that we can bring in an engineer to design the ramp and come up with the detailed drawings that the park and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission need to proceed. Designing, permitting and eventually building a new rescue and release area is a complicated process that involves many steps and is therefore taking quite some time to get it right. We are continuing to work with all partners on the process and hope to have the new area build after completion of last phase of the bank restoration in mid/late 2023! Learn more about the project at https://friendsofbluespringstatepark.org/pages/projects.
Species of the Month – Purple Gallinule
As you walk along the shoreline of the St. Johns River, look among the lily pads and you might see a Purple Gallinule. It is one of the most colorful birds with its bright blue-green feathers and colorful beak. Surprisingly, the coloring makes for good camouflage; blending well with the marsh plants, blue sky, and reflections of the water. The adults are brightly colored, while the juveniles are light brown with bronze-green on their wings and back. Both parents share the work of building the nest, feeding the offspring, and caring for them. In nine weeks, the juveniles are capable of flight and leave the nest. The Purple Gallinule enjoys a wide variety of foods, including seeds, fruit, leaves, insects, frogs, snails, spiders, worms, fish, and even eggs and young of other birds. https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/purple-gallinule
The Head Spring-APR. 2022
Meet an officer: Our new Vice President is Heather Murphy, a native Floridian born and raised in Eustis. Heather joined The Friends of Blue Spring in 2019, has served on the Membership and Events Committees, and helps manage our social media pages. Heather is a supervisor and case manager for the Agency for People with Disabilities, and is an avid animal lover.
Lights at Night Firefly Event:
WOW, what a magnificent fourteen days of firefly displays - and only two rainouts! The fireflies started flashing around 7:45 p.m. each night and like an orchestra building to a crescendo, their displays first became more spectacular, before fading around 9 p.m. each evening. Most of the fireflies stay close to the ground, but every now and then you might see one flying over your head or up in the trees. Learn more about Florida fireflies here.
The Friends of Blue Spring provided firefly fact sheets, making this event educational as well as fun. Several people asked if there would be a program of some sort, so we may look into doing that next year. While families waited for dusk to arrive, children played on the grounds in front of the Thursby House (rolling down the hill getting up and running to the top again). In addition to glowsticks & wristbands, the Friends also sold manatee-firefly buttons, and modeled our manatee-firefly t-shirts.
We had over 3,000 visitors attending, some from as far away as Tampa, and all entering the park with faces beaming with excitement. From first-timers to repeat customers, many were so impressed that they plan to return again next year. Fireflies usually appear at Blue Spring State Park in late March into early April, so keep an eye on our Facebook page next spring for an announcement about Lights at Night 2023!
Plant of the Month - Cypress
This month we focus on Cypress trees and their knees: Cypress trees can be seen along the shore of the St. Johns River and in the swampy areas throughout Blue Spring State Park. The Bald Cypress is probably the best known of the Florida species; it can be 150 feet high, 56 feet in circumference, and live for more than 3,000 years!
The most noticeable characteristics of cypress are their sloping trunks (much wider at the bottom) and knobby knees. Have you ever wondered what the knees are for? So do a lot of scientists! They are clearly part of the root system, but there are three different theories for their function. Since the cypress grow in low oxygen swamps and the knees stick above the surface, perhaps they are a kind of snorkel for the root system. Or maybe the knees help provide oxygen support to the energy and nutrient transport systems of the tree. Cypress knees could also help stabilize the trees in the soft sediments, much like buttresses. It is amazing that even in the 21st century there are still plenty of basic scientific mysteries to solve. Learn more about cypress trees here.
Cypress images (c) Richard Hatton
What’s New?
The park is open for swimming again, but please keep an eye out for wildlife. Manatees are more common in the spring run during warm months than they used to be. If you are approached, just back away and wait for the manatee to lose interest in you. No matter how much they may seem to want to interact with you, it is against the law for you to interact with them. To keep manatees safe and provide education to park visitors, Blue Spring State Park has partnered with Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute, Save the Manatee Club, and Volusia County on the Manatee Observer volunteer program. You will see Manatee Observer volunteers (wearing yellow vests) at the park in a kayak or on the boardwalk where they help prevent harassment and educate visitors about proper behavior around manatees. Learn more about the Manatee Observer program here.
The Commemorative Brick Fundraiser:
Did you ever wonder how you can remember a loved one, celebrate a unique memorable event, honor friends or family, or just provide a unique and fun Blue Spring-themed gift? We have just the thing for you! The Friends of Blue Spring State Park have just started a Commemorative Brick fundraising campaign. The bricks will be laser- engraved with a name or phrase of your choice and installed along the walkway up to the Thursby House, where they will remain for years to come. The proceeds of the campaign will go toward the manatee rescue & release ramp as well as other projects throughout the park. Click here to learn more about the program.
