Swamped!

“Swamp walking,” hiking through knee-to-deep wetlands, is a unique and unforgettable experience at the Big Cypress National Preserve, more than 729,000 acres of preserved land which borders the Florida Everglades. The Preserve, which is located over parts of three Florida counties, is just a few thousand acres smaller than the state of Rhode Island!

Susan Jones, Chair, and Tom Conroy, board member, of the Friends of Big Cypress National Preserve, captivated an audience of over 75 people on April 21 at the meeting of the Democratic Women’s Club of Marco (DWCMarco) in the Mackle Park Community Center.

“Explore, learn, and protect” is the motto of the Friends. According to the group’s website, “Big Cypress National Preserve is a critical part of Florida’s ecosystem. But its impact is often overlooked. Through events, programs, and education, we connect people to the importance of preserving this unique and delicate ecosystem. The more we learn about this inspiring landscape, the better we can ensure its wild, wonderful future.”

Among the enthusiastic supporters of the Friends of Big Cypress National Preserve are Clyde Butcher and several members of his family. Butcher, according to his website, is best known for his powerful photographs of the Florida Everglades and Big Cypress National Preserve. He has explored the heart of their wild spaces which shaped his artistic vision and strengthened his lifelong commitment to protecting our planet’s wild places for future generations.

According to Conroy, the Big Cypress National Preserve became the first National Preserve in the United States in 1974. While both National Preserves and National Parks are both managed by the National Parks Service, more activities, such as hunting and fishing, off-roading vehicle, and “grandfathering” of residences already present, among other things, are allowed on National Preserve lands than are permitted in strictly regulated National Parks.

Located within the Preserve, the Miccosukee tribe uses it to maintain traditions and a way of life that has endured for the last several hundred years.

There are five separate ecosystems within the Preserve:

• Mangrove areas
• Prairie areas
• Hardwood areas
• Pine uplands
• Cypress sloughs (a slow-moving, shallow freshwater wetland dominated by cypress trees)

The Friends of Big Cypress was formed to protect its land. They fund education initiatives, scientific research, and infrastructure within the Preserve so visitors can enjoy the beauty and serenity of nature very close to home.

Education Initiatives

The S.W.A.M.P. (Swamp Water And Me Program) at Big Cypress National Preserve offers every 6th-grade student in Collier County, Florida, a hands-on, curriculum-based educational experience. Led by park rangers and volunteers, the field trip involves wading through freshwater cypress domes (“swamp walking”) conducting ecological studies, tracking wildlife, and learning to identify native plants.

Research

The Dollar Orchid, an endangered flower native to Florida, has interestingly popped up in some surprising places in Big Cypress National Preserve. Scientists affiliated with the Preserve are working to understand why.

Enjoying Big Cypress National Preserve

If you’re adventurous enough to take a ranger-led swamp walk, Mr. Conroy is frequently asked about the danger of snakes, alligators, and other human-unfriendly species menacing the swamp walkers. He advises walking normally, that is, splashing and talking while walking, which encourages those animals to avoid you.

If you prefer something a little tamer, there are plenty of dry walking, hiking, and cycling trails. Off-road vehicles may also be used after obtaining a permit.

For more information, visit Big Cypress National Preserve at (https://www.nps.gov/bicy/planyourvisit/outdooractivities.htm) and the Friends of Big Cypress National Preserve (https://www.friendsofbigcypress.org/).

DWCMarco – Join Us!

The Democratic Women’s Club of Marco is a force for good, proving that when neighbors unite with a shared purpose, lasting change is possible. Whether through advocacy, volunteerism, or simply showing up, every effort contributes to a stronger, more just community. We welcome women and men from Marco Island, Naples, and the surrounding areas.

In addition to other social efforts, each month our meeting attendees donate a variety of foods requested by Our Daily Bread Food Pantry. At the April meeting, our members and guests donated over 106 lbs. of much needed and requested food products to help fight food insecurity across the community.

Also, DWCMarco is proud once again to work with Manatee Elementary for their Gift Giving for Mother’s Day initiative. Its objective is to afford every child the opportunity to present his or her mother or other important female with a Mother’s Day Gift. Our members and guests answered the challenge by donating a plethora of costume jewelry and gently used purses for Manatee's elementary school children to give as gifts.