2026 Regrow the Loop
The Regrow the Loop initiative, a community-driven pilot program focused on restoring and enhancing the natural beauty of the Ormond Scenic Loop and Trail in Volusia County, was launched in June 2023. This one-year effort successfully united residents, volunteers, and local organizations to remove invasive species, plant native trees and vegetation, and create habitats for wildlife and pollinators. By prioritizing education, conservation, and community involvement, Regrow the Loop has become a model for other scenic highways across Florida to follow.
During the program, 123 trees were planted on public and private land, representing a significant step toward fostering a greener landscape and regenerating native plant coverage. To complement these efforts, 21 educational programs, including workshops and walk-and-talk sessions, engaged 332 participants. These events raised environmental awareness and empowered individuals to take meaningful action. Additionally, 221 participants pledged to adopt sustainable practices, demonstrating their commitment to nurturing the local ecosystem.
Building on the program’s success, community partners from the pilot initiative, led by the Ormond Scenic Loop & Trail (OSLT), will continue to lead Regrow the Loop with support from Volusia County where applicable. These efforts will include hosting educational workshops, sharing informational resources, organizing volunteer events to remove invasive plant species, and donating trees for planting along the Loop. Most events are free except where noted and open to all Volusia County residents. The ongoing collaboration ensures that the Loop remains a vibrant and thriving natural treasure for future generations.
For more information about the initiative’s continuation, please contact the OSLT at ormondscenicloop@gmail.com.
Program Components
| R |
egenerate plant coverage by increasing the number of plants/trees along the loop using the right plant, right place principle and providing (1) one tree to households. |
| E |
levate awareness of the ReGrow the Loop initiative through mass media. |
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ather community at monthly educational activities with topics specific to flora and fauna along the loop with an emphasis on what can be done to help them both flourish (i.e., What’s on my Loop Series?) |
| R |
eclaim the loop from invasive plant species through education and volunteer removal events/ activities. |
| O |
ffer a ReGrow the Loop pledge where residents can commit to adopting practices that will sustain the loop and be recognized for their commitment. |
| W |
ork to attract more wildlife and pollinators along the Loop by providing resources on landscaping for wildlife |
Educational Workshops
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| May | |
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Protected Habitats and Species along the Loop Come learn about our local wildlife, plants and animals and their unique homes from forest, marshes and wetlands to the beach. Find out what types of animals you can find in each part, what roles they play in maintaining our environment and why they are protected by laws and local regulatory agencies. Experts will be on hand to teach guests about a variety of wildlife including marine mammals, reptiles, plants and even insects! They will answer questions and provide insight and direction on how to safely observe protected species in their habitats, how activities are permitted and what protected species conditions are required to be followed to ensure protection. Jennifer Winters, Protected Species Activity Manager, Volusia County Government |
1/31/26 Ormond Beach Regional Library, 30 S. Beach Street, Ormond Beach, FL 32174 |
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Home Composting Recycle your kitchen scraps and yard debris to reduce waste going to the landfill and create a fabulous garden amendment called Black Gold. Learn the process of composting, the materials needed, and what you should and should not add to your compost pile. Discover the many uses for your homemade Black Gold. Leslie Nixon, Certified Florida Master Gardener, Pawpaw Native Plant Society |
2/7/26 Ormond Beach Regional Library, 30 S. Beach Street, Ormond Beach, FL 32174 |
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Native Plants for Spring Blooms Attendees will learn about native plants to add to their gardens this winter to enjoy blooms when spring arrives. The presentation will take place in the EDC classroom. All of the plants discussed will be available for sale outside on the porch before & after the talk. Katie Tripp, Ph.D., Owner, Natural Beauty Native Florida Landscapes, LLC |
2/14/26 Ormond Beach Environmental Discovery Center (EDC), 601 Division Ave, Ormond Beach, FL 32174 |
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ReGrow the Loop, Dream Green Volusia's 5th Annual Hike Join a Park Ranger to explore the nature and history of Bulow Creek State Park! 1.5 mile hike taking approximately 1.5 hours. The hike ends at the historic waterways of Sisco Canal and Bulow Creek and offers excellent views of both. Participants will walk through dense oak and maritime forest, moving past ancient oak, cedar, cypress, magnolia and pine. Hikers could see gopher tortoise, osprey, hawks, deer, and turkey. Please wear comfortable walking shoes, and bring water, bug spray, and sunscreen. Some uneven terrain and slippery surfaces are found along trail. For more information contact Ranger Mar at Mark.D.Adams@floridadep.gov or call 386-517-2084 Mark Adams, Tomoka Basin Park Ranger for Dream Green Volusia |
2/22/26 79412 Walter Boardman Ln, Ormond Beach, FL 32174 Meet at Bulow Woods Trail on Walter Boardman Lane. |
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Here Today - Gone Tomorrow - Birds that pass through Volusia County on their travels to other destinations. Florida Bird Checklists list over 500 species that occur in our state. This is an impressive number at face value, but there is more to the story. Some of these species only spend the North American Winter months in Florida - others return from points south to spend Summer building nests and raising young in our neighborhoods. Some just passed through on their journeys in the Spring and Fall to surprising places across the continents. What birds are we talking about? Learn about some of these avian wonders in this presentation that will cover ephemeral stars of the birding season in Central Florida. Joan Tague, President, Halifax River Audubon |