Restoration Phase #3 and the Manatee Rescue & Release Ramp:
You have probably noticed all of the new stone, wire barriers, and changes at the headspring. Don’t be discouraged, the park is making good progress on a very large restoration project, and the first two phases are complete (stabilizing the east side of the headspring and the west bank of the manatee refuge). The project must move slowly due to the need to provide a winter sanctuary to manatees and accommodate summer swimming. Phase #3 (stabilizing the west side of the headspring and planting the headspring with native plants) will end in mid-late 2023 (before the start of the 2023 manatee season), and we are currently working with the park service to have permanent educational signs made about the restoration process.
As soon as all of the restoration work has been completed, the construction access area will be converted into a new manatee rescue and release ramp, with an improved observation area for the public and easier access for manatees being moved in or out of the water. We have been working hard to raise funds to help support the design and construction of the ramp, and thanks to all of you, we are making good progress toward our goal. If you would like to make a donation toward this project, you can do so here. In addition to the Friends of Blue Spring, there are several groups involved with raising money for this project, including Save the Manatee Club and The Florida State Park Foundation.
Becoming a Member:
Would you like to join the Friends of Blue Spring State Park? We can always use more member volunteers to help out with events (Wednesday night Bingo, Water Festival, Christmas Parade, Manatee Festival, Firefly Festival, and many more). Click here to learn more about how you can get involved.
Our Corporate Sponsors:
Are you interested in becoming a corporate sponsor? Let everyone see that you love Blue Spring State Park!
Join the companies below in supporting the park at either the Gopher Tortoise, Scrub Jay, Black Bear, or Manatee level.
Manatee Level
The Headspring- MAR. 2022
In January we voted in 12 board members, and then approved new officers in February. Karen Kellerman is now our President. She was born in Connecticut and is a 2013 transplant to Florida. Karen is a realtor and has served on the boards and advisory committees of several affiliated realtor organizations. In 2017 Karen joined the Friends of Blue Spring State Park and has been an active member, serving on many committees.
New Officers for 2022 are: Karen Kellerman - President, Heather Murphy - Vice President, Cora Berchem - Secretary, and Sally Andrews - Treasurer.
Manatee Festival
After a year’s pandemic hiatus Blue Spring State Park welcomed festival visitors back to celebrate these special mammals and enjoy the many educational booths set up along the boardwalk. The weather was chilly, but those temperatures brought hundreds of manatees into the run.
(c) Rich Hatton 2022
This year the CSO had an assortment of merchandise available for purchase at our booth, and sales were great. Our Friends of Blue Spring t-shirts are also on sale in the Blue Spring Gift Shop and make great souvenirs or gifts for friends & family.
Our photo board was very popular with families to commemorate their visit to the festival, however this year we had not only adults and children posing, family pets also took turns!
Riverwalk Pizzeria & Brewery Bingo Nights – 1070 S. Volusia Ave., Orange City, FL 32763
Do you enjoy playing bingo? Join us Wednesday nights from 6:30-8, enjoy some excellent pizza and support our park. You might even win your own stuffed manatee!
Project Update
The manatee rescue and release ramp is still our top fundraising priority. The goal is to have the project completed in time for the fall 2023 start of the manatee season, after the final stage of restoration of the headspring is completed next year. The cost of the project is likely to be well over $100,000, but with many fundraising partners involved, we are confident that the goal will be met. The Friends are well on our way to achieving our share of the costs thanks to all the people who gave big and those who gave a little. You can help us reach our goal by making a tax-deductible donation here
Upcoming Events
Lights at Night (Fireflies!)
Keep an eye on our Facebook page for information on this event. We never know exactly when the fireflies will start getting active, but it is usually around the 3rd week in March. Once we can see that the fireflies are starting to flash, we will set the dates and make announcements. Lights at Night will run for about two weeks. Visitors must arrive at the park before closing, and in addition to standard park admission, there is a $10 fee for an after-hours pass. You will be able to either pay for the after-hours pass with the CSO next to the Ranger Station before park closure or at the Thursby House. Once the park officially closes, or reaches maximum capacity, no more visitors can be accepted for the night, so plan to be there early! Lights at Night is a self-guided tour restricted to the boardwalk only and lasts for an hour after park closure.
Species of the Month
The park is home to a pair of Red Shouldered Hawks. They are a medium-sized bird with black rust-tone feathers. Their major identifying mark is a crescent-shaped row of red feathers on their shoulders. Most people will hear their screeches before ever seeing them. Their food source includes amphibians, reptiles, birds, and small mammals. In our area crayfish are also an essential part of their diet, and so you may see the hawks perched close to the water, looking for a snack.
