Wekiva Wilderness Trust upcoming events

Edible Florida at REI (08/08/2026)

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 18:00:00 GMT

There are over 1,700 edible plants in Central Florida that can be eaten or have medicinal uses. Learn about the most common ones, how to identify them and how to use them. Learn basic foraging skills that you can use to take full advantage of nature’s plentiful bounty.

The class is taught by Don Philpott, who has been researching edible plants for more than 50 years and has written several books about foraging and food. He is a Florida Master Gardener, Florida Master Naturalist, a Certified Interpretive Guide and a volunteer at Wekiwa Springs State Park.

The Amazing History of Wekiwa Springs and Rock Springs (08/16/2026)

Sun, 16 Aug 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Did you know that Florida’s first tourist attraction was at Wekiwa Springs almost 150 years ago and that there was a three story, 100 room hotel catering for guests from New York and other northern cities?

Did you know that after the Civil War, there was a bustling township called Ethel at what is now Rock Springs Run State Park?

Come and learn about the fascinating story of these two parks from Don Philpott who has spent over 15 years researching their histories and gathering hundreds of rare photos and documents.

Survival 101 at REI Winter Park (08/23/2026)

Sun, 23 Aug 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Survival 101 is a basic class that could save your life. It covers the two essentials of survival — staying warm and staying dry and how to do this in the harshest of environments. You will learn about finding food and water, building shelters, how to build and start fires, navigating without a compass and much more.

The class is run by Don Philpott, who has taught survival techniques for more than 50 years. He has expeditioned, backpacked, climbed, canoed and ridden through Europe, North America, Africa, Asia, the Arctic, Australia and New Zealand. He has written several books on the survival, security and safety.

Edible Florida at REI (09/05/2026)

Sat, 05 Sep 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Survival Boot Camp (09/19/2026)

Sat, 19 Sep 2026 13:30:00 GMT

The Wekiva Wilderness Trust is holding its next basic survival boot camp on Saturday, September 19, from 9:30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. at Rock Springs Run State Reserve in Sorrento, off State Road 46.

The course has been designed so that everyone knows what to do in case of an emergency. All the techniques are vital skills to use in the great outdoors. The boot camp will cover survival techniques, field first aid, foraging for food and water, hands-on building a shelter, plus rope, and basket weaving from natural materials, fire lighting techniques, and navigation.

Apart from water, bug spray, sunscreen, and lunch, each participant is asked to bring a knife, about 20 feet of strong string, cord, or similar, and two large black garbage bags.

The cost for the workshop is $10 a person (a donation to WWT) which will be collected on the day - cash only.

If you have questions, email: info@wwt-cso.com

The entrance to Rock Springs Run State Reserve is off Wekiva River Road, which runs south from SR 46. Do not put in the name of the park, rather the address: 31515 Wekiva River Road, or search "Wekiva Falls" which is down the street (and you'll see the Park on your left).

Survival 101 at REI Winter Park (09/20/2026)

Sun, 20 Sep 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Haunted Historic Ethel 2026 (10/16/2026)

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 21:00:00 GMT

Step into the mysterious and haunting history of Ethel township, established in the late 1800s.

Tickets | $20 per vehicle, up to 8 occupants. (Donation includes park entry and support for our Community Support Organization's programs.) Event tickets sold at WWT-CSO.com. Discount available for a (minimum) 4-item donation to Cans Over Candy benefiting Second Harvest Food Bank. Enter code CANS for $10 price. Present non-perishable donation at the event.

Pumpkin Pavilion | Bring your costumed (or not) cutie to the prettiest pumpkin patch for a ‘Gram-worthy shot. Additional Snap-worthy Sites will be set up around the park for all your paparazzi-like proclivities.

Haunted History Hike | Guided nature hikes depart on the hour and take you to the Ethel Cemetery where you can see the 3 remaining original tombstones plus recreations representing the souls buried there. Wear appropriate shoes. Wheelchair accessible; path is ADA approved. Note: Please be respectful of the cemetery grounds.

Spooky Stories | In the late-1800s there was a 1-room schoolhouse on the property. Our bewitching bookworm has thrilling tales to tell.

Skeleton Cemetery | Enter through the giant cemetery archway at your own risk and walk among headstones, ghouls, and skeletons.

Creepy Dolls Scavenger Hunt | Take selfies with the Dead Dolls dotted along the park's public access areas. Woe to those who don't go.

Creepy Crafts | For the young, and young at heart: Make macabre masterpieces.

Concessions | Snacks and drinks are available for purchase throughout the event.

40th Real Florida 5K/10K/Fun Run 2027 (02/20/2027)

Sat, 20 Feb 2027 12:45:00 GMT

Celebrating its 40th Anniversary this year, the Real Florida 5K/10K Cross Country Run is the only race in the area that is run entirely off-road within a state park and along beautiful scenic trails.

All proceeds from the race go to support the Wekiva Wilderness Trust.

Registration will be posted as soon as it's available. Please check back.

Use the free ItsYourRace mobile app to track, measure, and time your walk/run. The app will notify you when you have completed your distance and prompt you to add your time to the online results. It will even let you upload a selfie/photo from your phone which will be included with your online results.

All finishers receive a medal and commemorative t-shirt. Prizes for fastest male and female in the 5K and 10K races.

Gates open at 7:00 am and race starts at 8.30 am.

This is an off-road event on trails. You must be fit enough to participate and in doing so, you release Wekiwa Springs State Park and Wekiva Wilderness Trust and anyone involved in this race from any liability of any kind.