250 Years Later Bartram’s Travels Continue to Inspire Conservation

by Jeffrey Forbes

April 2024 marks the 250th anniversary of William Bartram’s travels to and through beautiful North Central Florida in 1774. Bartram, a Quaker, naturalist, botanist and explorer from Philadelphia visited Florida on a commission from physician, Dr. John Fothergill of London, England who financed the young man’s excursions. Fothergill and others paid Bartram to collect and catalogue strange and rare foreign plants for inclusion in their large and beautiful estate gardens. An aspiring artist honing his skill, Bartram drew and recorded all that he saw around him.

Bartram actually made an earlier trip to Florida with his father John, botanist to the King of England, in 1765. This earlier adventure was made to give the world its first detailed accounting of the St. Johns River, with descriptions of its climate, geography, plants and animals. The father and son team stuck to the river’s immediate environs, but the younger Bartram became intrigued with stories of the interior lands he heard at John Spalding’s two riverside trading posts. Florida frontiersman spoke of a great level savannah fifty miles to the west where the waters disappeared into holes in the earth.

Bartram’s map of Alachua Savannah, known today as Paynes Prairie.

Returning to Florida, Bartram made his way back to Spalding’s stores and fell in with a trading party setting out for the Alachua region. A trader by the name of Job Wiggens accompanied the excited adventurer. Travelling west, the party bedded down for the night at present day Cowpen Lake. Still heading westward, the band traversed forests and marshes. In his recounting of the entire trip, commonly known as Travels (1791), Bartram details the many gopher tortoises and their “great dens” encountered as they crossed the sandy hills east of Alachua. And then, “continuing eight or nine miles through this sublime forest, we entered on an open forest of lofty pines and oaks, on gently swelling sand hills, and presently saw the lake (Cuscowilla), its waters sparkling through the open groves.”   

Photo: Tuscawilla Preserve by Kim Davidson.

Arriving at Cuscowilla, present day Tuscawilla Preserve, Bartram made note of the 800-year-old Cameron Indian Mound, the remnants of which can still be seen in the Town of Micanopy’s Native American Heritage Park. Shortly after, he and company were welcomed into the Seminole village of Cuscowilla and presented to chief Ahaya-“The Cowkeeper” who was necessarily interested in their business and purpose. When it was explained that Bartram was collecting plant specimens, the Seminole headman saluted the naturalist with the name Puc Puggy or flower hunter and Bartram was given permission and protection to travel over the region on his errand. From Cuscowilla Bartram and friends travelled to the Great Alachua Savanna, today’s Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, where he was overwhelmed with its beauty and grandeur.

In his Travels William Bartram gave us the first written record of the Alachua region: its flora, its fauna, its topography and its people. The mission of the Alachua Conservation Trust is to protect the natural, historic, scenic and recreational resources in and around North Central Florida. ACT is proud that at least two of our preserves are documented Bartram visitation sites, Little Orange Creek and Tuscawilla. The lofty, virgin longleaf pine forest may be gone and the land may be fragmented by asphalt covered roadways, but if we are fulfilling our mission, we’d like to think that Wiggens or Ahaya or Bartram could be dropped onto one of these preserves today and still recognize them as places they knew and loved.                  

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Banner image: Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park by Kim Davidson

Fall 2023 Natural Resource Internship Recap

Congratulations to the Fall 2023 Natural Resource Interns - Olivia, Danny, Katya, Kaitlin, Preston, Sofia, Jesus, and Lauren - on completing their semester-long experience with ACT! Collectively, these 8 interns gave nearly 1400 hours of their time to assisting ACT with various land management projects on our preserves and on private lands. This semester, interns built a boardwalk at the end of the Orange Trail at Little Orange Creek; worked on burn site preparations by reducing hardwoods at Little Orange Creek, Prairie Creek Preserve, and Fox Pen Preserve; completed a reroute of the connector trail at Blues Creek Ravine Preserve; and treated invasives at Orange Lake Overlook, Santa Fe River Preserve, LEAFS, and Prairie Creek Preserve.

