Kayaking the Everglades: Exploring the River of Grass
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At a Glance
What You'll Learn
- Experience a twilight paddle on the East River.
- Paddle through the 10,000 Islands and learn the history of Calusa Shell Mound settlers who raised tomatoes on the islands in the early 1900s.
- Learn about unique adaptations of flora and fauna from a naturalist in Big Cypress National Preserve.
General Notes
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Activity note: 3:00 p.m. hotel check in followed by Program Registration; 5:00 p.m. Orientation followed by Welcome Dinner.
Afternoon: After you check in and have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table to meet the Group Leader and confirm orientation time and place. Your program materials will be sent to you a few days before the program, digitally, through your roadscholar.org account. This includes your program itinerary, any related handouts, and restaurant/free time suggestions. Please plan to print them out and bring along to the program, utilize the hotel's business center to access them, or view them on your own personal electronic device. Orientation: The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Our kayaking adventure will be led by a local naturalist who will provide commentary on our surroundings. All transportation throughout the program will be via hotel van.
Dinner: At the Ivey House, gather for a welcome dinner.
Evening: At leisure to relax and get ready for the week of paddling ahead.
Activity note: Kayaking up to 4 miles in 3 hours; walking up to 2 miles sometimes on uneven terrain; driving 1.5 hours throughout the day; snacks will be provided during morning paddle.
Breakfast: At the inn, we will have a selection of hot and cold items including fresh fruit, plus coffee, tea, water.
Morning: Boarding a van, we will ride to our launching point for our first kayaking trip in the East River. Start by getting acquainted with our kayaks while paddling through mangrove tunnels, into the saw grass prairies. Snacks provided.
Lunch: Boxed lunch
Afternoon: Return to the Ivey House with some time to freshen up. After having an opportunity to shower and change, we will hear from a local author on the history of the Everglades and the conservation of this unique environment. Learn the story behind the founding of this National Park, the struggle to maintain and protect the Everglades, and future developments in the Everglades’ restoration.
Dinner: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening: At leisure
Activity note: Depending on time of year and daylight savings time, paddle will be a twilight or night paddle. Kayaking up to 5 miles in 3 hours; transfers via hotel van; snacks and headlamps provided during paddle.
Breakfast: At the inn.
Morning: Board the van for a visit to Rookery Bay. The Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve is a prime example of a nearly pristine subtropical mangrove forested estuary. You will have an opportunity to walk the trails and spend time at the visitor center with local volunteers.
Lunch: Plated meal at a local restaurant.
Afternoon: Return to the hotel for free time before we set out on our evening paddle In the late afternoon with our naturalist, we will ride to the put-in for our next kayaking field trip from Seagrape Drive to Halfway Creek. Paddle into the twilight feel the mystery of the encoraching Mangrove estuary of Big Cypress National Preserve. As we paddle among the mangroves, learn about some of the unique adaptations of flora and fauna of the Everglades. Snacks and headlamps provided.
Dinner: At the hotel.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Kayaking up to 6 miles in 3 hours; walking up to 2 miles; snacks provided during paddle excursion.
Breakfast: At the inn.
Morning: Kayak the 10,000 Islands. We will make our way to Sandfly Island, a shell mound created by the Calusa Indians after they arrived in the area more then two millennia ago. While paddling, learn about the history of the Everglades from a local naturalist. Snacks provided.
Lunch: Boxed lunch.
Afternoon: Return to the Ivey House for some time to freshen up, relax or explore before we meet for this evening's lecture and dinner. Meet the group leader and walk to the Museum of the Everglades for a self-guided visit before dinner.
Dinner: Plated meal at a local restaurant.
Evening: Return to the Ivey House for a lecture from the Florida Public Archaeology Network on "Who Made the Everglades?".
Activity note: Kayaking up to 6 miles throughout the day; walking up to 2 miles; due to a limited number of kayaks allowed on the Turner River, you may need to share a tandem kayak.
Breakfast: At the inn.
Morning: From our launching point, we will paddle up the Turner River and into the heart of the Everglades, entering a Bald Eagle/Pond Apple ecosystem. As we glide through the fresh water observing air plants and herons, we may also see alligators basking in their natural habitat. Heading towards the prairie, we start meeting salt water and entering the mangrove tunnels.
Lunch: Boxed lunch.
Afternoon: We will have an opportunity to freshen up and relax before this evening. Enjoy a local favorite appetizer at the Ivey House: stone crab! Depart the Ivey House on foot with your Group Leader to learn about stone crab fishing and Everglades City.
Dinner: Enjoy a plated farewell dinner at a local favorite restaurant.
Evening: At leisure. Share your favorite experiences of the program with your fellow Road Scholar friends and prepare for departure tomorrow.
Activity note: 10:30 a.m. after expert lecture program concludes; hotel check-out by 11:00 a.m.; airport shuttle leaves at 11:00 a.m.; please book departures no earlier than 2:00 p.m.
Breakfast: At the inn.
Morning: Expert lecture on the Everglades. This concludes our program. Shuttle to the airport departs at 11:00 a.m. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!