April 3, 2023

Alachua County invites parents to register their children ages 7 to 12 for “A Summer of Discovery” at Cuscowilla Nature and Retreat Center. Day camps are offered for eight weeks, from June 5 through July 28. The Camps are Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Children can participate for one week or the whole summer. Each week will offer archery, swimming, outdoor skills, arts and crafts, boating, and much more. In addition, specialty camps are offered for children ages 10 to 14 with themes including Fish Camp and Adventure Camp. The Adventure Camp includes an off-camp zip line experience field trip.

Weekly day camps cost $100. Campers receive breakfast, lunch, and a snack. Bus transportation is included to and from Lincoln Middle School (1001 S.E. 12th St, Gainesville). Campers can also be dropped off and picked up from the Camp (210 S.E. 134th Ave, Micanopy). Qualifying campers can also receive a scholarship from Alachua County Children’s Trust and the Friends of Cuscowilla with completed applications and proof of documents.

“What I love most about camp is it’s an opportunity to do things you can’t do at home.,” said Camp Manager Jamie Bass. “Camp allows children to gain skills, try new things, and make memories that last a lifetime.”

Register and find out more information. 

Watch a short video about the Santa Fe Headwaters Preserve acquisition.

Recently, Alachua County Forever closed on its newest acquisition: The Santa Fe River Headwaters Preserve.

The Santa Fe River area is the highest priority for the Alachua County Forever land acquisition program. Nearly 45% of the property is in the Santa Fe River strategic ecosystem and 25% is in the Outstanding Waters of the Santa Fe River area.

The 2023 Hogtown Craft Beer Festival was held on March 25th at Cuscowilla Nature and Retreat Center in Micanopy. Over 1,000 attendees enjoyed samples from 35 different independent craft breweries and Florida Homebrew Clubs.

View the photos and learn more about the event.

CareerSource North Central Florida (CSNCFL) announces that Alachua and Bradford County residents now have free access to online career training via its’ newest partner, Metrix E-Learning. 

CSNCFL, the local workforce development board, enables residents to access the virtual courses designed to strengthen job prospects and promote additional career pathways that drive economic prosperity for local job seekers. 

“Metrix’s free online career training provided through us provides our workforce and job seekers with the necessary tools to grow, upskill, or bridge skill gaps as inflation and the cost of living increases,” Phyllis Marty, CEO of CareerSource North Central Florida, explained.

Read more about Metrix E-Learning.

The UF/IFAS Extension Alachua County Office is pleased to announce that the April “Plant of the Month” is okra.

Okra is low in fat and calories and high in vitamins C, A, K, folate, and other B vitamins, magnesium, potassium, and calcium.

April is a good time to grow okra in North Central Florida. Check the Plant of the Month website for information on planting, harvesting, recipes, and more. Listen to the Extension Cord Podcast to get further insights on the Plant of the Month.

“Okra has a flower that looks like a hibiscus flower and comes in a kaleidoscope of colors,” said County Commissioner Mary Alford. “It can be deep-fried, steamed, baked, boiled, stewed, pickled, sautéed, or stir-fried.”

The Plant of the Month program is a collaborative effort between the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners, UF/IFAS Extension Alachua County, Alachua County Master Gardener Volunteers, Alachua County Public Library, and Working Food. 

Environmental Horticulture Programs

Commercial Horticulture Program