Thanksgiving Campout

2025 Thanksgiving Campout 🍂
📍 Blue Spring State Park – Orange City
Celebrate the Thanksgiving weekend outdoors with fellow FTA friends at Blue Spring State Park! This joint campout between the Highlanders and Central Florida Chapters is open to all FTA members and their guests. Check in anytime on Thursday, Nov. 27, and check out on Sunday, Nov. 30. I
Enjoy a long weekend filled with hiking, paddling, biking, boat tours of the St. Johns River, and of course, manatee viewing. Activities will be posted on the Central Fla’s meetup site closer to Thanksgiving. If you cannot camp, come for the day, or dinner or one of the hikes, paddles, or bike rides. See list below of activities already planned.
Contact: Diane Dammiller at [dammiller@aol.com](mailto:dammiller@aol.com) 352-205-9620 or Mary-Slater Linn [sierraclub01@yahoo.com](mailto:sierraclub01@yahoo.com) 407-701-6475. Blue Springs camping is fully booked so if you are willing to share your site please let Diane know.

FOOD: Potluck dinner on Thursday at 4:00 PM and other nights will be at 5:00pm at the pavilion
Please sign up for the food you plan to bring on the food list here. Please sign up even if you are only coming for the dinner. Bring your own plates, silverware and drinks.

ACTIVITIES: 🔥 Informal campfires each evening, site TBD. Please bring firewood if possible. Other options - Check out the manatees in the springs in the mornings. Plans may change due to weather so keep in contact with the activity leader.

THURS.- Hike - 9:30am meet in front of the Thursby house for a 3-4 miles hike at the camp. Contact Diane Dammiller at [dammiller@aol.com](mailto:dammiller@aol.com) or 352-205-9620

FRI.- Paddle - 9:00am **Activity Leader: Bill Turman (Cell) 407-413-2950, (email) HokieBill@bellsouth.net** PRINCIPLE PARTICIPANTS ARE THOSE AT THE CAMPOUT, BUT OTHERS ARE WELCOME TO FILL IN THE REMAINING SPOTS.
We will meet at the French Avenue Boat Ramp, on West French Avenue, west of Orange City, FL (by Blue Springs SP) at 9:00 AM. You should see my “Bright Red” 2021 Ford F150 Pick-up at the launching area.This counterclockwise trip around Hontoon Island is about 10 miles round trip, and should take around 4 to 5 hours.I am limiting the number of open meetup sign-ups to allow FTA Members from the Campout to sign up for activity. As we get closer to the activity date, the number of sign-ups may increase.

SAT.- Bike ride10:am Contact Mary Slater at [sierraclub01@yahoo.com](mailto:sierraclub01@yahoo.com) or 407-701-6475. Check out Blue Springs State Park then ride the bike trail to Lake Lake Beresford Park. This will be about a 12 mile ride total ride (6 each way) and very easy. Bike rentals can be made on-line if you don't have a bike. This is a pretty paved bike trail that winds through the woods with no car traffic. Meet at bike rack by boat ticket office in last parking lot.