The Florida Madcaps

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This week the Madcaps were treated to a hike through Split Oak Forest with the President of the Friends of Split Oak Forest, Valerie Anderson.  Afterwards, we recorded an episode right at Split Oak and Valerie outlined the current struggle to protect a conservation property that was originally set aside for Gopher Tortoise Habitat to mitigate the almost 100,000 killed during development with Florida's "Pay to Pave" program as well as to offset the effects of development that were occurring in that area in the 80s and early 90s.  

Valerie outlines the importance of the habitat at Split Oak Forest and forewarns about the feeble legal protections that conservation lands in Florida have.  

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Get your FREE sticker from the Florida Springs Council and sign up to be a springs advocate at https://www.floridaspringscouncil.org/madcaps

Questions and comments can be emailed at [email protected]

Ryan can be found on Instagram at:  https://www.instagram.com/the_fl_excursionist/

Chris and Chelsey can be found at https://www.instagram.com/sunshinestateseekers/?hl=en

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This week the Madcaps discuss their favorite parks and hiking destinations that are in West Central Florida from scrub to Native American mounds, the Madcaps discuss a few parks in this area.

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Get your FREE sticker from the Florida Springs Council and sign up to be a springs advocate at https://www.floridaspringscouncil.org/madcaps

Questions and comments can be emailed at [email protected]

Ryan can be found on Instagram at:  https://www.instagram.com/the_fl_excursionist/

Chris and Chelsey can be found at https://www.instagram.com/sunshinestateseekers/?hl=en

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This week the Madcaps discuss some of Florida's amazing habitats, from the limestone trails of the Florida Keys, to the ancient dunes of Lake Wales Ridge, we talk about many different habitats of Florida and what makes them special.

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Get your FREE sticker from the Florida Springs Council and sign up to be a springs advocate at https://www.floridaspringscouncil.org/madcaps

Questions and comments can be emailed at [email protected]

Ryan can be found on Instagram at:  https://www.instagram.com/the_fl_excursionist/

Chris and Chelsey can be found at https://www.instagram.com/sunshinestateseekers/?hl=en

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This week we were fortunate enough to have Kim and Ashley join us who do tours on one of the two designated Wild and Scenic Rivers in Florida the Wekiva River (including Rock Springs Run and The Emerald Cut).  This week we listen to some of the fascinating aspects of the river and some of the more interesting events that they have observed while guiding paddlers down these iconic waterways.

Ashley can be reached on instagram at @smashsups

Kim can be reached on instagram at @tourguidekim

Please subscribe!  Shares and reviews are much appreciated!

Get your FREE sticker from the Florida Springs Council and sign up to be a springs advocate at https://www.floridaspringscouncil.org/madcaps

Questions and comments can be emailed at [email protected]

Ryan can be found on Instagram at:  https://www.instagram.com/the_fl_excursionist/

Chris and Chelsey can be found at https://www.instagram.com/sunshinestateseekers/?hl=en

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This week the Madcaps discuss the fascinating state park.  Wakulla Springs!  The spring, trails, boat tours, and elegant lodge were all discussed.  Check out the park website:

https://www.floridastateparks.org/WakullaSprings

Please subscribe!  Shares and reviews are much appreciated!

Get your FREE sticker from the Florida Springs Council and sign up to be a springs advocate at https://www.floridaspringscouncil.org/madcaps

Questions and comments can be emailed at [email protected]

Ryan can be found on Instagram at:  https://www.instagram.com/the_fl_excursionist/

Chris and Chelsey can be found at https://www.instagram.com/sunshinestateseekers/?hl=en

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In this episode, the Madcaps share their favorite natural areas that they have visited around  Tallahassee.  Here are a few points that we discussed:


Lake Talquin State Park
https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/lake-talquin-state-park

Lake Talquin State Forest
https://www.fdacs.gov/Forest-Wildfire/Our-Forests/State-Forests/Lake-Talquin-State-Forest

Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park
https://www.floridastateparks.org/MaclayGardens


Mission San Luis
https://www.missionsanluis.org/


Elinor Klapp-Phipps Park
https://www.talgov.com/parks/parks-phipps

Wakulla State Forest
https://www.fdacs.gov/Forest-Wildfire/Our-Forests/State-Forests/Wakulla-State-Forest

Bradley's Country Store
https://bradleyscountrystore.com/

Please subscribe!  Shares and reviews are much appreciated!

