Message from Our Director

Nature’s Night Lights 

Shorter days means more time for stargazing.  

In Florida, when November comes around and you finally start to feel a change in the weather, you might be thinking about revisiting that age-old pastime of sitting around a campfire, looking up at the stars.  

Florida’s state parks feature countless camping options, including remote sites that offer the best stargazing opportunities, far from the glow of city lights. Parks like Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park, Myakka River State Park, Torreya State Park and Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park are vast and untamed, offering clear views of the night sky. But one stands out as the best for night sky viewing: Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park, which, in 2016, was recognized as Florida's first Dark Sky Park by DarkSky International. They even have astronomy pad sites!  

Speaking of stars, I want to highlight volunteer leaders in honor of International Volunteer Managers Day (Nov. 5). From Park Services Specialists to Citizen Support Organization leadership to the park service’s very own Friends Group and Volunteer Program Manager, the support system for our volunteers helps us achieve incredible things. Last year, volunteers contributed nearly one million hours of service to Florida State Parks and fundraised or contributed more than $5.3 million. Thank you to our volunteer managers and volunteers!  

America Recycles Day is on Nov. 15. Visit a participating park for a chance to get a reusable water bottle and fill it up at a refill station while you’re there. While reducing waste, this water bottle provides a tangible reminder of the impact we all can make when we reduce, reuse and recycle! 

See you in the parks, 
Chuck Hatcher, Director
Florida State Parks