Author: visitwakulldev

Spring is just around the corner and the fish are beginning to bite, so it’s the perfect time to take the opportunity to show off your angling skills and enjoy the spectacular Wakulla County scenery at the 2016 River Bassin’ Tournament.

The series of tournaments kicks off in Crawfordville on March 5, and anglers can compete to hook the biggest bass and win some fantastic prizes. Even if you don’t win, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with other fishing enthusiasts and enjoy a day on the beautiful Wakulla rivers.

All about the 2016 River Bassin’ Tournament Trail

The River Bassin’ Tournament Trail is an innovative series of catch and release bass fishing tournaments that offer generous prizes and fun for passionate anglers all across the country. The tournaments are only open to non-motorized water vehicles, so anyone with a canoe or kayak is eligible to register.

Once a participant catches a fish, all they have to do is quickly photograph the fish against a measuring tool with their smartphone. After the fish is back in the water, they can then easily upload the photo on the convenient River Bassin’ smartphone app where it will be added to their tally for the competition. Photos of the fish are displayed on the live leaderboard at tournament HQ, so all of the spectators and family members can keep track of the contestant’s progress. If you don’t have a smartphone, you can still participate by taking photos with a digital camera.

Tournament fishing in the great outdoors of Wakulla County

Fishing stories may have a reputation for exaggeration, but it’s certainly no tall tale to say that Wakulla County is home to some of the most beautiful and ecologically diverse waterways in North America. It’s no surprise then that it’s a natural fit to host the 2016 River Bassin’ Tournament Trail. Tournament contestants will have a front row seat to enjoy the pristine waters and lush vegetation while they’re waiting for the next bite to hit their line. There are plenty of fishing memories waiting to be made on the rivers of Wakulla County.

Registration is just a few clicks away!

If you’re ready to get in on the angling action at the 2016 River Bassin’ Tournament in Crawfordville, all you’ll need is a few minutes to fill out the simple online registration form. Registration fees for individuals are $50 for adults and only $30 for young anglers or college students. The registration fees for teams can vary between $70 and $160. The River Bassin’ Tournament promises to be one of the most unique fishing experiences in Wakulla County, so don’t miss your chance to get out there and hook the bass of your dreams!

If you’re looking for plans for this weekend, make it over to Wakulla County for the St. Marks National Wildlife Reserve “WHO” Wildlife Heritage and Outdoor Festival! There will be fun hands-on activities for visitors of all ages.

The festival kicks off February 6th at 11:00am and will go until 4:00pm. There will be live music by Hot Tamale, live animals, awesome contests all day, food for purchase, and exploration of camp “WHO.”

Event Details

• When: February 6, 2016 from 11:00am to 4:00pm
• Food for Purchase: Bradley’s Sausages, All Beef Hot Dogs, Sodas, & Chips
• Live Music: by Hot Tamale
• Animals: Come see Live Native Animals
• Demo Camp: Kids can come explore Camp “WHO”

Duck Calling Contest

There will be an awesome Youth Duck & Turkey Calling Contest that begins at 1:30. Thanks to our event sponsors, Ducks Unlimited, National Wild Turkey Federation, and Bass Pro Shops of Tallahassee! Be sure to sign up by phone or at the festival information table prior to 1:00 pm. Division 1 will have ages 10 and under, and Division 2 will have ages 11-17.

Festival Exhibitors

• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Children’s Activities, Bird Activities, & Camp WHO (kids demo campsite)
• Apalachee Audubon: Kid’s Hands On Activities, Free Publications & More
• Bass Pro Shop of Tallahassee: Great Outdoor Information for Our Area
• Cast Net Throwing: Net Throwing Demonstrations
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom: Come See How You Measure up to Various Birds
• Ducks Unlimited: Great Info Display with Decoys & Co-Sponsor of Duck Calling Contest
• Florida Big Bend Flyfishers, Inc: Fly Fishing Demonstrations – Sign up for Info on Youth Workshop
• Florida Forest Service: Great Info & Giveaway Items
• Florida State Univ. & Tall Timbers Research Station: Coloring Books, Nests, & Nuthatch Info.
• FWC Bear Management: Be a Bear Activity on How a Bear Survives
• FYCCN Florida Youth Conservation Center Network: Youth Archery & Bowfishing (Must be 6 years old or older to participate)
• Get Outdoors Florida: Backyard Bass Activity – Display and Information
• Hot Tamale: Live Music from Noon – 3:00pm
• National Wild Turkey Federation: Come Learn about the Eastern Wild Turkey & Co-Sponsor of Turkey-Calling Contest
• Operation Migration: Whooping Crane Information
• Panhandle Archeological Society at Tallahassee: Informative Brochures
• San Marcos de Apalache Historic State Park: Invasive/Exotic Game
• St. Marks NWR Photo Club: Check Out what the Photo Club has to Offer all Ages
• St. Marks NWR Fire Crew: Fun for the Kids!
• St. Marks Refuge Association: Membership Information & Migratory Bird Flyways
• St. Marks Grill Team: Bradley’s Sausage & Hot Dogs
• Tallahassee Museum: Live Birds & Other Animal Activities
• Tallahassee Woodcrafters: Woodworking Demo & Knives Sharpened Free
• USCG Auxiliary Apalachee Bay Floritilla: Boat Safety & Information
• USFWS Migratory Bird Program: Presentation in the Barred Owl Room at 12:30
• US Forest Service, National Forests in Florida: Come see Woodsy the Owl & Get Info on Forests

