To sign up for trips or for more information, come to a meeting or call Pam Powell at 352 750 2420 (NO Texts) or email pamelynn1943@gmail.com.
NOTE: Sign-up sheets will be available at our regular meeting on the 2nd Friday of the month (Meeting Dates). You need to be a member to join our trips as required by the state organization. FNPS membership forms and dues are accepted at the meeting or you can join online at www.fnps.org.
There will be a requested donation of $10 to sign up for field trips. This money will be donated to the State Park or Preserve hosting the trip for the chapter. A courtesy gas donation of $10 will be requested of all drivers if there is carpooling, unless the driver decline- completed)s (EVs or hybrid cars).
March 31 (Tuesday), 2026 10AM (also Feb 5 completed)
Paynes Prairie: La Chua Trail
Main Access to trail is at 4270 SE 15th Street, Gainsville,FL
Paynes Prarie became Florida's first state preserve in1971, and comprises nearly 23,000 acres of marsh, wet prairie, and open water. With more than 20 distinct biological communities, Paynes Prairie provides habitat for 430 vertebrate species and over 800 different species of plants.
The LA Chua Trail is a little over half a mile round trip, with views of wet prarie. We will be guided by the ranger who spoke to us in January. From the boardwalk, expect to get an up close view of snail kites hunting large fresh water snails.
March 18th (Wednesday), 2026 - FULL
Nature Conservancy’s Tiger Creek Preserve
Meeting at the Preserve 10:30 AM
674 Pfundstein Rd, Babson Park, FL 33827
Situated on the eastern edge of the Lake Wales Ridge (peninsular Florida’s oldest and highest land mass), the preserve has one of the highest concentrations of threatened and endangered plants and animals in the country. In addition to the blackwater stream that forms its spine, the
preserve contains hardwood swamps, hammocks, scrubby flatwoods, pine flatwoods, sandhill and longleaf pine/wiregrass habitat. There is also a very interesting visitor’s center.
This will be a swamp buggy tour of the preserve. Attendees must have the ability to climb approximately 10 steps up a narrow ladder to board the vehicle. The outing is limited to 15 people. The cost is $15 (either cash or check made out to The Villages Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society), due at time of registration.
