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The Trip

The island paradise of Cayo Costa (Key by the Coast) is located off the southwest coast of Florida about 30 miles from Fort Myers. The seven-mile water taxi ride from Pine Island takes you back to the undeveloped Florida of yesteryear to enjoy and help preserve it for others.

Cayo Costa, a jewel of the Florida State Park system, is about seven miles long and three-quarter miles wide, with exquisite white sand beaches, acres of pine and palmetto wilderness, hardwood hammocks, mangrove swamps, and freshwater marshes. There are over five miles of bicycle trails and infinite hiking and kayaking opportunities. The island and its waters teem with a spectacular assortment of birds and other native wildlife, including manatees, dolphins, gopher tortoises, crustaceans, occasional otters, and even alligators.

This seven-day service trip will include four work days and one free day for a group kayak excursion, with the first and last days set aside for travel and camp set-up and breakdown. The workdays will end early enough for optional exploration, swimming, shelling, kayaking, and bicycling, or just relaxing on the beach.

The Project

The primary work project is ongoing exotic invasive plant removal, but we may also do trail work, firewood splitting/bundling for campground sales, endangered species habitat restoration, or facility maintenance, repair, and restoration.

Itinerary

The trip will begin at the Jug Creek Marina on the north end of Pine Island at 1:00 p.m. Sunday, April 22nd, to be ready for the 2:00 p.m. ferry departure on the Tropic Star Cruise Line. (Google Tropic Star Cruises for map and directions.) We’ll be met at the dock by the park tram for the mile ride to the campground. After setting up camp, our first meal will be Sunday dinner. Check-out time is the following Saturday, April 28th, at 11 a.m., for departure on the 1 p.m. ferry. Participants wishing to extend their vacation by a day may remain in the campground until Sunday.

Getting There

The nearest airport is Southwest Florida International Airport east of Fort Myers, about 37 miles from the Pineland Marina, Pine Island. Transportation to the marina is the responsibility of the participants. Pine Island Taxi & Limo Inc. (among others) provides shuttle service from the airport to the island. A participant roster will be provided in advance of the trip to facilitate carpooling. By prearrangement, personal kayaks and bicycles can be transported to the island for a modest additional fare.

Accommodations and Food

We will be staying in the park campground, so bring your tents and lightweight sleeping bags. (There is a possibility of a limited number of bunk beds in the kitchen cabin; please contact the Leader for information.) The campground has restrooms with flush toilets and freshwater showers. Bring a solar shower bag if you prefer a hot shower. Everyone will be taking turns in helping with meal preparation and kitchen clean-up. Our menu will consist of tasty, nourishing, vegetarian-friendly food, with an introductory welcome meal of fresh Florida seafood. All meals are included, beginning with dinner on the first day and ending with breakfast and a pack-out lunch on the final day.

Trip Difficulty

We will be doing moderate to moderately strenuous physical labor. You will be using loppers, machetes, and similar tools for removing saplings; lifting and pulling, bending, crawling, hiking, sometimes even wading. Although temperatures are still benign in late April (up to the mid-80s during the day), working in the sun and high humidity is demanding, so it is important that you be in good physical condition. Your ability to follow leader and agency staff directions and to work as a team member is crucial in this project. No one will be asked to work beyond their capacity, and there will be plenty of opportunity for resting and hydration. Due to fire danger, the hosting agency is requesting no smoking on this trip.

Equipment and Clothing

Tools and instructions will be provided by the park staff, although those who have hand cutting tools may want to bring their own. Come prepared to work with sturdy boots or shoes, long and short pants, long-sleeved shirts, and leather gloves to protect yourself from insects, sun, and thorny plants. (Some work may be done while wading, as well, so bring water shoes for the warm water.) You will need a daypack to carry your lunch, water containers, light raingear, sunscreen, insect repellent etc. You should have clothing that you can layer to keep you comfortable in temperatures from 70 to 90 degrees. A full list of equipment will be provided to participants. Questions about equipment should be directed to the trip leader.

References

Web sites:

• http://www.floridastateparks.org/cayocosta/parksummary.cfm http://www.defenders.org/wildlife_and_habitat/wildlife/manatee.php www.flordiabirdingtrail.com

Book:

• Witherington, Blair and Dawn, Florida's Living Beaches.

Conservation

The Sierra Club is an environmentally focused entity. We are concerned about conservation and sustainability of resources, both locally and globally. Our work is accomplished by volunteers and aided by a salaried staff, and encourages grassroots involvement. Our outings seek to empower participants toward greater understanding, advocacy, and participation in the goals of the Club.

The Florida State Park Service will give a nature hike explaining the importance of barrier islands and estuaries and why they need to be protected. Daily "conservation moments" will be observed and conservation experiences shared among participants.

Trip Price

See the How to Apply for an Outing section for more details on registering for this trip and details about our Reservation and Cancellation Policy.

The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner.

Staff

Leader:

Suzanne Ferguson has been staffing Sierra Club Service trips in Florida and the far West since 2005, most often as a cook. She lives within 30 miles of Cayo Costa and is a big fan of southwest Florida's tropical environment and wildlife.

E-mail: scf@cwru.edu

Cook:

Billie Wolff moved to California from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan a few years ago and started hiking, backpacking, volunteering, and exploring. She went on her first Sierra Club trip to the Redwoods one week after moving to CA, and became a leader for the San Gorgonio and Los Angeles Chapters within a year. Having started planning menus for an outdoor school about 35 years ago in Pennsylvania, she loves making "camp food" and decided after her first Service Trip that she would like to cook.

E-mail:bwolfer1@gmail.com

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General Notes About Sierra Club Trips

• Carbon Offsets
• Carpooling
• Electronic Devices
• Equipment
• How to Apply for a Trip
• Leader Gratuities
• Liability Release and Assumption of Risk
• Medical Issues
• Non-discrimination Statement
• Participant Approval
• Reservation and Cancellation Policy
• Seller of Travel Disclosure
• Travel Insurance
• Trip Feedback
• Wilderness Manners