<div class="gmail_quote">What: LOXAHATCHEE RIVER MINDFUL HIKE AND CANOE TRIP <br><br>When: Saturday, April 3, 2010 10:00 AM<br><br>Where:<br>Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge<br>10216 Lee Road <br>Boynton Beach, FL 33472<br>
561-732-3684<br><br></div>
<center class="gmail_quote"><span style="COLOR: pink"><b>JOIN US FOR A MINDFUL HIKE AND CANOE TRIP AT THE LOXAHATCHEE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE</b></span> <br><br><b>Bring your friends and family. Open to all!</b></center>
<div class="gmail_quote"><br><br>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. <br>
<br>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). <br>
<br>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! <br><br><b>We are planning on:</b> <br>
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<li>Practicing sitting meditation in the pavilion behind the visitor's center and <br>
<li>Walking meditation on the 3/4 mile boardwalk. <br>
<li>Taking part on an educational guided tour of the Refuge to more fully appreciate its unique flora and fauna <br>
<li>Sharing a vegetarian brown bag lunch or vegetarian potluck picnic lunch in the pavilion <br>And, for the adventurous at heart, <br>
<li>Enjoying a canoe/kayak ride or a virtual Airboat Tour in the afternoon</li></li></li></li></li></ul></div>
<p> <b>**There is a $5.00 entrance fee per vehicle**</b> </p>
<div><b>Difficulty Level:</b> </div>
<div>Easy for mindful walk. </div>
<div>Moderate for canoing/kayaking. </div>
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<div><b>What To Bring/Wear:</b> </div>
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<li>Sun protection, hat, snack, non-alcoholic beverages, and closed shoes. <br>
<li>If you like, you can also bring your camera and binoculars. <br>
<li>A vegetarian brown bag lunch or vegetarian picnic lunch to share as a potluck <br>
<li>Your own canoe/kayak if you have one, or rent from park: </li></li></li></li></ul>
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<div>**Canoes are $32 per half day. </div>
<div>**Kayaks are $25 for a single and $35 for a double per half day. </div>
<div><u><b>Reservations must be made by March 30th</b> so the park concession outfitter can deliver the boats to the departure site</u>. </div>
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<div><b>For Information about this event, please email or call Jim at 561-434-3578</b> </div>
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<div><strong>RSVP and Learn more here: </strong><a href="http://www.meetup.com/Broward-Lotus-Sangha/calendar/12895218/" target="_blank"><strong>http://www.meetup.com/Broward-Lotus-Sangha/calendar/12895218/</strong></a> </div>
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<div><b>For Carpooling:</b> click here <a href="http://www.meetup.com/Broward-Lotus-Sangha/pages/carpooling" target="_blank"><a href="http://buddhism.meetup.com/481/messages/boards/" target="_blank">http://buddhism.meetup.com/481/messages/boards/</a></a></div>
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<div><b>To learn more about the Broward Lotus Sangha</b>, click here <a href="http://www.browardlotussangha.org/" target="_blank">www.BrowardLotusSangha.org</a>.</div>
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<div>For Information about Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, please visit <a href="http://www.fws.gov/loxahatchee/" target="_blank">http://www.fws.gov/loxahatchee/</a> </div>
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<div><b>Directions:</b> </div>
<div>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. </div>
<div>From Boynton Beach Blvd., proceed south on Hwy 441/SR7 for two miles and turn west onto Lee Road. </div>
<div>From Atlantic Ave, proceed north on Hwy 441/SR7 for two miles and turn west (left) onto Lee Road. </div>
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<div><b>A Lotus Flower For You, </b></div>
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<div>Broward Lotus Sangha</div>
<div>P.O. Box 245124 </div>
<div>Pembroke Pines, FL 33024 </div>
<div>(954) 665-4325 </div>
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<div>COME PRACTICE MINDFULNESS WITH US!</div>
<div><a href="http://www.browardlotussangha.org/" target="_blank">www.BrowardLotusSangha.org</a></div>
<div>In the Tradition of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh </div>
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<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">© 2010 Broward Lotus Sangha<font color="#888888"><small style="COLOR: gray"> </small></font></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>A Lotus Flower for You, <br>Broward Lotus Sangha<br>P.O. Box 245124 <br>
Pembroke Pines, FL 33024 <br><br>COME MEDITATE WITH US!<br><a href="http://www.BrowardLotusSangha.org">www.BrowardLotusSangha.org</a><br><a href="http://www.meetup.com/Broward-Lotus-Sangha/calendar/">http://www.meetup.com/Broward-Lotus-Sangha/calendar/</a><br>
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