Oakland Nature Preserve

Come and enjoy a quiet walk on our 2/3 mile boardwalk leading through the wetlands to a covered pavilion on Lake Apopka. The preserve is open from 8:00 AM until 6:00PM every day. Birds of Oakland Nature Preserve Thanks to Bill and Helen Dowling, Mike Brinkley and Tom Rodriguez, a Bird Checklist of all bird species identified at the preserve is now available. This is in PDF format that you can save or print, and should be updated regularly. If you would like additional information about birdwatching or to report any unusual bird or wildlife sighting, please contact Tom Rodriguez at 407-905-0054 or send him an Email.
Oakland Nature Preserve Seeks Volunteers . . . more ONP Docent or Volunteer Signup Form . . . more
The Eagle Lady "Soars" at ONP in NEWS
	Spring 2008 Newsletter Read online!
Another successful festival is shaping up for 2008 at Speer Park in Oakland on October 25th! Vendor information for this year is now available here... Our sincere thanks to all who took the chance and came out last year to beat the rain for a great day of fun, food and music. See Vendors present last year at 2007 Vendors Silent Auction - See all the great Items won at 2007 Auction See our Sponsors that helped make it all possible at 2007 Sponsors Theresa & Charlie Joiner won the beautiful new Canoe at the FOLA Raffle !
Preliminary Data Shows Americans Spent $120 billion On Wildlife Related Recreation in 2006 See report in News Birds of Oakland Nature Preserve New sightings are happening regularly as the preserve restoration continues. See New ONP Bird List
Yes, Florida does have hills! Beginning at the Howey Crossroads (the intersection of Lake County Roads 455 and 561), the Green Mountain Scenic Byway winds southeast along Lake County Roads 455 and Old Highway 50 for 12 ½ miles through some of the highest hills of the Lake Wales Ridge. More... See the Master Plan at this new Green Mountain Scenic Byway Project Website!
ONP has announced a series of beginning training sessions to prepare volunteer docents for assistance at the Preserve. An initial program was held on Thursday, May 31 at 7:00 PM in the Oakland Town Hall. Help is needed for a number of tasks and no experience is required. The program presented a brief history of the preserve, a description of plans for the future and a list of the types of help needed. Volunteers will be able to set their own schedule with as much time as they want to serve. Everything from simple office work to guiding tour groups is needed. See printable flyers below for more information! Oakland Nature Preserve Seeks Volunteers . . . more Oakland Nature Preserve Announces Development of Docent Program . . . more ONP Docent or Volunteer Signup Form . . . more The preserve has been acquired, restored and operated by volunteers and has become more and more popular in the area. Plans for the future include construction of a unique environmental education building and organization of a environmental education program for children, adults and students of all ages.

Click map to enlarge.
We are located in Central Florida's Orange County, on the western edge of the Town of Oakland, on SR 438 (Oakland Avenue) between the West Orange Trail and Lake Apopka, behind the MOSAIC Church.

The mission of the Oakland Nature Preserve is to promote understanding of the fragile balances among land, water, mankind, and the environment by EDUCATING present and future generations about the natural ecosystems of the Lake Apopka Basin and by RESTORING and CONSERVING the lands within the Preserve.

Birds of Oakland Nature Preserve