APRIL 2017
For more than 25 years, the Friends of Canaveral have supported the National Park Service in its mission to preserve, protect and interpret the 57,000 acres of pristine shoreline, dunes and wilderness that are Canaveral National Seashore. 

Canaveral Logo

APRIL 2017 ~ In this issue

currents
Dear Friends,
April showers are supposed to bring flowers, but here in Florida it is our dry season.  So we will see wildflowers and wild fires.  Please be careful and report any fire activity to the authorities.

 To start off the month, please attend the Friends of Canaveral annual public meeting on April 11. This is a great get-together of new and old friends to learn of park issues and the mission of Friends of Canaveral.  There will be a wonderful guest speaker talking about her school and partnership with Canaveral National Seashore.  We have lots of exciting spring events coming up such as National Park Week, April 16-23 and Run with the Rangers on April 29 th.  So look in this and upcoming issues of Friends of Canaveral Newsletter and join the fun and invite your friends to become Friends of Canaveral.

See you at the beach!
Laura Henning

annual
ANNUAL MEETING
APRIL 11, 2017 -  5:30 PM
New Smyrna Beach Utilities Commission
200 Canal St, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168
Guest speaker: Dana Greatrex
Burns Science & Technology Charter School

The public is invited to our annual meeting on April 11th. Refreshments will be served.

We are seeking volunteer board members to join the current board in the exciting and rewarding mission of fundraising for Canaveral National Seashore.

It Takes A Village To Raise A School!
Please join Friends of Canaveral at our annual meeting as we welcome Guest Speaker, Dana Greatrex, from Burns Science and Technology Charter School in Oak Hill, Florida.   

Burns Sci & Tech School is a cooperative partner of Canaveral National Seashore and the Caretakers Cottage at Seminole Rest is the field classroom for all students.
RUN
APRIL 29TH - 8am
RUN WITH THE RANGERS 5K

 
member
TIME TO RENEW YOUR FRIENDS OF CANAVERAL  MEMBERSHIP
Get a set of 3 bookmarks!

The 2017 year begins the second century of stewardship of America's National Parks.  The "Friends" urge you to continue your support of Canaveral Seashore National Park, as your Park, and discover its recreation, conservation, and historic preservation programs in your own backyard. By continuing your membership, or giving a gift membership to your friends or family, helps to assure that our future generations can enjoy this unique, historic recreational area.

Membership Benefits:
  • A "Membership Card" to the Friends of Canaveral
  • Discount of 15% at the Canaveral Seashore Park Gift Shop
  • Subscription to the Friends of Canaveral eNewsletter
  • Invitation to all fund raising events
  • Volunteer opportunities
  • Bookmarks for 2017
GET
April 6
Walking the Warck with MDC
April 13
Beach Invasion by Plants & Animals w/David Griffis
April 20
Determining Hatchling Success: Excavation of a sea turtle nest with NSB Turtle Trackers
April 27
Beachcombing with Charles "Bud" Doyle

DOWNLOAD Schedule thru May 2017

park
NATIONAL PARK WEEK
APRIL 15 to 23, 2017
The National Park Service just turned 100 years old! Celebrate the start of our second century by visiting a park in 2017. 

Entrance fee-free - April 15-16 and 22-23!

Read more about National Park Week
sea
SEA TURTLE NESTING SEASON
Becoming a Turtle-Friendly Beachgoer!

We are approaching sea turtle nesting season and we would like to have our friends pass on tips on being a turtle-friendly beachgoer.

It's not difficult to be a friend to the struggling sea turtle. Simply leave the area as if you weren't there in the first place and turn out the lights at night, particularly if you're a beach resident.

'Leave No Trace' on the beach
  • Fill in any holes in the sand and knock down sand sculptures at day's end to remove obstacles blocking sea turtles' nesting activities.
  • Remain at a distance from nesting sea turtles and hatchlings.  
  • Properly dispose of trash and discarded fishing gear. Sea turtles can become entangled in old fishing nets and lines or ingest plastic bags and wrappers, mistaking them for jellyfish.
  • Remove personal belongings from the beach at the end of each day. Items such as umbrellas, tents, beach toys and chairs left unattended on the beach overnight will be removed and disposed of by cleaning crews. In August, Volusia County Council passed a new ordinance (2012-13) that allows county staff to remove any items left on the beach between the hours of 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.
EVENTS
Canaveral National Seashore
THINGS TO DO
DID YOU KNOW?
Horseshoe Crabs aren't Crabs?

Unlike real crabs and their kin, horseshoe "crabs" lack antennae.

Horseshoe crabs are declining in number throughout their range due to a variety of factors, including overharvesting for the bait industry and loss of reproductive habitat. Seawalls and other types of shoreline development can disrupt the horseshoe crab's reproductive activities.

10 Hard-Shelled Facts About Horseshoe Crabs
(By Mark Mancini)
  1. They are incredibly old
  2. They're not crabs
  3. Each one has a huge array of sight organs
  4. Babies can swim upside down
  5. The spiked tail has several uses
  6. Adults mainly eat bivalves
  7. Hundreds of thousands gather in Delaware Bay for a massive annual orgy
  8. Very few survive into adulthood
  9. Atlantic Horseshoe Crab females are 25 to 30% bigger than males
  10. If you're under 40 and have been vaccinated, thank a Horseshoe Crab  READ MORE...
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Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) biologists have initiated a statewide survey of nesting beaches where horseshoe crabs mate and spawn their eggs. This survey includes collecting sightings of horseshoe crabs mating on beaches.  Since the state of Florida is so vast, FWRI needs the help of the public for this survey. Observations from the public and data collected by the public will directly contribute to the success of the survey. The horseshoe crab has existed for hundreds of millions of years. With the public's help, it will ensure they will survive for many more years to come.

If you have observed horseshoe crab nesting activities in Florida (two or more horseshoe crabs connected together), please report this information to us by following the link to our  Online Survey External Website where you can input your numbers directly, or you can contact us by e-mail or phone. The e-mail address and telephone number are listed below. 
E-mail:  horseshoe@MyFWC.com
Toll-free phone: 1-866-252-9326


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Email Prepared by  Elaine Morin, Dale Smith
New Smyrna Beach, FL ~ 386.424.6931