What we’re about
Membership Application - Please join the Palm Beach Pack & Paddle Club.
Tap "Read More" and Scroll down for more information.
The Palm Beach Pack & Paddle Club plans several events each month for exploring and appreciating nature. Some of these last a day, some last a week or longer. They are local and they are long-distance. Activities include kayaking and canoeing, backpacking, hiking and biking, snorkeling, car camping and wilderness or river camping. In addition, we have monthly meetings at Okeeheelee Nature Center with guest speakers on environmental and other topics of interest.
This site and these events are functions of Palm Beach Pack and Paddle Club. In addition to these activities, our Conservation Committee raises funds to send children to summer nature camp and donates to local organizations that help to preserve our unique Florida environment.
You're welcome to attend our Meetups and be a Meetup Member only, but we would like you to become a member of our club. The cost is only $20 a year. Most of our trips are on the Meetup site, but there are many trips available to club members only, particularly those that involve long-distance travel or overnight stays. There is never a charge by the club for any of our activities.
If you wish to join Palm Beach Pack & Paddle Club, the application link is above. You may join by mailing the completed application (above) with a check payable to Palm Beach Pack and Paddle Club to the address at the bottom of the form. Or, come to an event, join and pay in cash, or, use the Paypal link below.
Pay Pal Payment
You can also use Zelle for paying membership dues and making donations to the club and its conservation efforts. Use **PalmBeachPackAndPaddle@gmail.com** in your bank's Zelle transfer feature. Please put your email address in the memo line so we can greet you and send you a newsletter and activities list. Thank you.
We hope you will become part of our Club family. Bruce, Gerry & Geoff
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Paddle "Wild & Scenic" Loxahatchee RiverRiverbend Park, Jupiter, FL
The Loxahatchee River is our own "land of enchantment". Designated a "Wild & Scenic River on May 17, 1985, it winds northward from Riverbend Park in Jupiter, to Jonathan Dickinson State Park in southern Hobe Sound.
We will do a Paddle of the Lower Loxahatchee River from Riverbend Park downstream past the Lainhart Dam and then to the fallen tree or Masten Dam. We will then do the return upstream to where we started.
Paddle may be changed to the Upper Loxahatchee if the group deems that the water levels are very high which in turn creates dealing with a very strong current on the return. Paddle is not a beginner paddle when water levels are high and current is swift to paddle against. All paddles are dependent on weather.
Meet at Riverbend Park’s canoe launch at 9:30 am to be ready to launch at 10:00 am.
Bring water, snacks and/or lunch.
If you don't have your own kayak, you can rent onsite and kayakers with their own equipment will connect with you at the rental site, which is different from the put-in for kayakers with their own boats. (Let us know you’re coming!)
If renting, you must reserve with Jupiter Outdoor Center,*** https://www.jupiteroutdoorcenter.com.
Contact trip leader, Rachel, with any questions in the either in the Comments Section below or can text/call at 561-358-9568.
Please read entire description of event before you RSVP. By signing up for this trip you acknowledge that you are fully responsible for your own safety and hold Palm Beach Pack and Paddle harmless for any injuries or damage to your equipment. Also note that properly fitted and properly worn PFD’s are required to participate in this paddle.
Riverbend Park is at 9060 W. Indiantown Road, Jupiter. Bathrooms are available at the launches and at Masten Dam.
How to get there: from I-95, go west on Indiantown Road a short distance. Look for the brown park sign in the median. Enter Riverbend Park on the south side of road (left). Proceed to canoe launch area, or, if renting, rental area which is near the first parking lot.
- P&P plans Ice Cream Social, Season Preview at meeting on Saturday, September 13Okeeheelee Park Nature Center, West Palm Beach, FL
Learn about what’s in store for the season – including our upcoming 50th Anniversary Celebration! – and enjoy some cool desserts at the Okeeheelee Nature Center.
Attendees can join or renew for 2026 AND fill out registration forms and pay for for the 50th Anniversary Weekend at the meeting.
The Palm Beach Pack & Paddle Club will hold its first meeting of the season from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, September 13, at the Okeeheelee Nature Center, part of Okeeheelee Park, 7715 Forest Hill Boulevard, West Palm Beach, FL 33413.
The meeting is free and open to everyone -- current and past club members, club visitors and guests and the public. Attendees are encouraged to arrive for socializing starting at 1:30 p.m.
