This is the plan...

ENVS125: Environmental Studies

Florida Academic Alternative Spring Break Itinerary

February 22 – March 3, 2013

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Instructor will pick up rental van from Enterprise on 28^th Street, Grand Rapids.

Friday, February 22, 2013: 

All participants will meet at the main level entrance to the Sneden Center at 8:00 am and load all material into the rental van.  Depart Davenport University for Naples, FL shortly thereafter.

Proposed driving route:  M-6 east to I-96 east toward Lansing; I-69 South toward Indianapolis, IN; I-65 South toward Louisville, KY and Nashville, TN, I-24 East toward Chattanooga, TN; I-75 South toward Atlanta, GA, Tampa, FL, and Naples, FL; Approximate driving time (not including stops) = 23.5 hours. 

Saturday, February 23, 2013: 

Arrive in Fort Myers, FL.  Explore Sanibel Island.  It has been a long drive, so put on your swimsuits and enjoy a day by the water.  Driving tour through JN Darling National Wildlife Refuge and coastal activities that include shell collecting and wildlife viewing.  Check in to the Comfort Inn, 3860 Tollgate Blvd, Naples, FL 34114.  Overnight at Comfort Inn for one night. 

Sunday, February 24, 2013: 

Check out of Comfort Inn and drive to Big Cypress National Park.  Start with a short hike through a Cypress Swamp followed by a stop at the Oasis Visitor Center.  Following the visit to Big Cypress, drive to Shark Valley in Everglades National Park for a hike along the Shark River slough.  Following the visit to Shark Valley, drive to Florida City, FL and check in to the Everglades Hostel.  Overnight at Everglades Hostel, 20 SW 2^nd Avenue, Florida City, FL 33034 for five nights. 

Monday, February 25, 2013: 

Sea Turtle Nesting Beach Restoration Community Service Project in Biscayne National Park.  Meet national park representatives at the Dante Fascell Visitor Center at 8:00 am.  Travel by boat across Biscayne Bay to Elliott Key and assist with the restoration of beaches along the Key.  Return to the visitor center (by boat) by 4:00 pm.  After dark, instructor will lead an evening hike in Everglades National Park to view wildlife at night (this may be moved to the following evening).

Tuesday, February 26, 2013: 

Invasive Plant Species Removal Community Service Project in Everglades National Park.  Meet national park representatives at the Ernest Coe Visitor Center in Homestead, FL at 8:30 am.  Travel into the Everglades with park rangers and assist with removal of invasive (plant, not python) species.  Return to the visitor center by 5:00 pm.

Wednesday, February 27, 2013: 

Wildlife viewing and biome identification.  Today will be spent hiking and exploring in Everglades National Park in the regions around Royal Palm and Flamingo.  Additional stops may include Paurotis Pond, Mahogany Hammock, Pa-hay-okee Overlook, and the Pinelands.

Thursday, February 28, 2013: 

Coral Reef and Mangrove Forest exploration.  Drive to Key Largo and explore Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.  Travel by boat a couple miles offshore to one of the coral reefs and spend time snorkeling to view the reef first hand.  Following snorkeling on the reef, return to Key Largo and explore a mangrove forest by kayak.

Friday, March 1, 2013: 

Check out of Florida Everglades Hostel.  Drive to Juno Beach, FL.  Visit the Loggerhead Turtle Marine Life Center.  Tour the facility and learn about the rehabilitation efforts for injured sea turtles.  Following visit, drive to Ormond Beach, FL and check in to the Quality Inn, 295 S. Atlantic Ave., Ormond Beach, FL 32176.  Overnight at Quality Inn for one night.

Saturday, March 2, 2013:

Check out of Quality Inn.  Spend a few hours relaxing on the beach and then begin the drive back to Michigan.  Tentative driving route is I-95 north toward Jacksonville, FL; I-10 west toward Lake City, FL; I-75 north toward Atlanta, GA; then reverse of directions listed above. 

Sunday, March 3, 2013: 

Arrive at Davenport University in Grand Rapids, MI.