Please register for this event by contacting Park Services Specialist Carla Kappmeyer-Sherwin

at the email or phone number noted above in "Contact".

Highlands Hammock State Park is holding our annual National Public Lands Day activities on Saturday, September 22 and Sunday, September 23 in conjunction with the nationwide event which is officially September 22 this year.  Three resource management service projects are scheduled on Saturday followed by a fourth activity on Sunday morning for those who cannot participate on Saturday. All events are listed below.

Saturday / September 22

1) Historic Trails Restoration will involve volunteers in clearing overgrown vegetation, downed branches, and removing any exotic, invasive vegetation from these trails. Abandoned in the early 1940s, park staff have located remnant trails through researching historic maps, GPS, and ground-truthing. Volunteers will use brush cutters, loppers, and clippers to trim back trails and hand pull to remove and bag Caesar Weed and other exotic plants.  The goal of this project is to restore and maintain these trails so they may be offered as “off the beaten path” treks led by Park Rangers. Historic trail restoration requires moderate exertion.  Another historic trail was recently found off of the Young Hammock Trail. 

2) Exotic Plant Removal will involve volunteers in removing exotic, invasive plants which include species such as Coral Ardisia and Caesar Weed.  Volunteers will clear exotic vegetation by hand pulling, cutting with loppers and clippers, and bagging flowering or fruiting plants.   Designated areas within the park that have been determined as the source of spread to other locales may be targeted. Volunteers will be assigned specific areas where they will be removing plants including point source areas, areas of infestation, or areas around the Loop Road and/or on the trails where the natural wildlife habitat has been degraded. The goals of this activity are the ongoing control/removal of exotic plants and the maintenance/restoration of native habitats. Removing exotic vegetation requires light to moderate exertion. 

3) Trail Maintenance will involve volunteers in maintaining park trails.  Volunteers will use loppers and clippers to trim back protruding cabbage palm fronds and overhanging vines around the Loop Road and designated hiking trails.  Volunteers will clear large downed fronds, small limbs and other tripping hazards from the trail paths.  The goal of this activity is to prep the trails for increased visitation in the fall and winter.  Trail maintenance requires light to moderate exertion. 

Sunday / September 23

4) Litter Pick-Up will involve volunteers in picking up litter along County Road 634 (Hammock Road) that runs through the park and on South Hammock Road that leads to the entrance of the park’s Youth Camp. Volunteers will wear work gloves and use some “grabber” tools to pick up discarded soda cans, bottles, fast food containers and other debris that has been tossed from cars, blown out of the back of pickup trucks, or deliberately dumped to the side of the road including items such as old tires. The goal of this activity is to remove unsightly trash from within park boundaries.  Litter Pick-Up requires light to moderate exertion. 

RSVP, Equipment and Logistics Information

Organizations interested in participating including groups and/or members of groups such as the FWC Ridge Rangers, Heartland Chapter of the Florida Trail Association, ROTCs and other Highlands District Schools groups, Boy Scout Troops, 4-H Clubs, etc. are requested to sign up by Friday, September 14 by emailing Carla Kappmeyer-Sherwin as follows:  carla.kappmeyer-sherwin@dep.state.fl.us or calling her cell at 239-560-3665. If members of organizations are participating as individuals rather than as a group, they are requested to sign up by Tuesday, September 18. 

Equipment will be provided, but additional loppers and brush cutters from home are helpful.  Volunteers are advised to wear sturdy shoes and protective clothing.  Bring work gloves, a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, water, cold drinks, and snacks.  Staff will have water coolers for refillable water bottles.

Volunteers…. remember to inform the Ranger Station you are coming into the park for NPLD when you stop at the gate.  Park entry fees of $4.00 per single occupant vehicle and $6.00 per vehicle (up to eight people) are waived for NPLD volunteers. Plan to meet in the Picnic Area at 8:30 am on either Saturday or Sunday morning for a brief orientation, work assignments, equipment distribution and paring up with park staff who will be working with the groups. Work assignments are based on the priority resource management needs of the park.  We normally work from 9:00 am until 11:00 or 11:30 am.  As always, volunteers will receive a blue Florida State Parks “One Day Pass” which provides “entry into any Florida State Park, good for one vehicle, up to 8 people” in appreciation of their service to the park which may be used for another park entry at a later date. 

An hour or two of your time is greatly appreciated!

Please register for this event by contacting Park Services Specialist Carla Kappmeyer-Sherwin

at the email or phone number noted above in "Contact".