About our Outings:

picayune_sierra outing

We suggest a $5 donation for our outings; however, prices may vary. Please reserve early with the outing leaders!

All participants will be asked to sign a liability waiver. Read a copy of the waiver before the outing. Overnight camping trips also require campsite and parking fees and an additional donation of at least $5.

[ Florida Seller of Travel Ref. No. ST37115 ]

Current Outings:

Cayo Costa Weekend Kayak and Camping
Friday-Sunday, April 27-29. Join us for a great weekend at one of the state’s premier island state parks. A gulf coast paradise located on Lacosta Island west of Fort Myers,it has one of the top-rated beaches in the nation. We’ll paddle out on Friday morning with a stop at legendary Cabbage Key restaurant for lunch, and paddle back on Sunday.Primative cabins and tents sites available. For those who wish to take it easy, there is a ferry boat, Tropic Star (239-283-0015; tropicstarcruises.com). Rated moderate to strenuous because of open water and possible wind conditions. Be sure to reserve early. Contact Don Kirkley at 941-493-3085.(Manatee/Sarasota)

Saturday May 5 Caspersen Beach Moonlight walk(4mi RT walk south at sunset)7 p m. Optional finger food pot luck 6 pm. Wear appropriate shoes,carry water. Reserve with Sally 941 484-4113

May 5 Saturday 6:30 p.m. Potluck and Evening Stroll at the North End of Anna Maria Island. The moon will rise a few minutes before the sun sets - spectacular. Bring a dish to feed eight, your table service, a drink and bug protection to the Bay Side Park at 310 North Bay Road in the town of Anna Maria. To reserve call Mary Sheppard, 941-752-3200, by May 3.

Saturday May 12 Morning Walk
May is the month when white swamp lilies dot wet prairies and breeding begins for many resident and summer songbirds. Our plan is to trace the meanders of a natural creek from its overflow into the Myakka lake to the headwaters in a prairie marsh. Part on trails, part not. Reserve with Bill Lewis 941 355-2156

Saturday May 19 Myakka River State Park 4-6 mi walk 8 a m. Wear sturdy shoes, carry water, sunscreen, bugspray. Bring lunch if your time allows. Reserve with Sally 941 484-4113

ROBINSON PRESERVE KAYAK
Sunday, May 20th, 9:30a.m. meetup.

We'll launch from Palma Sola Bay and paddle into Perico Bayou. >From there, we'll enter Robinson Preserve near the back end and paddle towards the tower.There'll be a break and a chance to get wet inside the preserve before heading back to the Bayou and out to the beginning of Tampa Bay where we'll have lunch at Gilligan's Island and more chances to cool off in the water. Afterwards, we'll paddle through Robinson Preserve into Palma Sola Bay again to end the trip. This trip will take about four hours. Bring water, sunscreen and lunch. Rentals available. Reserve with Mike Lehner at 941-365-1073 or mklehn@hotmail.com.

Shell Key Preserve Kayak
Sunday, May 27 9:30 am. A leisurely paddle at one of the west coast’s premier sanctuaries for migrating birds. Located just north of the Skyway bridge,the preserve consists of a 180 acre white sand, duned barrier island and interior mangrove islands. Reserve with Don Kirkley at 941 493 3085.

May Outings of the Charlotte Group of the Sierra Club

May 5, SAT, 8:30 AM to 11 AM
Guided Nature Walk with a Master Naturalist at Footprints Trail

Footprints Trail is a mixture of pine flatwoods and cypress ponds. Our guide, John Phillips, helped cut the trails and create the outings program in this Charlotte County park. The wildflowers are in abundance right now, and John will conduct an easy-paced exploratory, identifying and explaining the ecology as we walk. Bring drinking water and a shady hat. Reserve with john, (941) 639-7468.

May 12, SAT, 8:30 AM to 11 AM
Kayak Prairie Creek with Jamie Reynolds

Prairie Creek is in Charlotte County and may be a familiar kayak run you've heard about. It's a charming creek hidden in hardwood and cypress forests, with plenty of shallow swimming spots for cooling off. An added plus is Jamie Reynolds, our guide. She's a certified Florida Master Naturalist and she can identify and explain the plants and wildlife of the creek if you ask her. Participants must provide their own watercraft and be able to swim. Reserve with Jamie, (941) 637-8284.

May 17, THURS, 8:30 AM to 11 AM
Footsprint Park Nature Walk guided by a Master Naturalist

Want to experience Florida's wild areas in a safe and educational way? This popular outing is for people who have a curiosity to learn more about the plants and wildlife of our state. John Phillips will conduct an walking exploratory in one of Charlotte County's newest preserved areas, Footprints Park. The wildflowers are in abundance right now! John will identify the flowers and wildlife as we walk along. Bring drinking water and a shady hat. Reserve with John, (941) 639-7468.

May 21, MON, 8:30 AM to 11 AM
Kayak Charlotte County's Prairie Creek

This is one of our most popular canoe outings. Prairie Creek is a shady creek that winds its way through hardwood and cypress tree forests. A certified Master Naturalist, Jamie Reynolds, will be our guide down the creek and back. She is very knowledgeable about this creek and will answer your questions about the plants and wildlife along its shore. Participants must provide their own watercraft and be able to swim, Reserve with Jamie, (941) 637-8284.

Outings leaders needed

Be an active club member and have fun at the same time: become an outings leader. Contact Outings Chair Don Kirkley, 941-493-3085, for details.

A new feature for Outings

Look up outings online

The Florida Chapter of Sierra Club now has a Chapter Outings database. You can see all the chapter outings at http://florida.sierraclub.org/outings/browse.asp. Check it out!

Tampa Bay Outings Email List: Tampa Bay-Outings-News

Get weekly updates by e-mail on upcoming outings planned by the Manatee- Sarasota Group, Suncoast, Tampa Bay, and other West Central Sierra Groups. Subscribe to (or unsubscribe from) the Listserv here: Tampa Bay-Outings-News Enter your name, email, & click on "Join" or "Leave" the list."

List owners; sdt369@earthlink.net or bfberauer@aol.com. Check out the Listserv Lists support site for more information.

General Meetings

Our General Meetings are held the second Thursday of each month, 7 p.m. at the Sarasota Garden Club, 1131 Boulevard of the Arts, Sarasota

Memberships

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