FIELD TRIP DESCRIPTIONS


FT01    Behind the Scenes Tour of MetroZoo..........$25

Saturday July 10th  9:00 til 3:00 PM

Leader:  To Be Announced
Contact Information:  David Lee, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL  33199, 305 348-3111, leed@fiu.edu

This visit to Miami's zoological park will be extremely interesting to many meeting participants because of its strong commitment to ecologically sound habitats and displays of animals, and its excellent programs in public education about tropical forests.  We will be given tours by the curators who have helped develop two of those outstanding exhibits, Dr. Wild's World and Wings Over Asia.  There will be plenty of time to tour around the zoo, and lunch and refreshments can be purchased on site.   (Trip limited to 40 participants)

FT02  Montgomery Botanical Center, station visit.............$25

Saturday - July 10th 8:00 AM - 1:30 PM

Leader:  Terrence Walters, Executive Director
Contact Information: Evelyn Young, Event Coordinator, Montgomery Botanical Center, 11901 Old Cutler Road, Coral Gables, FL 33156-4242, 305 667-3800 x-11, younge@fiu.edu, www.MontgomeryBotanical.org
 
The Montgomery Botanical Center is a world-class research botanical garden adjacent to Biscayne Bay, South of downtown Miami.  Since 1995, MBC has directed its resources towards the development of wild-collected population-based collections of palms and cycads for scientific and educational studies.  MBC is internationally recognized as having one of the most complete databases associated with a garden collection.  The director will give a behind-the-scenes tour of the extensive collections of tropical plants, as well as natural habitats on the site (tropical hardwood hammock and mangrove) and unique geologic formations within the 122 acre garden..  Photographic opportunities, for personal and educational purposes, will abound.  Participants will be provided morning refreshments and a box lunch to eat on the terrace overlooking MBC's six brackish lakes.   We recommend that visitors wear appropriate clothing for walking through thick vegetation, and often down muddy paths.  Mosquito repellent and bottled water are recommended.  Participants will be reminded that MBC is an outdoor laboratory - picking, cutting or removing plant material or seed is not permitted without prior requests.  MBC is a member of CETroB. The coalition sponsoring the meeting.  (limited to 25 participants)

FT03         A visit to the Kampong..............................$20

Saturday July 10th  9:00 AM til 1:00 PM

Leader:  Larry Schokman and Barry Tomlinson
Contact Information:  Larry Schokman, The Kampong, 4013 Douglas Road South, Coconut Grove, FL  33133, 305 445-8076

The Kampong was the home and personal garden of Dr. David Fairchild, a famous plant explorer and head of the Plant Introduction Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture early in the 20th century.  Fairchild worked and collected extensively in the Asian tropics, and the home and gardens reflect those interests, further embellished by its more recent owner, Dr. Katherine Sweeney.  Today the Kampong is part of the National Tropical Botanical Garden, principally based in Hawaii.  This tour will include some early Miami history because the grounds contain the oldest building in Dade County on its original site, and will also provide opportunities to photograph an amazing variety of tropical plants, particularly tropical fruits.  The tour will include some refreshments, but will finish in time for participants to have a late lunch at their hotel or a down town restaurant.  The Kampong is a member of the coalition (CETroB) that is sponsoring the meeting.  (limit to 30 people)

FT04  Fairchild Tropical Garden:  Research Center and Garden visit............$20

Saturday July 10th  8:00 AM til 2:30 PM

Leaders:  Jack Fisher and Scott Zona
Contact Information:  Jack Fisher, Fairchild Tropical Garden 11935 Old Cutler Road, Miami, FL 33156, 305 667-1651 x3412, jfisher@fairchildgarden.org (www.ftg.org)

This trip will start at the Research Center of Fairchild Tropical garden, where participants will be introduced to the research program of the garden, particularly its programs endangered species management.  It will proceed to the main garden, and will include visits to the Tropical Rainforest area and the Conservatories, as well as the Florida Keys hammock area, an excellent collection of native plants.  Many plants will be in flower at the garden, so there will be plenty of opportunities for photography.  Participants will be able to purchase a lunch in the garden café, and no boxed lunches will be provided for this trip.  There will be lots of walking on well established paths, so bring comfortable shoes a hat, sun block and mosquito repellent.  An umbrella may be necessary.  Fairchild Tropical Garden is a member of the coalition, CETroB, that is sponsoring the meeting.  (maximum of 25 participants)

FT05  Florida Coastal Long Term Ecological Research (FCE LTER) site visit..........$25

Sunday - July 11th   8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Leader: Susan Dailey
Contact Information:  Susan Dailey, Southeastern Ecological Research Center,
Florida International University, Miami, FL  33199  305 348-1576,  daileys@fiu.edu

This trip will visit the Florida Coastal Ecosystem Long Term Ecological Research (FCE LTER) sites that span the transition from marine to freshwater habitats in the greater Everglades system.  We will observe wet season ecosystem dynamics in the sawgrass prairie, Eleocharis slough, pine rockland, cypress dome, subtropical hardwood hammock, mangrove forest, and Florida Bay all in one spell-binding day.  A diversity of wildlife, including birds and reptiles will be seen, and many plants in flower.  Participants are encouraged to wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts, and shoes that will get wet.  A hat, insect repellent and sun-block are a must.  Bring a carrying bag for any field gear and field lunches and beverages that will be purchased in transit to the field sites.
(Participants limited to 40)

