What we’re about
Welcome to our Meetup Group for hikers in Florida's central panhandle!
The purpose of this meetup group is to introduce you to the Florida Trail and the Panhandle Chapter of the Florida Trail Association (FTA), and to encourage you to become an FTA member.
Please consider becoming a member of the Florida Trail Association!
(Note that Meetup membership is not the same as FTA membership)
Membership in the FTA requires a small annual fee, but entitles you to many benefits: the FTA newsletter called the Footprint, access to our "members-only" activities, and access to training such as Wilderness First Aid, chainsaw certification, and activity leader certification. But most important, FTA membership is your opportunity to support the goals and ideals of the Florida Trail Association.
To become a member of the FTA, talk to a friendly Chapter member at one of our meetings. Or you can go to the FTA website, [www.floridatrail.org](http://www.floridatrail.org/). From there, click on JOIN!
The Chapter is responsible for maintaining the part of the Florida National Scenic Trail from the Apalachicola River near Blountstown, FL; the Altha Trail near Altha, FL; along the Econfina Creek between Scott Road and Hwy 20; and the FNST through Pine Log State Forest to the Choctawhatchee River. The Panhandle Chapter of the FTA welcomes members from Bay, Holmes, Washington, Jackson, Gulf, and Calhoun Counties.
The Panhandle Chapter hosts monthly meetings featuring nature programs and plans several outdoor activities each month of interest to all ages.
Our Chapter typically meets on the third Monday of each month at 6:30 PM at the Science and Discovery Center in Panama City, FL.
For merch, please see our [Stickermule.com](https://www.stickermule.com/dfa60db9af20ae1) store.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Chapter Meeting - Annual Chapter Awards and Ron Houser: "Birding with Audubon"The Science and Discovery Center , panama City, FL
Ron Houser from the Audubon Society will be our guest speaker this month. He will be presenting "Birding with Audubon in Northwest Florida". His briefing will begin with the history of the National Audubon Society, which came about during a time when hundreds of thousands of egrets, herons and other birds were being slaughtered for the womens' hat industry, leading to laws and a general change of attitude by the public. It also will show what they do as a chapter and the projects they are involved with. There will be bird pictures too.
Also, we will be recognizing those who have contributed mightily to our chapter over the last year and welcome our new officers into their office positions.
Zoom Information:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88635206971?pwd=qzdFzBnaFJmbEdDYjdAAEYnAgtxPZK.1
Meeting ID: 886 3520 6971
Passcode: 026563 - Fun Hike - Econfina Section Thru-Hike with Overnight CampingFlorida Trail Scott Road Trailhead, Fountain, FL
Join the Panhandle Chapter on a 19 mile overnight hike. We will camp at about the midpoint of the hike at a primitive campsite with water access and designated campsite. The hike will commence at Scott Road trailhead where we will meet and park, and finish at the Route 20 trailhead . All hikers need to have their own tent/hammock, sleeping gear, cooking gear, and meals for 2 days (2 lunches, 2 dinners, and 1 breakfast). Also, please bring a bear bag or dry bag and line to hang your food at night, headlamp, rain gear, bug spray, sunscreen, and other essentials including sturdy footwear. We will have water filtration equipment that we can share to pump and filter creek water, but you will need your own water bottles. This will be a strenuous hike and we are planning to go the whole way in two days with no bail-out vehicle along the way. If you have any questions, please contact Darryl Updegrove at 850-819-0414 or [email protected] before the day of the hike. The wildflowers should be blooming so this should be a great time of year to do this hike.
RSVPs open on March 3rd, and close on April 1st. This is to both give you time to plan if you want to attend before signing up, and also give us time to plan our group/team and not have last minute additions.
