Friends of Cuscowilla

09/14/2023

Friends of Cuscowilla was recently invited to be the subject of a WUFT Greater Good Video (https://www.wuft.org/greatergood/). The Greater Good video series showcases non-profit organizations in the North Central Florida community. The videos for the series include the participating organizations’ history, mission, day-to-day community engagement, and their impact on the community. The series highlights what makes our community great.

Friends of Cuscowilla filmed our video segments at Cuscowilla on Monday. Board members told our story against the backdrop of Cuscowilla’s Lodge, Butterfly Garden, the pool, the information kiosk, and George’s Pond. Production will take a month and the final video will be shown on TV on WUFT, our local Public TV station, and on this page.

Thanks to WUFT staff members James Sullivan and Taylor Vorburger and their UF assistants, Christy, Emma, and Isabelle for a great filming experience.

08/28/2023

Friends of Cuscowilla (FoC) completed its second road cleanup Saturday, August 26, 2023. Through Keep Alachua County Beautiful (KACB), we have adopted SE 134 Ave, Micanopy, FL 32667 which is the road that runs from 441 to Cuscowilla Nature and Retreat Center. We also did brush cleanup at the Cuscowilla entrance.

Keep Alachua County Beautiful provides the gear and will pick up and dispose the 16 tires we collected along the road. Most unusual items found: a toilet and two school desks.

Many thanks to our volunteers, Austin and Jeff Hoover of BSA Troop 432, Tony Barr, Brett and Pedro Saunders, Cindy Holland, E.Jane Luzar, and John Nix. Special thanks to Parker Ross, the FoC Community Engagement Coordinator, for organizing the event. Next pickup: December 2023.

08/24/2023

Join Us This Saturday!

08/11/2023

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! Come help out with this clean-up on August 26, from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
https://www.cuscowilla.org/volunteer.html

08/05/2023

Friends of Cuscowilla will be sponsoring a litter pick up on SE 134 Ave., Micanopy on Saturday, August 26, 2023. This is the road from 441 to Cuscowilla Nature and Retreat Center. Its a great opportunity for young people to earn volunteeer credit. Volunteers can register at https://www.cuscowilla.org/volunteer.html

07/31/2023

Week Eight was the final week of Cuscowilla Nature and Retreat Center’s 2023 Day Camp. It was filled with a variety of exciting, educational, cultural, and challenging programs and activities.

Campers again enjoyed sharing music with Marietta and David Massey, who brought music and dance to camp all summer.

The Cuscowilla Climbing Wall was inaugurated by our older Campers with the careful guidance of Mark and Treavor of Common Ground Adventures. The thrill of making it to the top was obvious on the faces of our Campers.

Haley Cox and Luke Sekula from Alachua County EPD led a fun and educational program about Florida water quality. Campers learned about measuring water quality, plant and animal life in Florida’s waters, common water insects, and interacted with that fun little crawfish.

Campers had a great experience attending a production of The Jungle Book at the Hippodrome Theatre. They even recognized a former fellow Camper in the cast.

All week long, Campers celebrated Christmas in July. Making their own gingerbread house was a fun and delicious activity. Campers also enjoyed the pool all week and continued their swimming lessons with Dow Rankin.

Thank you to our many supporters, including Children’s Trust of Alachua County, all of our excellent presenters, and of course, the amazing Counselors and Staff. A program like Cuscowilla Day Camp requires thoughtful, active, and caring leadership and Jamie Bass provided just that. We are excited to see what next year brings.

All the best to our 2023 Campers as they begin a new school year. We are certain that they will remember the 2023 Cuscowilla Day Camp as a Summer of Discovery filled with a lifetime of memories. See you next summer!

07/23/2023

Week Seven at Cuscowilla Nature and Retreat Center’s 2023 Day Camp was filled with nature education, a visit from Fire Engine 80, a rodeo carnival, and a family pool party.

Thanks to Alachua County Fire and Rescue for a great program on fire safety. Engine 80 ended the program with a fun and much appreciated spray down of the Campers.

Ashleigh Boice from St Johns Riverkeepers used a cool interactive learning system to teach Campers about causes and solutions for nonpoint source pollution.

Milo Needlands from the Conservation Lands Division of Alachua County Environmental Protection Department took the Campers on a nature walk to teach them tree identification. The Campers turned their knowledge into art by doing leaf rubbings.

Campers continued to enjoy the pool and continued their swimming lessons with Dow Rankin.

Campers experienced the wild west Friday in an activity filled rodeo carnival.

Campers and their families enjoyed a special pool party Saturday evening. Families met one another and camp staff while enjoying a cookout. Campers left with a backpack filled with school supplies, provided by Friends of Cuscowilla.

One more week of Camp!

07/15/2023

Week Six at Cuscowilla Nature and Retreat Center’s 2023 Day Camp featured two camps in one. In addition to the regular Day Camp, Fish Camp was held for the third year at Cuscowilla. Thanks to a grant from Fish Florida, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, Fish Campers were provided with fishing rods and reels, tackle kits, and instruction to foster their interest in fishing.

Five Campers, a Counselor, and the Camp Manager attended the 7-11-23 Alachua County Commission Regular Meeting and spoke in support of a special proclamation. The Commission then declared July 2023 as Parks and Open Space Month in Alachua County. Cuscowilla was well represented!

Campers enjoyed their activities, the pool, and continued swimming lessons. The Massey’s returned to sing and dance with the Campers. The Campers especially enjoy the opportunity to learn about and play the variety of instruments the Massey’s bring each week.

County Commissioner Marihelen Wheeler visited Cuscowilla Nature and Retreat Center on Friday, bringing watermelon for the Campers. She visited with Campers and toured the new dock at George’s Pond, improvements to the Nature Education Center, and the nearly completed Blackwater Swamp Walkway.

Campers enjoyed the visit by Shana Banana and her puppets. Music, singing, dancing, and really cool puppets filled the morning.

Friday ended with a fish fry cook out enjoyed by all.

Thanks to our great Counselors for their continued care of our Campers. Thanks to David and Marietta Massey, and Shana (Banana) Smith for filling Camp with music, songs, and dance. Thanks to Fish Florida for sponsoring Fish Camp. Thanks to the staff of Public Works and JB for preparing the delicious Friday cook out. Thanks to Dow Rankin for the excellent swimming lessons. Special thanks to Marihelen Wheeler for her continued support of Cuscowilla Nature and Retreat Center.

Only two weeks left of Camp!

07/09/2023

Week Five of Cuscowilla Nature and Retreat Center’s 2023 Day Camp had record heat and a 4th on the 3rd Celebration. Campers enjoyed their olympic-sized swimming pool and continued their swimming lessons.

Music and dance continued with new instruments to explore, thanks to the Massey’s and Friends. The 4th on the 3rd Celebration featured games, contests, face painting, and a cookout.

Campers took a field trip to explore Poe Springs County Park and swim in the cool spring water. Week Five ended with a Pizza Party.

Three more weeks of camp remain, including Fish Camp in Week Six.

07/01/2023

07/01/2023

Week Four of Cuscowilla Nature and Retreat Center’s 2023 Day Camp was filled with rain and Wild Discoveries. Older Campers enjoyed learning songs and dances and exploring musical instruments. Campers took nature hikes to explore the park and, as always, enjoyed the pool. Swimming lessons continued. The week was capped off with a field trip to the Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo. Campers enjoyed seeing and learning about a wide array of animals. They completed the field trip with a picnic lunch. Campers are looking forward to Week Five: Adventure Seekers.

Thanks to Marietta and David Massey, and Patsy Murray for sharing the world of music and dance with the Campers. Be sure to check out our videos.