On February 18th, join us for a discussion of the Kennedy Space Center (KSC). KSC includes 140,000 acres purchased by NASA in the late 1950s and is located on the east coast of central Florida. Approximately 6,000 acres are actively used to support space mission operations; the remaining lands are managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Immediately north of KSC is the Canaveral National Seashore, managed by the National Park Service. This unique relationship between space flight and protection of natural resources is carefully orchestrated.

All programs are held at Harry P. Leu Gardens. 920 N Forest Avenue, Orlando FL. Door opens at 6:15 PM with light snacks and socializing. Programs are from 7:00 – 8:45 PM. A brief discussion of environmental issues receeds the program. Admission is free and the public is welcome! 

On January 21st, join us as Michelle Thatcher takes us on her solo journey, down the historic St. John ’s River. This is her adventure of getting up close and personal with the river once called the “Nile of the Americas”: alligators, river “characters”, wild hogs, hunters, vine-tangled swamps and wide, shallow marshes. With only a map and compass and her 14 foot kayak, Thatcher may be the first to paddle the entire St. Johns River. Thatcher’s website is www.AlligatorPrincess.com. Join us on this exciting exploration!

All programs are held at Harry P. Leu Gardens. 920 N Forest Avenue, Orlando FL. Door opens at 6:15 PM with light snacks and socializing. Programs are from 7:00 – 8:45 PM. A brief discussion of environmental issues receeds the program. Admission is free and the public is welcome!

Although the formal gardens are the centerpiece of this park, Washington Oaks is also famous for unique coquina rock formations that line its beach. Nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the Matanzas River, the gardens use native and exotic species, from azaleas and camellias to the bird of paradise, sheltered within a picturesque oak hammock. We wiill picnic on the beach after hiking a few short trails (less than 2 miles). Great for children! Located two miles south of Marineland on State Road A1A in Palm Coast. We will carpool from Orlando at 9:30 a.m. Contact: Mary-Slater Linn 407-481-4398 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Cost: Parking fee of $4 per vehicle.

Non-members are welcome! 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/.

This 1100 acre site is part of Seminole County’s Natural Lands. Sierra Club is familiar with the property since we were part of a lawsuit that forced a developer to reduce the number of homes built on Astor Farms adjacent to this property. This is an easy 2 mile hike to the St. Johns River and a great hike for children! We’ll meet in the Publix parking lot on SR 46, just west of I-4 in Sanford at 2:30 p.m. and enjoy an early afternoon hike. Leader: Mary-Slater 407-481-4398 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Cost: Free

Non-members are welcome! 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/.

Meet at the SuperWalmart in Ocoee at 8 a.m. We will carpool the hour drive out and do a couple of the loops to make about 12 miles of hiking. Bring plenty of water and lunch. Moderate. RSVP to Rodney Posey: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 321-436-2349 evenings.

Cost: Free

Non-members are welcome! 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/.

Sonia is our newsletter editor and her husband, Yan is a UCF astronomy professor. They will bring their friends from the UCF astronomy club (with their BIG telescopes) and help us tour the night sky. We’ll observe Venus, Saturn, the Orion Nebula and other fascinating features. Meet at 7:30pm at Hal Scott Preserve. This outing is weather-dependent, so be sure to check its status with Mary-Slater if it looks like it's going to be cloudy on the 21st!

See more about the 2009 International Year of Astronomy in our January-February Newsletter!

From Orlando: Head east on State Road (SR) 50 to SR 520. From SR 20, turn west into the Wedgefield subdivision n Macon Pkwy. Turn left on ancroft Blvd, right on Meredith Pkwy, left on Dallas Blvd. The park entrance is 1.6 miles from the Meredith/Dallas intersection, on the right. There is an exit for Dallas Blvd from the BeachLine pressway east-bound. Leader: Mary-Slater 407-481-4398 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Make sure you dress warmly.

Cost: Free.

Non-members are welcome! 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/.

Meet at Toys R Us at Seminole Town Center at 8 a.m. We will carpool to the forest and hike about 12 miles to Hidden Pond for lunch (bring your own). This hike will be moderate to strenous. RSVP to Rodney Posey: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 321-436-2349 evenings.

Cost: Free

Non-members are welcome! 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/.

This trip is being lead by our friends in Fla. Trails. This is an easy trip as the current easily propells
us along at a leisurely pace that requires only a bit of paddling to cruise along. This makes sightseeing and photography a breeze. We’ll start Saturday at Pioneer Park in Zolfo Springs, about 60 miles south of Orlando. We’ll lesiurely kayak until we find a camp spot. The Peace River is split by tiny islands and joined by numerous creeks. Sandy beaches and sloping banks provide excellent camping spots. In the evening we’ll build a campfire. We’ll take out Sunday at Gardner, 23 miles from the start. The river is full of fossilized shark teeth.

Cost: Approx. 20 per person for camping and shuttle. You need your own canoe or kayak. Contact: Mary-Slater 407-481-4398 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Non-members are welcome! 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/.

Hike approx. 6 miles in the Lake Norris Conservation area near Eustis. The lake flows into Blackwater Creek, a tributary of the Wekiva River. We’ll walk through pasture and fields on this 2352 acre site that is part of the St. Johns Water Management property. The shoreline has huge and beautiful cypress trees. Meet at the Publix parking lot off of SR 46, just west of I-4 at 9 am. Bring a picnic lunch and binoculars. Leader: Mary-Slater Linn- This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 407-481-4398

Cost: Free

Non-members are welcome! 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/.

About a 5 mile easy hike, starting at 3 p.m. Bring dinner to eat while out in the woods, as well as a flashlight since it will be dark when we finish. Split Oak Preserve is located in Orange County, SE of the International Airport. Please RSVP to Rodney Posey for meeting instructions: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 321-436-2349 evenings.

Cost: Free

Non-members are welcome! 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/.