All Day Events

• Collector Decoys on Display in the Barred Owl Room
• Wood Carving in the Monarch Room
• Bird Button Display in the Monarch Room
• Art Contest Entries in the Monarch Room

This Year’s Sponsors

• St. Marks Refuge Association
• Bass Pro Shop of Tallahassee
• Ducks Unlimited & National Wild Turkey Federation
• Apalachee Audubon

Contact the St Marks National Wildlife Refuge at (850) 925-6121 or by visiting their website today.

Knapfest is an experience like no other – combining the elements of your traditional festival while also learning the education on the tools and life of early man.

You’ll grasp the history of knapping which is the process of shaping flint and other stones to make tools. You will also learn about all of our other excellent and educational events such as bow and arrow construction, bone and wood sculpting, and antler carving.

Knapfest takes place Friday, February 26th to Sunday, February 28th from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. It will be held at Ochlockonee River State Park, 429 State Park Road, Sopchoppy, FL. 32358. The cost of admission is $4.00 per vehicle, up to 8 occupants (additional occupants are $2.00 per person).

Things to Experience at Knapfest

Each day of the festival will have demonstrations on various primitive arts and skills including knapping, bow and arrow construction (both primitive and new world), pottery, basketry, bone carving, and wood carving, among other endeavors.

All activities take place within the fair grounds, offering an eventful outing with plenty to see for everyone in your group. There are also a number of contests to enter, as well as an auction. Contests to participate in include:

• Atlatl Throwing. Atlatl throwing is the throwing of spears called Atlatl Darts (Atlatl spears feature a hook on the end, allowing for better velocity). They’re contests for both novice and advanced participants and prizes that are awarded to the first, second, and third place winners.
• Primitive Bow Competition. Knapfest hosts a bow and arrow competition exclusively for primitive bows. No modern bows or arrows are allowed in the competition. They’re categories for both novice and advanced participants and prizes are awarded for the first, second and third place winners.
• Buddy Page. Rick Wiles Knapping Contest. This contest is named in honor of Buddy Page, a pioneer diver who discovered a number of submerged sites in Florida’s rivers, as well as Park Ranger Rick Wiles who judged many knapping contests and had a love for artifacts. This contest provides the opportunity to see some of the best knappers reproduce projectiles found locally.

The Auction offers locally donated knapping and supplies, as well as arts and crafts such as pottery, baskets, bone pieces, and hand carved wood. All of the proceeds from the auction are donated to Help Our State Parks.

If you’re looking for a fun event where you can learn new things and try your hand at primitive skills, Knapfest will be a day you remember for years to come.

Planting a tree this Arbor Day weekend just got a lot easier for residents of Wakulla County! Thanks to the Iris Garden Club and the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), there will be a free tree giveaway event at Hudson Park on Saturday, January 16 at 10:00am. This is the 14th annual Crawford Arbor Day celebration and tree giveaway. Get all the details for participants and vendors below!

What You Can Expect

On the day of the event, more than 1500 trees will be given away for free! Most of the younger trees have been grown in pots and are already several feet tall and all of the trees are well suited to Wakulla County. Every person who attends may take home one free tree in a pot plus several bare-root Longleaf Pines. After 11:30am, any number of the remaining trees may be taken for a requested donation of $4 per tree.

What Kinds of Trees?

In addition to more than 500 Long Leaf Pine seedlings courtesy of the Florida Forest Service, attendees can choose from one of the following kinds of trees to take home and plant.

