Canaveral

https://www.nps.gov/cana/index.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canaveral_National_Seashore The Canaveral National Seashore (CANA) is a National Seashore located between New Smyrna Beach and Titusville, Florida, in Volusia and Brevard Counties. This 25 miles of pristine Atlantic Ocean beach, dunes and Mosquito Lagoon is the longest expanse of undeveloped land along the East Coast of Florida and as a federally protected area will remain primarily as it is today. Reflect on the barrier island which is composed of dune, hammock, and lagoon habitat. Explore ancient Timucua shell mounds. Experience the sanctuary that is provided for thousands of species of plants and animals that call Canaveral National Seashore home. Canaveral National Seashore is located along Florida's East coast in both Volusia & Brevard counties. To access Apollo Beach - take I-95 to exit 249, then go east until it turns into A1A. Follow A1A south to the park entrance. To access Playalinda Beach - take I-95 to exit 220. Go east through Titusville on Garden Street, continue east and follow the signs. Apollo Beach Visitor Center Canaveral National Seashore's visitor center is located at 7611 S. Atlantic Ave, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32169. Pick up a brochure or a Junior Ranger book. Get information about where to visit in the park. For more information call (386) 428 - 3384. From I-95, take exit 249 & head east on SR-44 toward New Smyrna Beach. The road turns into Atlantic Avenue (A1A) once you go over the bridge and are then on the barrier island. The road then curves to the right (heading south). Stay on A1A for approximately 8 miles to the park entrance station. Canaveral National Seashore Backcountry Island Camping Natural and spoil island campsites provide a variety of access and capacity options to those visitors who have their own boat, canoe or kayak. Reservations and a permit are required for island campsites. Canoe rentals are available for sites 1-5. Canoes are reserved by calling (386) 428-3384, after you have made your camping reservation. Sites 6-14 may only be reached with a personal boat, canoe or kayak. Backcountry Camping 25.00 Campsites are $25 per night. Canoe Rental 25.00 Canoes are rented for campsite 1-5 only. Reserve a canoe by calling the Apollo Visitor Center at (386) 428-3384. Reserve the campsite before reserving the canoe. Limit to two persons per canoe. Lagoon Island Kayakers Kayakers on the shore with water and sky in the background. Photo from campsite #10. Island Campsite Island Campsite Island campsite 9 Apollo Beach Dune plants, beach, and ocean. Enjoy a day at the beach. Eldora State House Eldora State House is an early 20th century homestead along Moquito Lagoon. Eldora State House is an early 20th century homestead along Moquito Lagoon. Park Entrance Sign Park entrance sign with blue sky as a back drop. Apollo Beach and Playalinda Beach both display this entrance sign before the entrance stations. Apollo Visitor Center On the dock facing the visitor center. The Apollo Visitor Center as viewed from the dock. Naval Air Station Training The Daytona Naval Air Station trained flight crew and flight communicators at field training stations that were located in southern Volusia County. The training areas were located in the Canaveral National Seashore on the barrier island and in the Mosquito Lagoon. Three Douglas SBD Dive Bombers Flying Clifton School House The Clifton School House was built between 1890 and 1891. It was the oldest known African American school in Brevard County. Two fathers ensured their children attend a proper school. Clifton School House 2015 NPS Environmental Achievement Awards Recipients of the 2015 NPS Environmental Achievement Awards Shark Awareness Before heading into the ocean, review some safety information to further minimize the chances of a shark encounter. Shark and fish in the blue ocean waters 2019 Connecting with our Homelands Awardees Hopa Mountain, in partnership with the National Park Service, is pleased to announce the 2019 awardees of the Connecting with our Homelands travel grants. Twenty-one Indigenous organizations, schools, and nonprofits have been awarded travel funds for trips to national park units across 12 states/territories within the United States. An elder and young student talk while sitting on a rock. 2010 Freeman Tilden Award Recipients Seven rangers were awarded with a national or regional 2010 Freeman Tilden Award for excellence in interpretation. Learn more about their exciting and innovative projects. Portrait of John Kirkpatrick Using Prescribed Fire to Restore Habitat for Threatened Florida Scrub Jay Fire-adapted coastal scrub vegetation provides habitat for several federally listed species, including the Florida scrub jay. Canaveral National Seashore, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, and Kennedy Space Center support this rare habitat. In July 2012, the 3 agencies collaborated to complete a prescribed burn of coastal scrub and marsh. Objectives were to improve habitat for the scrub jay and other