Mindfulness Walk at the Theodore Roosevelt area of the Timucuan Preserve

Come experience the forests of the Timucuan Preserve with Sierra Club! The goal of this hike is to step away from everyday tasks and responsibilities to refresh ourselves, and remind ourselves to appreciate the nature and history of the lands we live in. During this hike, we will pause periodically to appreciate particularly beautiful, or historically significant spots at this park. The goal of this hike is to maintain a mindfulness of our surroundings the entire time, this means keeping the group quiet enough to appreciate the sounds of nature that will surround us as we walk.

The total length of the hike is expected to be around 2.5mi from start to end, and is estimated to take about 2 hours. The trail begins very flat and wide, but as we continue beyond the observation tower, it becomes very narrow for a time, with steep inclines and numerous roots (see photos). It is recommended to wear comfortable walking shoes, and bring poles or walking sticks to help with root navigation and balance.

Waiver: https://tinyurl.com/5fm8hef4
You are required to sign a Sierra Club Participation Agreement to participate for our outings. To save time the day of the hike, we encourage you to sign the agreement online ahead of time.

Parking/Amenities:
Parking is free but limited, you may need to park along the dirt road at the entrance of the Roosevelt Area rather than the parking lot itself. There are trash cans and bathrooms with sanitizer stations.

Cancellation Policy: Event will be held rain or shine, but may be cancelled if weather threatens safety such as in the case of lightning or high winds, or persistent rains in the forecast. Also, if the heat index is forecast to be over 103, then the outing will be cancelled. Participants are advised to check Meetup for current status before traveling to the event. Events may need to be cancelled at short notice.

Try to avoid plastic waste by bringing a reusable water bottle to stay hydrated, there is not a location to refill water. Even though we will be under the shaded trees for the majority of the hike, it is still advised to wear sunscreen as this is Florida, and the sun burns bright. Please avoid wearing sunscreens with oxybenzone or oxtinoxate, as these chemicals are extremely harmful to coral reefs, as well as being hormone disruptors.

Sierra Club maintains a safe space agreement between participants, leaders, volunteers, and staff. We want to support everyone in exploring, enjoying, and protecting our natural environment, and hateful and dangerous behavior will not be tolerated. We don’t want to deny participation in these outdoor programs and we will always say no to racism, sexism, ageism, homophobia, impairment, and disruption. We request that all participants cooperate with the outing leader's direction to ensure a safe and enjoyable outing for everyone.