• Red Bud
• Fringe Tree
• Arrowwood Viburnum
• Ashe Magnolia
• Tulip Poplar
• Bald Cypress
• Southern Red Oak
• Live Oak
• Mockernut Hickory (limited supply)
• Post Oak (limited supply)

Advice from Local Experts

If you want a free tree for your yard, school, or business, but don’t know which tree would be best, help will be available at the event! Tree-giveaway volunteers are native plant experts, Master Gardeners, or experienced gardeners and will be able to answer questions and give advice.

Native Shrub Raffle

In addition to the tree giveaway, there will also be raffles held for beautiful native shrubs. All you need to do is to bring an empty 1- or 2- gallon plastic plant pot (6-7-inch diameter) in good condition to trade for a chance to win a native Pinxter azalea. Each pot donated will be used for next year’s trees.

Anything Else?

There will also be a variety of vendors at the event with great food, games and exhibits, so come ready to have some fun! The event will be held rain or shine, so for more information, contact Lynn Artz at lynn_artz@hotmail.com or (850) 320-2158 or Jeannie Brodhead at jeannieb9345@gmail.com.

New York City may have the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree and the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular, but north Florida’s gulf coast knows how to put on a Christmas celebration that can rival any other.

Summer festivals often get all of the attention, but December is a perfect time to visit Wakulla County and see the amazing celebrations that are taking place. December in Wakulla County means lights in the trees, magic in the air, and you might even see a few snowflakes (although they probably won’t be falling from the sky)!

Christmas in Panacea

The annual Christmas in Panacea festival is entering its 11th year, and this celebration promises to be the best ever! The 2015 edition will take place on Saturday, December 5th, and the family fun will commence at 4:00 PM. Games, Activities for the kids, and a spectacular bounce house will be open at 4:00. You can even play in the snow in your very own winter wonderland. There will also be several vendors and entertainment options, and hot dogs and refreshments will be served soon after.

Starting at 6:30 PM, the famous Panacea Christmas Parade will begin, winding its way down US Highway 98 and featuring festive floats, boats, and decorated homes and storefronts. Be sure to stick around after the parade to witness the lighting of the 20 ft. tall Panacea Christmas tree in downtown. Also, rumor has it that a special guest who sports a white beard and dresses too warmly for the north Florida winters will be making an appearance to chat with all of the good little girls and boys after the tree lighting. Christmas in Panacea is truly your one-stop shop for family holiday fun!

Christmas in the Park

On December 12th, it’s the annual Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office Christmas in the Park event. This has always been a fantastic way to give back to the kids in the community, and if Santa isn’t too tired from all the festivities that day, he will come by Hudson Park for pictures with children and to accept gift wish-lists. This event starts at 3pm and goes until 8pm, and there will be games, prizes, train rides, and many vendors.

Christmas in Sopchoppy

The following day, on Saturday, December 12th, the city of Sopchoppy gets in on the Christmas fun with its own festival. Christmas in Sopchoppy begins at 9:00 AM and runs through the afternoon, offering you plenty of time to enjoy the activities and celebrate in style. You’ll have the opportunity to purchase seasonal merchandise made from local artisans, and you can enjoy lunch thanks to several food vendors. Topping it all off will be live Christmas music, Santa Claus, and much more. Christmas in Sopchoppy is your chance to celebrate the season on the gorgeous gulf coast!

Tots on Trails is a fantastic 45 minute activity offered in Wakulla County twice a month for children ages 1-4. The class boasts a short hike and various activities to get your toddler out in nature with other children their age.

This fun activity is for both local children and those visiting on vacation. While many parents look for group activities, there are a number of reasons that outdoor play, in particular, should never be skipped. Here are 5 known benefits to attending Tots on Trails and other outdoor activities like it:

Reasons to Increase Your Toddler’s Outdoor Activities

Improved Vision. Did you know that time outside is proven to reduce myopia in children? Myopia is the term for near-sightedness and, according to Optometry and Vision Science, outdoor time is known to decrease this vision impairment. While there are many reasons for this, what’s proven is that outdoor time will increase your child’s optical health.

Social Skills. Until children enter a school or daycare environment, they often have relatively few chances to socialize with other toddlers their age. Taking your child to areas where they have the chance to interact with others their age helps them learn valuable social skills and allows them the pleasure of making friends their age.