2/28/2026 Ormond Beach Regional Library, 30 S Beach St., Ormond Beach, FL 32174 |
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20 Native Wildflowers Learn about native flowering plants that provide color to the garden and food for pollinators. All of the plants discussed will be available for sale outside on the porch before & after the talk. Katie Tripp, Ph.D., Owner, Natural Beauty Native Florida Landscapes, LLC |
3/11/26 Ormond Beach Environmental Discovery Center (EDC), 601 Division Ave, Ormond Beach, FL 32174 |
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Pruning Trees Join us as we cover best practices for pruning trees. Almost anyone can use loppers or run a chainsaw, but understanding the biology behind the cuts is key to successfully meeting pruning goals. We prune our trees to ensure they don’t interfere with our structures and to keep them healthy. Making proper cuts in proper locations is the way to ensure we are helping the situation. Pruning is essentially redirecting growth- if we don’t pay attention to the biology behind these cuts, we may be making the situation worse instead of better. Laura Ureta, OSLT, City of OB Environmental Improvement Officer, ISA Board Certified Arborist |
3/14/26 Ormond Beach Regional Library, 30 S. Beach Street, Ormond Beach, FL 32174 |
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Tree ID walk - Join us for an informal walk in the woods where we will teach you how to identify our most common trees and learn the easiest way to tell them apart. We strive for a fun learning environment and will gift you a book that will help you differentiate trees in Florida. OSLT - Laura Ureta, City of Ormond Beach Environmental Improvement Officer, ISA Board Certified Arborist |
3/28/26 Bulow State Park, 3351 Old Dixie Highway, Ormond Beach, FL 32174 |
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Halifax River Audubon Beach Walk Join Joan Tague and members of Halifax River Audubon for a leisurely morning walk on the sand in Ormond Beach. Learn about the birds that chase the waves, squabble, loaf and cruise along our shore in Volusia County. Gulls, terns, plovers, sandpipers and more visit the beaches every day. Spotting scopes will be on hand for up-close views of the birds. Check the weather and be prepared for that day’s beach conditions. Bring binoculars if available. The parking lot at this location requires a $20.00 fee. A Volusia County parking permit is available for residents free of charge, Apply here for a permit if you have not already registered your license plate: https://www.parkvolusia.org/ |
4/5/26 Michael Crotty Bicentennial Park, 1800 Ocean Shore Blvd, Ormond Beach, FL 32176 |
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Terrific Native Trees Learn about a selection of native trees, their preferred growing conditions, & the habitat benefits they provide. All of the trees discussed will be available for sale outside on the porch before & after the talk. Katie Tripp, Ph.D., Owner, Natural Beauty Native Florida Landscapes, LLC |
4/8/26 Ormond Beach Environmental Discovery Center (EDC), 601 Division Ave, Ormond Beach, FL 32174 |
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Land Conservation Update/Halifax River Projects Update An update on the $9.4 million NOAA grant fueling seagrass, oyster reef, clam, wetland, and living shoreline restoration projects across the Indian River Lagoon |
4/11/26 Ormond Beach Regional Library, 30 S. Beach Street, Ormond Beach, FL 32174 |
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Earth Day Tree Giveaway Co-Sponsors: City of Ormond Beach - Ormond Scenic Loop & Trail |
4/18/26 Ormond Beach Environmental Discovery Center (EDC), 601 Division Ave, Ormond Beach, FL 32174 |
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PawPaw Florida Native Plant Society Annual Sale This successful plant sale has evolved to include expert presentations on pertinent topics and of course hundreds of native plants, many not available through commercial vendors. Additionally, plant vendors will be participating. |
4/25/26 Piggotte Community Center - 504 Big Tree Rd, Daytona Beach, FL 32119 |
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Butterflies and Their Host Plants The key to a butterfly garden is host plants. Each butterfly species has one or a few plant species on which females lay eggs to create the next generation of butterflies. Learn which host plants support butterflies in Volusia County. All of the plants discussed will be available for sale outside on the porch before & after the talk. Katie Tripp, Ph.D., Owner, Natural Beauty Native Florida Landscapes, LLC |
5/1/26 Ormond Beach Environmental Discovery Center (EDC), 601 Division Ave, Ormond Beach, FL 32174 |
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Identifying and Removing Invasive Plants Join us as we learn to identify invasive plants, learn why they are bad for our natural environment, and learn what to do about them. Not all non-native plants are invasive. We will walk you through understanding why some plants are harmless and others are detrimental. |
5/9/26 Ormond Beach Environmental Discovery Center (EDC), 601 Division Ave, Ormond Beach, FL 32174 |
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Herbicides & Their Impact on Trees in the Landscape This presentation introduces a fresh, ecology-based approach to lawn and landscape care in Florida by highlighting the often-overlooked value of native “weeds.” It explains how species like frogfruit, Spanish needle, and purslane contribute to pollinator health, soil microbiome diversity, and natural turf resilience — all while reducing reliance on chemical herbicides. It also includes an evidence-based overview of how common lawn herbicides impact both tree health and soil biology, equipping attendees with practical alternatives and sustainable management strategies. The goal is to empower homeowners to make informed, cost-effective decisions that support both landscape function and ecological health. Amber Carson, Action Tree Care, ISA Board Certified Master Arborist |
5/16/26 Ormond Beach Regional Library, 30 S. Beach Street, Ormond Beach, FL 32174 |
