Camp Chowenwaw Park

Introduction Camp Chowenwaw is a 153 acre site in Clay County at the mouth of Black Creek, near its confluence with the St. Johns River. Clay County plans to develop the site as a park and conservation area. History The Girl Scouts of Gateway Council operated the site as a regional camp for outdoor recreation and environmental learning for over 70 years. In cooperation with a grant from Florida Communities Trust, the site was purchased by Clay County.

Purpose

• Provide educational and recreational opportunities for county residents.
• Preserve the upland and wetland natural communities;
• Protect and enhance the suitability of the natural communities for listed species that currently, have recently, or could reasonably be expected to use the site;
• Restore and interpret the unique historic resources on the site;
• Conserve rapidly diminishing open space;

Opportunities for community groups (e.g. youth groups, scouts, science classes)

Community Service

• General cleaning projects in buildings. (sweeping, washing, painting);
• Litter and garbage pickup around fishing pier and throughout the camp;
• Maintain, expand and enhance the existing trail system;

 Education

• Restore vacated campsites to natural vegetative community;
• Establish photo monitoring points for all natural communities on the property;
• Design interpretive signs, informational kiosks, brochures; self-guided hike;
• Prepare plan to maintain forest communities (pine flatwoods and pine-hardwood);
• Monitor natural communities for invasive exotic vegetation and remove;
• Prepare power points for nature educational programs.

Recreation

• Construct kayak and canoe launch;
• Construct and place wildlife habitat structures (eg.owl,wood duck, bat boxes)
• Construct birding/wildlife observation blind.

Contact

David Mandrella - Park Ranger

Phone w (904)284-6378

david.mandrella@co.clay.fl.us

 

Projects / Opportunities

Community Service

• General cleaning projects in buildings. (sweeping, washing, painting);

      Orange Blossom, Cooks Cabin, Wacasassee unit house and bath house Kiwita,

      Muskogee, Tree houses

• Litter and garbage pickup around fishing pier and throughout the camp;
• Maintain, expand and enhance the existing trail system;

 Education

• Design interpretive signs, informational kiosks, brochures; self-guided hike;
• Interpretive tree signs on hiking trail;
• Kiosk from garage locate a place and develop signs;
• Write brochure material;
• Interpretive signs and kiosk for jungle trail;
• Paint blue marks on trees for hiking trail;
• Construct new trail;
• Construct outdoor class room;
• Interpretive signs and kiosk for jungle trail;
• Develop self-guided hiking brochure;
• Build new bridges over hiking trails;
• Restore vacated campsites to natural vegetative community;
• Establish photo monitoring points for all natural communities on the property;
• Prepare plan to maintain forest communities (pine flatwoods and pine-hardwood);
• Monitor natural communities for invasive exotic vegetation and remove;
• Prepare power points for nature educational programs.

Recreation

• Construct kayak and canoe launch;
• Construct and place wildlife habitat structures (eg.owl,wood duck, bat boxes)
• Construct birding/wildlife observation blind.