Get your FREE sticker from the Florida Springs Council and sign up to be a springs advocate at https://www.floridaspringscouncil.org/madcaps

Questions and comments can be emailed at [email protected]

Ryan can be found on Instagram at:  https://www.instagram.com/the_fl_excursionist/

Chris and Chelsey can be found at https://www.instagram.com/sunshinestateseekers/?hl=en

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This week the Madcaps talk about the Florida National Scenic Trail through Osceola National Forest as well as state and county recreation areas.  We discuss history, natural features such as waterfalls, and hiking along the St Mary's River.

Please subscribe!  Shares and reviews are much appreciated!

Get your FREE sticker from the Florida Springs Council and sign up to be a springs advocate at https://www.floridaspringscouncil.org/madcaps

Questions and comments can be emailed at [email protected]

Ryan can be found on Instagram at:  https://www.instagram.com/the_fl_excursionist/

Chris and Chelsey can be found at https://www.instagram.com/sunshinestateseekers/?hl=en

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This week the Madcaps welcome back Ryan Smart, executive director of the Florida Springs Council.  We discuss the various bills that we covered in previous podcasts and what their fate was during this session.  Ryan Smart also guides us through the budget that is being sent to the governor for signing including how funding for Florida's various environmental needs matched up with what was requested versus what a coalition of environmental groups recommended.  

Please subscribe!  Shares and reviews are much appreciated!

Get your FREE sticker from the Florida Springs Council and sign up to be a springs advocate at https://www.floridaspringscouncil.org/madcaps

Questions and comments can be emailed at [email protected]

Ryan can be found on Instagram at:  https://www.instagram.com/the_fl_excursionist/

Chris and Chelsey can be found at https://www.instagram.com/sunshinestateseekers/?hl=en

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This week the Madcaps talk with Brent Fannin the director of Gopher Games, a documentary highlighting the plight of the vanishing gopher tortoise population in Florida.  This week we discuss how loose regulations and aggressive development is causing habitat loss for the venerable gopher tortoise.  

Film Premier (free admission)  is on Saturday, March 30th at  3:15 at First Magnitude Brewing Co in Gainesville, Florida.

https://www.facebook.com/events/435078672304295

To get more info about the documentary and the social media links visit:

https://gophergamesfilm.com/

Please subscribe!  Shares and reviews are much appreciated!

Get your FREE sticker from the Florida Springs Council and sign up to be a springs advocate at https://www.floridaspringscouncil.org/madcaps

Questions and comments can be emailed at [email protected]

Ryan can be found on Instagram at:  https://www.instagram.com/the_fl_excursionist/

Chris and Chelsey can be found at https://www.instagram.com/sunshinestateseekers/?hl=en

Send us Fan Mail

In this week's episode, we discuss Crystal River, Florida.  There is plenty to do from visiting springs, hiking, Native American historical sites, and much more. 

Info regarding manatees at Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge.

https://www.fws.gov/sites/default/files/documents/CrystalRiverTearsheet16.pdf

Crystal River Preserve State Park
https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/crystal-river-preserve-state-park

Crystal River Archaeological State Park

https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/crystal-river-archaeological-state-park

Please subscribe!  Shares and reviews are much appreciated!

Get your FREE sticker from the Florida Springs Council and sign up to be a springs advocate at https://www.floridaspringscouncil.org/madcaps

Questions and comments can be emailed at [email protected]

Ryan can be found on Instagram at:  https://www.instagram.com/the_fl_excursionist/

Chris and Chelsey can be found at https://www.instagram.com/sunshinestateseekers/?hl=en