April 2022 Florida Trail E-Blaze

April 2022

All-Terrain Mobility Trail Adventure in St. Marks

In early April, the Florida Trail Association partnered with Sportsability Alliance for a day of guided excursions in St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge using EcoRovers, the exciting new all-terrain mobility device.

Volunteers and staff from FTA and Sportsability Alliance led several outings along the scenic levees with perfect springtime weather.

Sportsability Alliance is an organization dedicated to enriching lives through accessible, inclusive recreation and active leisure. FTA is happy to partner with a group that supports outdoor adventure for people of all abilities. We look forward to partnering with Sportsability Alliance for more events in the future!

Florida Trail in Big Cypress is Fully Maintained!

A crew of eight FTA volunteers finished up the work in Big Cypress Preserve in April after a strong storm blew through. The crew camped at Ivy Camp and worked south to Oak Hill and north towards I-75.

In addition to routine maintenance and blazing, the chapter also installed two new benches in Big Cypress. One is now located at Ivy Camp and the other at the "Tropical Island," which serves as a great destination for those interested in experiencing Big Cypress for a half day outing of 2.8 miles round trip. The crew also spent some time clearing additional space at Thank God Island.

The Easter Bunny made sure to drop some eggs off at Ivy Camp for the crew to find while they dined on colored hard-boiled eggs. Many thanks to the Alligator Amblers and chapter chair Debra Taylor for making this work party a success!

This officially means every mile of the Florida Trail in Big Cypress, plus Robert's Lake trail, the blue loop trail and the trails north of I-75 have all been maintained in one season. Thank you FTA volunteers for your incredible dedication!

FTA Annual Volunteer Awards

At our Annual Membership Meeting in April, we recognized FTA community members who have played a significant role in supporting and furthering the mission of the FTA.

The Florida Trail Association’s annual awards serve as a way to recognize members, volunteers, partners, and supporters for their incredible contributions to the organization and the trail.

You can view all award recipients on our website. Join us in celebrating and recognizing those who have made significant contributions to the FTA.

Volunteer Awards

Announcing the FTA Board of Directors

The Florida Trail Association held its Annual Membership Meeting on April 2, 2022, where election results for the Board of Directors were announced. There were six director positions open in this cycle.

Tom Daniel, Pam Hale, Rick Robbins, and Bill Turman were reelected. Joshua Johnson and Sean Spence were elected to their first term on the board.

At a meeting of the Board of Directors immediately following the annual meeting, Bill Turman, Alan Bradshaw, Pam Hale, and Darryl Updegrove were elected Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer and Secretary respectively.

Thank you FTA Members for casting your votes. Congratulations to our Board Members and thank you for your efforts!

FTA Board of Directors

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