THE ï»żFOOTPATH NEWSLETTER | | |
The Florida Trail Association develops, maintains, protects, and promotes a network of hiking trails throughout the state, including the unique Florida National Scenic Trail.
Together with our partners we provide opportunities for the public to hike, engage in outdoor recreation, participate in environmental education, and contribute to meaningful volunteer work.
| | Central Florida Chapter Update | | |
Recognizing Those Who Go Above and Beyond
As we wrap up another unforgettable hiking season, I want to take a moment to shine a light on the individuals who have gone above and beyond to serve the Florida Trail and our community. The heart of the FTA beats strongest through its volunteersâand this year, our chapter had the privilege of recognizing several members whose contributions have been truly outstanding.
đ Gary Bushey received the Chapter Trail Maintainer of the Year Award, a high honor given to just one recipient per chapter. Garyâs consistent and significant work ensures that our portion of the Florida Trail remains open, safe, and beautiful for all.
đ Jerry Rogers was honored as the Florida Trail Maintainer of the Year, a statewide award based on having the most recorded trail maintenance hours for the entire Florida National Scenic Trail. This award reflects Jerryâs tireless dedication and leadership on the ground.
đ Mary Slater Linn earned the Activity Leader Award, recognizing her innovative and enriching hikes that help connect people to the trail through history, ecology, and community. Activity leaders are the bread and butter of the FTAâbringing new people to the outdoors and helping them fall in love with the wild places we work so hard to protect. The value they bring to our organization is truly invaluable.
đ David Magness was recognized with the Special Service Award, honoring his leadership, outreach, and behind-the-scenes efforts that have made a meaningful impact on our chapter and beyond. Davidâs energy and vision are helping shape the next generation of volunteers and leaders.
đ And Bill Turmanâwho many of you know as the steady hand behind so many of our chapterâs activitiesâwas awarded the prestigious Cornelia Burge Award, the highest statewide honor given to an FTA member for extraordinary contributions. It was my pleasure and honor to nominate Bill for this award, which recognizes those who have advanced the FTAâs mission in truly exceptional ways. Bill has consistently shown unwavering dedication to both the Central Florida Chapter and the statewide organization.
We also want to take a moment to acknowledge that Bill recently concluded his service on the FTA Board of Directors, following many years of leadershipâincluding his time as Board Chairman. Billâs impact has been profound, and his influence will continue to be felt for years to come. We are deeply grateful for his service to our chapter and the Florida Trail Association as a whole, and we know he will continue to be a guiding presence on the trail.
Weâre also proud to share that Eugene Stoccardo, a longtime volunteer, trail advocate, and member of our chapter, was recently elected to the FTA Board of Directors. Eugene brings a thoughtful, solutions-focused voice to the board, with a background in engineering, public policy, and hands-on trail work. With Eugeneâs election, the Central Florida Chapter now has three representatives on the boardâan exciting reflection of our chapterâs strength, vision, and continued leadership.
As we enter the quieter summer months, I hope youâll join me in celebrating these outstanding individuals who make our chapter stronger every day. Because of themâand because of youâwe continue to build something lasting, meaningful, and full of purpose.
See you on the trail,
Chelsey Stevens
| | Welcome Tisha McCombs, Our New Executive Director | |
We are thrilled to welcome Tisha McCombs as the new Executive Director of the Florida Trail Association!
I had the distinct honor of serving on the hiring committee responsible for interviewing and selecting our next leader. From the moment Tishaâs resume landed in our inbox, I knew we had struck gold. Her deep experience with public lands, her commitment to volunteer engagement, and her proven track record of organizational transformation made her stand out in a highly competitive field.
Tisha joins us from The Colorado Trail Foundation, where she led a vibrant community of over 1,000 volunteers and significantly expanded the organization's capacity and funding. But what impressed us even more than her resume was her passionâfor trails, for people, and for purpose. Though she's spent the last 20 years out west, Tisha was born and raised in Savannah, GA, and her return to the Southeast feels like a homecoming in more ways than one.
Weâre excited to see what the future holds for the FTA with Tisha at the helm. Her vision for collaboration, innovation, and inclusivity is already inspiring confidence across our chapters and among our partners.
Please join me in giving Tisha a warm Florida welcome. Youâll be hearing more from her soonâbut in the meantime, you can learn more about her background and trail leadership in the attached bio.
Hereâs to the journey ahead!
