Our first day

We awoke early in order to make a trip to the Columbia airport and arrive by 730. 12 of the 13 students have never flown before so I gave them their wings and they wore them on both legs of the flight! The moving sidewalk in Atlanta, The train between terminals, the shuttle bus in Fort Lauderdale, and the rental cars were also part of our day. We actually entered Everglades national Park and saw liguus tree snails, A variety of tropical birds and trees, and a very large alligator.  And yes, the mosquitoes are out!

WHAT SHOULD I PACK?

What to bring:

·        Backpack for plane and van (must be small enough to fit under plane seat)

·        Carry-on sized suitcase(22 x 14 x 9 in) or 115 centimeters (23 x 36 x 56 cm) including handles and wheels.

·        Spending money (about $120 for meals and souvenirs)

·        Sunglasses

·        Camera

·        Sunscreen/mosquito repellant (in Ziplocs or buy it there)

·        Towel (one; hang it up and reuse)

·        Swimsuit (one; hang it up and reuse)

·        Shoes that can get wet!  (laces! Tevas are OK, but old sneaks are way better.  Bring some that you can throw away if you want)

·        Clothing for 4 days:  4 socks; 4 underwear; 4 shirts; trousers/shorts

·        Toothbrush and other toiletries/contact lens stuff/etc.

·        Photo ID (we can make this for you if you don’t have SC license)

WHAT NOT TO BRING

Knives or anything that makes airlines nervous.  If you choose to bring electronic devices, know that we will be in water situations every day.

Itinerary

Off To See the Lizard 2016 Itinerary

(created on 7 October 2015)

REVISED 1 FEBRUARY 2016

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27

12:00  Mamacita drives to Winnsboro; everyone else checks the weather reports.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28

6:00 Wake up; drive to airport; meet B’wana at Delta counter by 7:40 a.m.

9:00  Flt. 5153 departs and arrives in Atlanta; Flt. 1827 departs at 10:55 a.m.

12:55 Arrive in Ft. Lauderdale.  First palm tree?  Get vans. Drive to Florida City.

2:00 fast food lunch on your own at McDonalds or ? 

2:30 Anhinga Trail and Gumbo Limbo trail; First alligator?

4:30  Robert-Is-Here

5:30  At hotel; pool; pizza dinner poolside at 7:00 (prepaid). 10:00 in rooms.

Monday, 29 February 2016  SNORKEL TRIP I

(wear bathing suit under clothes; towel; spending money; sunscreen; Dramamine )

6:30 wake up call; breakfast at hotel; in van by 7:30 for drive to Key Largo

8:10 check in with snorkel concessionaire at John Pennekamp; get dive equipment.

9:00 Snorkel trip I

12:30 Lunch at Denny’s Latin Café ($10.00 per person, cash only). 

2:00  Injured Bird Sanctuary

4:00  The Shell Man for souvenirs

6:00  Swim

7:00 Dinner at Pollo Tropical ($10.00 per person, cash only)

Tuesday, 1 March 2016  THE EVERGLADES

(Wear sturdy boots/shoes that can get wet; bring a bag and towel; spending money; sunscreen)

7:00 wake up call; breakfast at hotel; in van by 8:00 for drive to Everglades National Park

8:30 picture at The Rock

8:45  Visitors Center; tree snails; orientation movie;

9:30  Swamp Tromp I:  Payhayokee Overlook

10:30  Swamp Tromp II:  a cypress dome somewhere

11:30  Mahogany Hammock trail

12:30  Mrzyzk Pond:  Roseate Spoonbills?

12:30  Flamingo Marina:  crocodile?  Lunch on your own.  Manatees?

1:30  Flamingo Visitors Center

2:00  quick look at coastal prairie and salt wort

3:00  brief stop at West Lake for view of black mangroves

4:00  Everglades Alligator Farm:  Airboat Ride!

5:30  Robert-Is-Here (optional)

6:30  Dinner at White Lion ($10 cash only)

8:00  chill time

WEDNESDAY, 2 MARCH 2016 SNORKEL TRIP II

(wear bathing suit under clothes; towel; spending money; sunscreen; Dramamine)

6:30 wake up call; breakfast at hotel; in van by 7:30 for drive to Key Largo

8:10 check in with snorkel concessionaire at John Pennekamp; get dive equipment.

