Join us on a hike through one of the most diverse habitats for plants in North America. We will experience some of the few remaining seepage slope bog communities. Only 1% of this community type remains in Florida, which makes them rare and highly threatened. Seepage slope bogs boast over 14% of the Panhandle’s documented native plants — including three of four of the world’s carnivorous plant families.

University of Florida/ IFAS Extension faculty are planning and leading this series of field trips for Panhandle residents to explore and learn about the Panhandle’s signature aquatic resources and the plant and animal communities they support.

Trips begin in January 2012 and run monthly through November 2012. Participants can choose to attend as many or as few of the individual events as they wish.
The expedition schedule is as follows:
January 18: Leon Sinks & Wakulla Springs
February 16: Florida Caverns & Falling Waters
March 15: Eglin AFB Seepage Slopes and Fire Ecology
April 4: Bear Creek Educational Forest & Garden of Eden Trail
May 11: Perdido River Canoe Trip
June 6: Navarre Beach Tour and Kayak Trip
August 22: Ochlockonee River Canoe Trip
September 20: St. Andrews State Park, Snorkeling
October 11: Hiking at Tate’s Hell
November 14: Hiking at Torreya State Park

Each day starts at 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CST or 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST. Depending on location, moderate walking, hiking, swimming and/or paddling may be involved. Lunch, park entry fees and rentals will be provided for each participant (18 and up only) at a cost of $30 per class.

Registration is available at http://panhandleoutdoorslive2012.eventbrite.com. Space is limited, so register early!