“In some mysterious way woods have never seemed to me to be static things. In physical terms, I move through them; yet in metaphysical ones, they seem to move through me.”
~John Fowles
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The Sierra Club is the nation's oldest and largest grassroots environmental organization, with over 700,000 members nationwide. These individuals are using grassroots activism and community action to protect America's environment, for our families, for our future.
We are part of the Florida Chapter of the National Sierra Club. Our group, the Central Florida Sierra Club, comprises over 2,100 members in Orange, Seminole, Lake and Osceola Counties. Our goal is to explore, enjoy, and protect the wild places of the earth. We now invite you to explore and enjoy our web presence. Thanks for visiting!
~ Maria Bolton-Joubert, Executive Committee Chairman
Join Jeffrey Greene and the Sierra Club at Leu Gardens on Wednesday, May 18th at 7:00 pm to hear Greene discuss his new book, The Golden-Bristled Boar: Last Ferocious Beast of the Forest (April 2011; University of Virginia Press).
The wild boar appears to us as something straight out of a myth. But as Jeffrey Greene learned, these creatures are very real, living by night and, despite shrinking habitats and hordes of hunters, thriving on six continents. The author’s curiosity about this elusive animal that is wrecking havoc in France, his home, leads him to Sardinia, Corsica, and Tuscany; he even casts an eye to the American South, where he explores the boar’s feral-pig counterparts and descendants. He introduces us to a fascinating cast of experts, from museum curators and scientists to hunters and chefs (who share their recipes) to the inhabitants of chateaux who have lived in the same ancient countryside with generations of boars. They are all part of a journey filled with wonders and discoveries about these majestic animals the poet Robinson Jeffers called “beautiful monsters."
All programs are held at Harry P. Leu Gardens, 1920 N Forest Avenue,
Orlando Florida. For directions to Leu Gardens, visit:
www.centralfloridasierra.org.Door opens at 6:15 PM with light snacks and
socializing. Programs are from 7:00 – 8:45p.m. A brief discussion of
environmental issues preceeds the program. Admission is free, and the
public is invited!
As a member of the Sierra Club, or even just as a member of our society, you are often compelled to act - to take action, to stand up for something, and to make your voices heard. What if someone asked you to simply do nothing, instead?
Well.. at least for 2 minutes, that is.
Back in January, one of the stories buzzing around the net was about a simple website challenging you to do nothing for 2 minutes. Sounds easy and pointless, right? Not when we're so used to clicking and browsing and texting and messaging and emailing whenever we're on the computer. In this fast-paced digital world it can actually be a challenge to stop what you're doing and simply ...be.
The United States is in the midst of an unprecedented gas drilling boom
-- brought on by a controversial technology called hydraulic fracturing
or "fracking."
If the word fracking sounds strange and a bit scary -- it's because it is.
It
starts when oil and gas companies take good water, mix it up with
not-so-good stuff and shoot it into the ground to force out the gas. And
that's when things get really strange.
What does coal have to do with...underwear? You'll have to ask the students at Miami University in Ohio, who staged a pants-less rally to “Expose Coal” in front of their campus coal plant on March 31.
The Sierra Student Coalition launches "Expose Coal" underwear flash mobs to
protest coal on campus - in partnership with PACT underwear.
Visit this link to learn more. http://www.sierraclub.org/coal/campus/
The Seminole County Agriculture Community Welcomes You! This is a self-guided tour. Please drive carefully and bring your friends and family. You may come to one stop or all six. Come see a sample of Seminole County's $465 million agriculture industry. For registration, please call 407-665-5560. Pay at the door - $5 for lunch.
2011-03 Newsletter
The March & April edition of the Sierran newsletter is available here. Inside, find articles on:
March meeting: Adventure from the Back County: Kayaking in the 10,000 Islands of Florida
Adventure from the Back County: Kayaking in the 10,000 Islands of Florida.
Rodney Posey,an
activity leader for the Florida Trail Association, will share photos
and stories from a week long kayak adventure during the annual Men Gone Wild trip. The 10,000 Islands in Everglades National Park is full of wildlife and wildtales. From remote tropical beaches with sharks cruising just offshore to tales of murder at Watson's Place, this presentation will have you entertained about a Florida most people never experience.
