Thank you for your interest and we hope to see you in Jacksonville or at one of the other events!

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Welcome!

These four workshops are networking events and information exchanges

designed to bring together public and private recreation providers, recreational

user groups and outdoor recreational professionals of all kinds to help promote

the SCORP and the value of outdoor recreation to the State of Florida. An

overarching goal of the workshops is to build and strengthen connections

among Florida’s recreation providers.

Each workshop will feature presentations covering an array of outdoor

recreation topics, as well as facilitated discussion sessions and time for making

new friends.

Central to these conversations is SCORP’s mission: raising

awareness of the health and economic benefits of outdoor recreation;

improving public access through agency coordination; and reconnecting people

to the outdoors and enhancing stewardship.

Thank you for your interest and we hope to see you in Jacksonville or at one of

the other events!

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Statewide Recreation Workshop Series 2015-2016

North Florida Outdoor Recreation Workshop

September 24, 2015

The Ribault Club

Fort George Island Cultural State Park

11241 Fort George Rd.

Jacksonville, FL 32226

A project of Florida’s Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP)

Hosted by:

Florida Department of Environmental Protection

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North Florida Outdoor Recreation/SCORP Workshop

Fort George Island Cultural State Park, Jacksonville, FL

September 24, 2015

AGENDA

9:00 AM

Open registration/meet and greet

9:30 AM

Welcome and introductions

9:45 AM

What is SCORP? & workshop goals

10:10 AM Presentation sessions 1 and 2 (concurrent)

10:50 AM Break

12:00 PM Lunch/networking

1:15 PM

Panel discussion 1: economic/health benefits of outdoor recreation

Panelists: Maria Mark, Rob Barrett, David Barth

1:45 PM

Panel discussion 2: improving public access/agency coordination

Panelists: David Jones, Brian Ruscher, Keith Bettcher, Lorna Radcliff

2:15 PM

Panel discussion 3: reconnecting people to the outdoors

Panelists: Liz Sparks, Jody and Ray Hetchka, Chris Farrell, Whitney Gray

2:45 PM

Wrap-up

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North Florida Outdoor Recreation/SCORP Workshop

Fort George Island Cultural State Park, Jacksonville, FL

September 24, 2015

Presenters and Panelists

1.Maria Mark, Executive Director, Timucuan Trail Parks Foundation

Maria Mark started as the assistant program director for the Timucuan Trail Parks Foundation in 2006. In 2009, she became its interim executive director and in 2010, was named its executive director. Maria also serves as commissioner of Atlantic Beach since being elected in 2011. She serves on many community committees and spearheads an Atlantic Beach community event, "Marshfest" which started in 2006. She is a long-time Atlantic Beach resident, with her husband, Bob, of nearly 25 years and Garrett, their 16 year old son. In her leisure, she enjoys golfing, bird watching and is an amateur nature photographer.

2.Jody and Ray Hetchka, Owners, Kayak Amelia

Born out of a desire to escape the frigid New Hampshire winters and move on to life’s next phase Jody and Ray “loaded up the truck and moved to”... Florida! (Amelia Island that is...). Starting their labor of love, Kayak Amelia has been a funny, scary, humbling experience that has taken them from a “Mom & Pop shop” to an extended family of wonderful people offering exciting water and land based adventures.

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“Economic Impact of the Timucuan Trail State & National Parks"

Maria will present details about a new outdoor recreation economic impact report for the City of Jacksonville/Duval County, with information on local ecotourism efforts. The report also covers ecosystem services provided by the area’s natural resources, as well as the health benefits of outdoor recreation. Maria will also discuss the Timucuan Trail Parks Foundation’s role in supporting both the area’s parks and park partners.

“Helping People Reconnect with Nature in North Florida” Jody and Ray will present an overview of the tours and services their business offers, along with information about their involvement with the Wild Amelia Nature Festival, the Timucuan Explorers program for inner city kids, and the Irish Water Dog Warrior program for

wounded veterans. They will also discuss their educational efforts, Leave No Trace ethics, their role with the Florida Park Service, and what makes the north Florida coast so special.

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3.Whitney Gray, Coordinator, Great Florida Birding & Wildlife Trail, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission

Whitney Gray is a native Floridian who first started wildlife watching as a child with her grandparents. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Zoology and a Master’s in Ecological Engineering, both from the University of Florida. Whitney has spent many hours in the field throughout Florida studying coastal ecosystems in particular. She served as FWC’s sea level rise coordinator, as an environmental planner, environmental scientist, biologist and as a biology teacher. She enjoys hiking, kayaking, and nature photography. Since settling in Tallahassee 3 years ago, she has enjoyed getting to know the beautiful hills and rivers of north Florida.

