Sign up for field trips when you register for the conference.  Note that some of these trips are concurrent; it is not possible to attend all of them, so please decide which trips you want to attend before you register.  Note: when a trip reaches capacity, it will close.  

(1) Pine Ridge Sanctuary - Guided tour, choice of morning or afternoon

West of Homestead, Barbara and Terry Glancy manage 15 acres of beautiful, incredibly diverse, pine rockland which they have lovingly managed for nearly 50 years. This was the first property in Miami-Dade County to have an EEL conservation covenant in 1982. It was designated as a Natural Forest Community in 1984. In 1991, it was designated as a Florida Forest Stewardship Program site and is the only such property south of Lake Okeechobee. Join them for a tour of their private property, which will either have had a very recent prescribed fire, or it will be just about to have one: this will be the property’s 17th prescribed burn. If you haven't yet visited this gorgeous pine rockland, it's a must-see!

Time:  Two choices — 10:00 am or 2:00 pm (pick one when you register)

Location: 21100 SW 300th Street, Homestead, FL 33030

Directions: The best place for parking is the grassy area just north of the row of lychee trees. Please do not block the entrance gate to the northern neighbor.  Carpooling is encouraged.

Leaders: Barbara & Terry Glancy

Contact for day of trip: Terry, 305-796-0067

Capacity: 20

(2) National Key Deer Refuge - Guided tour, full day

Travel to the Lower Keys to learn about pine rockland conservation efforts in this unique setting. Scientists and practitioners will discuss pine rockland ecology and species that depend on this ecosystem while guiding participants through Lower Keys pine rocklands, visiting examples in various stages of restoration and under direct threat from sea level rise, learning how the system is recovering from wildfire, responding to prescribed fire, and hearing about efforts to restore pine-rockland-dependent species.

Schedule:

 8:00 am — Depart from Miami (carpooling encouraged)

 11:00 am — Arrive at the National Key Deer Refuge for a short orientation on pine rocklands in the Lower Keys

 Noon — Lunch at a nearby restaurant

 1:00 pm — Visit pine rockland sites on Big Pine Key

 3:00 pm — Visit sites in the Upper Keys as the group winds north, maybe even Dispatch Slough, where pine forest was still present in the 1950s

 5:00 pm — Optional dinner on Key Largo

Meeting Place: National Key Deer Refuge Nature Center
Leaders and contact: Brittany Harris, 504-259-9344; Chris Bergh, 305-587-4037; Mike Ross; Kevin Kalasz, 772-205-7140
Capacity: 30  

(3) A.D. Barnes Park - Evening restoration activity + happy hour at local brewery

This northernmost pine rockland fragment in the Miami-Dade County Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) system is within a county park that receives heavy public use for hiking, birding, and recreation. Historically the 27-acre nature preserve was mostly pine rockland with elements of hammock and marl prairie; urbanization and fire suppression have since led to dominance of hammock and pine trees. Rare understory species such as crenulate lead plant, thickleaf wild petunia, and tall three-awn are still present, though in dwindling numbers. This working field trip will include a short overview of the park and project, followed by 1.5–2 hours of restoration activities (weeding, planting, watering, or all of the above). At 6:00 pm, those who wish will head to nearby Lincoln's Beard Brewing. The owners kindly pledged one free beer for workday participants!

Time:  4:00 – 6:00 PM, Brewery ~6:15

Location: 3401 SW 72nd Avenue, Miami, FL 33155

Directions: Park and meet just outside the nature center gate, on the north end of the park. Once inside the park, there are signs directing you to the nature center.

Leaders: Jennifer Possley and Andrea Mirow

Contact for day of trip: Jennifer Possley, 305-297-4617

Capacity:  40

(4) South Dade Middle School pine rockland - Evening restoration activity

A 5-acre Pine Rockland that was preserved as a result of development, closed off for over 20 years with no management. A Partnership between Miami-Dade Public Schools and DERM's Urban Forest and Tree Division, has brought the work required to open up the pine rockland up and prep it for fire. We invite you to join us for an evening workday to pick up trash, take a tour of the pine rockland and check out the new educational signage!

Time:  4:00 – 7:00 PM

Location: 29100 SW 194th Ave., Miami, FL 33030

Directions: The pine rockland is located on the corner of SW 197th Avenue and SW 292nd Street. Parking will be available along SW 292nd Street at the south end of the preserve.

Leaders: James Duncan & Christina Stocking

Contact for day of trip:  Christina, 305-458-9203

Capacity: N/A (this event is open to the public)