RENEW, SIGN UP FOR 2026: Prior to and after the meeting, members and guests will be able to fill out membership forms for 2026. Membership costs are $20 Single and $25 Household. Membership forms will be available at the check-in table.
For new members, if you sign up now, your membership will be good through the end of 2026.
SIGN UP FOR THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY WEEKEND: Anyone who is a 2025 paid member OR becomes a 2026 paid member is eligible to attend our 50th Anniversary Celebration events in October.
Registration forms for the events will be available before, during and after the meeting. Attendees will be able to turn in their forms and pay for the events at the September 13 meeting.
MEETING REMINDER
--Who: Palm Beach Pack & Paddle Club
--What: September club meeting
--Event: Season Preview and Ice Cream Social
--When: Saturday, 13, 2 p.m.
--Social time: Starts at 1:30 p.m.
--Where: Okeeheelee Nature Center, 7715 Forest Hill Boulevard, West Palm Beach, FL 33413
--Directions: From Jog Road, take Forest Hill Boulevard 1.2 miles west to Eshleman Trail (the second Okeeheelee Park entrance). Turn right (north) and follow the signs and road 1.6 miles to the Nature Center, which is in the back of the park.MEETING HIGHLIGHTS:
MEET PAISLEY, THE OPPOSUM
Paisley, the Opossum, is one of the newer critters at the Okeeheelee Nature Center. Volunteers will bring Paisley into the meeting room and feed the gentle marsupial while they tell us more about their furry friend.
Opossums are the only marsupials native to North America. They are known for their distinctive appearance with a pointed nose, long tail and a pouch for their young.
LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY WEEKEND!
The club’s committees will tell attendees about their plans for the 2025-2026 season.
In addition, we will be sharing information about the upcoming Palm Beach Pack & Paddle Club’s 50th Anniversary Celebration in October.
The three-day event will feature a campfire, formal celebration and picnic.
ENJOY OUR EVENTS PREVIEW SLIDE SHOW
Attendees will view Michael Barr’s slide show presentation of upcoming events and trips that will include comments from trip organizers!
We will learn about events and trips for the next four weeks – plus trips that you will need to plan for far in advance!
PARTICIPATE IN THE MONTHLY RAFFLE
The club will then hold our monthly raffle, with proceeds to be allocated equally to the club’s General and Conservation funds.
REMINDER: Please remember to bring your “Raffle Cash” to the meeting!
Raffle tickets!
1 free ticket: Each attendee will receive 1 free raffle ticket!
Your chances to win a prize increase as you buy more tickets!
$1 = 2 tickets
$2 = 3 tickets
$3 = 4 tickets
$4 = 5 tickets
$5 = 7 tickets$6 = 8 tickets
$7 = 9 tickets
$8 = 10 tickets
$9 = 11 tickets
$10 = 13 ticketsSpecial note: Please bring your donations for future raffles to the meeting! We accept camping, hiking, paddling, bicycling and snorkeling items, of course. We also accept your household goods as well.
OUR SPECIAL TREAT: AN ICE CREAM SOCIAL!
And at the end of the meeting, we will enjoy a delightful ICE CREAM SOCIAL. We will supply the ice cream.
To our members and visitors: Please remember to bring your favorite toppings!
QUESTIONS?
For questions about the Pack & Paddle Club meeting, please call or text 561-312-2765.
Before the meeting: Please bring produce to support Okeeheelee’s ‘Animal Ambassadors’
Please bring your extra produce to each meeting. Produce can be placed on the table in the back of the meeting room.
(Note: Please do not bring citrus or iceberg lettuce.)
Produce donations help to feed animals throughout the beautiful natural area at the park. And our club receives credit for our produce donations! Our largest donation to date: $50 worth of produce on Dec. 11, 2023.
REMINDER: We also have a donation jar on the table. Any monetary donations will be used to purchase produce for the next monthly meeting.
The Nature Center gratefully thanks you for your generous donations at each meeting.
How to become a Pack & Paddle Club member
Here is where to find a membership application, how to turn in your form and how to make a payment:
WHERE TO FIND A MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION:
--IN PERSON: Pick up a membership application at a club meeting or event.
--ON MEETUP: If you are a Meetup member, click on this link:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/12PZ0uoq5SE90o2qugXXoOGNlFUpHOCaY/view
HOW TO TURN IN YOUR FORM:
--IN PERSON: Bring your completed form to one of our events or meetings. Payment is required at this time.