species, and to reduce dangerous fuel loads. A Florida scrub jay sits on a branch. NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Canaveral National Seashore, Florida Each park-specific page in the NPS Geodiversity Atlas provides basic information on the significant geologic features and processes occurring in the park. access road through dense trees 2014 Sea Turtle Annual Report Cape Hatteras 2014 annual report on sea turtle monitoring at Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Green sea turtle returning to sea after laying her eggs. Canaveral National Seashore Pre-Columbian People Canaveral National Seashore has evidence of Late Archaic peoples such as the Timucuan and the Ais native american cultures beginning approximately 5,000 years ago. Remnants of shell refuse mounds and burial mounds tell us their stories. Archeologists have uncovered over 100 refuse shell mounds within the seashore, a testament to their life ways along Mosquito Lagoon. Timucuan Community Pedro Bustincuri Spanish explorers found land in the Americas, but what happened to them was what they least expected. Alberto Cantino's Map 1502 Navy WAVES at Canaveral National Seashore Women volunteered during the WWII era joining the military to show their patriotism and played a vital role in winning the war. Women in training Veteran Story: Avia Woulard Canaveral National Seashore's Interpretive Park Ranger Avia Woulard is a US Navy veteran of 20 years and still serves her country today. Avia Woulard in her Navy uniform Doris Leeper An artist and a visionary Doris Leeper was able to share her art and the places that inspired her. Mentoring young artists she inspired them to pursue their passions and purpose. She so wanted to be known as an artist that everything she touched turned to art and inspiration. Doris Leeper with her sculpture in the foreground. Monitoring Estuarine Water Quality in Coastal Parks: Fixed Station Monitoring Estuaries are the convergence of freshwater, delivered by rivers, to the ocean's salty sea water. The result is a delicate ecosystem providing existence for a multitude of fish and wildlife species. we have created the story map to help you learn more about how these estuaries formed, the potential issues they face, and the process of monitoring the water quality utilizing fixed station monitoring. Waterbirds congregate in an estuary at sunset. Monitoring Estuarine Water Quality in Coastal Parks: Park-wide Assessments Estuaries located in national parks provide recreational experiences such as fishing and boating for park visitors. Therefore, knowing what's in the water can assist the park in its mission of managing such a critcal resource. The Southeast Coast Network monitors water quality through fixed station monitoring and park-wide assessments. While the former is conducted on a monthly basis, park-wide assessments are completed every five years. Learn more with this story map. Dock stretching out into an estuary as the sun sets over the water. Series: NPS Environmental Achievement Awards Since 2002, the National Park Service (NPS) has awarded Environmental Achievement (EA) Awards to recognize staff and partners in the area of environmental preservation, protection and stewardship. A vehicle charges at an Electric Vehicle charging station at Thomas Edison National Historical Park Washington Family This story highlights local a local family and their experience with family and community. Phyllis Washington and Family Haynes Family This is the second article in a series which focuses on family and what it means to various residents in the New Smyrna Beach area. Here Rhonda Haynes reflects on family. A view of Mosquito Lagoon with palm trees. Artist-In-Resident 2019 Welcome to the first ever sound tour of Canaveral National Seashore! Open your ears, close your eyes, and let it take you on a journey through the various habitats and moods of nature found at the seashore. Ranger and visitors in front of the Doris Leeper home. Artist-In-Resident 2020 In this series you will get to know artist Dr. Nathan Wolek who has contributed to the Canaveral National Seashore artist-in-residents program. Each series highlights who they are and their creative contributions. Feet on the beach with a sound recorder. Top 10 Tips for a Summer Visit to Canaveral National Seashore These are the top things to know when visiting Canaveral National Seashore. Two fishermen on the beach. Atala at Canaveral National Seashore The atala butterfly is sited at the Apollo Beach Visitor Center. Atala butterfly on coontie plant leaves. Pedro Menendez A short history of Pedro Menendez's travels through Canaveral National Seashore. Pedro Menendez Artist-in-Resident 2021 Explore the creative contributions of the Soundscape Field Station's artist-in-resident Felix Blume recorded at Canaveral National Seashore. 