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Foreverglades!

Posted by:

DebbieD on December 01, 2009 at 03:47 PM

The Everglades is the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States. With thousands of species of plants, birds, reptiles, fish, and endangered animals, it is a place like no other in the world. "It's dying. It has been ditched, diked, and drained for a century. The Everglades is under assault from pollution. Only half of the Everglades is left, 50% has been drained. Of the nesting wading birds that existed in the 1930's, 94% are gone...It is home to over 50 endangered and threatened species. This is more than any other state except California. There are fewer than 50 Florida Panthers left." (www.everglades.org)

"The more we know about nature and our environment, the more we respect it."
-Karen Kerr, ICO

Since 1988 ICO, Inner City Outings, has been exposing youth from underserved populations in and around Miami to the wonders of the natural environment. Their trips include hiking, cycling, canoeing, kayaking, sailing, snorkeling, overnight camping trips as well as beach cleanups and tree plantings. ICO works to promote awareness and interest in conservation.

Last week I volunteered for ICO and got to go to the Everglades with a girls club called Rites of Passage Youth Empowerment Academy. We biked Shark Valley, a 15 mile bike path along the river of grass. The weather was a little cool, so the alligators were out - all along the path.

We all had SO much fun! Here is a video I made from the trip:

more pictures HERE

Find out more!!!!
http://www.everglades.org/
http://www.icomiami.org
http://www.urgentinc.org/Rites-Of-Passage.html

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Comments (4)

By lehauser on December 04, 2009 at 10:14 AM

Very cool- great way to get folks out there and checking it all out. I have been to the Everglades and it's such a bummer that we're destroying them. Hopefully these new young activists will emerge!!

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Very cool- great way to get folks out there and checking it all out. I have been to the Everglades and it's such a bummer that we're destroying them. Hopefully these new young activists will emerge!!
By jameshodges on December 03, 2009 at 12:32 PM

look at those gators! what an experience. so many people live their entire lives in cities and never get to see that kind of wilderness, even if it's just a few miles away.

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look at those gators! what an experience. so many people live their entire lives in cities and never get to see that kind of wilderness, even if it's just a few miles away.
By trinachi on December 02, 2009 at 10:11 AM

That pic with the ladies and the 'gators looks totally bad ass. Sharp teeth and bicycle trips can mix well, indeed.

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That pic with the ladies and the 'gators looks totally bad ass. Sharp teeth and bicycle trips can mix well, indeed.
By OakleyAM on December 01, 2009 at 04:48 PM

I love the Everglades!! That sounds awesome, the Inner City Outings sounds like such very very good people. VERY COOL!!

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I love the Everglades!! That sounds awesome, the Inner City Outings sounds like such very very good people. VERY COOL!!