Additionally, they learned about safe use and maintenance of power tools like chainsaws and brushcutters, learned about forestry and completed a timber cruise, wrote a fire prescription, learned about cave crayfish from biologist Paul Moler, collected Lopsided Indiangrass seeds at Goethe State Forest, completed a survey for endangered Etoniah Rosemary at Etoniah Creek State Forest, helped dig graves at the Prairie Creek Conservation Cemetery, networked with private landowners, and learned about grant-writing.

Interns have found meaning in the experiences they gained over the semester. Our interns explain in their own words what they took out of ACT’s Natural Resource Management Internship: 

“The ACT Natural Resources Internship Program is one of the greatest places to develop not only a strong skill set, but also strong connections with peers and professionals in the field of natural resources. I have spent two separate semesters interning with ACT and have not felt like a moment was wasted. I have come out of both semesters feeling worlds more confident in my skills, and feeling significantly more knowledgeable. I have nothing but high praise to give ACT  and I strongly recommend the opportunity to everyone who has any interest. ”

— Preston, Spring ‘22, Fall ‘23 Intern

“In essence, the Alachua Conservation Trust has helped me to rekindle a love and deep appreciation for the world around me. Through the work of the natural resource internship program, I’ve been able to acquire relevant skills pertaining to the natural resource world. This includes those of prescribed fire, grant-writing, and fieldwork. Most importantly, I’ve learned the skills needed to work independently and in team environments. I can say with confidence that  I would love to pursue a career in the natural resource world. Thanks to ACT and their wonderful staff, this goal is more obtainable and possible. ”

— Fall ‘23 Intern

“I had fun at ACT this semester. I learned a lot and will build on these skills. I made food friends and felt good about the work we were doing. ACT is a great organization made up of great people. ”

— Danny, Fall ‘23 Intern

“My internship with ACT gave me so much valuable information regarding natural resource and land management. I learned how to effectively use a variety of power tools, identify plant species, properly manage invasive plants, and even how prescribed fire works and how to write a fire prescription. This is in addition to learning how ACT operates in things like grant-writing and volunteer events. I’m incredibly grateful for my time at ACT and will use the information I learned here to further my environmental career. ”

— Katya, Fall ‘23 Intern

“The past semester with ACT has been an incredible and invaluable experience. The support and guidance from the ACT staff reminded me of the value of conservation and reassured me that this is the right field for me to pursue. The countless new fieldwork skills, as well as the supportive environment, provided me with confidence that I will carry into the future. Some of the most beneficial skills I learned were wildlife habitat management herbicide application, and prescribed fire. I really enjoyed the opportunity to consistently work with a crew of conservation focused individuals. The structure of the internship, including visiting different preserves every day provides the opportunity to experience many ecosystems and learn how land management is different between environments. Overall, I am so grateful for this internship opportunity and the skills and confidence it provided me. ”

— Lauren, Fall ‘23 Intern

“I really enjoyed my time as a Natural Resource Intern for the Fall 2023 semester. I learned a lot of new skills, such as writing prescriptions for prescribed fires, using power tools, applying and mixing herbicide to control certain plant species, and identifying plant communities. As interns, we also got to interact with a lot of professionals and learn about potential career opportunities. Everyone at ACT was very welcoming and throughout my time here, I feel like I learned more about what I would like to do for my future career. One of the most memorable moments for me was seeing the difference from the first time I used the chainsaw and how much better I got throughout the internship. ”

— Jesus, Fall ‘23 Intern

“My time at ACT is one I will never forget. I’ve spent the last two semesters here growing as a person thanks to this program. I’ve gained confidence in skills I’d never thought I’d have: using a chainsaw, working on prescribed fires, and learning tons about plants. Better yet, I’ve been welcomed into a community of caring and knowledgeable people. I loved working as an intern at ACT more than words can describe, and it will always hold a special place in my heart. ”

— Olivia, Summer/Fall ‘23 Intern

Internship applications for the Spring 2024 semester are closed, but applications for the Summer 2024 internship will open at the beginning of March. The Summer 2024 internship will run from May 20th through August 8th. For more information on the Natural Resource internship, check out our website here. If you have questions about the Natural Resource Management Internship, please reach out to Amy Compare by email here. 

