Newsletter from the North Florida Trailblazers Chairperson.
April 1, 2013

Greetings fellow hikers! I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend. The weather has been cooler than normal the past week or so, but that makes for great hiking weather! I went on an off-calendar hike at Jennings State Forest over the weekend, and the weather was spectacular. Jennings is a very interesting property that I would like to add to our resume of recreational hikes. Want more information on Jennings and Florida’s State Forest system? Check this out: http://www.floridaforestservice.com/state_forests/jennings.html

I’ve noted increased rain activity recently. This is a mixed blessing, as we do need the rain but it has foiled a work hike and 2 recreational hikes over the past couple of weeks. Consider that the activity leader has to consider the comfort and safety of all activity participants and reserves the right to cancel the activity due to bad weather or other unforeseen circumstances. Sometimes, we find ourselves in a “borderline” situation that deserves a last-minute call, or calling off the activity after it has commenced. Your understanding is appreciated.

Several activities have been added to the calendar since the last newsletter, INCLUDING:

- Hike Black Creek Conservation Area, April 13th. This is a great hike, and close to Jacksonville. The RSVP list has “overflowed” onto the waiting list, but go ahead and add yourself to the waiting list as folks DO cancel.
- Earth Day Celebration, April 20th. Trailblazers will have a booth setup at the Jacksonville Landing! Come on out and meet us!
- Hike Big Oak Trail, Suwannee River State Park, May 11th. This is a strenuous, very rewarding hike. Several spots still open for this one.
- EZ Hike at Suwannee River State Park, May 12th. I’d forgotten this was Mother’s day, so let’s make the best of that… Invite your Mom to go hiking with you on Sunday, May 12th! The hike is currently limited to 25 people, but depending on circumstance I may open it up to more than that. This is a great hike that any hiking enthusiast will enjoy!

Check our Meetup.com calendar for more information on any of the above: http://www.meetup.com/NorthFloridaTrailBlazers/

Also note that we have a chapter meeting TOMORROW and the O’Leno hike this coming Saturday. Right now, the weather for Saturday looks good, so we should be good to go at O’Leno!

Did you know? We welcome your children on all of our recreational activities! I find that kids love to hike and are fascinated by nature. We at FTA and Trailblazers are glad to help nurture the next generation of Florida hikers. A few guidelines parents should consider:

- All children (minors under 18) must be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian for the duration of the activity.
- Parents/guardians must “sign in” on behalf of each child attending the activity.
- Parents/guardians should account for the temperament and fitness level of their child before considering them for any activity. I recommend limiting younger children (under 12) to hikes under 6 miles.
- Each child must be adequately prepared for the activity in question: They should dress appropriately for the weather, wear shoes suitable for walking long distances, and wear a pack with adequate food, water, and other supplies. On shorter hikes, parents may be able to carry their child’s hiking supplies.

If you have any questions about bringing your child on any activity feel free to contact me or any member of the Trailblazers leadership team.

Have a great week, all, and happy hiking!
Regards,
Bill Gentry
NFTB Chapter Chair