Allows for More Active Imagination Use. Often times, toddlers today spend a great deal of time playing on their parents’ phone or iPad or watching TV. While these activities can teach them skills, they often diminish the child’s opportunities to use their own imagination in the way real world activities will. In a real world hike through nature, they get to experience plants and environments they wouldn’t normally see and that first-hand knowledge increases their experience and ability for imaginative play.

Reduce Risk of ADHD. Some studies suggest that time outdoors actually increases a child’s ability to concentrate and that outdoor time on a regular basis would significantly improve symptoms associated with ADD and ADHD.

Healthier Lifestyle. Time outdoors is the best way to get the body’s necessary vitamin D intake (an important vitamin that many adults and children are not getting enough of in their diet today). These activities also positively impact physical exercise levels and decrease obesity.

Below is a testimonial from a Tots on Trails regular, Yana Stevens:

“I don’t have enough words to express how great “Tots on Trails” program is and how awesome Ranger Heather is. The kids love her! We started attending it with my son about 5 years ago. He was 2 then and he enjoyed it a lot because it was always so much fun. Now he is in first grade and we are attending this program with my 3-year-old daughter.

This program has a great combination of learning time, play time and craft time. Everybody knows that toddlers have a very short attention span. This program really takes it into consideration. It always starts with some kind of project.

During this time the children learn about nature, they learn about plants, trees, flowers, animals, and insects. Moreover, it acquaints them with the world in general. It could be something like looking in a microscope at different leaves, or feathers, or butterfly wings, or cicadas, or they may do some leaf rubbing, or could make a sun catcher, or could make some flowers, or do some stamping or tracing.

Ranger Heather always comes up with such great ideas. It is always something new. But what is wonderful is that every time, the program has its own theme and all those activities are built around it.

After craft/play time and learning time, children get to participate in the second half of the program, which is called “Nature Walk.” Children usually go for a short hike on St. Marks refuge, observing the nature or looking for animal tracks, or they could do a scavenger hunt. They just love it!

Nature walk always have a quiet time. During this time everybody just sit down and need to be quiet. After that children get to tell what they heard – birds, or wind, or acorns falling down. It is just so important for them to learn to relax and learn to listen.

Nowadays children have too much access to TV and all kinds of electronic devices. Sometimes they don’t even spend enough time outside exploring the world around them or simply playing in the mud. And if you take their iPad away or don’t let them play video games or watch TV, then they don’t know what to do with themselves.

This program helps to prevent all those problems and to raise a healthy generation, that is considerate of others and the world around them. This program helps them to learn about, understand, and love our natural environment which is so important.”

-Yana Stevens

If you’re looking for a fun activity to enroll your child in, Tots on Trails can be an excellent experience for children and families alike.

If you’ve never attended the FWMA Hearts Gone Wild annual music festival, you don’t want to miss out. Not only does it benefit a fantastic cause, but it’s an exceptionally fun event. The event is an all day affair on November 21. The gates open at noon and the day ends at 8pm. There is a $10 per person fee to enter and the silent auction tables are open from noon until 5pm.

The proceeds raised at this event benefit the Florida Wild Mammal Association and, not only will there be a silent auction filled with amazing items and exciting musical acts, but the FWMA will make a presentation highlighting the kind of work they’re doing. FWMA is committed to rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing abandoned and ill wildlife into North Florida, and they love to share their mission with anyone interested in preserving and improving the planet.

Musical Guest and a Day of Excitement

Whether you’re an avid wildlife supporter or just looking for a fun-filled event, the Hearts Gone Wild Festival offers a fantastic day full of great live music. Browse the live auction tables to place your bids or spend the bulk of your time near the entertainment. Music starts at 12:30 pm and ends at 8 pm. There are plenty of opportunities to mingle with other festival goers and socialize with those around you while supporting a great cause.

Musical acts include Michael Clanahan, Master Chief Ralph Pelletier, Despair Knot (Dean Newman and friends), Boo Radley, Hot Tamale, Mimi Hearn and Ric Edmiston, Rick Ott Band (Rick Ott, Sammy Tedder, Stan Gramling, and Nils Mann).

About the FWMA

The Florida Wild Mammal Association is a non-profit organization committed to saving, rehabilitating and releasing injured wildlife into North Florida. Established in 1994, the FWMA is also dedicated to educating the public on wildlife issues to better improve the planet and the lives of these animals.

Looking for a Fun Night of Live Music and Auctions?

Come out to join the FWMA Hearts Gone Wild Music Festival on November 21st. You’ll have a great time and can feel good about supporting a worthy cause.