If you would like to support the growth and development of young natural resource professionals, consider donating to the Internship Fund In Memory of Ryan Crowder & Julia Reiskind online here or by mail to:

Alachua Conservation Trust
7204 SE County Road 234
Gainesville, FL 32641

Bringing Nature to the Next Generation

Bringing Nature to the Next Generation

By Marilyn Young

“I found one!” she cries as the long seine net is dragged up onto the muddy shore. With sheer delight, an inquisitive seven-year old plucks a tiny crustacean out of a net and drops it into an observation water bucket for a closer look. With her face pressed to the bucket at a distance of less than an inch, she carefully inspects her find – a two-inch crawfish with long antennae and wriggly legs crawling about its temporary habitat. The junior “scientist” is one of a group of excited youth who attended the Freshwater Fish and Critters event hosted by the Alachua Conservation Trust at the Santa Fe River Preserve in October 2023. The group was led by Howard Jelks and scientists from the U.S.  Geological Society and attended by a mixture of environmental students, science professionals, and nature lovers. 

One young scientist helps USGS staff collect critters from the sein net.

The Santa Fe River Preserve protects 1,067 acres of land along the Santa Fe River in Alachua, Florida. The preserve is owned and managed by ACT and is one of several that are open to the public. Events such as the Freshwater Fish and Critters event are held by ACT to create experiences in special spaces like the Santa Fe River Preserve with those interested in learning about Florida’s diverse ecosystems or who just want to spend a day surrounded by nature. On this particular day, attendees were provided the special opportunity to learn about the various fish, crustacean, insect and bivalve species living in the preserve from experts in the field. Eager attendees received a crash course in a hands-on classroom in the woods complete with nets, observation tanks, and training manuals. 

Questions were fielded by the scientists before the inquisitive group traveled down the shrubby banks of the Santa Fe River to the first stop under the tree canopy shading a backwoods creek with shallow tannic water and dark brown slippery mud. The seine nets were dragged through the dark shallow water and revealed a glimpse of what lies beneath the calm surface. Young participants were first on the scene and were reaching into nets before the leading scientists could even reach the banks. Wiggling, small shiny fish were collected with little fingers and placed into buckets for later identification. With toes now wet, the group was unfazed by the trek through the water to reach a larger span of the Santa Fe River, about 40 wide and 2-3 feet deep. 

Participants transfer their critters into the observation tanks.

The river banks were a sandy-muddy mix and a distinct northern flow could be seen on the water’s surface. The group, to an extent, patiently, waited on shore for the scientists to drag the seine nets through the dark water and haul in a variety of small fish species, aquatic insect larvae, crawfish, freshwater mussels and clams. Most species were endemic to the area with exception of the Asian clams that, unfortunately, outnumbered the native bivalves 3:1. Upon satisfactory sample collections, the group returned to their outdoor classroom for in-depth discussion on the various species discovered. Even if the attendees do not recall all the details explained by the USGS Scientists, that day on the Santa Fe River was sure to leave a lasting impression. “We packed a lot of information into our session, but hope people came away with a greater appreciation for river ecosystems.”  Howard Jelks, ret. Research Fish Biologist, USGS Wetland and Aquatic Research Center.

Howard Jelks pictured with one of the event’s young scientists.

Being able to experience and enjoy nature is key to appreciating it and hopefully fostering the desire for future preservation. Today’s youth are vulnerable to nature disconnects being surrounded by technology and seeing the world through computer screens. Opportunities and programs such as this event and the teen-focused Young Leaders program hosted by ACT, can help bridge the disconnect and foster a new generation of nature lovers and future conservationists. If you have a younger member in your life, consider taking them on an outdoor adventure or spend an hour or two on a nice sunny day listening to the birds chirping in the morning, breathing the salty sea air at the beach or strolling down a shady path at a nearby forest. As Floridians, we are very fortunate to have a variety of natural spaces to visit and engaging our youth can help facilitate the next generation of conservationists. As a wise Native American Chief Seattle once said, “We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.”

A Summer of Inspiration and Impact: My Time as an Outreach Intern

Debriana Love

This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to be part of the dynamic team at Alachua Conservation Trust, contributing to their mission of preserving Florida's natural spaces and fostering a stronger connection between the community and the environment. Through my role as an Outreach and Events Intern, I was able to immerse myself in a world of conservation, education, and community engagement.