9:00 Snorkel trip II

Off To See the Lizard 2016 Itinerary   PAGE 2

(created on 7 October 2015)

REVISED 1 FEBRUARY 2016

12:00 Lunch at the Hungry Tarpon ($10.00 per person, cash only). 

1:00  Feeding Tarpon by hand at Robbie’s Marina

4:00  The Shell Man for souvenirs

5:00  Robert-Is-Here (optional)

6:00  Swim

7:00 Pizza dinner at poolside (prepaid)

THURSDAY, 3 MARCH 2016  EVERGLADES OUTPOST AND FLY HOME

8:30  wake up call

9:00  breakfast at hotel; in van by 9:30 for ride to Everglades Outpost

11:00 depart for airport; arrive around 12:30.  Return rental cars; check in.

2:45  Depart Delta #2446 for Atlanta, arriving 4:49 p.m.

7:45 Depart Delta #668 for Columbia, arriving 8:45 p.m.

10:00 everyone is home again!

FRIDAY, 4 MARCH 2016

No school for 10^th graders.

NOTES: 

1.         One carry-on bag plus your backpack per person.  The backpack is something you will carry every day as we set out on adventures. 

2.        Have your wallet ready + PHOTO ID!

3.        Dress in layers that you can shed when leaving cold SC and arriving in sunny Florida!

4.        Special notes about hotel rooms:

a.        No room to room visiting after 10:00 p.m.  

b.       Each day before leaving the room must be reasonably tidy.

c.        Hang up wet things.

d.        We do not want to pay a damage fee; take care of the room.

5.      Breakfast will be at the hotel from Monday through Thursday.  You will need $40 in $10 bills that you will give to B’wana for certain meals.  Those meals will cost more than $10, but the trip budget will make up the difference (and we will get only one bill from the waiter).  This allows you to order whatever you want from the menu!   You will need to spend your own money for lunch food on travel days (Sunday and Thursday) as well as Tuesday lunch.  In other words, you will need to bring about $100 for food and souvenirs.

Flights and Times

 THIS POST IS ACCURATE AS OF 2/8/16

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2016

DEP CAE     Delta 5153     9:00 a.m.       ARR   ATL  10:14 a.m.
DEP ATL     Delta 1827     10:55 a.m.     ARR    FLL   12:54 p.m.

 THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 2016

DEP FLL     Delta 2446      2:45 p.m.      ARR    ATL   4:44 p.m.
DEP ATL     Delta 668        7:45 p.m.      ARR    CAE   8:45 p.m.

CAE-Columbia Int'l  ("Cayce")
ATL-Atlanta Hartfield Int'l  ("Atlanta")
FLL-Ft. Lauderdale Int'l  ("Ft. Lauderdale")

And Now I imagine . . .

Looking into the crystal ball, I saw and heard a strange pageant . . .

Dr. Katie Ashley gazed upon the “string of pearls”, savoring the moment before calling the other explorers to see the apple snail’s eggs.  Quickly they were all gathered before her and she murmured, “Snail kites . . . their only enemy.”  At once everyone turned to staff ornithologist Professor Cassie McKeown.  “It’s true,” she said.  “Sad but true.  Yet as a barometer species one could not find a better example.  But let’s observe the feeding behavior of our feathered friends by comparing the shapes of various beaks.”  The group waded forward slowly among a tangle of tropical roots.  “Let us consider the nature of these root systems,” began Dr. Lane Bickett.  “You will notice that the red mangrove is called a ‘walking tree’ because of these prop roots.  But who can explain these pneumatophores in its cousin the black mangrove?”

Abruptly the discussion was shifted by Prof. Sally Costenbader.  “We are at a crossroads!” she cried.  “Do you not see that we have entered the true estuary?”  Her eyes assumed a faraway, indeed unfocused expression, and she rhythmically intoned “Es-tu-ar-y: sal-ty and fresh/the ri-ver mix-es with the sea.”

As the explorers pushed more deeply into the river of grass, Prof. James Price urged the group to a place only slightly higher in elevation.  “The hammock, or tree island, is home to a strange mix of living things, made possible by the unusual shift in oolitic bedrock,” he informed them.  “How very, very true,”  agreed Dr. Cooper Swearingen.  “And perhaps my esteemed colleague will allow me to point out that these hammocks are a refuge for the remarkably diminutive marsh rabbits, rats, raccoons, possums, and other denizens of this watery realm.  I blush to even mention the elusive Everglades Panther!”

