Images by Bradley Elgincolin
The Interpretive Walk (Field Trip 10/17/2015)
Saturday's Ranger led field trip ended up not being a swamp walk. Due to the low turnout we opted for an interpretive walk for the first 3/4 of a mile down the Old Ingraham Highway.
This turned out to be a good choice. Along with the interesting information provided by Ranger Rudy Beotegui we had the rare opportunity to see not 1 or 2, but 3 Diamond Back Rattle Snakes. Rattle snakes are normally solitary animals, but can be found together during breeding season.
This field trip illustrated the point, that you never know what you will find when you visit the Everglades.
Everglades and Dry Tortugas National Parks Will Increase Entrance & Camping Fees Beginning October 1st
HOMESTEAD, Fla– Starting on October 1, Everglades and Dry Tortugas National Parks will increase entrance fees for visitors in order to fund important maintenance and improvement projects within the park. Everglades and Dry Tortugas have not increased park-wide fees since 1997.
“This increase in fees will allow us to continue to protect, preserve and share the special places at Everglades and Dry Tortugas National Parks with current visitors and future generations. After carefully considering the impact of a fee increase on visitors and community members, we came to the conclusion that this is the right course of action to improve facilities and services important to visitors,” said Superintendent Pedro Ramos.
Entrance fees have supported a wide range of projects that improve the park and visitor experiences, including trailhead signs, developing and installing exhibits in visitor centers, improving park water systems, providing ranger-led programs, and improving Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility. An example is the new Shark Valley Visitor Center, which was partially funded with Recreation Fees.
Additional revenue from this fee increase will address deferred maintenance project costs for parks around the country. The National Park Service defines “deferred maintenance” as work activities that were not performed when scheduled on fixed assets (such as a bridge) and subsequently delayed until the future (most often due to funding constraints). These assets are necessary to provide the public an enjoyable experience in harmony with resource protection which is the economic engine for local communities across the nation. In Florida, the deferred maintenance amount comes to almost $192 million. According to Deputy Superintendent Justin Unger, the cost of Everglades National Park’s deferred maintenance comes to almost $63 million. At Dry Tortugas National Park, that number is closer to $56.5 million.
In the fall of 2014, the National Park Service conducted a nationwide review of entrance fees. To solicit public input, a civic engagement campaign was launched in December 2014 and January 2015 regarding the Everglades and Dry Tortugas proposals. During the public comment period, input was solicited by the park from local officials and the public through 5 public meetings held throughout the area. Briefings were also provided for Congressional, nearby Federal, State, County and City officials, and stakeholder groups.
The new marine waters boater education program, which is expected to soon be approved as part of Everglades National Park's General Management Plan, is being developed and is expected to be available in 2016. More information about the program will be announced well in advance of the course's launch date so that the public is aware of course details as soon as possible.
WHAT: Everglades and Dry Tortugas National Parks will increase entrance fees for visitors in order to fund important maintenance and improvement projects within the park. (Please see the attached chart for more details.)
WHEN: Starting on October 1, 2015
WHERE: Everglades and Dry Tortugas National Parks
For information and directions to the park please visit the park websites at http://www.nps.gov/ever or http://www.nps.gov/drto/index.htm or call (305) 242-7700 (during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).
September Field Trip - Lunar Eclipse
Photos by Bradley Elgincolin
Photos by Ken Johnson
Images by Bob Richardson
Images by Sara Settles
August Field Trip
Images by Ken Johnson
Images by Bradley Elgincolin
Parish Kohanim a Canon Explorer of Light Photographer - Special invitation to the SFNPCC
The Kendall Camera Club is proud to announce that famous Canon Explorer of Light photographer.
Parish Kohanim will be our guest speaker on March 28, 2015 from 7:00pm-9:00pm in the Evelyn Greer Park
PARISH KOHANIM BIOGRAPHY
Commitment, passion and love to elicit “magical beauty” is the paradigm of Parish’s intuitive philosophy of three decades of photography. Consistently original, diverse and inventive are the hallmarks of his photography.
His uncommon use of colors, whether vibrant or pastel, as well as multitudes of tonalities in his stunning and luminous black and white images have become his distinctive and unique signature and style.
During his career, he has worked commercially for many Fortune 500 Companies, IBM, Coca-Cola, DeBeers to name a few and his work has appeared on the pages of Vogue, Harper’s Bazzar, Forbes, Time and Newsweek.
Parish has been a Canon “Explorer of Light” since its’ inception in l994 and a Canon Print Master, which consists of a very exclusive group of photographers worldwide.
Parish was named “One of the World’s Top 100 Photographers” in 2011, 2012 and 2013 by Graphis.In June of 2013 several of Parish’s fine art images were part of an exhibit of American artists shown at the Taylor Foundation in Paris, and now the works are in a permanent collection in Barbizon, FR.
Parish has an insatiable desire to explore and expand his artistic horizons and he remains true to his approach to simplicity and to the visual dialogue that is intuitive and innate. - Visit Parish Kohanim Website
April Field Trip - Trans Am Series
Images by Linda Mair
Images by Jason Eldridge
Photographing Starry Skies Workshop
Images by Sara Settles
April Field Trip - Boca Chita
Images by Stephanie Snow
Everglades National Park Hosts the South FL Foto Group
Everglades National Park invites the public to enjoy an art exhibit by the South FL Foto Group, entitled, “The Many Facets of the Everglades,” featuring stunning photographs of the Everglades. The collection will be on exhibit at the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center Gallery at Everglades National Park during the month of April.
South FL Foto Group brings a collaborative effort in showcasing the many aspects of the natural wilderness and dynamics of the Everglades. From abstract to black and white photography, wildlife and naturescapes, South FL Foto strives to bring a unique perspective in multiple facets of style and creativity.
South FL Foto Group was established in 2012 and has exhibited many works in a variety of locations in Miami. The photographers are: Esther Rosado, Evelyn Garcia, Gil Barroso and Raul Concepcion.
According to exhibit coordinator Evelyn Garcia, “Each photographer has visited the Everglades for many years and captured different seasonal changes. Each visit is as rewarding as the next, always unpredictable. The multitude of wildlife and plant life gives way to fantastic photographic opportunities. This exhibit is an example of capturing the moment as each photographer sees it.”
An artists' reception will be held on Saturday, April 11, 2015, between 2-4 p.m. at the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center. This exhibit will run through the month of April 2015.
WHAT: South FL Foto Group Exhibition
WHEN: April 2015; Artist’s Reception, Saturday, April 11, 2015 between 2-4 p.m.
WHERE: The Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center Gallery
The Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center is located at 40001 State Road 9336, approximately 10 miles southwest of Homestead. It features award-winning natural history displays, an 18-minute film about Everglades National Park, and related book sales. Center hours are currently 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Beginning April 12, the Visitor Center hours will change for the summer season (9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily). Admission to the visitor center is free. For information and directions to the park call (305) 242-7700 (during regular business hours, Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.).
This and other park news releases are available at http://www.nps.gov/ever/parknews/newsreleases.htm
More information on Everglades National Park can be found on the park website at http://www.nps.gov/ever
South FL Foto Group Website: www.flickr.com/photos/southflfoto