Friends of Hugh Taylor Birch State Park

08/21/2026

🌿 500 HOURS. ONE AMAZING VOLUNTEER. 💚
Help us celebrate Danielle, who just reached an incredible 500 hours of volunteer service at Hugh Taylor Birch State Park!
Since 2023, Danielle has been getting her hands dirty at the Coastal Grove—clearing pathways, caring for plants, watering, mulching and keeping the gardens looking their best. 🌱
And she’s always looking beyond the garden, too. Danielle regularly removes invasive plants and helps protect the natural beauty of Birch.
500 hours is a BIG milestone—and we couldn’t be more grateful. 👏
Thank you, Danielle, for showing up week after week and making a difference, one garden, one pathway and one plant at a time.
Congratulations, Danielle! 🌿💚

08/18/2026

200 orchids. One incredible team. One very special park. 🌿
This week, park staff, volunteers, and local Master Gardeners came together to plant 200 native butterfly orchids (Encyclia tampensis) throughout Hugh Taylor Birch State Park.
From carefully securing each orchid to watering and creating a schedule to help these young plants thrive, this project has been a true labor of love.
A big thank you to everyone who helped bring this restoration project to life—and to Friends of Birch for funding it. We can’t wait to watch these orchids grow and bloom! 🦋🌸

08/14/2026

Have you spotted one of these at Birch? 👀🪿
This is an Egyptian Goose — easily recognized by its beautiful markings and that distinctive dark patch around the eye.
Not your everyday goose, and another reminder that you never know what you’ll encounter when you’re exploring Hugh Taylor Birch State Park. 🌿

08/12/2026

🌿 Every child deserves the chance to discover Birch.
For many students, a field trip to nature isn’t easy to access. Birch Bus Buddies is changing that. 🚌💚
Through the program, Title I schools receive FREE field trips to Hugh Taylor Birch State Park—including round-trip transportation, park admission, ranger-led programs, and hands-on experiences in nature.
Students can:
🦋 Discover a coastal dune lake, mangroves and the Intracoastal
🐢 Identify Florida’s native birds, insects, snakes, tortoises, and turtles
🌿 Explore 180 acres of protected natural habitat
🌳 Play along shaded nature trails
💚 Appreciate the legacy of Hugh Taylor Birch and the importance of preserving accessible nature for everyone
Transportation barriers are removed. The adventure begins. 🌱
📚 Now booking 2026–27 field trips!
For more information or to inquire about available dates, contact Michelle Schmitz:
📧 [email protected]
📞 (954) 566-0660
Friends of Birch State Park — connecting kids with nature, one field trip at a time. 💚

08/09/2026

08/07/2026

🌿Imagine Fort Lauderdale without this.
In a city growing and changing at an incredible pace, 180 acres of protected nature remain right here in the heart of it all.
Hugh Taylor Birch State Park is a rare piece of Fort Lauderdale that feels untouched—where Long Lake, abundant wildlife, historic trails, and towering trees create a refuge between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal.
Raccoons, great blue herons, turtles, opossums, and even gray fox call this place home. 🦝🐢🦅 And for generations, people have come here to canoe, kayak, fish, explore, and simply reconnect with nature. 🌿
The park continues to evolve through thoughtful improvements and the support of those who believe this place is worth protecting.
Fort Lauderdale is growing. May this wild, wonderful place always remain part of its story. 📖

08/04/2026

💚 Some people leave a job. Others leave a legacy.
After 32 years of dedicated service to the Florida State Parks, Assistant Park Manager Eric Kiefer has officially signed off.
For the past 8 years at Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, Eric has led with professionalism, humility, and a calm, steady presence. His commitment to conservation and his ability to lead by example have left a lasting impact on both his team and this park.
As his final shift came to a close, Eric signed off the only way he could...
📻 "Birch 2 out... thank you everyone."
Simple words that marked the end of an extraordinary career.
Thank you, Eric, for your quiet leadership, unwavering dedication, and the example you set every day. Your legacy will live on in the people you've mentored, the team you've strengthened, and the park you've helped protect.
Congratulations on a well-earned retirement and thank you for everything. 🌿💚

07/31/2026

🌿 Behind Every Great Park Is a Great Ranger. 💚
Today, on World Ranger Day, we celebrate the dedicated rangers of Hugh Taylor Birch State Park and all 176 Florida State Parks. 🏞️
From protecting wildlife 🦉🦝 and maintaining trails 🌳 to educating visitors and preserving Florida's natural treasures, our rangers make every visit possible.
Did you know? No matter where you live in Florida, you're never more than an hour away from a Florida State Park—and our parks are open 365 days a year! 🌞
Today, take a moment to say "Thank you!" 👏💚 A simple thank you means more than you know.
Happy World Ranger Day—and thank a Ranger! 🌿

07/27/2026

✨ Birch trees aren’t just trees , they’re nature’s own fairy lights, glowing in the softest silver and whispering stories of spring. 🌲💫
From the delicate bark to the towering canopies, every branch tells a tale of resilience and beauty. 🌿

Where your peace, is always our pleasure. 😉👌