6 listeners listening National Park Service supports groundbreaking Indigenous fisheries management study Joining an international research team for a study published in journal Nature Communications, National Park Service (NPS) archeologists provided valuable research for a new global study finding that Indigenous groups sustainably harvested massive amounts of oysters over hundreds and sometimes thousands of years with minimal impact before European colonizers arrived. Two people mapping an oyster mound. Artist-in-Resident 2022 Mary Edwards was the 2022 Canaveral National Seashore artist-in-resident. Mary at the beach. William Williams Bill Williams was one of the first African American residents in Oak Hill, Florida in the late 1800's. Bill Williams standing outside in a suit Axie This is a story about a caretaker named Axie Lang from the historic Eldora community that once thrived in East Central Florida. This is a photo of a caretaker walking through the Eldora community. Vermelle Vermelle Stafford worked at the Well’s family home, known as the State House, in the historic community of Eldora that was once present in what is now Apollo Beach, Vermelle smiling outdoors in front of palmetto. Bella Ross and Family NPS staff were beyond delighted to have made acquaintances with the Ross family and descendants of Sophia Ross, the daughter of John Ross, overseer of the Elliott plantation also known as Stobbs farm. The Ross family in Scottland. Artist-in-Resident 2023 My name is Jacek Smolicki, and during my stay here at Canaveral National Seashore as a Soundscape Field Station resident in early 2023, I experienced this unique environment as an ecotone, a home of multiple tensions expressed in sound. One Step at a Deep Time 50 Nifty Finds #30: So Funny It Hurt Humor is a form of commentary that often reveals serious truths. Cartoonists combine artistic talents with razor-sharp wits to shine light on political and social issues. In most cases, those artists are external observers. In the National Park Service (NPS), employees in the 1960s to 1980s drew cartoons, published in official newsletters, that provide unique insights into NPS organizational culture, working conditions, and employees' concerns—many of which still exist today. A ranger showing a coloring book to a visitor saying that they care about children's education 2022 George and Helen Hartzog Awards for Outstanding Volunteer Service The National Park Service is pleased to congratulate the recipients of the 2022 George and Helen Hartzog Awards for Outstanding Volunteer Service. A montage of photos of volunteers working in a national park. Success at the 2023 Girl Scout Convention and Boy Scout National Jamboree Read about the two major Scouting events that took place in July 2023 - the Girl Scout Convention held in Orlando, Florida and the Boy Scouts Jamboree held in Beckley, West Virginia. Phenom by Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts Jamboree Vermelle Stafford Vermelle Stafford worked at the Well’s family home, known as the State House, in the historic community of Eldora that was once present in what is now Apollo Beach, Canaveral National Seashore. Vermelle smiling at Eldora. Axie Lang Axie Lang made a lasting impression on the Eldora community in the early 1900's. Historic Eldora Sign Updated Species Database Will Help Boost Amphibian Conservation Across the National Park Service To steward amphibians effectively, managers need basic information about which species live in parks. But species lists need constant maintenance to remain accurate. Due to recent efforts, the National Park Service now has an up-to-date amphibian species checklist for almost 300 parks. This information can serve as the basis for innumerable conservation efforts across the nation. A toad sits on red sand, looking into the camera. Landscape restoration funds help parks protect natural and cultural resources from invasive swine Feral swine disrupt natural ecosystems by damaging habitats and cultural resources, preying on native wildlife, and transmitting disease. The National Park Service manages feral swine in southeastern and Texan parks to protect these natural and cultural resources. Two feral swine in a grassy field. One digging up the ground one looking into the distance. Artist-In-Residence 2024 Sound artists, Gordon Hempton and Perri Lynch Howard have released their creative contribution to the community. Both were the 2024 artists-in-residence at the ACA Soundscape Field Station, a partnership between Atlantic Center for the Arts and Canaveral National Seashore. Guide to the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) Southeast Region Collection This finding aid describes the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) Southest Region Collection, part of the NPS History Collection. Sharks of Canaveral National Seashore Canaveral National Seashore is home to a variety of wildlife. Whether in the lagoon or the ocean you can find one of the most elusive and feared species on the planet. The shark! A lemon shark in the Atlantic Ocean. Dark Night, Safe Flight At night, birds use the stars to find their way. But bright lights from buildings can confuse them. That's why national parks are so important - they're like bird hotels! They give birds safe places to rest and eat, especially after flying across the ocean.