Before joining ACT, I was aware of their commitment to sustainability and ecosystem preservation. However, my involvement in their Timeline project provided me with a deeper understanding of their approach to conserving Florida’s delicate ecosystems and community engagement. I discovered ACT has helped preserve over 56,000 acres since its incorporation in 1988. Despite its brief presence in the realm of conservation, ACT has emerged as a pivotal accredited land trust, playing a vital role in protecting our unique ecosystems. Most notably, ACT collaborates with landowners to protect acres through conservation easements, which highlights the importance of community involvement.

I gained a firsthand appreciation for ACT’s dedication to protecting natural lands from development and degradation. Through experiences like tabling at Rockwood Park, exploring the trails at Prairie Creek Preserve, swimming at Rock Bluff Springs, and hiking at Fox Pen Preserve, I witnessed the diverse ecosystems that ACT works to preserve. During my internship, it became evident that establishing trust and respect within the community is paramount for success. It’s a great reminder that change begins with fostering meaningful relationships. My contributions, such as crafting newsletters and press releases to inform the community about their local ecosystems, were ways that I helped with engagement during my internship. Contributing to projects like the Rockwood Park Plant Walk which is aimed to foster community engagement by connecting people with local spaces and teaching them about local flora, added to the impact.

A highlight of my internship was collaborating closely with the Young Leaders of Wild Florida program. Meeting these enthusiastic and determined young individuals, eager to connect with nature and understand the importance of conserving our natural resources, was truly inspiring. This program offers a unique avenue for young adults to cultivate their potential and learn how to make a tangible difference. As I observed the young leader’s enthusiastic participation in these experiences, I was reminded of the power of connecting people with nature. It’s not just about conserving the land; it’s about igniting a passion for its protection and instilling a sense of responsibility.

As my internship draws to a close, I'm filled with a sense of excitement and commitment. The sincere mentorship and hands-on experience I gained during this time are invaluable. Moving forward, I'm eager to continue supporting ACT's endeavors, whether through volunteering or attending their events. I hope to find more experiences with environmental education, where I can teach others about conservation and wildlife. I am grateful for the opportunities I've had and look forward to embracing the role of a steward of the land and creating a sense of inspiration for others.

Summer 2023 Natural Resource Internship Wrap-up

The best roots taken out of the trail at Rock Bluff Springs!

ACT Natural Resource Management interns just finished their summer semester! Over the course of twelve weeks, interns learned many new skills, had a variety of land management experiences, and worked on many projects throughout the summer. Interns learned how to use hand tools, like loppers, pulaskis, council rakes, and rogue hoes, as well as power tools, like brushcutters, hedge trimmers, and chainsaws! Interns learned about prescribed fire and how to communicate on a fire line, maintained fire lines, and even were able to participate on a fire!

Throughout the semester, the interns learned how to ID many plants commonly found in North Central Florida.

The interns contributed to many projects on our preserves, including installing a handrail on the bridge and treating coral ardisia at Blue’s Creek Ravine, installing a handrail on a bridge and clearing a new trail at Santa Fe River Preserve South, treating Tropical Soda Apple at Orange Lake Overlook and lygodium at Santa Fe River Preserve South and LEAFS, removing hardwood trees around legacy longleaf pines at Saarinen, treating hardwood trees around young longleaf pines and helping to install stairs on an observation tower at Little Orange Creek, installing a new gate at Santa Fe Springs, timber cruising at Fox Pen. Additionally, interns were able to dig a grave and participate in a burial at the Prairie Creek Conservation Cemetery, both of which interns found to be a meaningful experience.

Blacklining on a prescribed fire!

Interns also worked with other natural resource professionals outside of ACT. At the end of June, interns assisted Florida Audubon, DEP, and FWC with annual Florida Scrub-Jay surveys by participating in Jay Watch at the Greenway Triangle in Marion County. Interns also met up with Paul Moler to look at cave crayfish at Herzog cave, and were able to help private landowners treat hardwood species on their properties and learn more about conservation of private lands.

