Learn about wading bird nesting in the Everglades at P&P's October 11 meeting
Details
A researcher for the South Florida Water Management District will speak to P&P members and visitors on October 11 at the Okeeheelee Nature Center.
Special reminders:
*This meeting will be your last opportunity to fill out, turn in printed registration forms in person for the club’s 50th Anniversary Celebration, which will take place the following weekend, October 17, 18 and 19.
*Official registration for the 50th Weekend closes on Saturday, October 11 – the date of our October club meeting.
Dear Current and Former Club Members, Guests and Visitors,
Mike Baranski, a researcher for the South Florida Water Management District, will be the guest speaker at the Palm Beach Pack & Paddle Club’s meeting at 2 p.m. Saturday, October 11, at the Okeeheelee Nature Center, part of Okeeheelee Park, 7715 Forest Hill Boulevard, West Palm Beach, FL 33413.
The meeting is free and open to everyone -- current and past club members, club visitors and guests and the public. Attendees are encouraged to arrive for socializing starting at 1:30 p.m.
Mike’s topic: “Wading Bird Nesting in the Everglades”
Description: Mike will provide both a historical and current perspective on wading bird nesting in the Everglades. He will look back at the dramatic changes in nesting abundance and distribution over the past century, explore the key ecological drivers behind these patterns, and examine how ongoing restoration efforts are shaping present-day trends.
From Mike: “By connecting past conditions to current data, I hope to highlight what wading birds reveal about the health of the Everglades and why their nesting patterns remain one of the most important indicators for guiding conservation and management decisions today.”
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
For over 25 years, Mike Baranski has been a dedicated wildlife biologist, with a primary focus on avian ecology. His passion for birds and conservation has taken him across the country, but for the last 20 years, he has worked in South Florida and the Everglades.
Mike currently works for the South Florida Water Management District researching wading birds throughout the Everglades. He is also the owner/operator of Heron Now Boat Tours, an Everglades pontoon boat adventure located the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in Boynton Beach.
“Throughout my career, I’ve worked extensively with threatened and endangered species, contributing to the conservation of some of North America’s most remarkable birds,” Mike said.
In addition to fieldwork, Mike spent 10 years as an adjunct professor at Palm Beach State College, where he shared his knowledge and passion with students.
“Teaching was a rewarding experience, but I always felt that the best classroom was outdoors,” Mike said. “That’s why starting Heron Now Boat Tours felt like the perfect way to combine my love for the Everglades, education, and meeting new people. My boat is now my classroom, and the Everglades is my blackboard.”
MEETING REMINDER
--Who: Palm Beach Pack & Paddle Club
--What: October club meeting
--Speaker: Mike Baranski, a researcher for the South Florida Water Management District
--When: Saturday, October 11, 2 p.m.
--Social time: Starts at 1:30 p.m.
--Where: Okeeheelee Nature Center, 7715 Forest Hill Boulevard, West Palm Beach, FL 33413
--Directions: From Jog Road, take Forest Hill Boulevard 1.2 miles west to Eshleman Trail (the second Okeeheelee Park entrance). Turn right (north) and follow the signs and road 1.6 miles to the Nature Center, which is in the back of the park.
50th WEEKEND REGISTRATION
Our October club meeting on Saturday, October 11 will be your last chance to sign up in person for the 50th Anniversary Weekend events.
*We will have printable 50th Anniversary Weekend registration forms that you can fill out at the meeting.
*We will have our new printable membership forms as well if you wish to sign up for 2026.
50TH WEEKEND EVENTS, SPECIAL OFFERS AND PRICES
Here are the 50th Anniversary Weekend events, special offers and prices:
--Friday night, October 17: 50th Anniversary Campfire in Loxahatchee: $0 per person
--Saturday morning/afternoon, October 18: 50th Anniversary Celebration in West Palm Beach: $25 per person
--Sunday morning/afternoon, October 19: 50th Anniversary Picnic in West Palm Beach: $6 per person
--50th Anniversary T-shirts: In Small, Medium, Large, XL, 2XL, 3XL or 4XL. Colors: Kiwi or Carolina Blue. $18 per T-shirt
TO GIVE US THE PRINTABLE FORM
We will also have copies of of our printable registration form that you can fill out at the meeting.