Canaveral National Seashore Florida The inviting seashore Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge Florida A loggerhead turtle at the sea's edge An annual ritual A refuge resident: a bald eagle newcomer here. The earliest known inhabitants were aboriginal Indians. Some of their burial mounds and shell middens remain as evidence of their civilization along the shores of Mosquito Lagoon. Later groups included Spanish explorers, British colonists, and citrus growers. In more recent years, mosquito control activities and rocket launches have left their mark on the landscape. 1975, the National Park Service took on the dual responsibility of preserving the primitive barrier beach while providing for public enjoyment of its resources. Thus three different governmental agencies have joined to ensure the proper mesh of the Nation's highly technical space program, wildlife management, and public recreation. Shallow marshes along the border between water and upland areas and along the beach and dune line are excellent places to find birds. Not all wildlife is as evident and spectacular as some of the birdlife, but patience and luck will pay off with glimpses of other animals. The ghost crab is one creature dependent on both land and sea. Although of marine origin, this nocturnal scavenger lives in burrows on the upper beach and dunes. These same beaches serve as nesting sites for giant loggerhead and green sea turtles during summer nights. By morning, only a bulldozer-like track remains to mark the turtles' route. Sanctuaries for Man and Beast Each fall thousands of ducks, like this pintail, and other waterfowl fly in to the marshes and waters around Merritt Island. This barrier island, subject to the powers of wind, water, and shifting sand, is a place of constant physical alteration. Atlantic waves break on its eastern side and the waters of Mosquito Lagoon and Indian River lap quietly on the west. These waters moderate the temperatures and help create a year-round subtropical haven. Hammocks of ancient oak trees draped with Spanish moss grow within walking distance of palmetto-covered sand dunes. Salt marshes, man-made impoundments, mangrove islands, and the estuaries of lagoon and river serve as feeding grounds for an array of animals. Pine flatwoods and other vegetation create habitats for a variety of wildlife. Today you can enjoy the recreational opportunities of ocean beaches, fishing, boating, hunting, and wildlife watching, but man is no In the early 1960s the Kennedy Space Center was established on part of Merritt Island. Not all the land was needed for the space program and two other agencies were invited to help manage the area. In 1963, the Fish and Wildlife Service, in cooperation with NASA, established the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge as a sanctuary for wintering waterfowl. With the creation of Canaveral National Seashore in Birdlife abounds on Merritt Island, with more than 280 species recorded. Gulls, terns, sandpipers, herons, egrets, ibises, pelicans, and osprey provide a colorful array of movement and song. The patient birdwatcher may also get to see the majestic flight of the bald eagle, the comical dance of the reddish egret, or the colorful display of the roseate spoonbill. The best time of day to observe birds and other wildlife is the early morning and late afternoon. A variety of other reptiles inhabits the dunes and the sand scrub community behind them, where rodents and other prey are plentiful. Vividly marked pine snakes and king snakes are sometimes seen, as are diamondback rattlesnakes, and harmless box turtles. American alligators, virtual symbols of the subtropics, bask in the sun at the edge of the inland waters. Raccoons, bobcats,and armadillos roam throughout the area, and are sometimes seen along park roads. Whales and dolphins are occasionally sighted offshore, while manatees, or sea cows, live in the waters of Mosquito Lagoon and Indian River. Several of the Nation's endangered and threatened wildlife species are found at Merritt Island. These include the southern bald eagle, eastern brown pelican, peregrine falcon, eastern indigo snake, dusky seaside sparrow, American alligator, Florida manatee, Atlantic salt marsh snake, and the green, ridley, leatherback, and Atlantic loggerhead sea turtles. Facilities and Area Information Canaveral National Seashore and Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge are located midway down the Florida east coast between Jacksonville and West Palm Beach. The Seashore and Refuge are readily accessible via such major routes as U.S. 1, I-95, I-4, and I-75. New Smyrna Beach, the northern access point, is located on Fla. A1A. Titusville, the southern access point, is located on Fla. 402. The Intracoastal Waterway, which links Florida with the north by water, skirts the western edge of Mosquito Lagoon before entering the Indian River via the Haulover Canal. Playalinda Beach on the Seashore's southern edge is within easy viewin