Registration for this trip will open January 7, 2026!

Make a Splash with Outdoor Adventures (OA)! Whether you’re a curious sea cow at heart or just wading into new adventures, you’re welcome here! No experience needed—but fair warning… once you join us for one trip, you might just float back for more!

We’re kicking off the semester with a trip you definitely don’t want to miss!

Join us for an unforgettable 3-hour guided manatee tour in beautiful Homosassa Springs. This adventure is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 23 to Sunday, Jan. 25.

We’ll start by driving down to Homosassa Springs on Friday and settling in at the scenic Mutual Mine Campground. On Saturday, we’ll begin our morning with the guided manatee tour before spending the rest of the day exploring the Ellie Schiller Homosassa State Park. Sunday will be a laid-back morning to explore camp a bit more before we make our way back home. Since we’ll be camping, please pack for cooler temperatures if needed—but don’t worry, our sleeping bags are made for cold-weather comfort!

Every trip is led by at least two trained OA staff or volunteers, with transportation included. If the activity requires additional professionals, they’ll be there too! All other details—like what’s provided and what to bring—will be in the trip itinerary. It’s your responsibility to read it thoroughly so you know what to expect. Check out the trip's full itinerary here!

Who can join? All UWF students, faculty, and staff are welcome to participate! Each UWF member also gets one “plus one,” meaning a non-UWF friend or family member can join too. To get your guest set up, they’ll need an OA Plus One Membership. To get your guest access to this free, year-long OA Plus One Membership, just email OA—even if they already have a RecWell account. This membership is only available through OA and isn’t offered anywhere else. Once it’s added, your guest will be able to register and join you on OA trips!

Payment Policy: Full payment is required at registration unless a deposit option is available. A 7% University processing fee will be deducted from all personal refunds. Refund requests must be submitted by the deadline—typically 14 days before the trip or event, unless stated otherwise. After the deadline, you’ll need to contact OA directly with your reason for withdrawing; full refunds at that point are not guaranteed and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. If a trip is canceled due to weather or low participation, you’ll have the option to keep your spot for the rescheduled date or receive a full refund. Waitlist Policy: If a spot becomes available, the first person on the waitlist will be moved to the active roster.

Have questions? Email us at outdooradventure@uwf.edu or call 850.474.2819 / 850.474.2204

Fun Fact! Joining OA for this adventure saves you roughly $250 (or more!) compared to planning everything yourself. Just one campsite alone would cost $35 for two nights (not including gear), a manatee tour would run about $80 (per person, not including taxes), photos $125, and a $30 guide tip. Add in $13 for the state park and around $158.72 for gas—and that’s before any planning time. With OA, all you have to do is show up and enjoy!