FEBRUARY 2018 ~ In this issue
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Fee-Free Days
2018
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Every year the National Park Service (NPS) opens all parks to the public for free. Mark your calendars; here are the remaining dates on which fees will be waived in 2018:
- April 21: First Day of National Park Week
- September 22: National Public Lands Day
- November 11: Veterans Day
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Tech Challenge aims to help National Parks
The Pew Charitable Trust and CivicMakers invite you, along with park experts and others, to design creative solutions to real challenges. February 10-11 in San Francisco, technology will be front and center helping to address the National Park Service's $12 billion backlog of maintenance projects. For more information, go to parksandtech.org.
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National Park Trust looks forward
to a rewarding 2018
Following a successful 2017, the National Park Trust ended on a high note with the completion of two land acquisition projects benefiting Olympic National Park and Appalachian National Scenic Trail. More than 130 schools enjoyed exciting park trips through NPT's Buddy Bison School Program and Kids to Parks Day National School Contest during this past year.
This year, teachers have been gearing up for the next Kids to Parks Day National School Contest in May. NPT will award each winning school with a park scholarship up to $1,000, courtesy of Northside USA and First Solar. In 2017 70 schools were awarded grants. If your school has already registered, winners will be announced on February 14. For more information, go to
KTPcontest@parktrust.org
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Renew Now for 2018
We have Eighty-seven members so far for the 2018 calendar year, including 15 new memberships together with 72 renewal memberships. Don't forget to renew your membership now!
If you have any questions about the renewal process, please don't hesitate to contact our membership director, John W. Peel, at 386-423-8275 or
friendsofcanaveral@gmail.com
. As always, we thank you for your continued dedication to our cause. We look forward to serving you for another year!
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Canaveral National Seashore
Plan your Activities for February
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Feb. 7 - Walking the Wrack with MDC
Feb. 13 - Understanding the Beach with David Griffis (Tuesday only)
Feb. 21 - Protecting Sea Turtle Nests with NSB Turtle Trackers
Feb. 28 - Coastal Forest to Beach Walk with Charles "Bud" Doyle
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DID YOU KNOW?
The Great Freezes and the Collapse
of the Florida Citrus Industry
By Robin Perlodo
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Florida farmers surveying damage after the great freezes (1894-95) |
Then on December 29th, 1894 the course of Florida's history changed forever. Another massive cold front moved through the state. Temperatures logged in Orlando reached an all-time low of 18F and a frosty 24F in West Palm Beach. The bitter cold turned the oranges black on the trees and destroyed most of the crop for the year.
Yet, the worst was still to come. Although the freeze destroyed many young trees, most of the mature trees survived. The next month was warm and wet, which encouraged recovery and new growth. Farmers began to hope, and it was enough incentive for many to dig their heels in and keep trying.
Yet, on February 7th, just six weeks after the first freeze, another devastating front moved through the state. Temperatures fell to 17 degrees in some places.
Remaining trees, filled with sap from the months of recovery, froze solid. Some recall what sounded like gunshots; whole trees split from trunk to root. In one day the entire orange industry in Florida was destroyed, along with the dreams of its ill-fated architects.
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Support the Friends of Canaveral through your purchases at Amazon.
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2018 - Friends Membership!
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The 2018 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.
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Email Prepared by Elaine Morin, Dale Smith
New Smyrna Beach, FL ~ 386.424.6931
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