November 22, 2026 - Great Gobble Garbage Grab - Hosted by the Clean Water Coalition
Time: 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Location: Seminole Wekiva Trail (Sanlando area)
Don’t let trash gobble up our waters! Join the Clean Water Coalition for their end-of-year community cleanup along the Seminole Wekiva Trail. Volunteers will remove litter from the trail before it can wash into nearby natural areas and waterways. Feel free to bring your bikes, skates, scooters, or skateboards and roll while you clean! Come solo or bring a group of friends.
Registration is required so the team can coordinate volunteers and share meeting details. Sign up here!
December 5, 2026 - Rock Springs Run State Reserve Hike with Friends of the Wekiva River!
Time: 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Location: 31700 County Rd 433, Sorrento, FL 32776, Rock Springs Run State Reserve (Park Entry Fee is $3 per vehicle)
Sponsored by Friends of the Wekiva River
Description: Join Dr. Jay Exum, Wildlife Ecologist, for a guided hike through Rock Springs Run State Reserve, one of the Wekiva Basin’s wildest and most beautiful landscapes. Jay will share his deep knowledge of the reserve’s varied ecosystems, from marshes and pine flatwoods to shady oak hammocks, and explain why each plant and animal thrives where it does. Along the way, we’ll keep an eye out for wildlife, birds, animal tracks, and signs of the many species that call the reserve home. On our last visit, hikers spotted a 6-foot black racer, a bald eagle hunting over the marsh, and a gopher tortoise burrow!
This hike is suitable for most ages, but participants should be able to walk over uneven and sometimes marshy terrain. Wear comfortable walking shoes you don’t mind getting muddy. Bring a hat, sunscreen, water, and snacks as needed.
Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count
Date: Saturday, December 19, 2026
For more than 35 years, the Friends of the Wekiva River have led a section of the Audubon count centered around the Wekiva River. The Audubon CBC has been held annually for 125 years, and we are pleased to provide data from birds observed across the basin. This one-day event allows birders of all levels to work together in groups covering areas like Seminole State Forest, Rock Springs Run State Reserve, and the Lower Wekiva River Preserve State Park. You will bird with a team and a leader who is familiar with the area. If you are interested in joining us, please contact Jay Exum at jay.h.exum@gmail.com.
Springs Summit - Hosted by the Florida Springs Council
Date: Friday, February 5 – Saturday, February 6, 2027
Location: Stetson University College of Law, 1401 61st St S, Gulfport, FL 33707
Registration is open! Every two years, the Florida Springs Council brings the springs advocacy community together to learn, connect, and work toward restoring and protecting Florida’s springs and waterways. The 2027 Springs Summit returns to Stetson Law’s beautiful old-Florida campus in Gulfport, hosted by Stetson Law with title sponsor Save the Manatee Club. Seasoned experts and new advocates alike are welcome!
Weekend highlights:
Friday, 5–9 PM: Summit Social at Outcast Brewing Company in St. Petersburg, with drink tickets for registered attendees
Saturday, starting 8 AM: A full day of sessions, with coffee and pastries at check-in. The day wraps up around 6:30 PM with the Banyan Bash, a social hour and awards ceremony in Stetson’s banyan-filled courtyard.
Sunday: An informal late breakfast at Stella’s in downtown Gulfport for anyone still in town
The Summit is FREE, but space is limited and each attendee must register separately. A vegetarian lunch is provided on Saturday, but you must reserve it when you register. You can also pre-order a 2027 Summit Tee, which helps keep the event free.
Book lodging early! February is peak season in Gulfport and St. Pete. Discounts include 30% off at the Crystal Bay Hotel (call 727-914-7676 and mention the Summit) and a group rate at the Fairfield Inn & Suites St. Petersburg North through January 15. Nearby camping options are also available.
Run for the Woods - Hosted by Tracked Chair Adventures
Date: Sunday, February 14, 2027
Location: Seminole State Forest, 32058 FL46, Sorrento, FL US 32776
Run, hike or walk the scenic trails of Seminole State Forest. Offering something for everyone, there will be a 5K, 12K (7.14 miles) and half-marathon trail race through some of Central Florida's most beautiful forest.
This is a charity event. We help provide both accessibility and opportunity for everyone to enjoy the natural beauty of our forest and parks.
You can directly support the Tracked Chair Adventures by registering for the trail run today. Because the Run is sponsored by Tracked Chair Adventures, Inc., a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, your registration fees are tax deductible, to the extent allowed by law. Thank you!
40th Annual Real Florida 5K/10K Cross Country Run - Benefiting the Wekiva Wilderness Trust
Date: Saturday, February 20, 2027
Time: Registration opens at 7:00 AM · 10K starts at 8:30 AM · 5K starts at 8:45 AM
Location: Wekiwa Springs State Park, Apopka, FL
Lace up for a milestone year! The Real Florida 5K/10K is celebrating its 40th anniversary, and it’s the only 5K/10K in the area run entirely off-road on the beautiful trails of Wekiwa Springs State Park. Proceeds benefit our friends at the Wekiva Wilderness Trust, a nonprofit that supports the state parks of the Wekiva River Basin.
Every finisher gets a medal and a commemorative t-shirt. Prizes go to the fastest male and female runners in each race and to age group winners, and every registrant is entered into a prize drawing. Lindsey Sablan of WESH/CW18 will emcee, with light refreshments and awards after the races and the Artesano Coffee food truck on site. The race is part of the Orlando Runners Club Annual Challenge Series, so expect plenty of runners and fast times!
Entry fees:
5K: $30 early bird through Jan. 31 · $40 Feb. 1–19 · $45 race day
10K: $40 early bird through Jan. 31 · $50 Feb. 1–19 · $55 race day
The race is capped at 350 runners due to park rules, so reserve your spot early! Please arrive early to avoid long park entry lines. Register here!
LCCC EcoExpo 2027 - Hosted by the Lake County Conservation Council
Date: Saturday, February 27, 2027
Time: 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Location: Hickory Point Recreation Park, 27341 FL-19, Tavares, FL 32778
The EcoExpo is back! This free, family-friendly day is a great way to explore the many organizations working to protect Central Florida’s natural resources, all in one place. Last year’s expo drew more than 600 visitors and 48 exhibitors, including wildlife rescue groups, water resource advocates, land conservation programs, and native plant experts. Friends of the Wekiva River was there alongside fellow Wekiva Basin partners, and guests enjoyed guided nature trail tours and went home with bags full of information and even free native plants and trees.
More details to come, follow along on facebook or check FOWR’s future newsletters!
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!
Looking forward: FOWR has a host of fun events coming up for our 2027 season, including hikes, paddles, educational and tram tours, and guest speakers. Keep an eye out for save-the-dates and more details soon!