Timucuan Parks Foundation Host Kayak Trip for Special Olympics Teens

KWHITE Communications
MEDIA RELEASE
May 31, 2019 4:00 p.m.

Timucuan Parks Foundation took Special Olympics youth from the North Florida School of Special Education on a special outing on the water. The group of teens, chaperones and volunteers enjoyed a day of kayaking in the Timucuan Preserve.

Kayak Amelia guided the group from their Heckscher Drive location on Simpson Creek in Talbot Islands State Park, through the Timucuan Preserve, to the Alimacani boat ramp. They also enjoyed some time swimming and seine netting for small fish and jellyfish.

“The weather was perfect for the trip, and the teens and chaperones, most of whom had never kayaked, enjoyed the adventure,” said Felicia Boyd, TPF program and outreach director. “The Timucuan Preserve has an amazing network of creeks and tributaries, and I encourage everyone to get out on the water to experience and explore our beautiful natural spaces.”

TPF volunteers assisted with the day, as did JaxParks and REI volunteers. The outreach was made possible in part by an NPS Challenge grant, a funding award from the National Park Service and Outdoor Foundation, designed to challenge and engage new audiences and connect them with local parks and preserves.

About Timucuan Parks Foundation

The Timucuan Parks Foundation is a federally-recognized 501(c) (3) that preserves, promotes and protects Jacksonville’s vast network of preservation parks. The foundation dates back to 1999 when the Preservation Project Jacksonville, Inc. was established to identify and assist in acquiring the most vulnerable and environmentally sensitive lands in Duval County. The acquisition of lands created the largest urban park system in the United States, including more than 130 square miles of park space and preserves, more than 1,100 miles of river and tributary shoreline and Atlantic Ocean beachfront, and more than 100 miles of upland trails. The Timucuan Parks Foundation works with their park partners, including the National Park Service, Florida State Parks and the City of Jacksonville, to promote environmental stewardship, the health benefits of the parks and preserves, and an appreciation for Jacksonville’s special outdoor spaces. For more information, visit timucuanparks.org.