August 18, 2026

Hello Florida Trail Community,

Welcome to the first edition of Steps Forward, a monthly letter from Development Director Wayne Vassello. The purpose of this monthly series is to highlight the ways, small and large, that we are growing as a community, and to discuss what it means to contribute to a trail legacy.

The truth is, Our Community is Our Legacy. From local hikes to major events, it is important to take a moment and see how all these efforts connect and collectively move us forward. Equally important is realizing that our individual legacy doesn’t start when we can no longer participate in work parties or when we give a donation. Our legacies are alive in every act of trail kindness we perform and every piece of hiking experience we pass on to someone new. We all contribute to the mission with every step forward we take, on and off the trail.

 Building Our Community: Blaze FTA's Next Chapter

The first step in getting involved with any group is learning that it exists at all. Our new Blaze FTA's Next Chapter initiative focuses on expanding outreach and building stronger local partnerships. This means the FTA will be engaging deeply with surrounding communities to connect residents directly to the trail. This strategic expansion is a huge step in ensuring we have an involved membership and a strong foundation needed to deliver our mission far into the future.

Community Events: IDIDAHIKE

Enjoying a weekend of adventure in the outdoors is always special. But getting to spend it immersed in the natural beauty of the Green Swamp and Withlacoochee State Forest alongside friends is almost magical.

Our annual IDIDAHIKE events are getting bigger and better every year. If you haven’t been able to attend one before, make this the year you join the tradition—you won't regret it!

Choose your adventure:

6 hikes from an easy paved walk to a challenging 15-mile trek

Guided paddle on the Withlacoochee River (Limited Spaces)

Gravel bike ride through the Green Swamp  (Limited Spaces)

Your $60 event fee includes your activity + meals, and kids 11 and under are FREE.

There are LOTS of camping options whether you love the comforts of an RV or curled up in your tent with your dog.

$125 RV Camping - Pet Friendly 

$95 Car Camping Site -  No Pets

$65 Group Camping - No Pets

$65 Group Camping - Pet Friendly

Set up camp, make some new trail friends, grab some FTA merch, and spend a weekend exploring the wild beauty of the Green Swamp and Withlacoochee State Forest.

We all strive to follow consistent Leave No Trace practices when we are out on the trail. However, many of us also want the peace of mind that comes with knowing this passionate community will always have what it needs to carry on its mission.

August is officially National Make-a-Will Month. While estate planning can feel daunting, creating a will is actually an incredibly empowering tool. It protects the people you love and ensures that the values you lived by—stewardship, community, and a love for the outdoors—are preserved for the next generation.

These are not just words to me. Although I hope to be exploring the trail for quite a while longer, I have personally made these arrangements for myself, and the FTA is a proud part of that plan.

If you have personal stories of community building that happened through the FTA, or if you have any questions on the different ways to set up planned giving, please reach out to me directly at development@floridatrail.org. I would love to hear from you!

Building more than trails,

Wayne Vassello

Development Director, Florida Trail Association