The Florida Madcaps

Send us Fan Mail Just a few days ago plans to develop a few Florida State Parks were uncovered and made public.  The plans where uncharacteristic of the Florida State Park mission of resource based recreation.  Massive hotels, golf courses, pickleball courts, and more were planned and in some circumstances would drastically alter some of the park's habitats.  In this episode, the Madcaps are...

Send us Fan Mail This week the Madcaps discuss the various carnivorous plants in our state and some of the environments they thrive in.   Please subscribe!  Shares and reviews are much appreciated! Get your FREE sticker from the Florida Springs Council and sign up to be a springs advocate at https://www.floridaspringscouncil.org/madcaps Questions and comments can be emailed at thefloridamadcaps@gm...

Send us Fan Mail If you want beautiful views of the rapids of the Hillsborough River and CCC construction or amazing hiking near the Green Swamp you can find plenty to do at both of these state parks and they are less than half an hour from each other.  This week the Madcaps discuss their experiences at these Central Florida state parks. Please subscribe!  Shares and reviews are much appreciated!...

Send us Fan Mail This week the Madcaps have a special guest, Imani to discuss whether gatekeeping benefits Florida's natural areas.  With Florida surpassing a population of 23 million and the boost in post-pandemic popularity of springs, beaches, and trails many are upset with the condition that they are in and place social media as the culprit. This week we discuss our individual views on ga...

Send us Fan Mail This week the Florida Madcaps discuss what can be expected when visiting Myakka River State Park.  This park has it all:  CCC history, gators, birding, trails, and wetlands.   Please subscribe!  Shares and reviews are much appreciated! Get your FREE sticker from the Florida Springs Council and sign up to be a springs advocate at https://www.floridaspringscouncil.org/madcaps Questi...

Send us Fan Mail This week the Madcaps discuss the importance of clean-ups and the events that they have participated in.   There are a variety of organizations that host clean-up events, or you can do it solo while you you spend time in nature. Please subscribe!  Shares and reviews are much appreciated! Get your FREE sticker from the Florida Springs Council and sign up to be a springs advocate at...

Send us Fan Mail This week the Madcaps discuss some of the state forests in Northeast Florida and some of the recreation opportunities in each one. Please subscribe!  Shares and reviews are much appreciated! Get your FREE sticker from the Florida Springs Council and sign up to be a springs advocate at https://www.floridaspringscouncil.org/madcaps Questions and comments can be emailed at theflorida...

Send us Fan Mail This week the Madcaps have Fletcher Jacob, the president of the Florida Speleological Society (FSS) discuss the basics of caving in Florida.  More info on the FSS can be found at, https://www.floridacaving.com/ Please subscribe!  Shares and reviews are much appreciated! Get your FREE sticker from the Florida Springs Council and sign up to be a springs advocate at https://www.flori...

Send us Fan Mail This week the Madcaps discuss Cedar Key.  This episode covers the history, food, and unparalleled beauty that make Cedar Key one of the amazing destinations of Florida. Please subscribe!  Shares and reviews are much appreciated! Get your FREE sticker from the Florida Springs Council and sign up to be a springs advocate at https://www.floridaspringscouncil.org/madcaps Questions and...

Send us Fan Mail This is our first reposted episode!  Almost a year ago we published this summer hiking & recreating safety episode and decided to republish it due to the relevance that it has this month with the multiple heat warnings that have been issued so far.  It has been slightly modified for your listening pleasure.   Please subscribe!  Shares and reviews are much appreciated! Get your...

Send us Fan Mail This week the Madcaps discuss some of the public lands that make up Indian River Lagoon as well as the recreational opportunities that exist there.  No episode would be complete without the discussion of the environmental challenges that exist from the past to the present.   Please subscribe!  Shares and reviews are much appreciated! Get your FREE sticker from the Florida Springs...

Send us Fan Mail This week the Madcaps discuss the various aspects of how hurricanes can impact recreation in Florida from trail closures to coastal geographic changes.   Please subscribe!  Shares and reviews are much appreciated! Get your FREE sticker from the Florida Springs Council and sign up to be a springs advocate at https://www.floridaspringscouncil.org/madcaps Questions and comments can b...

Send us Fan Mail This week the Madcaps discuss the roadside oddities that they have discovered, often quite by accident, as they have road-tripped around Florida. Please subscribe!  Shares and reviews are much appreciated! Get your FREE sticker from the Florida Springs Council and sign up to be a springs advocate at https://www.floridaspringscouncil.org/madcaps Questions and comments can be emaile...

