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Florida

Kayaking the Everglades: Exploring the River of Grass

Program No. 21349RJ
Discover the delicate beauty of Florida’s Everglades with experts and naturalists, discussing the region’s unique ecology, history and culture as you kayak this great American preserve.
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National ParksWater SportsOutdoor AdventuresSmall Group
Length
6 days
Rating (4.91)
Activity Level
Starts at
1,899

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Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
6 days
5 nights
What's Included
13 meals ( 5B, 4L, 4D )
5 expert-led lectures
7 expert-led field trips
An experienced Group Leader
5 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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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 sawgrass prairies.
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 gather for a lecture from an Everglades Park Ranger.
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 encroaching 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 a local restaurant.
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:
We’ll return to the Ivey House with some time to freshen up before meeting the Group Leader for a walk to the Museum of the Everglades for a self-directed visit. Next we'll walk back to the Ivey House for a lecture from the Florida Public Archaeology Network on “Who Made the Everglades?”
Dinner:
Plated meal at a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
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 a boat ride in the Everglades. Departing with our Group Leader we'll take vans to the dock for a guided boat trip. We will learn about stone crab fishing, see historic landmarks and further explore the 10,000 Islands.
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!
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