Next Meeting is Sept 11, 2026
General Meeting Information
Location: Big Cypress Recreation Center
Date: January - May, 2nd Friday of the month
Time: 1:00 - 3:30 pm
Google directions to Big Cypress
3110 Hendry Dr, Wildwood, FL 34785
Upcoming Meetings
SEPT 11 -
Overview of Chinesgut Conservation Center in Brooksville
Speaker: Hana Brinkley
> Center Coordinator
> Chinsegut Conservation Center
> Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
> 23212 Lake Lindsey Rd
> Brooksville, FL 34601
> MyFWC.com/Chinsegut
Hana Brinkley is a graduate of Florida Gulf Coast University. Her career in conservation started with several field jobs including a land management internship at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary where she saw her first Florida panther. She started with FWC as a volunteer helping with Red-cockaded Woodpecker studies at Babcock Webb WMA. She's since spent the last 10 years with FWC working with wildlife, working in land management, and finally in education. In early 2021 she began her current position as the center coordinator for Chinsegut Conservation Center. At Chinsegut she does what she loves most, combining her love of wild Florida with her desire to share that passion with others.
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Keepers of Florida's Native Plants: Local Action, Statewide Impact
Florida stands at a critical crossroads for native plant conservation, with hundreds of endangered and threatened species facing mounting pressure from development, climate stress, and habitat loss. This talk explores the urgency of protecting Florida's extraordinary biodiversity, highlights specific at-risk species, and empowers attendees to take meaningful conservation action - whether as advocates, knowledge-sharers, community connectors, or supporters of the next generation of conservationists.
Speaker: Melissa Fernandez-de Cespedes, PhD FMN
Executive Director, Florida Native Plant Society
Dr. Fernandez is a scientist, lifelong educator, and environmentalist who serves as the Executive Director of the Florida Native Plant Society. Florida-born and raised in Miami-Dade County, her work is rooted in a deep personal connection to the landscapes and communities of this state. Trained in environmental chemistry and pathology, Melissa brings a big-picture perspective to conservation, connecting ecological health with community well-being. She leads statewide efforts to protect Florida’s native plants and biodiversity by strengthening community-led conservation, partnerships, and on-the-ground work across Florida.
Past Meetings
May - Succulents
Speaker : Donna Kaplan
April - Bats in Your Backyard"
Speaker: Shari Blissett-Clark
www.floridabats.org
Email: Info@floridabats.com
March -Trees that compliment a Florida Native Landscape"
Jamie Daugherty, Ext Agent UF/IFAS
Dr. Jamie Daugherty is passionate about both trees and education. Through her work with UF/IFAS Extension she aims to help others understand both tree care and benefits. She has been an ISA Certified Arborist since 2010 and holds additional ISA certifications as an Urban Forestry Professional, Utility Specialist and is qualified in both Tree Risk Assessment and Prescription Pruning. Before working with UF/IFAS Extension she worked in urban forestry with a major city, managed vegetation on power lines, and taught college. Combined she has 17 years of experience in urban forestry and education. Dr. Daugherty will emphasize the importance of planting the proper tree in the proper place to promote the best Florida friendly landscape.
February - “Everybody Wins-Landscaping with Native Plants"
Marcie Clutter
Marcie taught school for 37 years and is now retired. She sponsored environmental clubs after school in Citrus County for 18 years. The environmental clubs removed litter and invasive plants from roadways and natural areas. She volunteered for 17 years with Defenders of Wildlife educating the public about the threatened FL Black Bear. She has been an active member of both Hernando and Citrus Native Plant Societies. Marcie served on the board of Hernando Audubon for four years and on the board of Citrus Native Plants for six years. Marcie is also active with the FL Trail Association, the Big Bend Black Bear Working Group, and gives programs to civic groups and libraries on landscaping yards with native plants and identifying invasive plant species. She established a large butterfly garden at Lecanto Middle School in Citrus County in 2004 and at Challenger K-8 School in Hernando County in 2021-22. Her favorite activities are hiking, vegetable gardening, landscaping with native plants, and reading nonfiction.
January -Exploring Paynes Prairie Ecosystem and Unique Plants to the Park”
Shelby Barton, Park Services Specialist
Shelby Barton is a Park Services Specialist at Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park. Shelby grew up in north central Florida where the most exciting thing to do was adventuring in the outdoors. A lifelong Floridian, Shelby went to Flagler College in St. Augustine where she learned more about Florida’s stunning coastline. After graduation, Shelby worked at the University of Florida and started volunteering at San Felasco Hammock Preserve state park. Through this volunteer opportunity she found her passion was in the parks and became a Florida Conservation Corps A.N.T. member at San Felasco, Devils Milhopper and Gold Head Branch state parks. Not long after, she snagged her dream job and has been at the Prairie for the past 5 years. Join Shelby in exploring the prairie ecosystem and learn about some of the plants that are so unique to both this habitat and this state.
https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/paynes-prairie-preserve-state-park