“If ever!”  This came from Dr. Peyton Gilbert, specialist in the invasive reptiles.  “I mean, really!  Who would have ever thought raccoons would be considered endangered? It’s one thing to talk about habitat loss, but the introduction of non-native invasives have made a mess of this ecosystem.”  Prof. Lydia Wilder agreed:  “Right you are, professor!  While we may complain about such things as the old world climbing fern,  nothing has made a more dangerous appearance than . . .”

“Let’s move this way, please,” said Dr. Calee Thigpen in a slightly nervous voice.  “And as you move, notice the Burmese python over to your left.  He is truly an invader.  He also appears to be hungry!”

Most of the group moved to safer ground, but Professors Cameron Medlin and Ethan McManus were engaged in a deep discussion regarding marine and aquatic cartilaginous fish. “Chondrichthyans lack the air-filled swim bladder found in most bony fish, and therefore must swim continuously to stay afloat,” lectured Medlin.  “You are correct, but I must insist that the majority of this class are found in marine environments,” countered McManus.  “I do not disagree, colleague, but even so . . .”

            “Move NOW!”  Professor Kimmy Albert’s voice was as severe as the vicious look she gave her unobservant colleagues.  There are more snakes in this cypress dome than meet the eye!”  Dr. Jonathon Edenfield smiled and murmured to himself, “If they only knew.  Yes, if they only knew . . .”

-to be continued in February 2016

EXPERTS IN THE FIELD for EXPEDITION 2016

Prof.  Kimmy Albert, Ph.D.

Doctor of Herpetology

Dr. Katie Ashley, Sci.D.

Endangered Species Biologist

Prof. Lane Bickett, Sci.D.

Doctor of Dendrology

Prof. Sally Costenbader, Ph.D.

Professor of Polyps and Marine Biology

Dr. Jonathon Edenfield, Sci.D.

Professor of Venomous Vipers

Dr. Peyton Gilbert, Ph.D.

Expert in Invasive Reptiles

Prof. Cassie McKeown, Sci.D.

Staff Ornithologist

Dr. Ethan McManus, Ph.D.

Crocodilians Expert

Prof. Cameron Medlin, Sci.D.

Prof. of Marine Zoology

Prof. James Price, Ph.D.

Expert in non-woody Botany

Dr. Cooper Swearingen, Ph.D.

Professor of Palmaceae

Dr. Calee Thigpen, Sci.D.

Non-Venomous Serpentology

Prof. Lydia Wilder, Ph.D.

Lecturer in Arthropods

How Did this Field Study Begin?

I discovered my love for the Everglades way back in 1982 . . . and ever since have been leading expeditions of students into the fragile and critical ecosystem called by Native Americans Payhayokee: the "grassy waters".  Many of these expeditions involved travel to south Florida by train, camping for a week, fighting mosquitoes, canoeing in the wilderness, and snorkeling the nearby coral reef!  My eldest daughter Lillian graduated from this program in 1997, my middle daughter Caroline made her expedition in 2000, and Hank made his trip in 2012.

Today the expeditions are a bit tamer:  planes, hotels, and restaurants have become the norm.  It is a highly anticipated annual event for students.  It is a unique and powerful expedition that leaves none unchanged.

This is not a "field trip" designed to amuse children with museum displays or trained animals or some other form of what is vulgarly termed "edutainment"; it is a true field study. Already familiar with the pine barrens and sand hills of our own region, our students do deep research in the vastly different ecosystem of south Florida.  Eventually they are awarded doctorates in their field:  Professor of Periphyton, Doctor of Dendrology, Lecturer in Lizards, for example.  Then, while in the estuarine wilderness, they become teachers for each other while experiencing the ground-truth of their areas of expertise.  One day, perhaps in high school or college, they will study yet a third ecosystem . . . and by vectoring their knowledge they will understand the essential questions that must be addressed!  This is the real purpose of education.

 B'wana in a cypress dome

The Everglades and the nearby coral reef (south of Key Largo) are imperiled.  It is our hope that our graduates will join the hundreds of other students who have made this expedition and who now advocate for conservation.

examining apple snails

“There are no other Everglades in the world. They are, they have always been, one of the unique regions of the earth, remote, never wholly known.” – From “The Everglades: River of Grass” by Marjory Stoneman Douglas (1947)