December 2021
Meet the Board – President Missy Gibbs
Missy has been on the board of the Friends of Blue Spring State Park since its inception in 2005; serving as general board member, secretary, vice-president, and president. She is a Biology professor at Stetson University and has conducted her research in Blue Spring on native spring fish and invasive armored catfish since 1999. Her favorite thing about being a member of the Friends of Blue Spring is being able to actively help out the park she loves, through fundraising and educating the public. Her favorite Friends event is the Firefly Extravaganza.
What’s New?
The Friends has a new tent for the events we participate in. If you see us, please be sure to stop by and say “Hi”. We would love to shake your hand and thank you for supporting the park. We will be in the park doing meet & greets January 8th and participating in the Manatee Festival January 22-23rd.
We also have a brand-new website with all sorts of new functions. Check it out!
The first two stages of the Bank Stabilization Project have been completed. The banks along the spring run have been shored up, as has the east side of the headspring. The west side of the headspring will be stabilized in 2023. Are you interested in learning more about restoration projects and how you can help protect the springs? keep an eye out for some new signage early next year funded by a $5500 grant awarded to the Friends from the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida. We are still focusing most of our fundraising efforts on the manatee rescue & release ramp, with an observation area for visitors. The ramp will be completed once the third phase of the restoration project is complete.
Event Calendar
Please send us an email if you would like to participate in any of the events listed below. bluespringcso@gmail.com
The Friends of Blue Spring State Park runs the Wednesday Bingo at the Riverwalk Pizzeria in Orange City. Do you love bingo? Come out and play. All proceeds go to the Friends. Are you interested in helping out at Bingo Night? We need volunteers to help with calling and selling bingo cards to patrons. If you’d like to help, please email Karen at fundraisingbluespringcso@gmail.com
Look for us on December 11th at the Orange City Christmas Parade. All members are welcome to join us and walk alongside the giant inflatable manatee.
Friends of Blue Spring State Park Annual Meeting - January 8th at 9 a.m.
Come out to the Valentine Park pavilion - we are holding a meeting of all members of the Friends to elect board members. If you would like to get more involved in helping out the park, please come to the meeting and learn more about how you can get involved (e.g. serving on the Events, Fundraising, or Membership Committees, volunteering at upcoming events (Manatee Festival, Firefly Extravaganza, etc.)
Manatee Festival – January 22nd-23rd.
We will need volunteers to help out in Valentine Park where we load busses, and in Blue Spring State Park to help staff our tent, interact with the public, and load busses.
Firefly Extravaganza – TBD – Late March
As soon as the fireflies start showing up in mid to late March, we will schedule the Firefly Extravaganza. We will need help staffing each night for 2-3 weeks.
Species of the Month
This is a juvenile Florida Gar resting in the sun on the spring benthos. Blue Springs has two species of gar: Longnose Gar (longer, narrower snout, and few spots) and Florida Gar (shorter, wider snout, and lots of spots). Juveniles are especially spotty.
Summer 2021
PARK UPDATE
Blue Spring State Park is now operating at full capacity again. The park is open to swimming, scuba diving, tubing, snorkeling, hiking, and picnicking. Due to the bank stabilization project that is currently taking place at the park, the spring run is closed to kayaking, canoeing and paddle-boarding, however visitors can still paddle in the St. Johns River or go on a guided boat tour
FUNDRAISER: UPGRADED MANATEE RESCUE & RELEASE AREA
By Cora Berchem
As many of you know, Blue Spring State Park is a vitally important warm-water winter sanctuary for the threatened Florida manatee in the Upper St. John's River. A number of manatees are rescued from Blue Spring State Park each year as part of the Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP) for various causes such as boat strikes, 2 entanglements, cold stress, or other issues. After successful rehabilitation, many manatees are re-released at Blue Spring State Park. The current location to do so needs major upgrades to make this process as safe as possible for both staff as well as the manatees. Currently, the manatee staging area is the old canoe beach, which has eroded to the point that there is frequently no beach at all. Access to this beach is currently an old, narrow, winding boardwalk, with steep wooden steps. A wide, shallow ramp, in a straight line, potentially with very shallow steps, would make this much easier and safer for humans and manatees. Manatee rescues and releases are of great interest to the public and always draw a crowd. The current old canoe beach is somewhat derelict in appearance, especially for one of the highest-density manatee winter refuges. A well-designed staging area with interpretive displays would be ideal. The new area would provide an outreach opportunity for interpretation/education about manatees, rescues, and the partnerships that help keep them safe. The Friends of Blue Spring State Park are working with many partners to make this project a reality! And you can help! Learn more about theprojectand make a tax-deductibledonationtoday!
THE MOZAIC MANATEE IS BACK!
By Cora Berchem
For those of you enjoying visits to the park, here is some good news! The mozaic manatee has undergone some much needed restoration and is now back on the boardwalk! Ranger Jasmine spent weeks working very hard to restore the manatee's beautiful appearance. Check it out next time you stop by!