4.Chris Farrell, Northeast Florida Policy Associate, Audubon Florida

Chris Farrell is Audubon Florida’s Northeast Florida Policy Associate. He coordinates Audubon’s coastal bird

stewardship and land management efforts in the region. Chris previously worked for 6 years on Audubon’s

campaign to restore the Everglades and has over 10 years of experience teaching biology and environmental

science at state colleges. Chris has received biology degrees from Florida Atlantic University and Florida

International University.

5.Rob Barrett, Programs Manager, Office of Operations, Florida Department of Environmental Protection “Why Birding?”

Whitney will present an overview of the FWC’s programs, services and recreational opportunities that help connect people to the outdoors, including the Wings Over Florida program, the Wildlife Management Area system and the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail.

“Get Healthy with SCORP”

Rob will discuss how he uses SCORP in his role as the Programs Manager for DEP’s Land and Recreation program, with an emphasis on realizing the potential of public lands as sources of health. Rob will present information about Florida Park Fit, Nature Play Prescription, Healthy Campfire Cooking and more, while highlighting existing and potential public/private partnerships.

“Share the Shore – How You Can Help Our Coastal Birds”

Chris will discuss how volunteers help protect nesting and migratory shorebirds on Florida’s northeastern coast. The use of volunteer “bird stewards” on Florida’s beaches has become an extremely important

conservation tool to safeguard numerous imperiled species. Volunteers also monitor shorebird populations throughout the year. Encouraging

volunteerism, stewardship, and advocacy is a major component of Audubon Florida’s mission.

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Rob Barrett holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology from the Florida State University and joined the Florida Park Service in 2012. He has served as a Graphics Assistant, Park Ranger and Recreation Program Manager. He is currently the Programs Manager for Land and Recreation and oversees Training, Targeted and Interpretive programming. Rob began working in wildlife rehabilitation and education in high school and continues to volunteer in this role at the Tallahassee Museum. Most weekends you can find him hiking, bird watching or otherwise being outside.

6.David Jones, President and Founder, Florida Disabled Outdoors Association

It is rare that someone can take a “tragedy” as an opportunity to change their life and help others. That is exactly what David Jones did. His injury became a personal commitment to help others. In 1988, David Jones was shot in a hunting accident resulting in a serious head injury that left him with permanent paralyses of his left leg, limiting mobility and no use of his left hand. David utilized a wheelchair for one year and gradually increased his mobility to the point where he could walk with a walker and now walks with a slight limp without any device. He remains paralyzed in one arm. In the process of his rehabilitation, he became aware of the importance of recreation for rehabilitation – not only to improve mobility, but to improve mental well-being. David saw this event in his life as a challenge and an opportunity to assist others. This life changing event developed into his personal crusade. David went back to school and received his Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Florida State University. David Jones overcame the challenge of his disability utilizing sports for himself and others by forming the Florida Disabled Outdoors Association in 1990. This organization came out of the positive experience David had from using sports and recreation for his own rehabilitation.

7.David Barth, Principal, Barth Associates, LLC

David Barth is a registered Landscape Architect, Certified Planner, and Certified Parks and Recreation Professional who specializes in the planning, design, and implementation of the public realm. He is also an expert facilitator and strategic planner. He has developed parks and recreation system master plans for more than 65 communities throughout the United States including Washington, D.C, Miami-Dade County, Norfolk, VA, downtown San Diego, and the City of Raleigh. He has also led the planning and/or design of hundreds of parks and trails including Orange County’s West Orange Trail, Martin County’s Indian Riverside Park, and the City of Kissimmee’s Lakefront Park. In addition to

facilitating hundreds of public workshops for these and other projects, he has facilitated strategic planning retreats for dozens of organizations including NASA, the Poarch Band of the Creek Indians, the Suwannee River Water

Management District and the Florida Association of Counties. He was a co-author of the American Planning Association (APA) publication From Recreation to Re-Creation, as well as a contributor to APA’s Planning and Urban Design

Standards for parks and recreation needs assessments. David received his undergraduate degree in Landscape “Active Leisure for Life, ALL ages and ALL abilities: Promoting diversity of outdoor recreation activities and diversity of the people recreating makes sense and dollars for Florida.”

David will discuss the efforts of the Florida Disabled Outdoors Association, now in its 25th

year, to enrich the lives of all Floridians through accessible, inclusive recreation. This not-for-profit organization offers many programs and services to people with disabilities, and works with numerous partners to ensure that our public and private lands have high quality, barrier-free outdoor recreation opportunities for everyone.

