National Forests in Florida

A helicopter flys over the Ocala National Forest. (Photo by David Godwin)

Apply now through March 26 to work for the great outdoors!

The vacancy announcement (OCRP-HLCOPMGR GS-462-8/9) for Forestry Technician (Helicopter Manager) is now posted on the USA Jobs website.

Those who wish to be considered for this position must apply to the vacancy announcement by March 26.  Be sure to indicate “Umatilla, Florida,” as a desired duty location in the application.  All applicants who have applied to the announcement on or before the listed dates and are found to be qualified and in the quality group will be referred for consideration.

About the position:  This position is established to function as Helicopter Manager on Exclusive Use and Call-When-Needed (CWN) helicopters and is a specialist in helicopter operations.  This position manages permanent and temporary helibases, provides contract administration for, and plans and directs helicopter operations primarily in support of prescribed fire and fire suppression.  Position also supports helicopter operations for emergency incidents and resource management functions.  The qualification requirements specified in the Interagency Fire Management (IFPM) Qualification Standards and Guide must be met prior to entrance into this position.  This is a covered secondary position description under the provisions of 5 USC 8336(c) and 8412(d).

About the location: The Ocala National Forest is comprised of the Lake George and Seminole Ranger Districts.  The Umatilla, Eustis and Mount Dora areas offer a full service community with a population of more than 70,000.  Central Florida offers abundant recreational opportunities in water sports, fishing and hunting.  The area is quickly becoming a suburb of Orlando and is located approximately 40 miles north of Orlando and 40 miles southwest of Daytona Beach.

…sign up today to volunteer for the Florida Trail Association’s annual Swamp Tromp Work Party hosted by F-Troop at the Big Cypress National Preserve on March 13-19.  The work entails getting to those hard to reach sections of the Florida Trail deep in the heart of the Big Cypress. 

More information can be found at the U.S. Forest Service website.  If interested in volunteering at the Swamp Tromp or becoming an F-Troop member or, contact John Bauer at (850) 528-5267 o or e-mail at jpbauer@fs.fed.us.

The Osceola National Forest is conducting a prescribed burn on approximately 24 acres today on Road 235-C near I-10.

Drivers and residents are reminded of the possibility of unexpected shifting winds that could increase the risk of smoke on the road during prescribed burns. Always proceed with caution, reduce speed and turn headlights on if visibility is affected by smoky conditions.

Prescribed burns are an important tool used to improve the health of Florida’s forests and play in integral part in reducing fuels, improving all wildlife habitat, controlling competing vegetation, controlling disease and improving forage.

For more information on the Osceola National Forest, log onto the U.S. Forest Service Website.

Volunteers participated in the Super-Clean Sweep in the Apalachicola National Forest on Feb. 27

The Apalachicola National Forest is cleaner thanks to the more than 140 volunteers who participated in Leon County’s Super-Clean Sweep event on Feb. 27.  The U.S. Forest Service thanks all the volunteers who cleaned up tons of trash and nearly 400 tires that littered the forest grounds. 

The Super-Clean sweep is an annual local effort to support the program of Keep America Beautiful Great American Clean Up where volunteers sign up to clean parks, roads, paths, schools and woodlands.

Sponsors for the forest cleanup included the U.S. Forest Service, Leon County Recycling, Forest Edge Neighborhood, Super-Lube, Leon County, Keep Tallahassee Leon County Beautiful, Publix and WalMart.

A group of children learn how to fish at last year's Outdoor Experience held by the Beau Turner Youth Conservation Center. (Courtesy of www.btycc.org)

If you’re looking to take your kids somewhere this weekend, the Beau Turner Youth Conservation Center is holding its annual “Outdoor Experience” on March 6 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  The Saturday event is free to the public.

Activities planned include fishing and casting competitions, Olympic-sytle archery, muzzleloader, shotgun and rifle shooting, K-9 demos, hay rides, wall climbing and bounce houses.  A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission law enforcement helicopter and little critters will be on display for visitors.

TV personalities from popular shows will also be making an appearance, meeting fans and giving demos at the times indicated.  They include Snake Master Steve Scruggs from Let’s Get Wild (10 a.m. and 1 p.m.); Master of the Longbow Bryon Ferguson from Master of the Longbow (11:30 a.m.); and Utimate Shooter Tim Bradley from The Ultimate Shooter (2:30 p.m.).

Food will be available for a small fee, or attendees can bring their own snacks.

More information on this event can be found at the Beau Turner Youth Conservation Center website.  Attendees may fill out the Registration Form and Liability Form in advance and bring them to the event.

Sponsors for the event include the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Wild Turkey Federation, Fish Florida, Future Hunting in Florida, Florida Division of Forestry, U.S. Forest Service, Benelli, Ducks Unlimited, Homstead Ministries, Tallahassee Museum and Safari Club International.