The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Backpacking and Hiking ($17) is now on sale. Idiots of Florida’s trails, rejoice!

Written by Jason Stevenson, the former skills editor at Backpacker magazine, the book offers advice to people ranging from hardcore trekkers to strolling honeymooners and seniors.

Specific subjects include how to choose a trip and location; ways to train for a hike; what gear is necessary; how to live, sleep and cook meals on trails; tips for female hikers; and first aid.

Click here to learn where to purchase the book.

Sunrise at Port Mayaca on the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has closed a 4.5-mile section of the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail until Aug. 31.

LOST is closed from Lake Harbor (Structure 354) to South Bay in order to accommodate the delivery of 40,000 tons of armor stone that will be used to reinforce the Herbert Hoover Dike in the event of a breach. The corps maintains 15 emergency stockpiles of rock near potentially vulnerable areas of the dike.

“Having this rock available will allow an almost instant response in the event of a breach,” Stephen Schneider, engineering technician who monitors the emergency stockpiles, said in a statement.

To see photos of LOST click here.

Hikers observe the mangrove ecosystem at Anne Kolb Nature Center.

A naturalist at Anne Kolb Nature Center at West Lake Park in Hollywood will lead a hike to observe native mangroves on March 4. Open to all ages, the cost is $3 per person. The hike down the Lake Observation Trail is from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

To learn more visit Broward.org/parks/wlpaknc or call 954-926-2480.

Swamp walking in the Everglades. Photo / Niki Butcher

From now until March, guided swamp walks are being offered off the Tamiami Trail, behind the Big Cypress Gallery of renowned Everglades photographer Clyde Butcher. Naturalist Rick Cruz guides a walk at 10 a.m. and another at 2 p.m. every Saturday. The cost is $75 per person, which includes a $25 credit in the gallery. Children under 18 are charged only $25 but get no credit in the gallery.

Reservations are required due to limited space. Visit ClydeButcher.com to sign up or contact jackie@clydebutcher.com

The Sierra Club of Miami is hosting a 3.4-mile hike off the Tamiami Trail on Feb. 13. Members and newcomers can participate.

Hikers will meet at the Oasis Ranger Station, off Tamiami Trail in the middle of the Everglades, then embark on the Robert’s Strand portion of the Florida Trail.

According to a club newsletter, “There we’ll hike south, wet or dry, about 3.4 miles, have lunch and backtrack to Oasis. We may get our feet wet and slosh through a pond on this section of the orange-blazed Florida Trail. This is Big Cypress Preserve in pristine condition. No swamp buggies allowed here, so bring hiking stuff and your own lunch for this potentially strenuous and varied walk amid cypress trees, slash pine, tall grass, saw palmetto, hammocks, wild flowers, orchids, air plants. We’ll look sharp for bald eagles and other natural sightings.”

The number of hikers is limited to eight and the cost is $10.

For details, contact Kaatje Bernabei at kaatjebernabei@bellsouth.net / 305-332-6551.

The Loxahatchee chapter of the Florida Trail Association is offering a daylong ocean to lake hike on Nov. 14. Throughout the day participants will trek on trails from Jonathan Dickinson State Park marina north of Jupiter to Riverbend Park west of Jupiter. The distance is 11 miles and is considered strenuous. The cost is $5 per person.

More details are available here. Or contact Donna Brown at 561-317-8288 / donnabrownintl@gmail.com.

Mosaic Outdoor Club of South Florida, a Jewish club named after Moses, “the original outdoor Jew,” hosted a Labor Day picnic on Sept. 6 at John U. Lloyd State Park in Dania Beach. It included hamburgers, kosher hot dogs, chips and watermelon. The park offered kayak, canoe and other water toys for rent.

On Aug. 30 the club hosted a kayak and snorkel trip at Key Biscayne. According to the club’s website, “On this naturalist-guided kayak trip along the Key Biscayne shoreline, you will explore and discover the abundant marine life that inhabits the sand flats and sea grass beds. Then snorkel over the fossilized rock reef formed from petrified black mangroves 1500 years ago. Swim alongside the tropical fish, spotted eagle rays, sea stars and coastal birds that share this rare and unique environment. All equipment is provided. After we return to shore we’ll gather for a picnic lunch on the beach where you can spend some time, hiking, swimming and relaxing.”

On Aug. 23 the club had its Big Cypress Swamp Hike, which included a picnic lunch, slide show and a trek through water up to people’s knees.

Other club events include campouts, bicycling and swimming. Sometimes adventures are accompanied by a Seder.

The Sawgrass Nature Center in Coral Springs welcomes nature explorers from ages 3 to 5 to its new preschool program on June 3, 10, 17 and 24 (Wednesdays) from 10 a.m. to 11a.m. The cost is $5 for SNC members and $8 for nonmembers per class. Children and adults are welcome to enjoy a hands-on adventure exploring South Florida’s natural environment and the creatures that inhabit it.

Call 954-752-WILD to learn more. Pre-registration is required.

The Florida Trail Association is holding its monthly meeting on May 14 at Fern Forest Nature Center in Coconut Creek. All ages are welcome to attend the meeting, which lasts from 7:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. For more info call 954-970-0150.

From 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. on May 10 the public is welcome to take an interpretive hike through the nature trails of Long Key Natural Area in Davie. Hikers will look for nocturnal animals as they emerge.

Registration is required by May 9. For further information call the natural area at 954-327-8797. The cost is $3 per person.