Public Speaking
Connecting you with natural Florida through compelling presentations
For more than a decade, I've been sharing the delights of Florida's outdoors with audiences of every size, from civic groups to major state festivals and nature-based events. Over the years, my repertoire of talks and visual presentations on natural Florida has reached:
Birding clubs ▪ Birding festivals ▪ Civic clubs ▪ Conservation groups ▪ Gardening clubs ▪ High School classes ▪ Hiking clubs ▪ Hiking festivals ▪ Public Libraries ▪ Scouting troops ▪ and more!
In addition to my well-received talks on natural Florida, I also do school visits based on my books and writing background, and offer workshops on writing and technology at major conferences around the world.
I've also been a guest speaker and panelist speaking from a journalist's perspective at tourism summits for nature-based and rural tourism in Florida, including for Florida's Freshwater Frontier, Polk County, and Riverways South Apalachicola / Choctawhatchee.
Some of the larger venues I've spoken at include the Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association Gathering ▪ FWC "Becoming an Outdoor Woman" Workshops ▪ Florida Federation of Garden Clubs Annual Conference ▪ Florida Native Plant Society Annual Conference ▪ Florida Outdoor Writers Association Annual Conference ▪ Florida Trail Association Annual Conference ▪ First Coast Wildlife & Birding Festival ▪ Friends of Florida State Parks Annual Forum ▪ Ocali Country Days ▪ Space Coast Wildlife & Birding Festival
My talks on natural Florida include immersive visuals of our natural landscapes and unscripted repartee with the audience, sharing what's delightful in their corner of the Sunshine State. I generally cover the following topics - Hiking and Backpacking, Hiking in Florida (overall, regionally, or topically depending on your audience), Florida's Botanical Wonders, Florida State Parks, Florida's Best Beaches, and Florida's Rural Treasures - and can custom-design a presentation to your needs.
For public presentations, I require an honorarium and travel expenses. Please contact me to discuss your ideas and budget and to check my availability.
Upcoming Presentations and Events
Hiking Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Dec 30
As part of the 28th Annual New Year’s Eve Campout at Doe Lake, Ocala National Forest – an annual event for Florida Trail members, hosted by Lou and Rachael Augspurg [...]
Florida Scrub-Jay Festival, Feb 4, 2012
Curious where to hike to see Florida scrub-jays? Join me on February 4, 2012 for the 3rd annual Florida Scrub-Jay Festival at Oscar Scherer State Park in Venice. It’s a [...]
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My latest musings
- Three Sisters at Niagara Falls December 15, 2011Dug this photo out of my scanned image archives and couldn’t help but smile. Here’s my sister Susan (with the hood on) and Sally (with the hood off) on the […]