“Parks and Recreation System Needs Assessments and Master Plans”

In this session, David will explore the Parks and Recreation System planning process, including needs assessments, level-of-service analysis, visioning and implementation. David will also include recent and current case studies from north central Florida and other communities.

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Architecture from the University of Florida; his Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership from Palm Beach

Atlantic University; and his PhD in Design, Construction and Planning at the University of Florida. 8. Liz Sparks, Paddling Trails Coordinator, Office of Greenways and Trails

Liz Sparks has been active in the realm of Florida outdoor recreation, rural tourism development, and connecting people with the outdoors since 2001. As a Recreation Planner with Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission she developed 6 National Recreation Trails on FWC waterways. Liz also organized workshops and led initiatives to promote paddling in rural communities to benefit local economies through sustainable tourism. A Volunteer Paddlesports Program she helped to develop provides training for volunteers who share basic kayaking skills with families and lead nature tours on the water. The program’s ultimate goal is to create future generations of safe paddlers and stewards of Florida’s outstanding waterways. Liz became Florida’s Paddling Trail Coordinator in DEP’s Office of Greenways & Trails in 2013 and continues to develop and promote our state’s fantastic waterways.

9.Keith Bettcher, State Recreation Coordinator, and Lorna Radcliff, State Recreation Specialist, Florida Forest Service

Keith is currently the State Recreation Coordinator for the Florida Forest Service. He has a BS in Parks and Recreation Program Management from the University of North Texas, and will complete his MBA from Saint Leo University in the Fall of 2015. Keith has been a public lands management professional for nearly 20 years with federal, state, and local agencies.

Lorna is the State Recreation Specialist for the Florida Forest Service. She worked at Goethe State Forest gaining field experience prior to her current position; she has 15 years of experience with the Florida Forest Service. She personally enjoys hunting, fishing, hiking and camping.

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“Florida State Forests: No Boundaries”

Keith and Lorna will describe the many programs, services and

opportunities offered by the Florida Forest Service to connect people to the outdoors, including the Trailwalker and Trailtrotter programs and their volunteer program. They will also discuss how their citizen support organization, Friends of Florida State Forests, aids their mission, and how joint programs and coordination with the US Forest Service, Florida Park Service and FWC enable the FFS to provide excellent outdoor recreation where people of all ages can explore and learn. “Establishing and Promoting Paddling Trails”

Liz will present information about Florida’s outstanding water trails, her work with rural tourism development to create and promote trails, and how paddling trails bring positive economic benefits to local communities. She will discuss the steps needed to create, manage, and promote your own water trail.

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10. Brian Ruscher, Land Trail Coordinator, Office of Greenways and Trails

Brian is a Regional Land Trails Coordinator for the Office of Greenways and Trails (OGT) at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Brian helps to coordinate trail developments between communities, foster partnerships and collaboration, and generate interest for trails at the statewide and local level. He is involved with numerous regional and statewide initiatives, and plays an important role in OGT’s statewide trail development.

Thank you for attending!

Immediately following this workshop, from 4 to 6:30 PM, the Office of Greenways and Trails is hosting an Opportunity Maps event to update the Florida Greenways and Trails System. Please visit the OGT website for more details.

Find the complete 2013-2018 SCORP document, an executive summary, and other SCORP materials on the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s website: www.dep.state.fl.us/parks/outdoor/scorp.htm

Quotable Recreation Quotes:

Leave all the afternoon for exercise and recreation, which are as necessary as reading. I will rather say more necessary because health is worth more than learning. – Thomas Jefferson

People who cannot find time for recreation are obliged sooner or later to find time for illness. – John Wanamaker

If you are losing your leisure, look out; you may be losing your soul. -- Logan P. Smith

Recreation's purpose is not to kill time, but to make life, not to keep a person occupied, but to keep them refreshed; no to offer an escape from life, but to provide a discovery of life. -- Author Unknown

Life is best enjoyed when time periods are evenly divided between labor, sleep, and recreation...all people should spend one-third of their time in recreation which is rebuilding, voluntary activity, never idleness. -- Brigham Young

“The Florida Greenways and Trails System and the Office of Greenways and Trails’ Role in Statewide Planning”

Brian will present information on the Florida Greenways and Trails System, including all types of land-based trails and ongoing trail projects. His presentation will key in on how trail connectivity improves multi-modal transportation and urban recreation

opportunities. His presentation will also provide information on how trails have helped towns develop economically and culturally.

e OGT website

www.dep.state.fl.us/parks/outdoor/scorp.htm