The Summer 2023 Natural Resource Interns found meaning, community, and skill-building experiences in their time at ACT. Below, interns from this past semester share about their time in the internship:

Being able to gain real life experience in the field applying what I’ve learned in the classroom was incredibly valuable. I really enjoyed my time with ACT’s staff and my fellow interns. Every week, we worked on a project that had a direct correlation with something I’ve learned in school. The internship has been a wonderful supplemental experience to lend to my education. - Jazz, Summer ‘23 Intern, Forest Resource Conservation Major

My time at ACT drastically changed my view of conservation. As a wildlife ecology student, my world had been just animals. Through ACT, it has expanded to animals' habitats, why they’re important, and how to manage them. I gained skills like tool use and management, how to create a fireline, and pesticide use. I looked forward to every day and enjoyed the connections I made with fellow interns. This program has given me skills I know will set me up for success. - Olivia, Summer ‘23 Intern, Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Major

Interns learned how to use chainsaws!

This internship has taught me a lot about fieldwork. I really enjoy how it introduced me to new tools and land management methods. Every day in the internship was valuable as we would either learn a new skill or build upon a previously learned skill. I got to meet and with other interns and ACT staff in land management practices and got to learn a lot from them. - Elizabeth, Summer ‘23 Intern, Natural Resources Conservation Major

My experience working as an intern with ACT was multidisciplinary and very hands-on. I’ve gained a variety of skills such as using power tools, applying herbicide with various techniques, participating in prescribed burns, and performing trail maintenance. Furthermore, I became familiar with the many preserves managed by ACT and witnessed the hard work that goes into their maintenance. I was fortunate to work alongside like-minded professionals in natural resource management - they gave me plenty of guidance as I navigate a career in conservation, and I will never forget my experience as an intern here. - Ryan, Summer ‘23 Intern, Biology Major

The internship was an arduous, but fun, journey through the Florida summer. It was a great learning experience that allowed me to dive head-first into the world of land management and the conservation of natural resources. As an aspiring ecological engineer, it was also a great opportunity to engage with different Florida ecosystems and be part of what I eventually want to protect. From the simple things like pulling out invasive species to the more complex things such as prescribed fire, it was an experience and a memory I will keep. The ability to do things that I would never have done on my own, such as bird surveys, felt amazing and truly deepened my connection with the wild. - Summer ‘23 Intern

Interns learned about forestry techniques to measure trees, including how to use clinometers.

My experience with the ACT internship program has prepared me for future careers in Natural Resource Conservation. Through the internship, I learned a plethora of new skills, like herbicide application, that I know will aid me in my future endeavors. Beyond the great educational aspect, the ACT internship program provided me with a safe and fun work environment that allowed me to make positive, lifelong memories. Many of the lessons I learned during my time with ACT were meaningful and I will continue to use these lessons well beyond the program. - Kiersten, Summer ‘23 Intern, Natural Resource Conservation Major

Internship applications for the Fall 2023 semester have closed, but Spring 2024 semester will open at the beginning of November and close the first Friday of December (Friday, December 1st). The Spring 2024 internship will run from the 2nd week in January through the last week in April. If you have questions about the Natural Resource Management Internship, please reach out to Amy Compare (amy@alachuaconservationtrust.org).

If you would like to support the growth and development of young natural resource professionals, consider donating to the Internship Fund In Memory of Ryan Crowder & Julia Reiskind.

Shrinking Landscapes: The Story of the Rural Community of San Antonio, FL Is All Too Familiar

by Jeffrey Forbes

Photo by Kim Davidson.

In the little town of San Antonio, Florida big changes are happening all around and all at once. 

San Ann sits in far eastern Pasco county atop the high sand ridges between the western Gulf Coast and the great Green Swamp.  Nearby, the Withlacoochee River winds its way slowly from the swamp to the Gulf.  Sandhill cranes walk along-side ranging cattle and nesting pairs of kestrels alight from old pine snags.  Atop the ridges, a soft breeze continually blows.     

St. Leo University is here along with its abbey and beautiful cathedral.  In the past, cattle and citrus drove the economy and farm families passed on their legacies and their land to the next generation.  On a Friday evening, neighbor calls “hello” to neighbor waiting for a table at the famous Pancho’s Villa Mexican Restaurant under the water tower and soft street lights in the middle of town.  Surrounded by pasture land dotted with ancient live oaks, islands of palmetto and remnant longleaf pines, San Ann oozes “Old Florida.”  This WAS small town Florida. 