--VIA U.S. MAIL: Send the completed form (with check payment enclosed) to this address:
Palm Beach Pack and Paddle Club, Inc.
P.O. Box 16041
West Palm Beach, FL 33416--VIA EMAIL: Send the completed form as an email attachment to:
palmbeachpackandpaddle@gmail.com
HOW TO MAKE A PAYMENT:
--IN PERSON: Bring a payment in check or cash (along with your membership form) to one of our events or meetings.
--VIA U.S. MAIL: Send a check (along with the completed form) to this address:
Palm Beach Pack and Paddle Club, Inc.
P.O. Box 16041
West Palm Beach, FL 33416--VIA PAYPAL: Submit the form in person, via email or mail, then pay by PayPal at this link:
https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/wpbpnp
--VIA ZELLE: Make a payment by Zelle** to:
palmbeachpackandpaddle@gmail.com
**Important note: Please include your email address in the memo or message field when submitting your Zelle payment.
Palm Beach Pack & Paddle Club information
The Palm Beach Pack & Paddle Club, founded in 1975, plans several events each month for exploring and appreciating nature.
Trips last a day, a weekend, a week or longer. They are local, within Florida and long-distance. Activities include kayaking and canoeing, backpacking, hiking and biking, snorkeling, car camping and wilderness or river camping.
In addition, club meetings are held on the second Saturday afternoon of each month from September through May at the Okeeheelee Nature Center in Okeeheelee Park, with experts speaking on nature-related subjects and other topics of interest.
FIND OUR TRIPS, EVENTS ON MEETUP
How to join Meetup:
• It’s easy. Just go to: www.meetup.com/Palm-Beach-Pack-Paddle
• In the upper right corner of the page, click on “Join”
• Follow instructions, confirm, add your photo and any information you choose
• When you go back to our site, click on “Log-in” in the upper right cornerClick here to view our Calendar of Events on Meetup:
https://www.meetup.com/palm-beach-pack-paddle/events/calendar/
CONTACT US
Bruce Moore
President
561-312-2765
brucemoore234@gmail.comGerry Baker
Membership Chair
Home: 561-582-3653 (leave message)
Cell: 561-602-7502
gerbaker97@gmail.comMail membership forms, checks to:
P.O. Box 16041, West Palm Beach, FL 33416
(Forms can also be turned in at club meetings.)Club email:
palmbeachpackandpaddle@gmail.comPLEASE SEND US YOUR NEWSLETTER ITEMS!
We welcome submissions from individuals and committees for our monthly newsletter, which is sent to paid members at the start of each month!
Here are the club’s newsletter deadlines:
--23rd of month: All stories and pictures sent to newsletter.pbpp@gmail.com
--3 days prior to new month: All events must be on Meetup for inclusion in Events Calendar attachment.
--End of day, 3 days prior to new month: Proofs sent to staff
--End of day, 2 days prior to new month: Proof corrections back to editor
--1 day prior to new month: Newsletter Editor, E-Blast Communicator, Meeting Publicity Director, 101 Classes Coordinator and leaders of upcoming 101 classes receive updated roster, guest lists from Membership Chair.Thank you!
Kathy McKim
Newsletter Editor
804-869-6228
newsletter.pbpp@gmail.comOkeeheelee Nature Center information
Okeeheelee Nature Center is part of Okeeheelee Park, 7715 Forest Hill Blvd., West Palm Beach, FL 33413. From Jog Road, take Forest Hill Boulevard 1.2 miles west to Eshleman Trail (the second Okeeheelee Park entrance). Turn right (north) and follow the signs and road 1.6 miles to the nature center, which is in the back of the park.
The Nature Center features 2.5 miles of trails winding through 90 acres of pine flatwoods and wetlands. Highlights include hands-on exhibits, animal encounters and a nature-related gift shop.
Exhibits:
**Wednesday-Friday: 1:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
**Saturday: 10:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.Live animal feedings:
**Reptile/raptor feedings: Wednesdays-Fridays at 3:30 pm
**Alligator feeding: Saturday at 1 p.m.Nature trails:
**Daily: sunrise-sunsetPhone:
(561) 233-1400Email:
onc@pbcgov.orgFacebook:
https://www.facebook.com/people/Okeeheelee-Nature-Center/100085089170545
