Click here to register online.

You can download a registration form here

Race day registration and packet pick up begins at 6:45 am and ends at 7:45 am. Park opens at 6:30 am. Arrive early to avoid parking congestion. Vehicles will be stopped at the park entrance beginning at 7:55 for the race start until the runners have cleared the roads and are on the trails.

The Monday/Wednesday Volunteer work group removes the invasive Australian Pine from the North Lido Beach area under their renovation program. It’s a WIN for both parks. Lido gets rid of a troublesome tree, gains area and Oscar Scherer gets income from the sale of this firewood by the Friends to the campers.

This, once a month, trip has been going on for over a year and will continue one day a month for a long time . The invasive has taken over a large area of Lido.

Our campers love it because it burns very well with little ash and they don’t need to travel out of the park to purchase firewood. The price is right as well.

Join us for our Earth Day Celebration. These musicians are scheduled to perform:

11:00     Kevin McGuire

11:45     Jay TurtleHawk

12:20     CCCarter Band

1:10      Richard Brobst & Train of Water

2:00      Ishmael Katz

3:00      Mindy Simmons

3:50      Jim Gromko

Scrub jay Festival

Join us Saturday February 4, 2012 for the Third Annual Florida Scrub Jay Festival!

690 Entries for both races and the 1-mile walk were submitted.

348 (51%) entered the 5K.

225 (33%) entered the 10K plus 109 (16%) were undeclared.

Female runners 372 (54%).

Male runners 319 (46%).

81 runners under 14 years old received complementary entries.

46 runners were from18 other states plus one each from Ontario & Switzerland.

On the same day, noon – 4pm, there will be historical music and story telling. Excellent, fun and educational entertainment includes Bill Schustik, the American Troubadour; Juniper, the lovely and lively duo; James Hawkins; Brian to tell everyone about the autoharp and Nick & Jewlz to demonstrate the Djembe Drum.
$6.00 Adult; $4.00 ages 6-18; 5 & under free, which includes park entry.
Also available are: hot dogs, ice cream, kettle corn, tram rides, crafts, face painting, kids will make and play their own musical instruments, and kayak demonstrations.
Gather up the family and come spend the day at Oscar Scherer State Park!

For information or to reserve a table for the yard sale call 941-483-5956.

Sept. 10, 11, and 12 it is free admission into Florida State Parks by showing a library card, a library book or donating a gently used or new family friendly book to the park. This goes the same for the event entrance. Otherwise it is a $5.00 park entrance fee for the event. $4.00 for a single occupant in a car.

Sept. 11th there will be information booths, nature activities, and games about reading and literacy awareness. Some of the activities include a basic music reading workshop, therapy dogs from the Humane Society of Sarasota and their “Read Fur Fun”, participants can chose a book and read it to a dog.

J.T. Eldreth
Elsa’s Youth and Nature Program Coordinator

Prepare the trail today,
For children to be tomorrow’s environmental caretakers of our unique natural resource.
Florida State Parks…

Ribbon cutting for the new Lake Osprey Trail

A brand new trail was opened that features barrier free access to all.  Now, families with children in strollers, people in wheel chairs and those just wanting a easy stroll in the woods can hike in the woods.

The trail offers scenic views of Lake Osprey. There are  several benches along the way, picnic tables and opportuinities to see nature up close. 

Access to the trail is just behind the Nature Center, by the main parking lot.