FT06 Shark Valley, Everglades National Park............$35

Sunday - July 11th   7:30 AM - 2:00 PM

Leader:  Sharon Ewe
Contact Information:  Sharon Ewe, FCE LTER. Southeastern Environmental Research Center, Florida International University, Miami, FL  33199, 305 348-7319, ewes@fiu.edu

In Everglades National Park, Shark Valley is the principal drainage (an almost imperceptible depression) channeling water from the north into Florida Bay, to the south.  We will visit this area by bus past the suburban development west of Miami, past the development line along Tamiami Trail to the northern entrance to Everglades National Park.  In the Park we will take a tram ride and special guided tour south into the heart of the Everglades to an observation tower some 8.5 miles from the entrance.  There will be many opportunities to view wildlife, particularly alligators and wading birds, along the way.  After the tram tour, there will be time to walk into natural areas near the entrance, particularly the tropical hardwood hammock along Otter Cave Nature Trail, and a board walk through a bayhead.  Although we will pass through sawgrass marsh, much of the heart of Shark Valley is a deeper and less dense spikerush marsh.  This trip will be an excellent introduction to the Everglades.  Normal summer clothes and walking shoes will be satisfactory for this trip.  Refreshments and a box lunch will be provided.   (limit to 40 people)

FT07  Deering Estate..................................$30

Sunday - July 11th 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Leader:  Joe McGuire
Contact Information:  Joe McGuire, Natural Areas Management, Miami Dade County Parks and Recreation, 22200 SW 137th Ave., Miami, FL  331704, 305 257-0933 x244, j57@miamidade.gov

The Deering Estate is the natural historic jewel of the Miami Dade county park system.  It is an historic property, established by John Deering in 1915.  The estate was established on a biologically diverse ridge site, on the edge of Biscayne Bay.  The Natural communities accessible in this park include shallow seagrass beds in the bay, mangrove forest, Tropical hardwood hammocks, and pine rockland.  The natural areas of the estate were seriously infested with exotic pest plants, but have undergone extensive restoration over the last decade.  Participants will observe these habitats in various stages of restoration.  You will visit all of these communities, as well as archeologically important sites, on this introductory tour of the property.  You will also be introduced to the environmental education program run by the park staff.  Wear long pants, long sleeve shirts, a hat, comfortable walking shoes, and bring mosquito repellent and sunblock.  We will eat lunch after the tour, and there will be some opportunities for individual study and photography after lunch, before our return to the convention center.  (limit to 22 people)

FT08    Behind the Scenes Tour of MetroZoo..........$25

Friday, July 16th  9:00 til 3:00 PM

Leader:  To Be Announced
Contact Information:  David Lee, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL  33199, 305 348-3111, leed@fiu.edu

This visit to Miami's zoological park will be extremely interesting to many meeting participants because of its strong commitment to ecologically sound habitats and displays of animals, and its excellent programs in public education about tropical forests.  We will be given tours by the curators who have helped develop two of those outstanding exhibits, Dr. Wild's World and Wings Over Asia.  There will be plenty of time to tour around the zoo, and lunch and refreshments can be purchased on site.  (Trip limited to 40 participants)

FT09  Deering Estate..................................$30

Friday - July 16th 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Leader:  Eduardo Salcedo
Contact Information:  Eduardo Salcedo, Natural Areas Management, Miami Dade County Parks and Recreation, 22200 SW 137th Ave., Miami, FL  331704, 305 257-0933 x243, EdSal@miamidade.gov

The Deering Estate is the natural historic jewel of the Miami Dade county park system.  It is an historic property, established by John Deering in 1915.  The estate was established on a biologically diverse ridge site, on the edge of Biscayne Bay.  The Natural communities accessible in this park include shallow seagrass beds in the bay, mangrove forest, Tropical hardwood hammocks, and pine rockland.  The natural areas of the estate were seriously infested with exotic pest plants, but have undergone extensive restoration over the last decade.  Participants will observe these habitats in various stages of restoration.  You will visit all of these communities, as well as archeologically important sites, on this introductory tour of the property.  You will also be introduced to the environmental education program run by the park staff.  Wear long pants, long sleeve shirts, a hat, comfortable walking shoes, and bring mosquito repellent and sunblock.  We will eat a box lunch after the tour, and there will be some opportunities for individual study and photography after lunch, before our return to the convention center.  (limit 22 people)


FT10    Everglades: Big Pine Key and Pahayokee......$25

Friday - July 16th 8:00 AM - 2:30 PM

Leader:  Jennifer Richards
Contact Information:  Jennifer Richards, Biological Sciences, Florida
International University, Miami, FL 33199, 305 348-3102,
richards@fiu.edu

In this half-day tour near the southern entrance to Everglades National Park, you will visit several of the major plant communities that make up the Everglades ecosystem:  pine rockland, tropical hardwood hammock, sawgrass marsh and cypress dome.  You will get wet up to your knees, so wear old shoes and clothes.  On our way home we will visit Rosita's, a popular local Mexican restaurant in Florida City, for lunch.  Wear long pants, long sleeve shirt, a hat, comfortable walking shoes that can get wet, and bring mosquito repellent and sunblock. (limit 22 people)