But San Ann has always had a looming problem: all of that open pasture land coupled with being the second exit off of I-75 heading north out of Tampa is highly attractive to more than just ranchers and orange growers.  Commercial and residential developers salivate over this kind of property.  Cleared pasture land and a close proximity to the ever-expanding Tampa Bay metropolitan area spells easy pickings and big dollars to large scale real estate investors.  So, in 2003 when my in-laws moved onto a five-acre parcel along lime-rocked McCabe Road to escape the intense population crunch of Pinellas County, we shouldn’t have been surprised at the rumors of imminent change.

Photo by Kim Davidson.

The talk at the time from friendly locals centered around a planned community that would sit in between the town and the interstate on the two miles of cattle field that separates the two, “…but that’ll be years and years from now.  Don’t worry.”  Later, it became clear that plans by the Florida Department of Transportation to shift State Road 52 from its current location to McCabe Road as a hurricane escape route were in the works, but that too was “years from now, and we’ll stop it from coming.  We’ll sue.”  Luckily for my in-laws, 2008 saw the Great Recession come in full bore, and the small Mediterranean style real estate office that was going up on the cattle field came to a halt and was boarded up.  Then it developed a mold problem and was torn down.  Permitting signs faded and bleached in the Florida sun.  For the moment, the threat seemed to subside.

In 2009, my father in law, Pat, was experiencing kidney failure and began dialysis.  He also had a recurrence of a rare cancer he’d beaten once before.  The two together were just too much for him and he died in early 2010.  His wife, Ellen remained in their home for some years after, but an Alzheimer’s diagnosis made it clear that we would need to sell.  By this time, it was also clear that the state road shift was surely coming and we would have to put the property on the market with full disclosure of that information.  Fortunately, the lovely five-acre parcel on the corner of two country roads and crowned by towering pines was attractive to a buyer, hurricane escape route and all.  We left with much concern about the future of San Ann.

Fast-forward to the present day.  I received a call from a good San Ann neighbor we hadn’t talked to in a while.  “Jeffrey, don’t come here if you never have to.  It would simply break your heart,” she said.  Honestly, we have not had a reason to drive through the area and I have been a bit worried about what we’d find if we did.  And so, I listened and envisioned and grimaced.

State Road 52 has, in fact, been shifted from its original route and now a four-lane, asphalt highway runs in front of our old house.  The lime rock, country road is gone forever.  Now Tampa will flee an oncoming hurricane through these old citrus groves.  Worse (maybe), immediately to the west lies the new planned lagoon community.  Five thousand, zero lot line, single family homes sit tightly clustered around loop roads with names like Tally Fawn and Jazz Leaf.  These made up monikers have nothing to do with the history or cultural fabric of San Ann.  All of the biggest residential builders are here.  The community website boasts that they will “deliver a unique, inland coastal lifestyle in a burgeoning, convenient location with a short drive to downtown Tampa and the international airport.”  Sounds like what you’ve seen happen all over Florida for years, right?  Well, only partially right.  What’s this lagoon business?  Great question.

On property lagoons are the region’s newest trend in amenity heavy, sprawling, single family communities with homes ranging from the high $200,000 to nearly a million dollars.  The difference is that these communities include MEGA swimming holes or “lagoons” that span acres.  In the San Antonio suburb the lagoon is almost a whopping fifteen acres that holds 33 million gallons of water.  If fact, it’s the largest manmade swimming lagoon in the country.  As much as 8600 tons of sand was brought in to mimic the beach that you now never have to leave home to enjoy.  Why experience the real Gulf of Mexico when you have a chlorinated lagoon outside your back door?  Bands play. There’s a floating obstacle course.  Paddle boards and kayaks patrol one end.  You can even buy the family steak tacos at the snack bar for your day at the beach, er’ lagoon.

I have no reason to return to San Ann.  This kind of rampant development guised as “innovative” and “sustainable” is anything but.  Pop-up cattle-field communities like this tear at the historic fabric of rural Florida.  What good sense does it make to carve out fifteen-acre swimming pools in a state that is already taxing its water resources so greatly?  And Pasco County is just one front in the battle to conserve such landscapes.  This sort of thing happens all over. 

