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It is Almost Time -- Saturday, February 25. As has been our tradition, Friends Annual Meeting will be on the last Saturday in February at Refuge headquarters. It is located off State Road 347 between Chiefland and Cedar Key. The official address is at 16450 NW 31 Pl, Chiefland, FL 32626. Friends members do not pay a fee to attend the event, including the program, lunch, and afternoon nature walks. The fee for those who are not Friends members is $20 per person. Pre-program activities will start at 9:30. They include:
It appears that the weather will be ideal for Friends, |
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Program activities will start at 10:15. They include:
- Welcome by President Debbie Meeks
- Refuge update by Refuge Manager Andrew Gude
- Friends update by President-elect Dr. Ginessa Mahar
- Election of the 2023 Board and Officers
- Featured presentation by Dr. Ken Sulak, Finding Florida - Crossing the Lower Suwannee River in the 1800s: Early Ferries, Bridges, and Trestles.
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After the Featured Presentation, while lunch is being set up and served, the information and discussion tables will be open again.
Lunch will be about noon. Ken McCain will cater.
Afternoon Exploration Options
Afternoon Exploration Options
- Walk to Vista. See the property with its Suwannee River view and the
Cook's House. Tour the Main House's interior. Board members will act as docents. - For those who prefer a nature walk, John Thalacker will lead a guided stroll on the River Trail.
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Several presentations are coming soon about the Refuges. Check them out below. The next one is this Thursday.
Thurs, Feb 16 at 5 p.m. -- Friends' president Debbie Meeks and board member Denise Feiber What to Do and See on a Visit to the Lower Suwannee Refuge
Thurs. Mar 2 at 5 p.m. -- Daniel Barrand, Refuge Forester, USFWS/LSNWR The History of Cummer Mill and John McPherson, Friends board member Restoring Vista
Thurs. Mar 9 at 5 p.m. -- Dr. Ginessa Mahar, Friends president, Ancient Aquaculture and Fishing Practices: New Insights from Shell Mound.
Sat, Mar 11 at 10:30 a.m. -- Dr. Ken Sassaman Amazon Travels: How the Ceremonial Gatherings of Modern Tribal People Inform Archaeological Perspectives on Shell Mound
Thurs. March 30 at 5 p.m. -- Friends board member Barbara Woodmansee, Butterflies of North Florida
Thurs. Mar 2 at 5 p.m. -- Daniel Barrand, Refuge Forester, USFWS/LSNWR The History of Cummer Mill and John McPherson, Friends board member Restoring Vista
Thurs. Mar 9 at 5 p.m. -- Dr. Ginessa Mahar, Friends president, Ancient Aquaculture and Fishing Practices: New Insights from Shell Mound.
Sat, Mar 11 at 10:30 a.m. -- Dr. Ken Sassaman Amazon Travels: How the Ceremonial Gatherings of Modern Tribal People Inform Archaeological Perspectives on Shell Mound
Thurs. March 30 at 5 p.m. -- Friends board member Barbara Woodmansee, Butterflies of North Florida
Wishes do come true! Friends member John Douglass has sponsored the Junior Ranger badges. Hurray and many thanks from the kids, and all the other Friends.
Our Junior Ranger booklet is about to go to press. We also need to order badges to give the kids when they complete the exercises. The minimum order is 200 badges and costs $240.
Covering that cost is high on our Wish List for this month. If you would like to be a badge sponsor, email friends@friendsofrefuges. We expect to be ready to launch the program by the time of the Annual Meeting in February.
Here is the final draft of the booklet.
Covering that cost is high on our Wish List for this month. If you would like to be a badge sponsor, email friends@friendsofrefuges. We expect to be ready to launch the program by the time of the Annual Meeting in February.
Here is the final draft of the booklet.
 Lower Suwannee NWR Junior Ranger badge |  Junior Ranger Workbook |
 The view up the path to the Light Station from the water. |  Three visitors along the beach on the far side of Seahorse Key |
The Refuge has scheduled five Open Houses at Seahorse Key for 2023.
Open Houses are free once you arrive at the Refuge island. However, visitors must arrange their own transportation. Shuttles are provided for a fee by tour companies in Cedar Key, or visitors can arrive by private boat.
- Wednesday, March 15, 2023 (rain date March 16 or 17), 9 am-3 pm
- Wednesday, March 29 (rain date March 30 or 31), 9 am-3 pm
- Saturday, July 1, 9 am-3 pm
- Friday, October 13 (rain date October 14), 9 am-3 pm
- Friday, November 10 (rain date November 11), 9 am-3 pm
Open Houses are free once you arrive at the Refuge island. However, visitors must arrange their own transportation. Shuttles are provided for a fee by tour companies in Cedar Key, or visitors can arrive by private boat.
Important Information
Seahorse Key is an island almost 3 miles from Cedar Key. Access is only by boat. There are no amenities, such as food or water on the island. Rest room facilities are limited.
Should there be a medical or other emergency requiring professional assistance or evacuation, response times could be lengthy.
Please plan with this in mind.
Seahorse Key is an island almost 3 miles from Cedar Key. Access is only by boat. There are no amenities, such as food or water on the island. Rest room facilities are limited.
Should there be a medical or other emergency requiring professional assistance or evacuation, response times could be lengthy.
Please plan with this in mind.
Friends of the Lower Suwannee & Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuges
P. O. Box 532 Cedar Key, FL 32625 friends@friendsofrefuges.org We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. |
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