Send us Fan Mail While summer brings some fantastic recreating weather, it also brings crowds to our outdoor spaces.  This week the Madcaps discuss how they navigate recreating in Florida's natural areas during the peak season.   Please subscribe!  Shares and reviews are much appreciated! Get your FREE sticker from the Florida Springs Council and sign up to be a springs advocate at https://ww...

Send us Fan Mail This week the Madcaps were treated to a hike through Split Oak Forest with the President of the Friends of Split Oak Forest, Valerie Anderson.  Afterwards, we recorded an episode right at Split Oak and Valerie outlined the current struggle to protect a conservation property that was originally set aside for Gopher Tortoise Habitat to mitigate the almost 100,000 killed during devel...

Send us Fan Mail This week the Madcaps discuss their favorite parks and hiking destinations that are in West Central Florida from scrub to Native American mounds, the Madcaps discuss a few parks in this area. Please subscribe!  Shares and reviews are much appreciated! Get your FREE sticker from the Florida Springs Council and sign up to be a springs advocate at https://www.floridaspringscouncil.or...

Send us Fan Mail This week the Madcaps discuss some of Florida's amazing habitats, from the limestone trails of the Florida Keys, to the ancient dunes of Lake Wales Ridge, we talk about many different habitats of Florida and what makes them special. Please subscribe!  Shares and reviews are much appreciated! Get your FREE sticker from the Florida Springs Council and sign up to be a springs ad...

Send us Fan Mail This week we were fortunate enough to have Kim and Ashley join us who do tours on one of the two designated Wild and Scenic Rivers in Florida the Wekiva River (including Rock Springs Run and The Emerald Cut).  This week we listen to some of the fascinating aspects of the river and some of the more interesting events that they have observed while guiding paddlers down these iconic...

Send us Fan Mail This week the Madcaps discuss the fascinating state park.  Wakulla Springs!  The spring, trails, boat tours, and elegant lodge were all discussed.  Check out the park website: https://www.floridastateparks.org/WakullaSprings Please subscribe!  Shares and reviews are much appreciated! Get your FREE sticker from the Florida Springs Council and sign up to be a springs advocate at htt...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, the Madcaps share their favorite natural areas that they have visited around  Tallahassee.  Here are a few points that we discussed: Lake Talquin State Park https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/lake-talquin-state-park Lake Talquin State Forest https://www.fdacs.gov/Forest-Wildfire/Our-Forests/State-Forests/Lake-Talquin-State-Forest Alfred B. Maclay G...

Send us Fan Mail This week the Madcaps talk about the Florida National Scenic Trail through Osceola National Forest as well as state and county recreation areas.  We discuss history, natural features such as waterfalls, and hiking along the St Mary's River. Please subscribe!  Shares and reviews are much appreciated! Get your FREE sticker from the Florida Springs Council and sign up to be a sp...

Send us Fan Mail This week the Madcaps welcome back Ryan Smart, executive director of the Florida Springs Council.  We discuss the various bills that we covered in previous podcasts and what their fate was during this session.  Ryan Smart also guides us through the budget that is being sent to the governor for signing including how funding for Florida's various environmental needs matched up...

Send us Fan Mail This week the Madcaps talk with Brent Fannin the director of Gopher Games, a documentary highlighting the plight of the vanishing gopher tortoise population in Florida.  This week we discuss how loose regulations and aggressive development is causing habitat loss for the venerable gopher tortoise.   Film Premier (free admission)  is on Saturday, March 30th at  3:15 at First Magnit...

Send us Fan Mail In this week's episode, we discuss Crystal River, Florida.  There is plenty to do from visiting springs, hiking, Native American historical sites, and much more.  Info regarding manatees at Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge. https://www.fws.gov/sites/default/files/documents/CrystalRiverTearsheet16.pdf Crystal River Preserve State Park https://www.floridastateparks.org/pa...

Send us Fan Mail This week the Madcaps discuss two very well-known springs in Florida.  Weeki Wachee and Homosassa Springs.  Both springs were once Florida attractions before being acquired by the state.  Now they still function yet with a more conservation-minded experience.   Homosassa Springs (home of Lu the Hippo) https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/ellie-schiller-homosassa-spri...