All programs are held at Harry P. Leu Gardens, 1920 N Forest Avenue,
Orlando Florida. For directions to Leu Gardens, visit:
www.centralfloridasierra.org.Door opens at 6:15 PM with light snacks and
socializing. Programs are from 7:00 – 8:45p.m. A brief discussion of
environmental issues preceeds the program. Admission is free, and the
public is invited!
April Outings: Hiking and Kayaking
April 3rd: Split Oak Preserve Hike. Meet at 10:00am for a 5 mile hike. This 1,700-acre forest is adjacent to two very picturesque lakes—Lakes Hart and Mary Jane—and also to a very popular county park, Moss Park. It is named for a giant, 200-year old oak tree that was split about 50 years ago and continues to grow today. The habitat here is classic to Central Florida and includes cypress swamps, pine flatwoods, oak hammocks, and marshland. Split Oak Preserve is located in Orange County, SE of the International Airport. Please RSVP to Rodney Posey for meeting instructions:
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or 321-436-2349 evenings
April 9th: Come out and enjoy a guided hike at Wekiva Springs State Park during Wekiva Festival from 10-2. Hikes are at various times of the day and free.
April 17th Lake Lotus Park 5th Annual Earth Day Event from 10-3. Lake Lotus Park is the City of Altamonte Springs nature preserve. Total area is approximately 150 acres, including 120 acres of woods and wetlands. The park contains over one mile of boardwalk, restrooms, playground equipment, picnic pavilions, grills, a fishing dock and an enclosed pavilion that serves as Nature’s Window on the Lake. 1153 Lake Lotus Park Rd, Altamonte Springs, FL 32714
April 23: Blue Creek Run Kayak. Bring your kayak (no rentals available) Meet at 10:00am at the Lake George boat ramp for the 4-mile Blue Creek Run (8 miles roundtrip). We will be exploring the Lake County Blueway and this will be our trial run. You are welcome to join us as we explore new area but note we have not paddled this before. Paddle from the community of Astor to the St. Johns River. Blue Creek is known for its diverse wildlife. Astor was once a commercial center on the St. Johns River. Citrus from Lake County groves was sent to Astor by rail and then shipped to Jacksonville by steamboats. According to Emmett Peter Jr., author of Lake County, Florida Astor is surrounded by the Ocala National Forest, where man coexists with the black bear, the osprey and the majestic eagle, a world “Created by God and not yet spoiled by man.” Map at: www.paddlelake.com/interactive_map/blue_creek_run_map.aspx Address: 58300 Lake George Road, Astor, FL 32102 Leader: Mary-Slater Linn 407-481-4398/
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Note: This might be a strenuous trip.
Non-members are welcome! FOR OUTINGS: YOU MUST RSVP BY CONTACTING THE TRIP LEADER.
Participants on Sierra Club outings are required to sign a standard
liability waiver. To read the waiver prior to the outing, contact the
Outings Department at 415-977-5528 or visit us online at www.
sierraclub.org/outings/chapter/forms/.
Sierra Club is a Florida Seller of Travel Ref. No. ST37115. CA Seller of
Travel CST 2087766-40. Registration as a seller of travel does not
constitute approval by the State of California.
March Outing: Wilderness Adventures
Join us March 11-13, 2011, as the Florida Trail Association celebrates Wilderness Adventures, a weekend of outdoor skill building, safety awareness and education. The weekend will be filled with exhibits, demonstrations, seminars, interpretive hikes, guest speakers, entertainment, food and hands-on activities guaranteed to satisfy young and old alike. This is an event for all who have an appreciation for the natural wonders of the outdoors.
Location: United Methodist Life Enrichment Center, 4991 Piccolo Rd, Fruitland Park, FL 34731
Registration is $15.00 per person and children under 18 are free. Food and camping fees extra. Register on-line: www.floridatrail.org or call the FTA office at 877-HIKE-FLA to request a registration form.
Help Back to Nature with a donation
DONATIONS DESPERATLY NEEDED
Back to Nature Wildlife Refuge & Education Center
A popular wildlife refuge is facing an uncertain future in the tough economic times.
5th Annual Earth Day