Pack & Paddle must receive your 50th Anniversary registration form and payment by Saturday, October 11.
TO SEND US AN ELECTRONIC FORM
You can also fill out and submit our 50th Anniversary Electronic Form at any time prior to our deadline.
Here is the electronic form link:
https://forms.gle/g28uA98erShXSWyB6
TO MAKE YOUR PAYMENT
Here are the options for making your payment:
--Give us cash or a check at the Saturday, October 11, club meeting.
--Send a check via U.S. Mail to cover total amount due.
Please make check payable to: Palm Beach Pack and Paddle Club.
Send via U.S. Mail to: Palm Beach Pack & Paddle Club, P.O. Box 16041, West Palm Beach, FL 33416.
--Pay using Zelle to cover total amount due. Send the Zelle payment to: palmbeachpackandpaddle@gmail.com
Please include your name and phone number in the memo or message field when submitting your Zelle payment.
--Pay using PayPal to cover total amount due.
Please return form then pay by PayPal at this link: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/wpbpnp
PRODUCE
Before the meeting: Please bring produce to support Okeeheelee’s ‘Animal Ambassadors’
Please bring your extra produce to each meeting. Produce can be placed on the table in the back of the meeting room.
(Note: Please do not bring citrus or iceberg lettuce.)
Produce donations help to feed animals throughout the beautiful natural area at the park. And our club receives credit for our produce donations!
REMINDER: We also have a donation jar on the table. Any monetary donations will be used to purchase produce for the next monthly meeting.
The Nature Center gratefully thanks you for your generous donations at each meeting.
RAFFLE
Participate in the monthly raffle
The club will hold our monthly raffle near the middle of the meeting, with proceeds to be allocated equally to the club’s General and Conservation funds.
REMINDER: Please remember to bring your “Raffle Cash” to the meeting!
RAFFLE TICKETS!
1 free ticket: Each attendee will receive 1 free raffle ticket!
Your chances to win a prize increase as you buy more tickets!
$1 = 2 tickets
$2 = 3 tickets
$3 = 4 tickets
$4 = 5 tickets
$5 = 7 tickets
$6 = 8 tickets
$7 = 9 tickets
$8 = 10 tickets
$9 = 11 tickets
$10 = 13 tickets
Special note: Please bring your donations for future raffles to the meeting! We accept camping, hiking, paddling, bicycling and snorkeling items, of course. We also accept your household goods as well.
EVENTS SLIDE SHOW
Looking ahead: Our events preview slide show for the next four weeks!
Near the end of the meeting, we will view Michael Barr’s slide show presentation of upcoming events and trips that will include comments from trip organizers!
We will learn about events and trips for the next four weeks – plus trips that you will need to plan for far in advance!
QUESTIONS?
For questions about the Pack & Paddle Club’s October meeting, please call or text 561-312-2765.
AFTER THE MEETING
Join us for an Early Bird Dinner at Applebee’s
After each meeting, Palm Beach Pack & Paddle Club members and their guests gather for “The Meeting After the Meeting” just down the street at Applebee's Grill + Bar, 6706 Forest Hill Boulevard, Greenacres, FL 33413.
We usually take a show of hands at the end of each meeting so that we know how many people to expect at the restaurant.
Join us at Applebee's!
MEMBERSHIP
How to become a Pack & Paddle Club member
Here is where to find a membership application, how to turn in your form and how to make a payment:
WHERE TO FIND A MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION:
--IN PERSON: Pick up a membership application at a club meeting or event.
--ON MEETUP: If you are a Meetup member, click on this link:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/12PZ0uoq5SE90o2qugXXoOGNlFUpHOCaY/view
HOW TO TURN IN YOUR FORM:
--IN PERSON: Bring your completed form to one of our events or meetings. Payment is required at this time.