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
By Darrell Thomas
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints This month we recognize a group of missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who come from all over the country, including places like Utah, California, Texas, Arizona, and Maine. We’ve even had a volunteer from Belize! They have chosen to leave their homes to spend a few years serving other people. Since May 2018 this group has been part of the Blue Spring State Park family. They stay in one area for a brief period and then move on to serve in other areas. Over the last three years this group has been committed to helping the park create memorable experiences for our visitors. Anywhere from picking up trash to exotic plant removal, painting cabins, trimming the roadways, helping with park programs and helping with manatee rescues and releases, this group can be found weekly somewhere in the park. When asked why they continue to come back, here is what they said: There is beauty all around at Blue Spring State Park. We love coming to serve and see the nature around us. Although our service is mostly spiritual, we do also commit ourselves to physical service. Though we must serve, there is no place we'd rather be serving than at Blue Spring! The Rangers are such lovely folks, the wildlife is majestic, and the atmosphere is fun, relaxing, and free… and that's just when we're working! It truly is a little slice of paradise. We always look forward to coming to Blue Spring each week because it is so rewarding to get to spend time outside and pass by many guests. We always have a new adventure every time we go. It is amazing when we spot new alligators, see even more manatees and fish of every size! Blue Spring truly never gets old. It is truly a pleasure having this esteemed group honor our park with their service. We have probably had over 100 missionaries from this group come to volunteer in the past three years. Every few months there is a change when missionaries change areas. Their excellence in service has not wavered even though the members have changed. They have increased their service time to twice a week and the park really appreciates the volunteer time they spend in our park. It is at the point where we don’t know what we would do without them. We are proud to have these missionaries serve at our park.
STAFF SPOTLIGHT: JAMES SCHAEFFER
By Darrell Thomas
James grew up in New Jersey. He was more accustomed to the urban lifestyle but developed a love for the great outdoors later in life. He moved to Florida after leaving the military to be closer to his family who had moved here a few years prior. James felt that being in a State Park environment would help him develop a greater appreciation for nature and showcase his maintenance skills. His role as a Park Ranger has been a great opportunity for him to learn new maintenance skills, 6 interpretive skills, and information about the Florida ecosystem, especially since this is a spring park. Having the ability to teach our visitors about our many natural resources and wildlife keeps James excited at Blue Spring State Park. You can mostly catch James performing maintenance projects around the park. One of his favorite activities is learning, interpreting, and protecting the manatees. Although he enjoys spending time with our visitors, it is great to be able to enjoy the sounds of nature before the park opens and after the park has closed. James has been a great asset to Blue Spring State Park. We are proud to have him as a member on our team!
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.
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. Due to COVID19 we currently hold our monthly meetings virtually via Zoom.
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.
Winter 2020
PARK UPDATE
Blue Spring State Park is currently open to visitors at limited capacity and social-distancing is encouraged. All water activities are closed between November 15th and March 31st for Manatee Season. We hope everyone is staying safe!
THE MANATEES RETURN TO THE PARK FOR THE SEASON
By Cora Berchem
With temperatures cooling down, some of Blue Spring's most famous visitors return - the manatees! Between the months of November and March when ambient waters drop below 68 degrees Fahrenheit, large numbers of manatees visit Blue Spring State Park and take refuge in the protected 72 degree sanctuary. Manatees, unlike other aquatic mammals, do not have blubber to keep them warm and can not tolerate water colder than 68 degrees for prolonged periods of time. Visitors can enjoy the manatees from the boardwalk and they can watch them online via Save the Manatee Club's live above- and underwater webcams at ManaTV.org. Park staff and Save the Manatee Club performs daily morning counts of the manatees in the spring run, which are posted at the ranger station and online. In addition, they keep an eye out for any sick or injured manatees that may need to be rescued.
We had some exciting news this summer when Save the Manatee Club manatee adoptee "Phyllis" came into the spring run and gave birth to a healthy calf on August 13th, 2020! This is Phyllis' 16th known calf (pictured here). She was the first manatee to give birth to twins at Blue Spring - a rare event!
THE FRIENDS OF BLUE SPRING WELCOME NEW CONCESSIONAIRE - BLUE SPRING ADVENTURES
By Missy Gibbs, Laura Sherman & Joe Pereira
In addition to the always popular canoe, kayak, and tube rentals, Segway tours, and nature tours, Blue Spring Adventures has added more outdoor recreational activities for the public, including bike rentals. The St. Johns River daily narrated boat tours are back for those who love to sightsee on the water. This one-of-a-kind wilderness experience is the perfect opportunity to get up close with the magnificent manatees, alligators, birds, and other wildlife found throughout the St. Johns River.
