National Public Lands Day – Sept 26th, 2015

Each year, we ask Americans to set aside one day – the last Saturday in September – to “lend a hand to the lands” that we use to hike, bike, climb, swim, explore, picnic or simply relax. One third of America’s land is in public hands, and it’s our duty to steward and preserve it.

National Public Lands Day is a celebration of the work, play and learning that takes place on public lands every day. National Public Lands Day will be on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2015. National Public Lands Day is the nation’s largest, single-day volunteer effort for public lands.

Volunteers will be performing service projects such as trail maintenance, invasive exotic removal and trash removal at Arch Creek Park. Every year, we receive increased participation and invaluable improvements to the lands by committed volunteers. For a continuously growing list of current events visit publiclandsday.org.

We are encouraging volunteers and visitors to remember that public lands offer a great option for getting active outside. Research shows that one step to preventing childhood obesity, diabetes and depression is getting kids and families to spend more time outside.

An estimated 175,000 volunteers will grab shovels and gloves to improve more than 2,100 sites across the country as part of National Public Lands Day.

Last year, NPLD volunteers:

• Collected an estimated 23,000 pounds of invasive plants
• Built and maintained an estimated 1,500 miles of trails
• Planted an estimated 100,000 trees, shrubs and other native plants
• Removed an estimated 500 tons of trash from trails and other places
• Saved taxpayers an estimated $18 million through volunteer services to improve public lands across the country

If you are interested in participating for National Public Lands Day, please contact the park naturalist staff by email archcreek@miamidade.gov or phone 305-944-6111.

Check in starts at 9:00am
Work day starts at 9:30am to 12:30pm.

There will also be roaming performances by Fantasy Theatre Factory’s Famous Trash Monster. Funding provided by Miami-Dade Department of Environmental Resource Management (DERM).

 

Program Dates for 2015

2015 Programs – PDF

 

EEL & NAM – Volunteer Work Day – Friday, January 17th

Miami-Dade County’s Environmentally Endangered Lands and Natural Areas Management will be hosting a volunteer work day at Arch Creek Park on Friday, January 17th from 9am-12pm. Projects will include Trail Maintenance – mulching, exotic removal and lining trail with logs.

 Registration is required. Registration can be done via email (eel@miamidade.gov) or by Phone (305.372.6611).

 

National Public Lands Day – Sept 28th, 2013

Arch Creek Park will be one of the host sites for National Public Lands day, which will be celebrating their 20^th anniversary. The event will be taking place on Saturday, September 28^th from 8am to 12pm. Volunteer hours will be awarded to any individuals that need them.

To register to volunteer at Arch Creek Park during National Public Lands Day, go to the following website to register.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/11IBreLAHsm4mdwWVO9Y1hpUWBeUuSeFs-8i05WxXOhA/viewform

 

National Public Lands Day – Sept. 24

Helping Hands for America’s Lands
Join us on September 24, 2011 from 9am -12pm

There is a special joy in getting our hands dirty when it helps keep our land beautiful. consider that one-third of the land in America is ours – public land where we can all hike, bike, climb, swim, explore, picnic or just plain relax. National Public Lands Day is an opportunity to spruce up these lands while helping us get back to some these places we love.

On September 24th, an estimated 180,000 volunteers around the nation will build trails and bridges, pull invasive weeds, plant trees, remove trash and have fun getting back to nature. At the same time, they’ll get quite a workout on America’s public lands, the gym with a view. They’ll learn about water conservation, invasive species, trail maintenance and other issues affecting public lands as well as take part in a service endeavor fed with the energy of volunteers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories.

Join the thousands who will take part in the 18th annual National Public Lands Day and help do your part for America’s lands.

Visit National Public Lands Day at www.publiclandsday.org

If your interested in volunteering at Arch Creek Park, please contact the park naturalist at 305-944-6111

 

Summer Camp Registration

Due to some unexpected circumstances, anyone interested in registering their child for summer camp will need to call to schedule an appointment with either Aimee or Eric until further notice. We are encouraging anyone planning  on attending not to wait until the last minute to register. Space is limited and you don’t want your child to be stuck on the waiting list. You can find the summer camp flyer with a brief description on the camps being offered this summer at Greynolds Park on the Camp Page. A detailed schedule is still being finalized. Once the field trips and themes are confirmed the schedule will be posted on the camp page.

Quite a few families, have asked about the financial assistance program this year, we are still waiting of information on this year’s program. Just keep checking back with either Eric or Aimee.

Also, multiple families have asked about their older children volunteering this summer, the volunteer program is being redesigned this year and when we have more details on that we will also get it out to you.

Greynolds – Eric – 305-948-2891
Arch Creek – Aimee – 305-944-6111

 

The Story of Arch Creek

Arch Creek Park is a living legend rich in history. The now extinct Tequesta (pronounced Tekesta) Indians occupied the site from 500 B.C. to 1300 A.D., spanning 1800 years. Due to Arch Creek’s high elevation and close proximity to both Biscayne Bay and the inner Everglades, by way of the Arch Creek and the Natural Bridge, Arch Creek became a significant Indian habitation. A shell midden (refuse heap) is located in the S.E. corner of the park where a large amount of pottery shards, conch tools, and a single burial site have been found.

The natural limestone bridge which crossed over the Arch Creek was said to have been one of the greatest natural wonders of South Florida. Noted for its scenic natural beauty, it was the gateway to Miami, a stopover for carriages and stage coaches, and a popular place for picnicking, political meetings, and boat rides. The arch also served as a bridge for the military trail during the Seminole Wars. It became part of the first county road in 1892, which later became Dixie Highway. The bridge finally collapsed in 1973 by causes unknown. Since its collapse, restoration of the bridge had been a goal of concerned local citizens, which was finally realized in 1988.

Early pioneers of Arch Creek built a coontie mill at the Natural Bridge to grind the coontie roots into starch in 1858. A dam was built and Dade County’s only known excavated sluice was cut into the limestone to carry water from Arch Creek to a waterwheel that ground the starch. This was probably Dade’s first industry. The coontie mill was not very successful and probably lasted less than a year.

During1900-1926, Arch Creek became a town which included a train depot, a post office, a school, a church, packing houses, and stores. The community was basically agricultural, growing tomatoes, grapefruit, and pineapples. The Arch Creek community eventually disappeared. After the land changed hands a few times, it became a trailer park in the 1950s. Residents of this park planted many exotic plants that are now being removed. The property was eventually purchased by the Chrysler Automobile Corporation for a used car lot.

In the early 1970s concerned citizens, alarmed at the prospects of the destruction of the natural oak hammock and Indian midden, banded together to fight to save Arch Creek. After a long battle and lobbying in Tallahassee, they successes in having the State of Florida purchase the land in 1973. These citizens in 1981 formed the Arch Creek Trust. Dade County leased the land, built the museum, and now maintains the park. Nature trails were constructed by the Youth Conservation Corps (Y.C.C.). The park officially opened in 1982. The Miami Dade County Parks & Recreation – EcoAdventures Unit in conjunction with the Arch Creek Trust now work to restore, support and preserve the park. Presently, work is being done to remove all exotics from the park and to restore the Tropical Hardwood Hammock to its natural state.

If you are interested in helping to preserve Arch Creek for future generations, inquire about becoming a volunteer with the Park Naturalist.