South Florida Parks Trust....on the shut down

[Overstreet]

This is a reprint from the South Florida Parks Trust newsletter. They are operating the parks in South Florida through volunteer organizations and tour operators.

A Special "Shutdown" edition of News & Notes

South Florida's National Parks
Stay Open, Stay Clean with a
Little Help from their Friends

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A government shutdown is not the way we wanted to start the new year, but here we are. The good news: South Florida's national parks are open for business, despite a lack of park rangers, and the parks are not buried in trash, thanks to the efforts of park partners like the Florida National Parks Association, Guest Services, Shark Valley Tram Tours, Yankee Freedom III and the SFNPT.
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The association has been cleaning bathrooms, collecting trash and staffing visitor centers since the shutdown began December 22. Tour operators in Flamingo, Shark Valley, Gulf Coast, Dry Tortugas and Biscayne Bay have been taking care of business as well, with a full schedule of park tours and services, despite the loss of critical park support.
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Let's hope the shutdown ends soon and park rangers are allowed to go back to work. In the meantime, here are three things you can do to support South Florida's national parks (and the park rangers who work there) during the shutdown...
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Sign up to volunteer Experienced volunteers are needed to help staff park visitor centers. Send us an email with "volunteer" in the subject line if you know the parks well enough to answer visitor questions, provide directions and offer suggestions on what to see and do.
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Donate to support basic park functions (like buying toilet paper, at a cost of $200 per day). 100% of all donations will support the extra cost of nonprofit operations during the shutdown.
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Send a note of thanks to park rangers to let them know you appreciate them and the work they do. Living through a government shutdown isn't fun for anyone... less so if you're a park ranger. Send us an email with "thanks" in the subject line and we'll pass it along, or send a card to 1390 South Dixie Highway #2203 Coral Gables, FL 33146 and we'll deliver it when the shutdown ends.
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PS - The Family CAMP Weekend that SFNPT members Rainer & Noel Schael host every year at Flamingo is on, despite the shutdown. This year's event is scheduled for January 26-27. See below for details...

Let's Go Camping...
Family Camp Returns to
Flamingo on January 26
Grab the kids, pack a tent and join us on Saturday January 26 for the 10th edition of our popular Family Camp Weekend in Everglades National Park. The event brings families together for a weekend of camping fun in Flamingo. Tickets are $50 for adults ($25 kids). Event proceeds support family camping programs in the park. Reserve a Campsite

Wine & Wildlife
Join us in February for our
4th annual Wine & Wildlife
Our signature event of the year in Naples combines great food & good wine with live wildlife for a memorable evening celebrating national parks. Join Guest of Honor Fran Mainella, the 16th director of the National Park Service, on Thursday February 21 at our 4th annual Wine & Wildlife. Tickets, tables and sponsorships available now. Learn more...

South Florida National Parks Trust | 305-665-4769

info@southfloridaparks.org | www.southfloridaparks.org