Rally for the Rivers

Join us for the second Rally for the Rivers, a three-day event to promote restoration of the Ocklawaha and St. Johns Rivers. Sponsored by the Putnam County Environmental Council, most events are free and all are open to the public. Scheduled events include:

SMART GROWTH WORKSHOP: Friday, February 17, 9:00 am Ð 5:00 pm. A free, all-day growth management workshop at the Riverfront Inn in Palatka. Space is limited; pre-registration is required. Call Margy Bielling at 352-685-2434 for more information.

RIVERFEST: Saturday, February 18, 10:00 am Ð 5:00 pm. Join other restoration and conservation advocates at Palatka's Riverfront Park on the St. Johns River for an arts and crafts show with live music, food, storytelling, conservation seminars, St. Johns River cruises, information tables, and a very special raffle. This will be your chance to speak one-on-one with candidates who are running in 2006 for state and federal offices. Contact Karen Ahlers at pcecriverrally@hotmail.com or 352-546-3560.

FIELD TRIPS: Saturday and Sunday mornings, February 18-19: Over 50 field trips, mostly free and led by experts will be offered for adventurers of all types. Contact David Zeigler at davidpzeigler@aol.com or 352-546-4715.

OCKLAWAHA RIVER WRAP PARTY: Sunday afternoon, February 19, 1:00 pm. Join event organizers, volunteers, and fellow Rally participants for a relaxing afternoon on the banks of the Ocklawaha on the southwest side of Rodman Dam for boat rides, music, food, and campfire fun.

Last year, the Rally brought 1,500 people from 34 Florida counties, seven states, and six countries. With the help of Audubon and other conservation organizations, PCEC successfully demonstrated that nature-based tourism does pay. PCEC calculated that the two-day event had an overall ecomomic impact of up to $288,000. The Florida Wildlife Federation recognized the importance of the 2005 Rally by awarding PCEC Conservation Organization of the Year.

Go to the Florida Defenders of the Environment website at http://www.fladefenders.org/riverrally.html for more information, including lists of camping and dorm-style accommodations, area restaurants, and field trips. Participants are encouraged to sign up for field trips soon. The most popular trips tend to fill up fast.