ANNUAL HOLIDAY PARTY ! Wednesday, December 10, 2025 – 6:00-8:30 pm Buffet Dinner * Cash Bar * Door Prizes
Join us for a relaxing evening of fun and friends! An excellent opportunity to bring your friends and learn about the Sierra Club. (And you’re invited to bring your favorite dessert, if you like!) ********** New World Tampa 810 E. Skagway Ave., Tampa 33604 Just east of Hwy 275, 1 block south of Busch Blvd. Convenient free parking across the street from restaurant. ****************
You must register for this event so that we can get a count of how many people are coming and keep you up to date on the status of the event.
Cost: $15 per person, payable in advance. Credit card : Square Link. Use the + button to indicate the number of attendees if more than one. - or - Check payable to Tampa Bay Group : Please indicate that the check is for the Holiday party Mail to: Treasurer PO Box 20473, Tampa, FL 33622
For questions contact Janet Stanko, JanetStanko@TampaBaySierraClub.org
Nov. 16, 2025; 8:00 AM to noon or later
Registration is required.
When you're registered you'll get a confirmation email. If there are any changes (weather), we will use the information in your registration to keep you informed.
Enjoy nature and some history in Morris Bridge Wilderness. Several flower are blooming. We will hike on various maintained trails and we will pass through a native American site.
Terrain: Mostly flat, dirt trails. Some rocky, with a short section of sugar sand. Most trail are heavy laden with roots (tripping hazards). Almost all of the trails are under trees canopys, providing shade.
There a restroom and water fountain where we meet.
Be sure to scroll to the bottom during registration and check the 2 check boxes to acknowledge and then sign the waiver.
Level: Moderate. This is a 6-7 mile walk and will last 4 hrs or more.
Cost: Free but parking is $2
Bring (required):
Closed toed shoes
2 liters of water,snacks
Optional:
long pants,
hiking poles,
hat,
binoculars,
camera and any essential items.
If during breaks you want to sit, bring something to sit on like a seating pad.
Enjoy the park, bring lunch.
Signup Restrictions: Adults or older teens with custodial parent.
Additional Directions: Park and meet on west side at the restroom (coming from Tampa, turn left into the park from US 301)
Nov. 22, 2025; 10:00 AM to noon
Registration is required.
When you're registered you'll get a confirmation email. If there are any changes (weather), we will use the information in your registration to keep you informed.
We will be having a guided tour of the Conservation Center and related facilities. The event include learning about sea turtles that have been injured. We will see how they treat them so that they can be released back to their natural habitat. We will also see sea urchins and learn about coral restoration. We will learn about their fish hatchery. After a short walk (about 30 minutes) we can view manatees.
Cost: Free
Bring: Hat, sunglasses, water, sunscreen, comfortable shoes, binoculars (optional), snack, camera
Signup Restrictions: Minors under18 yo must be accompanied by a legal guardian who must sign a Waiver as the child's Guardian
Carpool: If possible, please carpool. Note: Carpool transportation is at the sole risk of the participants.
Nov. 28, 2025; 9:00 AM to 1:00 pm
Registration is required.
Registration also provides a precise location, meet-up address, and an interactive map from your location, and more.
When you're registered you'll get a confirmation email. If there are any changes (weather), we will use the information in your registration to keep you informed.
We are going to hike in the The Hillsborough County Little Manatee River Corridor Preserve.
This is a beautiful hike along the upper reaches of the Manatee River under a canopy of live oaks. Expect to see numerous birds and wildlife.
The Little Manatee River Corridor Preserve is a linear preserve consisting of river corridor, associated uplands and embedded wetlands. The total acreage of protected land within this corridor exceeds 8,000 acres. Vegetation communities represented here include bottom-land swamp, forested wetlands, pine flatwoods, oak hammock and marsh. There are also several abandoned farm fields and citrus groves that are undergoing habitat restoration.
Level: Easy
Cost: No Charge
Bring: Water, raincoat (It is Florida!), bug spray, sunscreen.
Pack a lunch as well as your favorite snack.
No Pets
Additional Directions: Leonard Lee Road is a Dead End road and ends at the park gate. Look for Sierra Club Signs.
Cancellation Policy: Activity is held rain or shine, but may be altered due to inclement weather
Carpool: If possible, please carpool. Note: Carpool transportation is at the sole risk of the participants.
Nov. 28, 2025; 6:00 PM (earlier if you need more time to decorate) to 8:00 pm
Registration is required.
Registration also provides a precise location, meet-up address, and an interactive map from your location, and more.
When you're registered you'll get a confirmation email. If there are any changes (weather), we will use the information in your registration to keep you informed.
25th Annual Hillsborough River Holiday Boat Parade
A Hillsborough River tradition!
Be part of a no-motor, conservation focused, boat parade! Sponsored by Friends of the Hillsborough River and the Tampa Bay Sierra Club.
Bring your human powered boat. Decorate it and light it up!
