Journal 3 (Wetlands Trip Reflection)

          Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary in Naples, Florida was our most recent field trip. This area covers around 13,000 acres and is a part of the Western Everglades. This trip ties in with the in-class reading because it plays apart in the CERP plan. At the lobby on the walls of the sanctuary were three huge maps of Florida that showed the way the Everglade's water flow was before Florida was developed, what it looks like now and what they plan on making it look like in the future once it is restored. I was able to understand the importance of the restoration plan. Since Florida became more developed there has been issues with the flow of water and its been causing a lot of environmental damage. I learned on this trip that with the restoration of the Everglades there is estimated to be more that 55,000 acres of habitat restored which will have significant impacts on not only the environment but the way people live. My favorite part of the trip was just being able to see all of the different trees and wildlife. We saw a hawk, gators and a butterfly while walking the boardwalks. My least favorite part of trip was learning how the plants in the once section, although they filter water and it is more eco-friendly, they are turned into toxic plants and have to be incinerated. I guess I am just confused on to how that is any better because now the toxins from the plants are being released into the air. I think that the trip overall was very fun and educational. I would have liked to seen more of the sanctuary and it would have been better if there were not so many people on the boardwalks because we were always passing people and then getting passed right back. So if there is any improvement on the trip I would suggest that the class would go while no one else is there. Other than the crowd, this trip was great and I would want to return for another visit one day.



Some photos from the trip: