Upcoming Events & Volunteer Opportunities
The FOWR calendar tends to slow down during the hot summer months, but we have exciting news — fresh new board members have joined our ranks, and big plans are in the works for the Fall 2026/Spring 2027 season. Stay tuned for more announcements! In the mean time check out these other events hosted by our local partners:
Sweetwater Lakes Restoration - Hosted by Seminole Education, Restoration, and Volunteer (SERV) Program
Date: Saturday, May 30, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM- 12:00 PM
Location: 106 Coveridge Ln, Longwood, FL 32779
The Seminole County Lake Management Program and the SERV Program invite you to help us plant shoreline vegetation to improve ecosystem function, habitat, and water quality at Sweetwater Lakes! Please note that we'll be working in the water - part of the fun is getting muddy & wet! More info here.
Myrtle Lake Restoration - Hosted by Seminole Education, Restoration, and Volunteer (SERV) Program
Date: Saturday, June 6, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM- 12:00 PM
Location: 1968 Deerview Place, Longwood, FL
The Seminole County Lake Management Program and the SERV Program invite you to help us plant shoreline vegetation to improve ecosystem function, habitat, and water quality at Sweetwater Lakes! Please note that we'll be working in the water - part of the fun is getting muddy & wet! More info here.
Junior Rangers Fish Fest at Katie’s Landing - Hosted by Wekiva Wilderness Trust
Date: Friday, June 12, 2026
Time: 8:00 AM- 12:00 PM
Location: Katie’s Landing State Park, 262 Wekiva Park Dr, Sanford, FL 32771
Let's go fishing Junior Rangers! Earn: Natural resources stamp. Bring covered-toe shoes, an adult, mosquito repellent, and refillable water bottle. More info here.
Wekiwa Springs Watch - Hosted by the Florida Springs Institute and Wekiva Island
The 3rd Thursday of each month
Time: 8:30 AM- approx. 11:30
Location: Wekiva Island, 1014 Miami Springs Dr., Longwood, FL
Thank you, Wekiva Island, for donating canoes for this activity!
BECOME A CITIZEN SCIENTIST AND HELP MONITOR OUR SPRINGS! SpringsWatch is a citizen science program that provides volunteers with hands-on training in the field. That “field” is Florida’s beautiful springs! Volunteers learn all aspects of water quality monitoring and get to know the wildlife and plants that depend on springs systems. This fun and educational day on the water also contributes to our springs knowledge database as well as that of other environmental agencies across the state.
Currently, the Florida Springs Institute has 11 active SpringsWatch groups across Florida, including Wekiwa Springs. During SpringsWatch sessions, volunteers collect data on water temperature, dissolved oxygen, specific conductance, vertical light attenuation, aquatic vegetation, wildlife, and human uses.
SpringsWatch is a great way to get out to the springs, learn, and help generate data that supports them. Email michelle@friendsofwekiva.org if you’d like to join!
Scenes from several Springswatch paddles. Images by Michelle Jamesson and other Springswatch volunteers