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April/May Newsletter
A condensed events and activities list can be found on our CALENDAR page.
Some trips and activities are spotlighted on our MAJOR EVENTS page.
Trip Leaders: Email your trip and activity write-ups to Newsletter 'at' sidetrackers.com.
Are you interested in becoming a Sidetrackers member?
Visit the Membership page on this web site, or send an Email message
to our Membership Chairperson at Membership 'at' sidetrackers.com.
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General Participation Guidelines Additional
information about these activities and events may be
If you did not sign up for an
event or activity at the last club meeting and |
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April 18, Friday, 6:15 PM (game begins 7:05
PM) - JACKSONVILLE SUNS BASEBALL GAME: Tickets are $11.50 per person in
the Home Plate Box area. If you want to sit with the group, send a check
payable to Ray Holland in the amount of $11.50 on or before 4-11-08. I will
purchase good seats in advance. Meet at the Baseball Park front gate at 6:15
p.m. Come out, enjoy the night air, have a hot dog, popcorn, see a great
ballgame and after the game, enjoy a post game concert featuring the
award-winning Christian group, Avaion, along with a great fireworks show.
These games are a lot of fun. If you decide later to come to the game, you
can buy your ticket at the ticket office, but your seat may not be close to
the group. Leaders Ray 610-9400 cell or Sheila 220-4480 http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/index.jsp?sid=t564 April 19, Saturday,
8:00 AM - OKEFENOKEE SWAMP TRIP: Hike trails at the Okefenokee National
Wildlife Refuge, Folkston, Georgia entrance, in celebration of Earth Day.
Come spend the day hiking in the Okefenokee Swamp! We will meet at Hardees
onLane Avenue at 8 am SHARP! Please come early to have breakfast. The ride
up will take about an hour and we will car pool to conserve precious FUEL!!
Entrance fee is $5 per car. Pack a lunch, as we will stop during the day
for a picnic (no alligators allowed!!!). Be sure to bring WATER, BUG SPRAY,
SUN SCREEN and your camera to take pictures of wildlife. The park has many
hiking trails, one of which is 3/4 mile boardwalk deep into the refuge.
"The mysterious Okefenokee Swamp has long been the source of myth, lore and
legend. The land of the "trembling earth", as the Indians called it, is a
vast 700 square mile wilderness of grasslands, wetlands, lakes and peat bog
islands anchored by towering cypress trees growing from still, dark water.
The Okefenokee's diverse natural environments and teeming wildlife have
dominated the infrequent efforts of humans to tame it." I have always wanted
to see the swamp and in particular, walk the boardwalk trail – no fires this
year – come join us!!!!!. Leader: Karen B. 904-226-8364. April 26, Saturday -
PAINT THE TOWN: Sidetrackers will assist the Housing Partnership by
painting the outside of a home in the Newtown area of Jacksonville. The
people whose houses we paint are usually older folks on a fixed income.
T-shirt and lunch are provided. More information will be provided at a later
date. Leader: Judy M. 398-2750 May 3, Saturday, 9:00
AM - SAINT SIMONS ISLAND BIKE RIDE: Join Judy Mac on a bike ride through
beautiful St. Simons Island. We will meet in North Jacksonville in the new
shopping center near the airport, specific location to be announced later,
where we will carpool to St. Simons Island. We will bike the island stopping
when we see something interesting to investigate, and then have dinner at
one of the many restaurants. Bring your bike, or rent one on the island.
Leader: Judy Mac 737-9451 May 4, Sunday, SIDETRACKERS OUTDOOR OPEN SOCIAL: THIS ACTIVITY HAS BEEN POSTPONED, look for information in the next newsletter. May 10, Saturday,
7:15 AM - ORIENTEERING IN OCALA NATIONAL FOREST, SHOCKLEY RANCH (NEAR
PAISLEY, FL): Meet at Panera Bread in Mandarin. Orienteering is a
recreational and competitive sport, a kind of hiking/running game, which
involves using a detailed map, and a compass, to find your way through
unfamiliar terrain. You can participate in groups, or individuals may
compete alone, although going alone is not recommended for first-timers.
Each team is given a starting time. The final time for each team is recorded
when they complete the course. The objective is to visit a series of
designated locations, indicated by circles on the map. At each location a
marker, a distinctive white & orange flag called a control, will be placed
in a visible location. Each control has a patterned punch, which you use to
mark your card. There are multiple levels of difficulty at this event, the
easiest includes some off-the-trail areas, the more difficult levels are
mostly away from any developed trails. Since some of us are experienced and
some have never done this before, we will be purchasing different maps, and
working in different teams. If you wish to go, please review “About Us“,
“Tutorial“, and “Policies (Emergency Rules and Procedures)” at Equipment Needed: Orienteering compass which can be acquired at local sporting goods stores or internet; comfortable sneakers; light clothing appropriate for hiking in the woods (long sleeves and pants to protect skin from scratching is best); sun screen; bug spray; whistle. Food Needed: Water, snacks. Cost: Team fee is approximately $6 and includes one map. Each team member should have a map -- the cost is approx $2.00 for each additional map. Directions to Meeting Place: Panera Bread: 13820 Saint Augustine Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32258 (off I-95 just South of I-295). For those coming from Jacksonville: 1. Take I-95 South. Leader: Renee R. 894-7555 May 17, Saturday, 8:00 AM - JULINGTON CREEK PADDLE: Julington Creek is one of our rivers preserved from development and is close by. It is very scenic and quiet at this time of the year. This is a “bring your own boat” trip. If you don’t have a boat, ask around, someone will probably loan you theirs, or you can rent from All Wet Sports. Bring water, sunscreen, bug spray, gear, etc. We may do lunch at Clark’s. We will meet at the new boat ramp on St. Augustine Road and Julington Creek. Leader: Diane J. 821-6707. May 18, Sunday Afternoon - PLANNING MEETING: This is where the decisions of what activities the club will do are made. While some organizations have planning committees, at Sidetrackers, we all contribute. The planning meetings occur once per quarter. We will be planning for July, August, and September. Are you a member but haven‘t been to a planning meeting yet? Although one must be a member in good standing in order to lead an activity, prospective members are encouraged to attend the planning meeting, too. Have some vague ideas of an activity you’d like to try, but no real specifics? Don’t want to lead an event alone? Ask around - members enjoy brainstorming, and are very willing to co-lead an activity. Or, do you know exactly what kind of outdoor event you‘d like to see happen? Either way, come join us! Details on meeting time and location to follow. Leader: Judy Mac 737-9451 May 23, 24, 25,
Friday, Saturday, Sunday - FLORIDA FOLK FESTIVAL, WHITE SPRINGS: Come to
the Florida Folk Festival. Before May 12th, tickets are $20 for one day and
$40 for the entire festival; after May 12th, tickets are $25 for one day and
$50 for the entire festival. I am in search of campsites and need a head
count. It is a wonderful, leisurely way to spend a weekend close to home
with excellent music and other entertainment. If campsites cannot be
obtained, the trip may be just a day trip on Saturday. Last year it was just
a day trip, but the weekend really makes it a special event. Let me know
ASAP if you are interested in going. Leader: Marta W. 725-9521 For more
information on the web: |
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More
long-range activities may be scheduled at our next planning meeting. |
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2008 Monthly Meeting Schedule |
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The SIDETRACKERS Newsletter
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Newsletter Archive • Membership Information • Activity Leader Resources Photo Gallery • Contact Us! • Members Only |
Outdoor Club for Northeast Florida Singles
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