“The guided boat tours allow guests to learn more about the great wonders found in the St. Johns River while seeing it in-person,” says Chris Lee, general manager at Blue Spring Adventures. “It is a fun activity for the whole family to enjoy.” “Riding on a boat, kayaking, canoeing, or doing the Segway Tour with friends and family in Blue Springs State Park gives a whole new perspective of the environment,” says Lee. “The beautiful landscape and exotic wildlife offer a scenic route that helps guests disconnect from the busyness of life.” Step in the updated gift shop and cafés to see what has changed! The Penny Press, which supports the Friends of Blue Spring will soon be moving from the Thursby House into the gift shop for your convenience.
Check out what all Blue Spring Adventures has to offer at: www.bluespringadventures.com or by calling 833-953-2583 (BLUE)
KEEP BLUE SPRING STATE PARK BEAUTIFUL!
By Karen Kellerman & Jackie Cheers
Many visitors to Blue Spring State Park may not be aware of the many volunteers who work behind the scenes at our park. In order to thank them, we want to highlight some of the projects and people that help to keep the park beautiful for all of us to enjoy. The most recent project is the Observation Deck Beautification. You will notice that vegetation has been cleaned out and the railing balusters have been replaced with new metal mesh. This allows for better viewing of the spring, especially for our smaller visitors. Our volunteers consist of individuals, groups and the campground hosts/resident volunteers (who camp in the park for free and volunteer 24 hours or more each week during their stay). We want to particularly thank the following volunteers: Kay & Don Hallum (Trail Maintenance), Brienne Terry (Removal of Exotic Plants), Julian Drake and Alex Denner (Park Beautification).
Summer & Fall resident volunteers who helped with the cabins, campground, Ranger Station and general park maintenance like the overlooks, repairing the bathhouse, etc.: Don Shields, Elaine Murszewski, Ann Hanson, Robert & Sonya Childs, Danni & Craig Neathery and Ken & Carol Hoover. In addition, we want to extend a heartfelt Thank You to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Their Missionaries come from all over the world and have been volunteering at the park for over 2 years.
JUST INSTALLED: BLUE SPRING STATE PARK RUBBING PANELS
By Darrell Thomas
In an effort to give our visitors a better hiking experience on our trails, we’ve placed 8 rubbing panels on the Pine Island Trail and 4 panels in the Sand Pine Scrub Observation Area. The rubbing panels will give our visitors a more interactive experience while out on the trails. The panels include information on various plants and animals, a related picture for identification purposes and a rubbing art disc. This disc features a textured surface related to the plant or animal. You can transfer the engravement onto a sheet of paper using charcoal, chalk, or crayons while the paper is pressed tightly onto the disc. The featured animals and plants on the panels are the Florida Black Bear, Florida Scrub-jay, Gopher Tortoise, White-tailed Deer, Red Shouldered Hawk, Eastern Diamondback Rattle Snake, American Beauty Berry, and the Live Oak. Stop by our Ranger Station (at the entrance) or visit the kiosk on the trails to see where to locate these spectacular panels. You can access the Pine Island Trail from our lower parking lot. The trailhead is located across from the historical Thursby House. The Sand Pine Scrub Observation Area cam be accessed from the Sand Pine Scrub Campground or from the parking lot at our Administration Building. Happy Trails!!!
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.
Summer 2020
PARK UPDATE
Blue Spring State Park was closed from mid-March to mid-May due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are happy to report that the park is back open to swimming, day use activities, camping and paddling with social distancing guidelines in place. We hope everyone has been staying safe!
MEMBERSHIP UPDATE
By Candia Flasch & Cora Berchem
Membership to all current Friends of Blue Spring Members has been extended an additional 6 months to make up for the time that our members were unable to visit the park.
We appreciate all our active members, who continue renewing their memberships and help contribute towards the park. We are facing some changes and challenges related to COVID-19 and the group activities for our members are currently under review.
If your membership has lapsed or you have not yet joined, now is a great time! Individual memberships are $15/year and family memberships are $25/year which includes 12 free park visits per year as well as access to our member-only events.
At this time the membership sub-committee is exploring the possibility of issuing membership cards through our online system. In the meantime, if your address is included with your membership information, your membership card will be mailed to you. All other cards will be held at the ranger station.
A FOND FAREWELL TO RON WOXBERG
By Missy Gibbs
This summer, we bade a fond farewell to Ron Woxberg, when he retired from his parks career as the owner and operator of St. Johns River Cruises. When the Friends was founded in 2004, Ron was one of the original members, and eventually served as president of the Friends for over 10 years. Ron has been a tireless & cheerful volunteer at all Friends-sponsored events (often along with his wife Winkie), is an incredibly knowledgeable river naturalist, talented photographer, and an on-sight resource & friend that we will miss. We hope to see him at occasional Friends events, but also wish him a relaxing “retirement”.
MANATEES AT THE PARK DURING SUMMER TIME
By Cora Berchem & Donna Rousseau
During the summer months when the spring run is open to swimming, scuba diving, snorkeling, tubing and paddling, some manatees stop by to check out the spring run as well. It’s important to keep a few things in mind to have a positive experience when encountering a manatee in the wild.