Bring: Battery operated lights to decorate your canoe, kayak, paddle board or boat; water; layers of clothing in case it is cool after sundown; a flashlight; your own vessel; a whistle; LIFE JACKETS MUST BE WORN AT ALL TIMES
Level: Easy
Cost: No Charge
Cancellation Policy: Heavy rain cancels
Watch For Outings News as It Happens
The latest outings and outings at other nearby groups can be found on our website at https://www.sierraclub.org/florida/tampa-bay/outings.
Registration is required for all outings. Unless otherwise noted, outings are free though there may be site entry fees. Liability waivers are required, and anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a legal guardian. No pets.
This December, Florida is set to hold its first statewide black bear hunt in nearly a decade — but Governor DeSantis has the power to stop it.
Join fellow Sierra Club members from across the state as we travel on three FREE round-trip charter buses to the Capitol in Tallahassee to rally for our black bears and demand that the hunt be shut down once and for all!
Travel Information Participants may travel to the rally themselves, or join us on one of the three charter bus options below.
Bus Details All buses are round-trip, free of charge, and equipped with restrooms, Wi-Fi, outlets, and complimentary snacks and refreshments. As a safety precaution, all bus riders must be active Sierra Club members.Not a member? Click here to join for $15. For questions on membership requirements, email susannah.randolph@sierraclub.org.
Pickup locations: Tampa Bay/Brooksville Daytona/Jacksonville Orlando/Gainesville
Pickup times: Between 5:30–8:00 AM Departure from Tallahassee: By 3:00 PM Return arrival: All riders back to pickup locations by 8:00 PM
Meals in Tallahassee: Riders can find dining locations inside the Capitol building or nearby after the rally and before departure (from 1 to 2:45 pm). What to Bring / Wear
Signs
Stop the Hunt t-shirt (if you joined us for the August FWC meeting in Havana) or wear black
Reusable water bottle and any additional food needs
Participation Requirements **All bus riders must be active Sierra Club members. Not a member? Click here.**
Additionally, to ensure safety and alignment with organizational goals, the following are required to board the bus:
Signed waiver
Valid photo ID that matches your registration
Agreement to uphold Sierra Club’s “One Club Policy,” which means all participants must align with the chapter’s mission to stop the black bear hunt
Other Ways to Help To learn more about how you can get involved with Sierra Club Florida's efforts to protect our bears and stop the hunt, click here.
Cost: Free
Signup Restrictions: You must be an active Sierra Club member to ride the bus.
Register
Publics Plastic Bags Campaign
Our campaign to ask Publix to stop using plastic checkout bags continues. We have over 11,000 digital petitions but need more toward our goal of 20-50,000.
his campaign is 4 years old, but is still relevant because we need to focus on reducing single use plastics at the beginning of the process instead of litter cleanups.
It is a simple thing for Publix to stop giving out plastic bags or to charge for them, and for customers to bring their own bags. This avoids the use of fossil fuels for manufacturing the plastic and would save up to 1,000,000 bags per year, many of which end up littering our neighborhoods and natural areas.
Date and Time: Sat, Nov 15, 2025; 8:00 AM - Sun, 5:00 PM (Eastern) Date is tentative.
Volunteer for 2 hours to promote Sierra Club outings, events & campaigns. Sign up members. Promote current campaigns. Tabling is fun too - always at a good community event, and lots of really nice people to speak with.
Carpool: Contact Emilie Joyce 813-789-1690. Note: Carpool transportation is at the sole risk of the participants.
Location: 2401 19th Ave NW, Ruskin, FL 33570
Stadium Recycling
Help promote and encourage recycling at Raymond James Stadium events. You will be working the event but will have the opportunity to enjoy the excitement and see the event at no charge. You must be 18 or older, no extra guests, and subject to approval of the event organizers. All times tentative.
USF Football Game Thu, Nov 6, 2025; 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Bucs v Patriots Thu, Nov 9, 2025; 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Soccer: USA v Uruguay Thu, Nov 18, 2025; 5:30 - 7:00 PM
USF Football Nov 29, 2025, 1:00 - 2:30 PM
ExCom Election
Your Tampa Bay Sierra Club is managed by an Executive Committee (“ExCom”) comprised of 9 Members, who are elected by Members of the Tampa Bay Sierra Club. Those elected ExCom members will serve 2-year terms. It is a rewarding experience to serve on the ExCom.
This year, we are electing 5 ExCom Members. We currently have 5 volunteers. While we realistically know the result of an election with no choices, we would like to know your opinions of each to help guide us in this and future years.
Ballots are available to be cast electronically, or by mail if you do not have email. More details are on our website and on the ballot.
Congratulations to Tampa Bay's Newest outings Leader
Neatia D'Addio joined the Sierra Club in 2025. Her favorite outdoor activity is hiking, especially when she can take her time and look at birds or fungi (though don't expect her to know what they're called!). She wants to lead outings to get to know Florida's natural landscapes, and to meet other people who love Florida and the outdoors.
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