--VIA U.S. MAIL: Send the completed form (with check payment enclosed) to this address:
Palm Beach Pack and Paddle Club, Inc.
P.O. Box 16041
West Palm Beach, FL 33416
--VIA EMAIL: Send the completed form as an email attachment to:
[palmbeachpackandpaddle@gmail.com](mailto:palmbeachpackandpaddle@gmail.com)
HOW TO MAKE A PAYMENT:
--IN PERSON: Bring a payment in check or cash (along with your membership form) to one of our events or meetings.
--VIA U.S. MAIL: Send a check (along with the completed form) to this address:
Palm Beach Pack and Paddle Club, Inc.
P.O. Box 16041
West Palm Beach, FL 33416
--VIA PAYPAL: Submit the form in person, via email or mail, then pay by PayPal at this link:
https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/wpbpnp
--VIA ZELLE: Make a payment by Zelle** to:
[palmbeachpackandpaddle@gmail.com](mailto:palmbeachpackandpaddle@gmail.com)
**Important note: Please include your name and phone number in the memo or message field when submitting your Zelle payment.
CLUB INFORMATION
Palm Beach Pack & Paddle Club information
The Palm Beach Pack & Paddle Club, founded in 1975, plans several events each month for exploring and appreciating nature.
Trips last a day, a weekend, a week or longer. They are local, within Florida and long-distance. Activities include kayaking and canoeing, backpacking, hiking and biking, snorkeling, car camping and wilderness or river camping.
In addition, club meetings are held on the second Saturday afternoon of each month from September through May at the Okeeheelee Nature Center in Okeeheelee Park, with experts speaking on nature-related subjects and other topics of interest.
FIND OUR TRIPS, EVENTS ON MEETUP
How to join Meetup:
• It’s easy. Just go to: www.meetup.com/Palm-Beach-Pack-Paddle
• In the upper right corner of the page, click on “Join”
• Follow instructions, confirm, add your photo and any information you choose
• When you go back to our site, click on “Log-in” in the upper right corner
Click here to view our Calendar of Events on Meetup:
https://www.meetup.com/palm-beach-pack-paddle/events/calendar/
CONTACT US
President
561-312-2765
[brucemoore234@gmail.com](mailto:brucemoore234@gmail.com)
Membership Chair
Home: 561-582-3653 (leave message)
Cell: 561-602-7502
gerbaker97@gmail.com
Mail membership forms, checks to:
P.O. Box 16041, West Palm Beach, FL 33416
(Forms can also be turned in at club meetings.)
Club email:
[palmbeachpackandpaddle@gmail.com](mailto:palmbeachpackandpaddle@gmail.com)
Newsletter Editor
804-869-6228
[newsletter.pbpp@gmail.com](mailto:newsletter.pbpp@gmail.com)
OKEEHEELEE NATURE CENTER
Okeeheelee Nature Center is part of Okeeheelee Park, 7715 Forest Hill Blvd., West Palm Beach, FL 33413. From Jog Road, take Forest Hill Boulevard 1.2 miles west to Eshleman Trail (the second Okeeheelee Park entrance). Turn right (north) and follow the signs and road 1.6 miles to the nature center, which is in the back of the park.
The Nature Center features 2.5 miles of trails winding through 90 acres of pine flatwoods and wetlands. Highlights include hands-on exhibits, animal encounters and a nature-related gift shop.
Exhibits:
**Wednesday-Friday: 1:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
**Saturday: 10:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Live animal feedings:
**Reptile/raptor feedings: Wednesdays-Fridays at 3:30 pm
**Alligator feeding: Saturday at 1 p.m.
Nature trails:
**Daily: sunrise-sunset
Phone:
(561) 233-1400
Email:
[onc@pbcgov.org](mailto:onc@pbcgov.org)
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/people/Okeeheelee-Nature-Center/100085089170545