Do:
Observe the manatee from a distance. When on a kayak, try to stay at least 2 kayak lengths away from the manatee. When swimming, give it at least 50 feet of space
Let the manatee be a manatee and don’t alter its natural behavior
Stay still and quiet and avoid loud noises and splashing
Take pictures of the manatee from a distance
Don’t:
Ride, chase, poke, touch or harass the manatee in any way. Anything that alters the manatee’s natural behavior is considered harassment and can result in punishment
Separate a mother from her calf. Calves depend on their mothers for up to 2 years before being weaned
Lure the manatee towards your kayak, canoe or paddle board or give it food or water.
If the manatee comes up to you, let it do its thing, but try not to encourage the “friendly” behavior. Manatees who are habituated to people lose their natural fear which can result in them approaching motorboats and being hit or killed.
You can find additional protection tips as well as a short video on proper etiquette when swimming near manatees and a short video on proper etiquette when paddling near manatees.
Blue Spring State Park has a Manatee Observer Volunteer Program, which runs between the months of April – November. Volunteers can assist park staff by monitoring manatees from the boardwalk or a kayak and educate visitors. Mandatory training is offered each year in the spring. For more information contact Donna at Donna.Fitzpatrick@dep.state.fl.us
BLUE SPRING STATE PARK RANGER STATION UPGRADES
By Darrell Thomas
Thanks to the generous donation from the Friends of Blue spring State Park, the Ranger Station at the park entrance has received some major upgrades. A courtesy window has been added to allow the rangers to interact with the public without being exposed to the elements. This window will also allow park staff to keep the entrance door shut, reducing the strain on the air conditioning unit. Some of the other upgrades include new cabinetry and counters, new flooring, new shelving, new office furniture, and the repainting of the entire interior of the building.
The new environment creates a pleasant atmosphere for the park staff. Projects like these are supported through the membership dues and fundraising efforts from the Friends of Blue Spring State Park.
the renovated interior of the ranger station includes new flooring, new countertops and new cabinets.
STAY TUNED FOR UPCOMING "MEMBER ONLY" EVENTS
Admission to "Members Only" events is included in the yearly membership fee!
This year the Florida State Parks are celebrating their 86th anniversary! Stay tuned for upcoming events and programs at Blue Spring throughout the year!
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.
Spring 2020
UPCOMING: FIREFLIES
Our Lights at Night (firefly) event will begin around mid-March and last for a 2-week period. While there is no way to determine exactly when the fireflies will first appear, we will be making an announcement on the Florida State Parks website and Facebook page a few days prior to the event. All participants should be in the park by 7 p.m. to meet on the Thursby House lawn at 7:45 p.m. After-hour passes will be given out upon entry to the park for a $10 event fee, plus regular park admission ($4 for one person in a vehicle, $6 for 2 - 8 people in a vehicle). Visitors will be allowed to remain in the park for one hour after closing to go on a selfguided tour. We will need a lot of volunteers to help with this event! You do not need to be a member to volunteer. Everyone who volunteers for 3 or more nights gets a free firefly t-shirt! For more information and to sign up, please emailDarrell.R.Thomas@dep.state.fl.us
INTRODUCING: OUR FIRST CORPORATE SPONSORS
We would like to welcome our first corporate sponsors: Blue Spring Brewing and Off the Wall Quilt! We have four different corporate membership levels - learn more here.
A special Thank You to Julie Luoma from Off the Wall Quilt, who is selling manatee patterns at events nation-wide with the proceeds going to the Friends of Blue Spring!
Join us for Brews & Bingo every Wednesday from 6 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. at Blue Springs Brewing in Orange City. It's a lot of fun! We are also looking for volunteers to help on Wednesday evenings passing out Bingo cards and markers. All proceeds from the Bingo Nights go to the Friends of Blue Spring State Park. For more info and to sign up to volunteer email fundraisingbluespringcso@gmail.com
MORE NEWS: OUR COMMITTEES
We now have a Membership, Even and Fundraising committee set up to better distribute responsibilities and be able to involve more of our members. You can learn more about our committees here.
All committees are currently looking for volunteers to join them to organize events, explore fundraising opportunities, and manage the membership database. Email us at bluespringcso@gmail.com
WHAT WE HAVE BEEN UP TO...
In collaboration with Save the Manatee Club volunteers we had a great time at the BLUE SPRING EDUCATION DAY on February 15th, 2020!
In early February we participated in they Lyonia Wildlife Festival at the Lyonia Environmental Center in Deltona to educate visitors about the park and the benefits of becoming a member of the Friends of Blue Spring (pictured below).
CSO member Candia Flash handcrafted these beautiful stuffed manatees which we will be offering for sale at upcoming events! Candia modeled them after real-living manatees from the Save the Manatee Club adoption program!
