For 2012, the Florida Trail Association’s annual hiking conference has been renamed the Ocean to Lake Hiking and Outdoor Festival to reflect the fact that we are developing an eco-tourism destination, not just for the members of the Florida Trail Association, but also for the public.  Jonathan Dickinson State Park, Martin County and Palm Beach County have assisted the FTA in putting this event together, celebrating years of public investment in protecting open space and natural resources in the Northeast Everglades Natural Area.

Taking place March 30 through April 1, this weekend of outdoor fun, education and discovery will celebrate the wealth of parkland, memorable scenic vistas, protected natural resources and outstanding trails located along the Ocean to Lake section of the Florida National Scenic Trail, only a stone’s throw from nearly 8 million residents of southeast Florida!

One of the highlights of the weekend will be Clyde Butcher's Saturday evenings presentation of his photographic views of Florida.

Registration  
Online registration IS NOW OPEN.  If you prefer not to register online or do not have access to the internet, you may contact the FTA Office toll-free at 877-HIKE-FLA and a registration form will be mailed to you.  

The headquarters for the Ocean to Lake Hiking and Outdoor Festival will be at the West Jupiter Recreation Center, 6401 Indiantown Rd., Jupiter, FL 33458. The doors will open for onsite registration at 6:00 pm on Friday, March 30. (Please note that FTA will not have access to the Center for set up until 5:45 pm, so arriving early will not get you registered early.)  Other activities, including tours, hikes and trainings will be located at Riverbend County Park and Jonathan Dickinson State Park.

Onsite Camping, Hotel Accommodations and Meals
Several different lodging options are available for tent campers and RVers plus we have even negotiated discounted rooms at nearby motels when you register through FTA.   Please read these instructions carefully before registering. 

The FTA has reserved half of the Pine Grove Campground near the entrance to Jonathan Dickinson for the Festival. One recreational vehicle and a small car or two tents and two cars can fit in each site. There is limited additional parking in the park. Pine Grove Campground has large, tiled restrooms with hot showers and flush toilets. All sites include water, electricity, a table and grill.  Note that camping reservations are for the entire weekend - whether you are staying 1 night or 2 you pay the same amount.  Also note that the on-line registration is PER PERSON.  So, for example, if a couple are staying in an RV, only one person should reserve the RV site, the other person would not sign up for or pay for camping. If two people are sharing a tent or car camper, only one person should reserve a tent site, the other person should not sign up for or pay for camping. For tent/car campers the campsite WILL BE SHARED with another tent or car camper.  If you have a prefered "site mate" you may enter their name(s) in the comments section at the bottom and we will try to place you together. You DO NOT need to indicate a "site mate" if you will be sharing the RV, tent or car camper.

For those desiring less rustic accommodations, you can stay at nearby hotels.  We have reserved rooms at the LaQuinta Inn located at 34 Fisherman’s Wharf, several miles from the West Jupiter Community Center, and at the Comfort Inn just two blocks away.  Note that only one person needs to reserve the room - we'll leave it up to you to find your own roommate, if you would like to share.

A meal package is available for weekenders or you may choose your meals a la carte.  The meals are being provided by a couple of fine local restaurants.  Too Jay’s will be providing continental breakfast with a great selection of bagels, pastries, rolls, juices and coffee.  Since their lunches were so well received at the Florida Crane and Nature Festival, Panera Bread will be offering a delicious selection of sandwiches, chips and oversized cookies.  Too Jay’s will also be catering dinner on Saturday evening.  For vegetarian meals, please indicate that in the comments section at the bottom of the registration.

Hikes, Nature tours and more!
This year the Ocean to Lake Hiking and Outdoor Festival offers a rich variety of activities whether you choose to be indoors or outdoors. For openers, you can enjoy a Friday night tour of Riverbend Park in search of nocturnal birds and critters that call this 700-acre nature preserve home. Or enjoy a night of star gazing, scanning the skies for stars, planets, meteors and comets too! 

Saturday, March 31 offers such a robust list of activities and venues, you will have a difficult time choosing what to do.  There are the traditional workshops, trainings such as First Aid/CPR, Activity Leader, and Basic Trail Maintenance plus new programs like Fundraising 101 and learning to work with Virtual Media.

The Loxahatchee River flows by the park and we have made arrangements with the in-park outfitter for Saturday morning boat rentals for $30 per boat which includes paddles, PFDs and launch fee.  There is a $4 launch fee charge if you bring your own boat, payable in the park.  Note that this is not a tour and there is no shuttle service.  The paddle with be out and back at your own speed and discretion.

Don’t let the urban location for the Ocean to Lake Hiking and Outdoor Festival fool you! The Northeast Everglades Natural Area is a wild area with rich natural resources and fantastic hiking trails for exploring them! There are hikes and nature tours planned for all sizes and shapes!

For the intrepid hiker, a ten mile journey along the Ocean to Lake section of the Florida National Scenic Trail from Jonathan Dickinson State Park to Riverbend Park will take you through the wilds of natural Florida. Or for a shorter distance, climb 100-foot Hobe Mountain, overlooking Hobe Sound, with a state park ranger.

Learn about the historic battle of the Seminole Indians and the U.S. Army at the Loxahatchee Battlefield. Join a birdwatching walk, butterfly tour or botanizing hike of Riverbend Park or Jonathan Dickinson State Park. Or get off your feet and float down the Loxahatchee River, the only “Wild and Scenic River” in southeast Florida. Enjoy paddling amid giant bald cypress, inhaling the wafting fragrance of atamasco lilies and glimpsing the occasional limpkin, a weird bird of Florida. There is simply too much to do!

All hikes, workshops and nature tours are open to registered festival participants only. Registration will be available onsite, but we encourage you to register soon to reserve your spot!

REGISTER NOW:  CLICK HERE TO REGISTER