Built a 3000 foot boardwalk that winds
through wetlands and terminates at a large pavilion overlooking
Lake Apopka.
Opened two miles of hiking trails in the
upland section of the Preserve.
Constructed a large pavilion adjacent to
the West Orange Bicycle Trail providing convenient access to the
Preserve.
Installed interpretive signs throughout
the Preserve describing plants and wildlife.
Acquired a historical cabin from a former
fish camp on Lake Apopka which will be restored and represent a
piece of our cultural heritage.
Paved a parking area with capacity for 27
passenger vehicles and two school buses.
Restored many acres of the upland section
to their natural state by removing exotic plant species and
planting native vegetation.
Why
Do We
Need An
Environmental Education
Center?
To implement a curriculum that lets children learn about
Central Florida’s ecosystems in a natural environment.
To teach environmental topics that are not being addressed
in some school programs.
To heighten public awareness about the history and
restoration of Lake Apopka.
To provide public access to a visitor center and museum that
depicts Central Florida’s natural heritage.
Here’s
What
We
Still
Need
To
Do:
Raise additional money and begin
construction of the Education Center.
Contact elected officials to request their
involvement in funding and maintaining the Environmental
Education Center.
Furnish the classroom, museum, and visitor
center.
Integrate our environmental studies
program into the curriculum of local schools.
Maintain the involvement of groups and
individuals from local communities to ensure ongoing restoration
continues.
Mission
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.
Vision
Inspire children and adults to become stewards
of their natural environment using our classroom and outdoor
facilities to explore and understand the history and ecology of
Central Florida.