STAY TUNED FOR UPCOMING "MEMBER ONLY" EVENTS
Admission to "Members Only" events is included in the yearly membership fee!
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.
Winter 2019
UPCOMING: ANNUAL MEETING
Join us for our Annual Meeting on Saturday, January 14th, 2020 from 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. at the Orange City Council Chambers!
This is a great opportunity to meet other members, learn how you can get more involved, and give feedback of what you would like to see in the future. You do not need to be a member to attend! We will be providing an overview about our past projects, introduce our board members, and outline our membership, fundraising, and event committees. We need people to help out on all these committees, so this is a great chance to learn more! Refreshments and snacks will be provided. Learn more and register here.
UPCOMING: ORANGE CITY MANATEE FESTIVAL
The next Orange City Manatee Festival will be taking place on January 25th and 26th, 2020. The Friends of Blue Spring will once again be helping with the shuttle buses from the main event location at Valentine Park into Blue Spring State Park and back. We will also have a table at the park to inform visitors about our group, activities for kids, and our famous Bucket Brigade. We will need lots of volunteer help for this event! Learn more and register here.
WHAT WE HAVE BEEN UP TO...
In collaboration with Save the Manatee Club volunteers we had a great time at the Orange City Christmas Parade on December 14th, 2019!
WEDNESDAY BINGO NIGHTS AT BLUE SPRINGS BREWERY!
Blue Springs Brewing had their soft Opening in November and has been introducing a wide variety of micro-brews including Ales, Lagers, Stouts and Hard Cider as well as their signature cocktails. The menu offers a variety of unique pub food. On December 14th was their Grand Opening.
EVERY Wednesday (unless otherwise specified) starting at 6 p.m. they are hosting BINGO. Each play-card is $1 and 100% of the proceeds goes to the Friends of Blue Spring State Park. Friends of Blue Spring members have been participating weekly and we're excited to welcome new volunteers to help us out! It's also a great opportunity to meet new members and help raise money for the park!
DECEMBER VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION NIGHT
We were excited to be part of the Volunteer Appreciation Night on December 6th, 2019 at Blue Spring State Park. Volunteers have accumulated over 5,000 hours at Blue Spring State Park this year, including work as camp and cabin hosts, lawn maintenance, manatee observers, manatee rovers, interpreters, assistance with parking and at the ranger station, cleanups, and much more. The CSO sponsored the dinner and we had a great turnout!
Fall 2019
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!
Summer 2019
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!
Spring 2019
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.
UPCOMING EVENTS
The Fireflies will soon be returning to Blue Spring State Park! It is that time of year when the skies of Blue Spring come alive with fireflies. We are looking forward to this year’s event. Although we do not know the specific start date yet, it generally begins around the middle of March and lasts about 2 weeks. Donations raised from this event will go to the Friends of Blue Spring State Park and will be used for park enhancements. We are looking for an ample amount of volunteers to help us make this event a major success. We need volunteers for each night during the two week event. Can you volunteer one night? Each volunteer will be given information on firefly behavior, so that they can engage the visitors during the event. If talking with visitors isn't really your thing, you can help in other ways. At this time, we are looking for availability to put a proposed schedule together. You do not need to be a CSO member in order to help. The volunteer start time will be 5:30 pm and the end time around 8:30 pm. (depending on the park closing time) For further questions and to sign up to volunteer, please contact Darrell Thomas at Darrell.R.Thomas@dep.state.fl.us.
DeLand Water Festival - April 27th, 2019. Stay tuned for more information!
A BUSY WINTER WITH LOTS OF EVENTS
Over the past few weeks we were busy with lots of events. We had a booth at the Orange City Manatee Festival and assisted with getting people on and off the shuttle buses going from Valentine Park to Blue Spring.
CSO Members Rich Hatton & Kristine Spence table at the Orange City Manatee Festival (above). Kids enjoy rock painting at the Manatee Festival. (on left)
On February 8th, we had our second annual Members-Only Wildlife Walk and Talk where we learned about manatees, fish, birds, as well as other wildlife, exotic species and exotics control at Blue Spring State Park.
On February 9th, we assisted the park with tabling at the Lyonia Wildlife Festival at Lyonia Environmental Center in Deltona. (Pictured on top of this newsletter)
STAY TUNED FOR UPCOMING "MEMBER ONLY" EVENTS
Admission to "Members Only" events is included in the yearly membership fee!
DID YOU KNOW?
Proceeds from the sale of firewood ($5 per bundle) at the park go to the Friends of Blue Spring State Park. All funds are used to assist with park projects.
