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) Nixon Smiley EEL Preserve -  Guided tour, choice of morning or afternoon

This 128-acre preserve is mostly pine rockland with elements of marl prairie. It is home to an incredible diversity of native plants and pollinators, including locally rare species such as Whorled milkweed (Asclepias verticillata), Giant orchid (Orthochilus ecristatus) and Carolina scalystem (Elytraria caroliniensis var. angustifolia). The preserve lacks trails, so expect to walk along a service road. The tour will feature a restoration area where pine islands were planted and the remaining acreage is being filled in by seeding in from these islands—via the “applied nucleation technique.”  Small grass plantings and direct seeding have also been used in the areas between the islands, and of course there has been hand removal of invasive species.  This is a unique opportunity to experience one of South Florida’s most endangered ecosystems up close, and to view restoration in progress.

Time:  Two choices — 8:30 am or 1:30 pm (pick one when you register)

Meeting place: Nixon Smiley Preserve does not have dedicated parking. The group will meet at Camp Matecumbe, at 13841 SW 120th St Miami FL 33186 to carpool or ride in a van to the preserve. Please do not arrive late; you may be left behind!

Leaders: Tiffany Melvin   

Contacts for day of trip: Tiffany Melvin, 786-881-4009 or Riki Bonnema, 407-492-4191

Capacity: 25  

(2) Zoo Miami pine rockland - Guided tour, morning only

A large, continuous system of pine rocklands located on Zoo Miami property, divided into several management units and separated by fire breaks.

Date/Time: Wednesday, November 11, 10:15 am – 11:15 am

Location: Zoo Miami, 12400 SW 152nd St., Miami, FL 33177

Directions: As you turn into the entrance off SW 152nd Street to Zoo Miami and onto SW 124th Avenue, travel about a quarter mile south until you see a fence line with sliding gates and a small guard booth for the zoo's Gate #1 security gate. Just before the gates and fence line, on your left, there is a very small parking area — this is where you can park and meet Zoo Miami staff to transfer to golf carts for the field trip. On the tour-route map, yellow is unit 17, blue is unit 9, and pink is unit 10. The red circle shows the parking area (very limited — please aim to carpool), and the dotted line shows where the golf carts will likely pick up participants and drive them back to their cars.

Agenda: Discussion of pine rockland ecology and management activities, including butterfly monitoring, threatened and endangered species, tegu monitoring, pine tree monitoring, and prescribed fire.

Leaders: Simone Jimenez

Contact for day of trip: Simone Jimenez, 407-697-1150

Capacity: 25

(3) Camp Choee - Guided tour, choice of morning or afternoon

Camp Choee is a protected tract of pine rockland that was acquired by Miami-Dade County in 2022. A legacy of fire suppression led to the development of a very dense stand of skinny Dade County pine trees on this property, and invasion by weeds like Burma reed and Brazilian pepper. After Hurricane Andrew, a portion of the site was used as a dump for post-storm debris from the nearby neighborhood. All that is to say that today the pine rockland is not as healthy and diverse as it could be, but it is on a path to recovery! Restoration work at Camp Choee has been underway for more than two years now. This tour will encourage active discussion of pine rockland management.

Times: Two choices — 11:00 am or 2:00 pm (pick one when you register)

Location: 11347 SW 160th St, Miami, FL 33157

Directions: After entering the gates, make an immediate left onto the service road and continue to the southern end of the property, where the group will meet.

Leaders: James Duncan & Christina Stocking

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

Capacity: TBD

(4) A.D. Barnes Park  - Guided tour, choice of morning or afternoon

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 limited numbers. This tour will encourage active discussion of pine rockland management.

Time:  Two choices — 11:00 am or 2:00 pm (pick one when you register)

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; follow the arrows on the park signs.

Leader: Jennifer Possley

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

Capacity: 10