Located seven miles west of the city of Boynton Beach, Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge is the only remnant of the original Everglades in Palm Beach County. In total, the refuge includes 145,800 acres of northern Everglades habitat for native fish and wildlife populations. Approximately 40 species of butterflies, 46 species of fresh water fish, 10 species of turtles, 11 species of frogs and toads, and 23 species of mammals can be found on the refuge during various times of the year. In any given year, as many as 257 species of birds may use the diverse wetland habitat of the refuge for nesting and migration including several duck species, a variety of wading birds including wood stork, little blue heron, tricolored heron, yellow-crowned night heron, roseate spoonbill, and glossy ibis, as well as snail kite, limpkin, smooth-billed ani, American swallowtail kite, short-tailed hawk, Florida sandhill crane, purple gallinule, black-necked stilt and Arctic peregrine falcon, among others.

Approximately 85% of habitats within the refuge are comprised of sloughs (pronounced 'slew'), wet prairies, sawgrass, and tree islands. Tree islands most often have wax myrtle, buttonbush, and coco-plum as its dominant vegetation. Cypress swamp is the fifth major plant community located on the eastern edge of the refuge. This moist microclimate offers many different species of ferns and bromeliads in addition to the pond and bald cypress. The refuge's management activities focus primarily on wetland habitat restoration and exotic plant control. The three most problematic exotic plant species on the refuge are melaleuca, Brazilian pepper, and Old World climbing fern (lygodium).

The Refuge Visitor Center is open daily from 9:00 - 4:00. It includes a new $1-million, state-of-the-art Everglades Exhibition with a virtual Airboat Tour that some say rivals Disney's rides!

We are planning on:

• Practicing sitting meditation in the pavilion located at C-6 on the guest map and
  
• Walking meditation on the trails.
  
• Taking part on an educational guided tour of the Refuge to more fully appreciate its unique flora and fauna
  
• Sharing a vegetarian brown bag lunch or vegetarian potluck picnic lunch in the pavilion
  And, for the adventurous at heart,
  
• Enjoying a canoe/kayak ride or a virtual Airboat Tour, or a walk on the boardwalk, through the cypress swamp in the afternoon
  

**There is a $5.00 entrance fee per vehicle**

Difficulty Level:
Easy for mindful walk.
Moderate for canoing/kayaking.

What To Bring/Wear:

• Sun protection, hat, snack, non-alcoholic beverages, and closed shoes.
  
• If you like, you can also bring your camera and binoculars.
  
• A vegetarian brown bag lunch or vegetarian picnic lunch to share as a potluck
  
• Your own canoe/kayak if you have one, or rent from park:
  

To rent a canoe:
Contact Kim Detoure at [masked]. The canoes are provided by a private concession not the wildlife preserve. The concession info can be reviewed at www.canoetheeverglades.com.
**Canoes are $32 per half day.
**Kayaks are $25 for a single and $35 for a double per half day.
You can arrange payment at the time you reserve your canoe.
Reservations must be made by noon April 2 so Kim (park concession outfitter) can deliver your canoe/Kayak and related gear to the boat launch site Saturday.

For Information about this event, please email or call Jim at 561-434-3578

For Carpooling: click here http://buddhism.meetu...

To learn more about the Broward Lotus Sangha, click here www.BrowardLotusSangha.org.

For Information about Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, please visit http://www.fws.gov/lo...

Directions:
The Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge is located about 10 miles west of Boynton Beach, Florida. It is accessible from Interstate 95 and the Florida Turnpike by going west on either Boynton Beach Blvd or Atlantic Ave in Delray Beach, until you reach Highway 441/State Road 7.
From Boynton Beach Blvd., proceed south on Hwy 441/SR7 for two miles and turn west onto Lee Road.
From Atlantic Ave, proceed north on Hwy 441/SR7 for two miles and turn west (left) onto Lee Road.

A Lotus Flower For You,
Broward Lotus Sangha
P.O. Box 245124
Pembroke Pines, FL 33024
[masked]

COME PRACTICE MINDFULNESS WITH US!
www.BrowardLotusSangha.org
In the Tradition of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh

To subscribe or unsubscribe to our mailing lists, please visit http://www.browardlot...

© 2010 Broward Lotus Sangha