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Free Educational Event Provides Experience of Wekiva River
Eco Paddle is a fascinating and educational experience at the Wekiva River in Longwood where we learned about the impact humans, plants and other species have on the health of our local waterways. The event is provided to the community by SERV and their partnership with Wekiva Wild and Scenic River System and is hosted by SERV Coordinator, Elizabeth Stephens, a Biologist who received her Ph.D. in Conservation Biology at UCF. Thanks to Wekiva Island, participants in the event are also provided with Canoes completely free of charge.
Eco Paddle features an educational presentation followed by a scenic canoe/kayak journey along the Wekiva River where we played a nature themed bingo game requiring us to keep our eye open for specific plants and animals. With the help of our guides, we were able to spot and recognize many of them which resulted in fun little prizes at the end.
The Wekiva River is one of only 2 waterways in Florida that has been designated by the United States Congress as a National Wild and Scenic River in October 2000. This unique designation is not held anywhere else but here in FL and the upper midwest.
Eco Paddle attendees explore the Wekiva River as they look to identify plants and animals
Learning about our local waterways and how we can help keep them healthy is an underrated responsibility for us all. Most of the damage done to our natural habitats isn’t intended but simply happens out of lack of knowledge. Thanks to SERV and their coordinated efforts in educating and caring for our local waterways, Orlando residents, like us, get to enjoy a rare natural experience that puts us far away from the busyness of Orlando and yet is only a 25-30 minute drive from downtown.
The Eco Paddle event is held a number of times throughout the year and is free to attend. Reservations can fill up fast so be sure to follow them on social media to plan your experience.
