EDUCATIONAL TRIP TO PEACE RIVER

FOSSIL JOURNEY THROUGH TIME

[TRIP LENGTH: (STARTING AT $395) 3 DAYS]

Itinerary can be customized to fit within your time frame or budgetary needs.

On this Appleseed Expeditions educational trip to Peace River, students will learn about fossils, the Everglades, and wetland endemic habitats. Come join a professional guide and naturalist while exploring Florida’s ancient past hidden in riverbeds. Explore ancient fossils, Florida wildlife, and journey down the beautiful Peace River. On this class field trip you will search for bones and teeth of animals that lived here thousands or millions of years ago such as camels, giant ground sloths, giant armadillo, mammoth, sharks, and much more! Canoe and explore this enchanted river looking for a variety of ancient and present wildlife.  Also, students will be able to volunteer at the Ocatagon Wildlife Center.

Trip Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrive in Arcadia, Florida and Volunteer at Wildlife Rescue Center

After your arrival in Arcadia, the group will begin by helping with conservation programs at Octagon Wildlife Center.  Plan on helping with activities such as cleaning, light construction, cage enlargement and other conservation programs.  After spending time at the wildlife center the group will get cleaned up for dinner and a program orientation.

Day 2 – Explore Myakka State Park

Along with your naturalists, the group will have an introduction to the Peace River watershed system and the Myakka wild life preserve. You will discuss fossils and the natural history of Florida. After your introduction, take a guided tram tour through the Myakka State Forest where you will learn about endemic wildlife found in this ecological habitat. In the afternoon you will explore the Myakka Canopy Bridge. Here the students will explore the canopy, the woodlands, and the rivers and lakes. Myakka State Park offers a unique opportunity because the park has built a canopy walk. This gives visitors an opportunity to walk through the canopy of the forest and observe from a view that is typically not possible. The group will then venture out onto the water via an airboat and explore the wildlife found on the river. Dinner and a time of reflection will wrap up the day.

Day 3 – Collecting Fossils on the Peace River

The Peace River near Arcadia, FL contains a wealth of marine and Ice Age land fossils. The marine fossils, which date from the Miocene period through the Pliocene period, known as the Ice Ages, commonly found include shark, giant carcharodon (megalodon)shark, ray, pufferfish, barracuda, dolphin, dugong (manatee), whale, etc. The group will canoe, snorkel, and explore the river looking for these amazing fossils. The group will have lunch before making the journey home.

Itinerary subject to change due to circumstances beyond our control including availability with vendors, weather conditions and flight schedules.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Canoe and dig for ancient fossils
  • Volunteer at a Wildlife Rescue Center
  • Take in a swamp buggy ride at Myakka State Park
  • See the highest concentration of alligators in the Everglades
  • Hike on an aerial walkway looking over the Everglades
  • Take a boat trip admiring the everglades wildlife

WHAT’S INCLUDED

Qualified trip leader – Accompanying each expedition is a diverse team of experts from naturalists to regional specialists who will share their knowledge and insights on the wildlife, landscapes and local culture. Your guide is with the group 24/7 and also staying with you at the same hotel
Daily reflections lead by your tour leader
Overnight stays are in hotels with private bathrooms rated 4 star or more on Trip Advisor
All Meals are included but please note: On arrival day only dinner is provided; on departure day, only breakfast is provided
Tour Journal, T-shirt and Luggage tag
Note: Tour cost does not include airline-imposed baggage fees, or fees for any required passport or visa. Please visit our Fees FAQ page for a full list of items that may not be included in the cost of your tour.