Winter 2018
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.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Orange City Christmas Parade - Saturday December 8th, 2018. Join us as we partner with Save the Manatee Club for this fun event! We will have a big inflatable manatee float and need volunteers to help us decorate and walk along the float. We will be meeting at the line-up along 17-92 in Orange City at 4:30 p.m. If interested, please RSVP: Orange City Christmas Parade
Orange City/Blue Spring Manatee Festival: Saturday, January 26th, and Sunday January 27th, 2018, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. This is one of our biggest yearly events! We are looking for volunteers to help us load buses at Valentine Park in Orange City (where the main festival takes place) and at Blue Spring State Park. The CSO receives $1 per person who we help load on the buses from the festival organizer! We also need volunteers to help us at our booth at Blue Spring State Park. If interested, please RSVP: Blue Spring Manatee Festival
THE BLUES CRUISE WAS A BIG SUCCESS!
In September we enjoyed the 2nd annual Blue Cruise Members-Only event and were able to welcome many new members on this 2-hour guided tour on the St John's River. A big Thank You to everyone who came out and to the St. John's River Cruises for sponsoring the event!
Fall 2018
RECENT EVENTS
Second Annual Blues Cruise Members-Only Event on Saturday, September 22nd, 2018, 9:30 a.m. More information at Friends of Blue Spring Blues Cruise. We have reached capacity for this event. If you are still interested in attending, please send us an email at bluespringcso@gmail.com and we will put you on the Waitlist. This event is FREE for all members. If you are not a member yet, you can Join us now.
First Annual Friends of Blue Spring State Park Photo Contest. Photo submissions will be accepted on October 6th and 7th, 2018 at Blue Spring State Park. A $5 submission fee is required for each entry. Photos will be exhibited in the Thursby House on October 13th & 14th and 20th & 21st for the public to vote on. Some great prizes are waiting! Check out the prizes and full rules at Friends of Blue Spring State Park photo contest.pdf.
THE JUNIOR RANGER/VOLUSIA COUNTY
ECHO PROGRAM IS BACK!
Grade school kids between 1st - 5th grade are invited to join the ECHO/Jr. Ranger Program where they will get a glimpse of what it's like to be Florida State Park Ranger! The program takes place every second Saturday of the month (September - May) from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Space is limited to the first 20 registrants. Please RSVP to Darrell Thomas, 386.775.3663 or Darrell.R.Thomas@dep.state.fl.us. More information at: Echo Ranger Program.pdf
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. For more information and to sign up to volunteer, please contact Darrell Thomas at 386.775.3663 or Darrell.R.Thomas@dep.state.fl.us.
Summer 2018
RECENT EVENTS
Firefly Takeover - The Friends conducted nightly guided walks for park visitors for two consecutive weeks in March while fireflies were visible at the park and over 1,100 people attended!
In late April, the Friends participated in the DeLand Water Festival (pictured above) and recruited many new members.
RECENT PROJECTS
The Friends purchased a shed for the park's reactivated employee-owned Mobile Residence (pictured below).
In order to continue the Junior Ranger program at the park to engage o young park visitors, The Friends purchased new Junior Ranger Patches (pictured below). To learn more about the program click here
OTHER NEWS AND UPCOMING PROJECTS
Annie Cunningham, park volunteer and campground host, received the "Volunteer of the Month" award in April 2018 for all her hard work. Many of our CSO members are actively involved helping at the park with various programs and activities, such as school presentations, Manatee Watch, Visitor Services, and Maintenance.
Spring 2018
WHO WE ARE
The Friends of Blue Spring is a non-profit organization 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.
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 6pm in the Admin Building at Blue Spring State Park.
SOME RECENT PROJECTS...
The purchase of trailcams to monitor wildlife at the park
New artwork for the Blue Spring Cabins
Sale of Firewood
Installation of antennas to improve radio communication for park staff
Purchase of storage sheds for the park
(Black Bears recorded with the trailcams purchased by The Friends of Blue Springs)
"MEMBERS ONLY EVENT"
Firefly Takeover in March (we will offer this event again in Spring 2018!)Blues Cruise on the St. John's River in collaboration with the St. John's River Cruises in OctoberNext "Members Only" Event: Manatee Walk & Talk with Save the Manatee Club Specialist Wayne Hartley at Blue Spring State Park. Stay tuned for a date in early 2018!Admission to "Members Only" Events is included in the yearly membership fee!
(Alligator seen during the recent Blues Cruise Event on the St. John's River)
UPCOMING PROJECTS AND EVENTS
Orange City Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 9th at 4 p.m. More information in the Events section on our website.Manatee Festival on January 27th and 28th, 2017. We need volunteers for our education booth and to help load buses from Valentine Park to Blue Spring State Park. More information in the Events section on our website and at http://themanateefestival.com/Blue Spring Rocks! A new program to engage kids and the general public through rock painting at Blue Spring State Park.We are starting to work on the Thursby House to eventually restore 1-2 rooms to what they historically looked like and open it to visitors on special occasions. The project will be started in Spring 2018.