Everglades Adventure Day 

and

Swamp Tromp

 
 Several of the Exchange Students spent the day in the Everglades, one of the most unique geographies in the World. It has been called "the river of grass" and is a fascinating place.   We'd like to thank Ellen Siegel, a volunteer Park Ranger, for conducting this great adventure and to the Sundown Rotary Club who sponsored the event.  

The Anhinga Trail & Lunch

Ellen Siegel gave a great tour and talk about the Everglades. 

They saw lots of alligators, anhingas (birds) and turtles.

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On the Anhinga Trail

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An Anhinga

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Xavi & Peter enjoying the scenery

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An alligator

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Adri assists Ellen in demonstrating how rainfall affects the Everglades

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The rainy season begins

 

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It's pouring now

 

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Julia demonstrate how tourists use some of the water

 

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Xavi demonstrates how farmers use water

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Peter squeezes out some more

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The group takes another break for a picture

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Miki is enjoying this

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Shade and some breeze...ahh!

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Time for lunch

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Sandwiches provided by the Sundown Club

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Dani, Adri and Julia

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Elena show off her Everglades attire

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Dani and Elena are dressed for swamp tromping!

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One last discussion about Dade County Pines and Panthers

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Peter just wants some shade

The Swamp Tromp

After lunch, everyone tightened up their sneakers and tromped around the calf-deep mud.  They saw apple snails, crayfish, sawgrass, cat-tails and cypress trees, to name a few.  Ellen led them all into an alligator hole where the water was knee-deep and very cool.

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Our destination...

 "The Movie Dome"

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Adri, Julia, Dani and Elena check out a crayfish

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Oh my God!  Our feet are getting wet!

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Xavi, Santiago and Peter stay in higher ground

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Elena, Dani, Julia, Adri, Xavi & Miki

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Peter joins in for the Everglades dance

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They're off to the alligator hole!

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The beauty of the Everglades

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Peter looks for alligators

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This is just too cool!

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Peter - the official photographer in the alligator hole

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Elena, Dani, Adri, Julia, Xavi, Peter & Miki

 

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Todd soaks it all in

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Our last view of the alligator hole