Happy Hiking,
Chelsey Stevens
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đŹ Note on Newsletter Distribution
Weâre excited to share that our chapter membership is growing â and thatâs a great thing! To ensure weâre able to continue sharing updates with our active members, weâve begun the process of removing individuals from our email list who are not current members of the Florida Trail Association.
Due to the limitations of our current email platform, weâre capped at 500 subscribers. As much as weâd love to send the newsletter to everyone, the cost and platform restrictions make it unsustainable.
If your membership has lapsed, this newsletter may no longer arrive in your inbox â but you can still access it anytime on our website and social media pages.
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Want to keep receiving updates by email? Simply renew your membership and weâll gladly add you back to the list!
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Honoring Eagle Scout Maelis Cowdrey
Weâd like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Maelis Cowdrey, who recently completed her Eagle Scout project on the Florida Trail. Her hard work resulted in a beautifully constructed puncheon and commemorative plaque, benefiting hikers and protecting sensitive trail areas for years to come.
Congratulations, Maelis, on achieving the rank of Eagle Scoutâand thank you for choosing to make a lasting impact on the trail we all love!
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Trail Mix - End of Season Cookout
đż May Chapter Meetup & Potluck Cookout
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Thursday, May 15 | đĄ 6:30 PM
đ Geneva Wilderness Area Pavilion
3485 N County Rd 426, Geneva, FL 32732
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Join us for a relaxed evening of food, fun, and fellowship at the beautiful Geneva Wilderness Area! Weâll be gathering under the pavilion near the Ed & Imogene Yarborough Nature Center for our monthly chapter meeting and annual potluck! đđ
đŽ What Weâre Bringing:
- Burgers & hot dogs
- Buns & condiments
- Bottled water & iced tea
- Ice, cups, utensils, & napkins
- Firewood for a cozy campfire đ„
đ§ș What You Can Bring:
Weâd love for you to bring a dish to shareâa side, snack, or dessert.
- Donât forget serving utensils!
- Crockpots & plug-in dishes are welcome (power is available).
- Extra firewood? Always appreciated!
đ Sign up here: Perfect Potluck Link
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żïž Parking & Gate Info:
Follow signs to the Ed Yarborough Nature Center and park in the gravel lot. The pavilion is a short walk away.
đ If a gate code is required, weâll send it to all RSVPâd attendees the morning of the event via our meetup page.
đȘ Extra Tips:
Bring a camp chair if you'd like to spread out, and feel free to invite a friend. This is a fantastic way to meet new faces, reconnect with old friends, and celebrate the end of a great hiking season with our trail family.
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We hope to see you there! đđČđ„
| | | Highlighted Hike of the Month! | | |
Geneva Wilderness Area
A former Boy Scout camp, Geneva Wilderness Area was acquired by Seminole County in 1994, the same year neighboring Little Big Econ State Forest was created. An array of natural communities is protected on the property, including scrub, flatwoods, and baygall swamp. In addition to a loop trail, and group campground, the wilderness area is home to the Ed and Imogene Yarborough Nature Center, a hub for environmental education. The nature center isnât typically open to the public aside from an open house a few times a year, but it can be reserved for private events.
The 1.5 mile loop trail starts at a parking lot on the northwest end of the property, marked with trailhead signage. Heading south from the trailhead, a sandy pathway leads through a patch of oak scrub where showy tarflowers begin to bloom in the springtime. The trail quickly drops down into a pine flatwoods habitat, where an impressive dock stretches out over a scenic prairie pond covered with water lilies and carnivorous bladderworts.
From the pond, the pathway continues southward where the Flagler Trail heads into Little Big Econ State Forest and the loop trail curves back to the north. Tracing an edge of another prairie pond, the second half of the loop can be flooded during certain times of the year, especially after heavy rain events. Near the end of the loop, the trail passes the nature center before continuing along a short stretch of dirt road back to the trailhead.
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Bogesundslandet Nature Reserve: A Swedish Jewel
By Rob Rogers
Sweden is known for the archipelago near Stockholm, which most visitors tour from the deck of a boat. Many guidebooks also list great islands there for day hiking, but precious few describe places to backpack near Stockholm. If youâre taking a short vacation to Stockholm and want to backpack or camp for the night beside the Baltic Sea, there may be nowhere better than Bogesundslandet Nature Reserve. I was lucky enough to do a pair of one-night backpacking trips there during a family vacation last summer, and my experiences hiking and camping there were spectacular. Itâs also free and relatively easy to visit without a rental car.
Rarely mentioned in American travel guides, Bogesundslandet Nature Reserve sits on the island of Bogesund only 8 Âœ miles northeast of Stockholm, across a short causeway from Vaxholm, a popular stop on most boat tours of the Stockholm Archipelago. Covering more than 7,000 acres of forest and 3,000 more acres of fjords and lakes, Bogesundslandet surrounds the 17th century Bogesund Castle and has been used as farmland since the Late Iron Ages. The island was converted to recreational use a nature reserve in 2015 and is now managed by the Statens fhastighetsverk (Swedenâs National Property Board).
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The island is an outdoor playground full of attractions for outdoor enthusiasts, including campgrounds, equestrian trails, and even a golf course. It also contains 10 hiking trails ranging in length from 2 to 7 miles, many of which intersect and can be combined for longer hikes. Although several trails surround the castle, many dive deep into rocky forests or hug the boulder-strewn coasts, offering the same beautiful views of the Baltic that most tourists only get to see from the water.
Greatest of all, trailside primitive campsites are sprinkled throughout Bogesundslandet, many with camp shelters. Most campsites are equipped with fire pits thoughtfully stocked with firewood by the SFV. All are free and need not be reserved. Many of these campsites, like the Varmora campsite where I camped, lie beside the Baltic Sea; some are even accessible by boat.
Bogesundslandet is also tantalizingly close to Vaxholm, considered the gateway to the Stockholm Archipelago. Tourists exploring other islands typically take larger ferries to Vaxholm to connect to boats that stop at smaller islands. Known mainly for its nearby fortress guarding the main waterway to Stockholm, Vaxholm is itself a quaint seaside town that caters to tourists and sailboats and is about one hourâs drive from Arlanda International Airport.
Vaxholm sits on the island of Vaxon, which lies across a short one-lane causeway from the island of Bogesund containing the Nature Reserve. Vaxholmâs harbor lies just 1 Âœ miles south of the causeway on the Blue Trail, a popular hiking and biking trail that runs through both islands. The Nature Reserve can also be easily reached by busses that run several times a day from the harbor at Vaxholm.
When my family and I spent several nights in Vaxholm last June, I improvised a one-night hiking adventure by taking a bus to the Frosvikhagen bus stop in the middle of the Nature Reserve, then backpacked 3 œ miles along the Blue Trail to the seaside Varmora campsite. After spending the night there, I hiked the remaining 5 miles back to our rental apartment near the harbor in Vaxholm the next morning. When our flight home the following week was cancelled, I returned and hiked the hilly 5-mile Nasseldalsrundan loop, before connecting back to the Blue Trail for 2 œ more miles to spend the night again at the Varmora campsite.
My experiences backpacking at Bogesundslandet left me awestruck. Miles of well-blazed trails meander through pine and oak forests, over glacier-carved hilltops, and along the shores of tranquil fjords and lakes. Even though trailheads are easy to find and maps with English translations are simple to use, many trails feel as wild as the Florida Trail. Even more breathtaking are the seaside campsites. Although I might comfortably have opted for the shelter, I could not pass on the opportunity to set my tent beside the sea. Facing north, the Varmora campsite afforded the unique opportunity in late June to face both the rising and setting sun. With the summer solstice approaching, I enjoyed a campfire in fading sun after 11:00 p.m., as ducks serenaded me while diving for morsels in the bladder kelp. I was even treated to swans and a rainbow.
Bogesundslandet is not the only place in the Stockholm Archipelago to hike and camp. My family and I also hiked on Grinda, a forested island that has camping areas and a historic hotel, and through pretty woodlands on the island of Sandhamn. But those islands are small and better suited for shorter hikes. Bogesundslandet is perfect if youâre looking for a little adventure with enough convenience to avoid having to adjust vacation plans.
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Rob Rogers is the author of Finding My Way Home: Fighting Depression Backpacking in Central Florida. He also writes a blog called the âCentral Florida Backpacking Desk Jockeyâ
(http://backpackingdeskjockey.blog).
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Kids To Parks Day
May 17th is annual Kids to Parks Day! Started by the National Parks Trust, Kids to Parks Day encourages children to get outside and explore a park, be it local, state, national, or other public land.
This year, Blue Springs State Park will be celebrating the date with a Junior Ranger Jamboree! The event is from 11:00 - 4:00, and the program is free with paid park admission.