Photo by Kim Davidson.

Why not another Orange Lake Overlook instead?  That one hundred and fifty-five plus acre preserve in Marion County went from citrus to cattle to conservation.  When it was under the threat of development, the community stepped up to save it.  Good people gave what they had to keep the sprawl at bay.  Natural Florida is a paradise full of abundant beauty, amazing recreational opportunities and historic charm.  It doesn’t need to be re-created for convenience sake.  Wild Florida is all of the amenity anyone needs.

I know plenty of San Antonians who loved their unique place and are now distraught over what is gone.  A special place like Orange Lake Overlook offers hope, the hope that more and more Floridians, our neighbors and our friends, understand the great importance of conservation and the sacrifice through generosity that it involves.    

Jeffrey Forbes serves as ACT’s Development Coordinator. He is an avid student of all southern culture, literature, flora, fauna, architecture and history, and, most especially, food. He has a great appreciation for and extensive knowledge of longleaf heart pine and he is working to help ACT conserve as much Florida land as possible.

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Banner image by Alison Blakeslee.

Spring 2023 Natural Resource Management Internship Review

By Amy Compare

At the end of April, ACT’s seven Natural Resource Management Interns completed their term working with ACT’s Land Management team. Collectively, the Natural Resource Management Interns contributed 1,200 over the course of four months to steward land in the region. Their contributions to ACT’s Land Management team was invaluable. Some of the major projects they completed included installing 2 kayak launches and building a bridge at Santa Fe River Preserve, restoring habitat around legacy longleaf pines at Saarinen Preserve, participating on 7 prescribed fires, removing invasive species at Blues Creek Ravine Preserve and Prairie Creek Preserve, restoring the uplands at Tuscawilla Preserve, removing barbed wire fencing at Orange Lake Overlook, and working with ACT partners to restore ephemeral wetlands creating better habitat for striped newts. Additionally, interns were able to meet with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) biologists, learn about cave crayfish, and participate on a timber cruise!

We are grateful for the time and effort our interns put in this semester! The internship is a mutually beneficial endeavor for both ACT and the interns who participate, and interns take away a variety of things from the experience. This is what some of the interns had to say about their semester:

"Before completing my natural resource management internship with ACT, I never thought I would pursue a career in outdoor land management. Through this opportunity, I was able to build confidence in skills including chainsaw operations, invasive species removal, tree thinning, plant and wildlife ID, and prescribed fire. Having the opportunity to build confidence in outdoor land management practices through this experience has shifted my career focus with a strong love for land management."

Amy, Spring ‘23

"This semester at ACT has been an amazing experience in gaining technical land management skills along with building connections and professional skills. I have gotten to learn so much in the time that we've had that is going to help in the future with other opportunities in this field. It has been so much fun to work with everyone that the work hasn't really felt much like work at all."

Tristen, Spring ‘23

"My experience with ACT this semester has been life changing! Through this internship, I got to be hands on and learn things I never imagined myself learning and becoming confident in. Prescribed fire, chainsaw work, exotic removal, and habitat restoration are just a few of the land management techniques we learned. I also had the opportunity to work on a crew of amazing people and receive mentorship and guidance from our internship lead and other professionals at ACT. Because of this internship, I have grown professionally and personally and am better prepared for a career in conservation."

Courtney, Spring ‘23

"ACT's Natural Resource Management Internship has presented me with so many awesome opportunities. This semester has been filled with knowledge and learning. I absolutely loved everyone I've met and also loved every moment. I felt I gained real and applicable skills to a real world career in land management."

Peyton, Spring ‘23

ACT is committed to providing the space for the next generation of conservationists and land managers to grow and develop their skills. If you, or anyone you know, are interested in ACT’s Natural Resource Internship Program, you can take a look at our website (https://www.alachuaconservationtrust.org/natural-resource-internship) or direct questions to info@alachuaconservationtrust.org.

Amy Compare serves as ACT’s Natural Resources Internship Coordinator. Every semester, Amy leads a group of student interns into the wild to learn about the natural resources field and develop skills that will help them in their future conservation careers.