Group of teens in the Florida Everglades

Florida Everglades

Travel on the “edge” in a land of contrasts, between land and sea, between salt water and fresh water, wilderness surrounded by high population concentration, between the ancient and modern world. Put your heads together to decipher charts and find your way through the maze-like mangrove islands. Along with paddling skills, you’ll experience a wilderness area that is famous worldwide for its unique eco-system.

Kayaking in Florida

The Ten Thousand Islands are a chain of mangrove islands off the coast of southwest Florida. This refuge is part of one of the largest expanses of mangrove estuary in North America. Approximately 30 percent (8,000 acres) is mangrove forest, 16,000 acres marine water, 11,000 acres freshwater marshland and other habitat. This spectacular area is an aquatic preserve and is home to a variety of wildlife including dolphins, manatees, sea turtles and numerous wading birds.

We will paddle from Island to island and through the mangroves working together to find our way, set up camp, cook our own meals and learn Leave No Trace techniques to minimize impact on the land.

Activity:

Sea Kayak, Canoe, Service