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Sylvan Lake Park
In a family-friendly park renowned for its competitive sports complex, an accessible 1.5 mile pathway winds around the perimeter to a scenic lakeshore boardwalk.
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A New Preserve Opens in Central Florida!
On May 1st, D Ranch Preserve in Osteen was officially opened to the public with a ribbon cutting ceremony. A former working cattle ranch, the property is now owned and managed by Conservation Florida. Over the past year, the organization has worked with volunteers to establish a trail network across an impressive mosaic of natural communities, from pine flatwoods, oak hammocks, and scrub to scenic prairie ponds and the seasonally flooded forests that surround them.
Located across the street from Lake Monroe Conservation Area, the preserve boasts a network of well-marked trails with a few shaded picnic tables and benches along the way. The southern loops should stay dry most of the year, but the wetland trails to the north have potential to be underwater, especially after the rain event we had last week.
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Central Florida Chapter Activity Leaders
Bill Turman, Activity Coordinator
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đ„Ÿ Wrapping Up the Season â And Honoring Our Activity Leaders
As we close out another incredible hiking season, we want to take a moment to recognize the backbone of our chapter and the Florida Trail Association as a whole: our Activity Leaders.
These volunteers are more than just hike organizersâthey are connectors, guiding others into nature and building the relationships that turn curiosity into commitment. Every paddle, walk, backpacking trip, and sunset hike is an opportunity to inspire wonder, forge community, and spark a deeper connection to the land.
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And that connection is where conservation begins. When people care, they protect. And itâs our Activity Leaders who help make that care possible.
đ Welcome to Our Newest Certified Activity Leaders:
- Jim Krell â August 2024
- David Magness â October 2024
- Stuart Dropkin â November 2024
- Elda Larche â January 2025
- Ned James â February 2025
Thank you for stepping upâyou are already making a difference.
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Our Current Certified Activity Leaders:
- Rachael Augspurg
- Mary Slater Linn
- Ron Aube
- Tom Regan
- Jerry Rogers
- Kelley Galvin
- Chelsey Stevens
- Joan Jarvis
- Erica Johnson
- Steve Grieger
- Russ Klette
- Judy Minter
- Bill Turman
- Chris Stevens
- Jim Krell
- Jackie Warren
- David Magness
- Stuart Dropkin
- Elda Larche
- Ned James
- Kristen Gilbert (Paperwork Processing)
âš Want to Lead the Way?
Becoming a Certified FTA Activity Leader is one of the most rewarding ways to give back to the trail community. Whether itâs a casual day hike or a multi-day adventure, youâll have the chance to share your love of the outdoors, meet amazing people, and grow our communityâone step at a time.
To get started, youâll need to co-lead two activities with two different certified leaders. We also offer training sessions throughout the year to support your journey.
Interested?
Contact Bill Turman at đ 407-413-2950 or đ§ HokieBill@bellsouth.net
Or chat with any of our current Activity Leadersâweâre always happy to help!
Letâs grow this team and make the next season even more unforgettable.
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10% off all regularly priced clothing, footwear, and gear
Offer limited & some exclusions apply
Travel Country Outfitters supports Florida Trail Members Simply show proof of membership at the register
www.travelcountry.com 407-831-0777
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Chelsey Stevens - Chapter Chair
Jerry Rogers - Trail Coordinator
David Magness - Membership Coordinator
Kelley Galvin - Treasurer
Doug Kucklick - Outreach Coordinator
Chris Stevens - Media Coordinator
Vacant - Secretary
Bill Turman - Activity Coordinator
Mary-Slater Linn - Program Coordinator
Media Committee
Rob Rogers
Outreach Committee
Rue Nilson
Stuart Dropkin
Roxane Abelow
Hospitality
Rue Nilson
Jean Williamson
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Join Our Committees!
Interested in getting more involved without the commitment of a leadership position? We're excited to announce the formation of committees to support our leadership roles, and we're seeking enthusiastic volunteers. Initially, we're focusing on the following committees, with plans to expand to additional roles in the future:
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Media Committee: This team will manage social media, share photos, write articles, and coordinate contributions from others.
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Outreach Committee: Members will help set up and staff tables at various outreach events.
If you're interested in joining one of these committees, please don't hesitate to reach out to us!
We hope everyone enjoys a cool and safe summer. Thank you for your dedication to our community and for taking the time to connect with your leadership team. Have a wonderful season!
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