In her article, Nurtured by Nature, Kirsten Weir says, “Most research so far has focused on green spaces such as parks and forests, and researchers are now also beginning to study the benefits of blue spaces, places with river and ocean views. “

At Paddle Florida we are here to help share those blue spaces with you.  Our hope is to make it easier to get on the water by making sure all the details are taken care of, and to showcase some of the work and efforts that hardworking folks are doing everyday to ensure our waterways are here for generations to come. 

In addition to Kirsten’s article, also included in this issue are articles about the Kissimmee Restoration, Limpkins, and what’s involved in establishing a paddling trail.

We look forward to seeing you outside soon.

It’s clear that getting outside is good for us. Now, scientists are working to determine what types of environments are best. Much attention has gone to green spaces, but White has studied a variety of marine and freshwater environments and found these blue spaces are also good for well-being (Gascon, M., et al., International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, Vol. 220, No. 8, 2017.) In fact, he says, they may even be slightly more restorative than green spaces.

There may also be value in trekking to remote locations… [Read More…]

What happened to the birds, fish and marine wildlife that used to thrive in the wetland banks of Florida’s Kissimmee River?

Against all odds… they are returning.

Much of the Kissimmee’s original course and ecosystem have now been restored following a $1 billion restoration project that has been more than 20 years in the making. A rescue project has reversed decades of biodiversity decline caused by building canals and waterways to control flooding and hurricanes. [Read more…]

Photo credit: Reuters/Jonathan Ernst

The name Limpkin purportedly comes from the bird’s gait, which appeared to early European settlers as a limp, perhaps when pursued by hunters with dogs. At such times, the usually stolid bird gallops away at unexpectedly high speeds.

The Limpkin's bill is uniquely adapted to foraging on apple snails. The closed bill has a gap just before the tip that makes the bill act like tweezers. The tip itself is often curved slightly to the right so it can be slipped into the right-handed curve of the snail’s shell. [Read More …]

How To: Establish or Promote a Paddling Trail

Click here for the article.

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