The Trailblazer

Once you've created a webtrac account and added all your family members , you're set to start registering for events and programs! Our guided hikes, swims, paddles, classes, and other programs can be found here: CELM Ecotourism Events  At the activity or event you wish to join, and while you’re logged in, click “ Add Selection to List ” At the bottom of the page a bar will pop up, click “Add To Cart” You’ll select all household members you wish to buy tickets for, then “Continue.” It may ask you further questions, like if you want to subscribe to our newsletter. Make those selections, press “ Continue ” and it will take you to the Shopping Cart and you’ll be able to proceed with check out!

 In order to register multiple people in your family to the Hiking Spree, guided hikes, or other events at once, you'll need to add them to your family on WebTrac. Creating a New Account and Adding Family First, you'll need to create an account. If you already have an account, skip these first steps. You'll click " sign up " and begin creating your account.  Once you have added all of your own information, you'll see " Additional Family Members " is empty. Click the " Add New Family Member " button at the bottom. You'll enter the new family member information for the new member. Repeat this process for all members of your household.  Once all members are added, click "continue " and your household will be complete once you verify the registration. You'll be able to add event tickets for all household members now easily.  Adding Members to an Existing Account Already have an account? No problem! Log into WebTrac.  You'l...

  The cooler weather is approaching – are you ready to get back on the trail? The tenth annual Hillsborough County Hiking Spree features new trails, new prizes, and new opportunities to get out and explore all that Hillsborough County has to offer. What is the Hiking Spree? The Hiking Spree is a collaborative effort between Hillsborough County’s Conservation and Environmental Lands Management and Parks and Recreation departments. It is meant to highlight our unique outdoor spaces throughout the county. It is one of the largest and longest running events Hillsborough County does annually. This five-month event encourages people to discover new places to hike, learn more about conservation, and be active outside. The hikes chosen for the Hiking Spree are at Neighborhood Parks, Conservation Parks, Nature Preserves, and at other sites in Hillsborough.  The wide variety of sites to is curated to give everyone a chance to complete the Hiking Spree and have a great time, regardless o...

Anyone who has spent enough time in Florida knows that our native ecosystems are unique. We casually talk about encounters with reptiles that walked among the dinosaurs, or flying insects that evoke feelings of vintage horror films. Florida is a treasure trove of the weird and wonderful, and one group of species helps lead the way. They yield sticky tentacles, grow hairs, and set traps. Sometimes resembling species from another planet, they seem to defy the rules of ours. I'm speaking, of course, of Florida's carnivorous plants. Florida is home to approximately 30 species of carnivorous plants, more than any other state in the U.S. The most notable feature of carnivorous plants is their diet, which consists of live prey. You may be asking yourself why a plant would evolve this way. Carnivorous plants are freshwater wetland species that thrive in wet, acidic soils which are low in nutrients. They can be found in habitats such as bogs, floodplain forests, and swamps. They make u...

The northeast corner of the county, where Hillsborough brushes past the Pasco line, Blackwater Creek Nature Preserve is a quietly impressive property that stands steady through a landscape that has changed less than most. At more than 2,000 acres, the preserve is not the largest property in the ELAPP system, in fact it is dwarfed by its 12,000+ acre neighbor Lower Green Swamp, but it holds a distinction of being one of the least disturbed preserves in our vast county. I was privileged enough to be given a tour of the property by Land Management Specialist Rebecca Winch, and Land Management Coordinator Stephen Raymond, during one of their many prescribed burns on the property. They explained to me the unique history of the site: “It is one of the least, if not the least, disturbed nature preserves in Hillsborough County... they didn't clear cut everything, grade it out, and then plant everything over with Bahia grass” explains Rebecca. “That means it still has a lot more plant b...

 If you have ever taken a hike at one of our incredible properties, you’ll know that there’s a shift in sound that only shows up once you’re far enough from pavement. It doesn’t happen immediately, but it slowly creeps in after the trailhead disappears behind you, after your backpack has started to dig a little into your shoulders, and you've started to work up a sweat on your hike. At first, it feels as though the world has gone quiet, there are no more sounds of cars whizzing by, no phone alerts or distant chatter. You might just let out a sigh of relief to finally be away from it all. Then, slowly, your ears begin to tune themselves to a different hustle and bustle. The sounds of life. If you’ve ever stood beneath an oak tree teeming with cicadas at dusk during the summer, you know just how deafening the natural world can be. And if you’ve come out to spend the night camping, when the sun begins to sink and the firelight replaces the day, the world shifts again. That’s the mom...

If you’ve ever strolled along Florida’s coastline, you’ve likely seen them—tall, golden grasses waving gently in the ocean breeze. These are sea oats ( Uniola paniculata ), a native plant that’s as beautiful as it is vital to our shoreline. More than just a scenic backdrop, sea oats play a critical role in protecting our beaches and coastal communities. Sea oats are key players in dune formation and stabilization. Their strong, fibrous roots anchor sand in place, helping build and maintain the dunes that act as natural barriers against wind, waves, and storm surge. These plants are uniquely adapted to thrive in salty, sandy, sun-drenched conditions where few others can survive. In doing so, they provide essential habitat for a variety of wildlife, from burrowing crabs to coastal birds. Because of their importance, sea oats are protected under Florida law. It is illegal to pick or damage them, even a single blade. Disturbing these plants can lead to erosion and dune loss, putting homes,...